Expeditionary Force Books 1-3, Columbus Day, Spec. Ops and Paradise
Written by Craig Alanson and narrated by R. C. Bray.
Columbus Day
Publisher’s Summary
We were fighting on the wrong side of a war we couldn’t win. And that was the good news.
The Ruhar hit us on Columbus Day. There we were, innocently drifting along the cosmos on our little blue marble, like the Native Americans in 1492. Over the horizon came ships of a technologically advanced, aggressive culture, and BAM! There went the good old days, when humans got killed only by each other. So, Columbus Day. It fits.
When the morning sky twinkled again, this time with Kristang starships jumping in to hammer the Ruhar, we thought we were saved. The UN Expeditionary Force hitched a ride on Kristang ships to fight the Ruhar wherever our new allies thought we could be useful. So, I went from fighting with the US Army in Nigeria to fighting in space. It was lies, all of it. We shouldn’t even be fighting the Ruhar; they aren’t our enemy. Our allies are.
I’d better start at the beginning.
My Take:
I enjoyed the hell out of Joe Bishops antics and Skippy the inconceivably ancient and powerful…beer can. Also converting a “Barney” themed ice cream truck into an improvised tactical vehicle is sheer genius. The excellent story crafting and R. C. Brays delivery had me laughing out loud at stop lights and driving to and from work. Five out of five enjoyment factor points are hereby awarded!!
Spec. Ops
Publisher’s Summary
Colonel Joe Bishop made a promise, and he’s going to keep it: taking the captured alien starship Flying Dutchman back out. He doesn’t agree when the UN decides to send almost 70 elite Special Operations troops, hotshot pilots, and scientists with him; the mission is a fool’s errand he doesn’t expect to ever return from. At least this time, the Earth is safe, right?
Not so much.
My Take:
It’s hilarious how the picture of future Earth, post contact, still has us at each other’s throats and ripe for domination. Joe is going to go back out on the Dutchman to fulfill his promise to Skippy but Earth thinks it is sending a team to figure out how to get the ship for Earth. Skippy isn’t having any of that and I think this was the volume where I heard something immensely profound “Hold my beer, watch this!”
Excellent sequel to Columbus Day, five out of five again!
Paradise
Publisher’s Summary
While the crew of the starship Flying Dutchman have been trying to assure people that hostile aliens do not have access to Earth, the UN Expeditionary Force has been stranded on the planet they nicknamed “Paradise”. The Flying Dutchman is headed back out on another mission, and the UN wants the ship to find out the status of the humans on Paradise. But Colonel Joe Bishop warns that they might not like what they find, and they can’t do anything about it without endangering Earth.
My Take:
This third time Bishop, Skippy and the Dutchman go out with an Austrian Overseer appointed by the UN to try and keep Impulsive actions under control. Oh he so doesn’t know what he’s in for in dealing with the Magnificent Skippy. Also in this one is the flawless deployment of a joke related to suspense… Three times enjoyed this series at a five out of five level, excellent work Mr.s Alanson and Bray.
http://www.audible.com/series?ref_=a_lib_l__vsml_1_1&asin=B01N9CUGHG
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