Reviews

Dreadnaught by Jack Campbell

gaelicpearl's review

Mood shifted and lost steam. Will definitely come back at some point. 

mary_soon_lee's review

3.0

This is the first book in a military science fiction series that immediately follows Campbell's earlier Lost Fleet series. To anyone who hasn't read the earlier series, I strongly recommend starting there. To anyone who has read that earlier series, this book is very much in the same mold. I think most people who liked the earlier books would be well-pleased by this one too. This is not a series marked by subtle characterization, but I continue to happily root for John Geary. Sometimes all I need is an unambiguously good hero doing their best against the odds. Spoilers ahead....

Spoiler

This book advances the story beyond the human frontier into alien territory, which allows for some variations on now-familiar themes. For me, the space battles remain the crowning strength of the book, even though, inevitably, the tactics and descriptions are less novel than in the early books.

I considerably enjoyed escaping into "Dreadnaught," and look forward to the remainder of the series.

About my reviews: I try to review every book I read, including those that I don't end up enjoying. The reviews are not scholarly, but just indicate my reaction as a reader, reading being my addiction. I am miserly with 5-star reviews; 4 stars means I liked a book very much; 3 stars means I liked it; 2 stars means I didn't like it (though often the 2-star books are very popular with other readers and/or are by authors whose other work I've loved).

darax's review

4.0

Aliens Ted! Good story, felt shorter for some reason despite being like 500 pages maybe the less fighting in this but not entirely sure

sylvanbird's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

lundos's review

4.0

The first 2/3s of the book is setting up the plot and politics. Well done, much better and deeper in motives than earlier.

Rione is such a cool character. Annoying, intelligent, competent, hard, untrustworthy and, yet, always on point anyway.

The aliens are also cool so far, though, we know so little.

korvus's review

4.0

took a while for the story to get typing but went back to the normal story telling in the second half

robinwalter's review

relaxing medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot

3.75

jhouses's review against another edition

3.0

Aquí sigo. "Black Jack" Geary y sus neuras me van arrullando por las noches y en esas siestas que me sobrevienen siempre que puedo. A diferencia de otros lectores me ha parecido bastante más entretenido este tomo introductorio a la nueva campaña de la flota de la Alianza. Aunque la trama política es bastante transparente está bien manejada y se coloca como una espada de Damocles sobre nuestro protagonista. El triángulo con las mujeres florero que lo acompañan ha dejado de ser tan "intensito" y la trama de primer contacto con la especia Enigma resulta muy intrigante. A partir de ahí vuelve a recaer en las prolijas batallas a fracciones de la velocidad de la luz y las maniobras imaginarias que tanto le fascinan. El resto de las leyes de la física como la gravedad o la inercia parecen interesarle menos. A muerte hasta que se acabe o encuentre libros más adormecedores.

ftagliaca's review

adventurous tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

asdvj's review

adventurous tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25