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gossamerwingedgazelle's review against another edition
3.0
What was good about this book:
- the relativistic physics seemed pretty accurate (but I am really no expert) and were very interesting
- the space combat was good
- the aliens were alien
What was bad about this book:
- one plotline is "a poor kid gets into a prestigious group but then isn't sure if he fits in. He goes back home but finds that he doesn't belong there either. Then he goes back and saves the day." The other plotline is "those busy-body politicians are trying to micromanage the war, and it is making a mess". Neither is even a tiny bit new. Not only are these not new plots, but they aren't even done in a remotely new way.
- There are characters who clearly have feelings, but such a weak job is done of presenting those feelings that it is impossible to empathize with anyone.
- The admiral talks a lot about figuring out what the problems are between humans and the aliens, but as soon as they win the battle he is preparing to counter attack.
I am disappointed that the plot wasn't more interesting, as some of the other elements were great. However, this isn't 1972, and science fiction really should live up to some standards. This also isn't the writer's first book, so this lame use of tired plots and cardboard characters is inexcusable.
- the relativistic physics seemed pretty accurate (but I am really no expert) and were very interesting
- the space combat was good
- the aliens were alien
What was bad about this book:
- one plotline is "a poor kid gets into a prestigious group but then isn't sure if he fits in. He goes back home but finds that he doesn't belong there either. Then he goes back and saves the day." The other plotline is "those busy-body politicians are trying to micromanage the war, and it is making a mess". Neither is even a tiny bit new. Not only are these not new plots, but they aren't even done in a remotely new way.
- There are characters who clearly have feelings, but such a weak job is done of presenting those feelings that it is impossible to empathize with anyone.
- The admiral talks a lot about figuring out what the problems are between humans and the aliens, but as soon as they win the battle he is preparing to counter attack.
I am disappointed that the plot wasn't more interesting, as some of the other elements were great. However, this isn't 1972, and science fiction really should live up to some standards. This also isn't the writer's first book, so this lame use of tired plots and cardboard characters is inexcusable.
jmoses's review against another edition
3.0
Interesting. A bit....I don't know...cliche, for me? On the one hand, I think it's a pretty accurate look at how interstellar combat might work without a "magic" FTL communication system, on the other this is more like an action movie than anything deeper. I mean, I enjoyed it, and I'll at least try the next entry, but it wasn't anything stunning.
jep6454's review against another edition
2.0
Jingoism at its finest but this time ITS IN SPACE. Space travel and combat was very interesting and well written but the Islamophobia in the first quarter kinda threw me off for the rest of it
rheren's review against another edition
3.0
This book is specifically "aircraft carrier/Top Gun" sci-fi, which wasn't a genre I had read before. Having read this author before, I know that one thing he does is very methodically and carefully lay out how a space battle involving near-light-speed projectiles, interstellar distances, and exotic theoretical technologies would actually play out, and this book does that amazingly well, and was very well-explained. I think that no other military sci-fi author does space battles as realistically as Ian Douglas. The characters and storyline are not very creative: it is the cliche "idiot government leaders hindering the virtuous, self-sacrificial military" trope, ignoring that just as many military operations are blown by military ineptitude as governmental ineptitude. But it's a staple of the genre: might as well get used to it.
canadajanes's review against another edition
2.0
The action was surprisingly good, so it would have gotten a solid three stars if not for the terrible Islamophobia and annoying lack of regard for civilians and civilian govn't.
kodermike's review against another edition
3.0
A solid pulp military sci-fi story, it wasn't bad, it just wasn't seat of the pants fun. I'm on the fence (hence the 3 stars) - it was a good read and good for filling the time, just not 4 star good :/
righteousridel's review against another edition
3.0
Star Carrier is entertaining military sci-fi that does exactly what was intended: show the impact of technology, expose you to the war and the aliens, and propose a plausible human society in a few centuries. The world building is solid, the narration is good, and the use of technology within the story is excellent.
What it fails to do is to really make you love the characters. I don't know how Ian Douglas fails, but I do know that I never cared much for any of them. There's nothing wrong with the cast - they are your typical competent military archetypes with a spattering of traumatic pasts, but there's also nothing special.
This is an 'easy' read. Recommended for military sci-fi fans.
Series Overall Spoiler-Free Thoughts
★★★☆☆ Earth Strike (Star Carrier, #1)
★★★☆☆ Center of Gravity (Star Carrier, #2)
★☆☆☆☆ Singularity (Star Carrier, #3)
Star Carrier is an easy read, but never excelled enough for me to care about the cast. Characters never grew beyond their archetype and intriguing worldbuilding was explained through info-dumps. Given the flawed nature of the ending, and my decision to avoid novels 4-6, my overall opinion is obvious:
★☆☆☆☆ - Not recommended.
What it fails to do is to really make you love the characters. I don't know how Ian Douglas fails, but I do know that I never cared much for any of them. There's nothing wrong with the cast - they are your typical competent military archetypes with a spattering of traumatic pasts, but there's also nothing special.
This is an 'easy' read. Recommended for military sci-fi fans.
Series Overall Spoiler-Free Thoughts
★★★☆☆ Earth Strike (Star Carrier, #1)
★★★☆☆ Center of Gravity (Star Carrier, #2)
★☆☆☆☆ Singularity (Star Carrier, #3)
Star Carrier is an easy read, but never excelled enough for me to care about the cast. Characters never grew beyond their archetype and intriguing worldbuilding was explained through info-dumps. Given the flawed nature of the ending, and my decision to avoid novels 4-6, my overall opinion is obvious:
★☆☆☆☆ - Not recommended.
prestonpre's review against another edition
1.0
Nope. Can't even do it. This is absolutely ridiculous. Reading pi aloud for hours is easier and more interesting.
lyrrael's review against another edition
1.0
After thirty pages of flash-backs and info dumps, I gave up when the Admiral sent a twelve ship fighter squadron to attack an enemy fleet at light speed and didn't follow for eight plus hours. Uh-huh.