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Black Ops
- Expeditionary Force, Book 4
- Letto da: R.C. Bray
- Durata: 16 ore e 44 min
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Black Ops
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Sintesi dell'editore
The elite crew of the pirate ship UNS Flying Dutchman had a simple mission: determining whether the Thuranin are sending another starship to Earth. Along the way, they became sidetracked by securing a future for the UNEF troops on the planet Paradise. When asked whether Earth was now safe, their ancient alien AI responded "Not so much"...now they have to deal with the consequences.
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Valutazione media degli utenti. Nota: solo i clienti che hanno ascoltato il titolo possono lasciare una recensioneRecensioni - seleziona qui sotto per cambiare la provenienza delle recensioni.
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Generale3 out of 5 stars
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Lettura5 out of 5 stars
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Storia2 out of 5 stars
- Mary and Stephen
- 02/01/2018
Slightly better than books two and three.....
If not for the fan-fu**ing-tastic narration of Mr. R.C. Bray, I would have stopped after book two. The stories are essentially the same narrative time and time again. Problem = Solution = Secondary Problem = Solution....and it's almost always a Bishoped plan with a Skippy (I hate my life) technical solution. How do we get onto that Starship/Asteroid/Planet or how do we intercept/transmit messages to gain or give information that will help our mission. Skippy is one giant Deus Ex Machina, and it's entertaining for a while, but when the narrative begins to argue with itself over what Skippy can and can't do....well, it's a bit much.
More importantly, the lacking character development is painful. This is book 4, and by now I would expect that some of our team would have grown, especially in light of all that they have witnessed. These characters are still paper thin with very little depth. I know almost nothing about our Protagonist Joe Bishop is basically Joe SixPack. An everyman that has been placed in the right place at the right time. In the first book, we watched him go from grunt to Sargent and then to Colonel...it was a feel good moment to see this everyman put in charge of an entire brigade, then a starship. When Joe and the Merry Band of Pirates returned home after their second journey, I expected another promotion. Instead we watched as he was dressed down by superiors for making decisions that were (at the time) very reasonable and even heroic. But for the sake of the story, I accepted this bizarre twist. And now we have Chotek (sp?) who is essentially an amalgam of every undesirable government agent from Earth. Now that he's seen the universe unfold before his eyes, has his disposition changed? Has he become a more tolerable leader? Has he come to understand that Joe is a hero and not a hapless idiot? No, no and no. There is no character growth here at all. These people have seen some sh*t and they need to behave in ways that make sense. The most ironic thing in this entire series is that Skippy has the most character growth of them all....an AI that supposedly lacks depth or empathy has the most complicated character arc of them all.
And for the love of all things Skippy, PLEASE resolve some of these loose ends. With every chapter we seem to get more hints at the origins of Skippy, but we learn almost nothing. It's book 4, we should have made some progress towards that goal. I cannot sit through another set of books waiting for progress.
I have so many more issues with these books, but I also love them so much, it hurts to be so critical. But if the author happens to be considering a change in narration, DON'T DO IT. R.C. Bray is your Tom Brady. Don't forget that.
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124 persone l'hanno trovata utile
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Generale5 out of 5 stars
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Lettura5 out of 5 stars
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Storia4 out of 5 stars
- Tyson S Sukeforth
- 04/10/2017
Solid continuation that fizzles at the end
What I love about Craig's writing style that really shines in this book is diving into the randomness of an unpredictable universe. Exploring the minutia of various events along the story that are anywhere between game changing to inconsequential. And they can be either unfortunate or fortuitous or both. It gives the story more chance to tell a larger picture and creates a living world that, especially for a sci-fi series, feels very grounded in reality. Sometimes the story is a grind as they duck and weave through updating situations and unintended consequences because that's how combat and problem solving actually is.
Unfortunately he sticks to the style a little too well, as the book sputters at the end without a very satisfying conclusion before setting up the next book. By the end the characters are exhausted and strung out and so are we. And I appreciate that this is very likely representative of what most of real life combat is like. But the book just ends there, without excitement or satisfaction. Postponing the payoff to the next book. And since we already had to wait a little longer for this book to fit in "Trouble in Paradise", it's going to make the wait for the next story EXCRUCIATING. And not in a great way.
It hurts to say because I overall I really love the book and the series, and it's a small knock on what's otherwise a great read, unfortunately that little bit is what's going to stick with me while we wait the months for the next installment.
My suggestion, if you haven't jumped on this book as soon as it came out like I did, (and, admittedly, would likely still do even if I read my advice from the future because I am a sucker for this series,) hold off on this until it's closer to the next release, so you can jump right into the next for the payoff that we should have at least gotten a piece of in this one.
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38 persone l'hanno trovata utile
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Generale3 out of 5 stars
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Lettura5 out of 5 stars
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Storia3 out of 5 stars
- Kathryn A.
- 16/10/2017
Not as good as the first three
While still enjoyable, this 4th installment seemed long and overly complicated. In order to understand what was going on the explanations were long and convoluted. The banter between Skippy and Joe was not nearly as funny as before. I did gafaw out loud, but only a few times.
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36 persone l'hanno trovata utile
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Generale4 out of 5 stars
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Lettura5 out of 5 stars
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Storia3 out of 5 stars
- manny_calavera
- 28/10/2017
Still fun but losing a bit of luster
Still fun, with great narrator, but the story is losing some steam and the banter is getting stale.
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31 persone l'hanno trovata utile
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Generale4 out of 5 stars
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Lettura5 out of 5 stars
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Storia4 out of 5 stars
- E. Erickson
- 16/10/2017
Good listen, but should have been 5 stars
R. C. Bray's performance & Alanson's writing were both great. I don't want to spoil anything, but I didn't like the ending. Obviously there's more to come, and that is great. However, after putting that much time into this book, to have it end on lackluster scene is depressing.
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20 persone l'hanno trovata utile
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Generale4 out of 5 stars
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Lettura5 out of 5 stars
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Storia3 out of 5 stars
- User 48D-X21A
- 06/11/2017
A Good Middle Story Series Entry
This was a good book and RC Bray's narration was on point once again. The Skippy dilemma continues though as a beer can sized deus ex machina is used a bit much for another book. Luckily, the story is still enjoyable, but I wish this was more star trek and less star wars in the story. I find that I enjoy EF books that are more focused on the merry band on a planet and less on the spec ops side. Both sides are good, but Skippy + Bishop exploring the galaxy are fantastic to listen to.
I would probably have continued through this series if it stayed as that narrative of Joe Bishop alone. The book changed completely as soon as that beer can unlocked that first door. That was a total plottwist. Sadly, without the deus ex beercan, this series wouldn't really continue in any sensible way.
My biggest qualm this book is the freakin' non-ending cliffhanger ending. It feels like this story was either too long or too short for the narrative it was telling. Book 3 suffered from this problem as well, made even worse since Book 3.5 should've been interwoven into that to make 1 longer-than-normal entry into the series.
Now, time to sit around and wait for book 5, which is a guaranteed pre-order for me.
As always, trust the awesome!
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14 persone l'hanno trovata utile
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Generale3 out of 5 stars
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Lettura3 out of 5 stars
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Storia3 out of 5 stars
- DAVREQ
- 18/10/2017
same story again
getting tired of this story and I really like the previous ones. I think it's just run it's course
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14 persone l'hanno trovata utile
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Generale5 out of 5 stars
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Lettura5 out of 5 stars
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Storia5 out of 5 stars
- Joshua Harris
- 13/10/2017
Worth listening to for the narrator alone
If you are even mildly into to science fiction this is a great book to pick up. The story is good as with all the other books in the series, but RC Bray's narration, especially his characterization of Skippy, is worth the price of admission all by itself. Trust the awesomeness
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13 persone l'hanno trovata utile
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Generale3 out of 5 stars
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Lettura2 out of 5 stars
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Storia2 out of 5 stars
- Forest
- 19/06/2019
Worst book so far
Rehash of themes and stories
There always seems to be the same kind of problem/solution/conflict resolution
Poor character development and lots of needless banter, explanations, and useless character introductions.
Overall it feels like you’re watching an infomercial that says “wait there’s more” and the more is just all very anticlimactic.
Voice acting is inconsistent, and the dialogue is hard to differentiate from narration at times.
The ending is disappointing due leaves you with, yet another very anticlimactic cliffhanger, which if you have basic critical thinking skills, you must know it will be resolved within the first chapter of the next book, or the mission wouldn’t be possible.
And yet, I’ll give the next book a chance to redeem this one and hope for more.
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12 persone l'hanno trovata utile
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Generale3 out of 5 stars
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Lettura4 out of 5 stars
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Storia3 out of 5 stars
- Angela
- 16/11/2018
Starting to get old
Perhaps listening to this entire series without a break is not the way to go. This is no Lost Fleet or Pillars of Reality where the 6 books flew by. There is really no hook that says "wow I cant wait for the next book, I wonder what will happen" because the same thing is happening in every book. Now if I was listening to these several months apart maybe it would not seem so tired and repetitive, so perhaps these books are better for long term, short session, listens.
This story picks up where the last one left off and there is more trying to stop ships from going to earth. The aliens are amazingly persistent in wanting to send ships on a long long journey to contact people who are out of contact it seems. So persistent that they would do stuff that seems out of character, but then 4 books in and we really don't know that much about their character. This book spends its entire run time trying to resolve that one issue, there is no helping Skippy meet his goals, just doing more and more crazy stuff to stop the ship. Some of stuff that happens is mildly interesting as we do see more into some alien societies (there is a genuinely sad scene) but otherwise there is not much you haven't heard before. Well, except one of Skippys subminds gets a name and personality but the character is poorly voiced and it does not really do anything, the plot thread doesn't really go anywhere. Skippy seems meaner somehow and Joe maybe dimmer. I doubt I will remember much detail of what happened in a day or so, and I don't really think there are any details that are important anyway. The ending was OK though, there was some good tension in the last mission and where we left off leaves hope that maybe they will do something else in the next book besides trying to stop an alien ship from going to earth.
Don't get me wrong, I am not someone who needs some grand over arching story, I really enjoy episodic shows that explore just for exploration sake, or books that just have fun characters who I want to "hang around" with, but we are now doing the same thing in every book and the witty banter is starting to not be so witty. It is interesting to learn more about the alien races, but we don't learn much and what we do learn only makes me wonder why humans can't figure out their tech since none of them seem all that intelligent. Certainly humans should be smarter than lizards that are only interested in war and enslave half their population. Perhaps I should have read the 5 hour 3.5 book, it would have been a break from the same, same, and there is a sidequest in this book that is likely directly related to that book, as it references a ship that was mentioned in book 3, but $20 for 5 hours doesn't seem worth it.
Looking ahead I guess the series is not yet finished as I had assumed. It looks like book 6 is an expansion on that 3.5 story so this next book is the last in the main storyline that is currently out. Hopefully we are done stopping people from going to earth and can do something else interesting like exploring around to keep the promise to Skippy.
Bottom line, the book was fine. It had humor and action and was probably as good as 3 but could have been better if it was not still running the same basic mission as book 3. It is a big galaxy and you have an Elder AI that wants to learn about itself, how can this story be bogged down in the same spot?(/rant). Anyway if you are reading the series you really can't skip this book, because I THINK it setup something for the next book. Was it worth the credit? I would have preferred to have gotten this on a 2 for 1 sale with book 3.
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11 persone l'hanno trovata utile
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Generale5 out of 5 stars
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Lettura5 out of 5 stars
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Storia5 out of 5 stars
- Simon
- 27/09/2017
Super-Skippy-Just-Fantastic-Expeditionary-Force!
Sit down strap in and get ready for another episode of one of the funniest and most inventive sci-fi series I've come across in a long time. Episode four of Alanson's Expeditionary Force sees Joe Bishop's Merry Band of Pirates careering across the galaxy, staggering from crisis to crisis only to end on another cliffhanger! Yes there will be even more to come after this one!
Earth is once again under threat so The Flying Dutchmen and her crew including Skippy, the sci-fi world's favourite beer can are once again embroiled in Alanson's heady mix of impossible situations, amazing alien politics and of course zany humour. In fact he really does go Spinal Tap on us and dial it up to eleven in this one.
I suspect that sense of humour is also being directed at his narrator here. His text has Maestro Bray doing everything from singing a high-pitched La Marseillaise of all things to a wonderfully credible Chewbacca. Being the trooper he is RC Bray rises to each and every challenge with suitable awesomeness!
I could split hairs over some of the editing including some very repetitive small passages but even I can't spectacularly miss the point of these books by quite that much. They are the Sci-Fi equivalent of a good boozy night down the pub with old friends. Good fun, warmly humorous and thoroughly satisfying until the following morning - when you realise you stayed up waaaay too late listening to it!
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29 persone l'hanno trovata utile
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Generale5 out of 5 stars
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Lettura5 out of 5 stars
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Storia5 out of 5 stars
- _al
- 28/09/2017
Oh you Bastards!
loved it
you didn't have to do that at the end... WHEN IS THE NEXT BOOK!!!!!!!!
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8 persone l'hanno trovata utile
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Generale5 out of 5 stars
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Lettura5 out of 5 stars
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Storia5 out of 5 stars
- Gavin
- 30/09/2017
Skippy the Magnificent
Another excellent installment , expertley narrated by RC Bray, believe in "The Awesomeness" of Skippy the Magnificent..
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7 persone l'hanno trovata utile
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Generale5 out of 5 stars
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Lettura5 out of 5 stars
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Storia5 out of 5 stars
- sfak107
- 29/09/2017
Trust the awesomeness
Just trust the awesomeness and keep listening to another great story and performance by RC Bray. What will be in the next book......
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5 persone l'hanno trovata utile
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Generale5 out of 5 stars
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Lettura5 out of 5 stars
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Storia5 out of 5 stars
- CNS1995
- 10/10/2017
Incredible! Couldn’t get enough!
This book gets full marks from me! Seriously entertaining! When is the next book due to come out... I can’t wait any longer! Congratulations Craig this series is tremendous, please hurry and publish more audio books in the series.
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4 persone l'hanno trovata utile
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Generale5 out of 5 stars
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Lettura5 out of 5 stars
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Storia5 out of 5 stars
- Christopher
- 28/09/2017
More outstanding work!
Another amazing adventure with Skippy and the merry band of pirates... Cannot wait for the next installment and hope it comes soon we rather than later 😀
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4 persone l'hanno trovata utile
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Generale5 out of 5 stars
- Kindle Customer
- 28/09/2017
Love it!
Not much to say other then I want more!!! If you liked the last 4 books your going to like this. The whole series is well worth a read if you haven't allready
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4 persone l'hanno trovata utile
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Generale2 out of 5 stars
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Lettura4 out of 5 stars
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Storia1 out of 5 stars
- Amazon Customer
- 04/12/2020
Dull and repetitive
Dull, listless and far from engaging. Same rinse-and-repeat pattern of Joe/Monkies magic up a solution to the presented problem. So much repetition it feels like 90% 'filler'. A 16 hour story... basically a 3 hour novella stretched out. Only thing interesting is the longer Skippy story arc. Oh, that just reminded me of Nagatha, what a waste of time, more filler. After struggling though this and the previous book, I'm done with this treacle-paced series
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3 persone l'hanno trovata utile
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Generale5 out of 5 stars
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Lettura5 out of 5 stars
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Storia5 out of 5 stars
- jamie
- 05/11/2017
Damn it
Hurry up and write the next one haha. This guy is excellent at cliff hanger endings. Though I will say the inclusion of book 3.5 made me lose track a little with the main plot.
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3 persone l'hanno trovata utile
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Generale5 out of 5 stars
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Lettura5 out of 5 stars
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Storia5 out of 5 stars
- janet lynne james
- 09/11/2017
Love this series
I have no idea what back ground or research the author has under his belt but the detailed narrative that accompanies the scientific aspects is totally believable. Can’t wait for book 5 !!!
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2 persone l'hanno trovata utile