The Alliance fleet hangs in space, decimated and defeated, stranded deep in Syndics territory. Having failed to destroy their home world, instead finding themselves trapped facing annihilation, their only hope rests in a hero from a hundred years ago who steps forward to try and get the fleet back home. But first, Captain “Black Jack” Geary has to gain control of officers who, after a hundred years of war, know nothing other than fighting and dying...

Courageous is the third of the The Lost Fleet books, written by Jack Campbell, continuing the hard militaristic science fiction found throughout the series.

The book follows directly on from Fearless, with Geary still having to fight both the Syndics, who are rapidly readjusting their tactics in order to destroy his fleet, and internal strife with captains who are unable, or unwilling, to change their battle tactics and resent Geary for trying to make them.

Having set up the premise in the previous novel, Campbell pretty much lets the action come and come, continually ranking up the tension. The book is still weak on character development, the central players have been introduced and we spend nearly all of our time with Geary and those immediately in his orbit.

Once again Campbell falls back on his own military career in the navy to coordinate large-scale, complex battles, explained in a fashion that the average reader will understand and enjoy. The battles can be seen as both a weakness and strength, depending on your reason for reading the series.

Given what happens to the characters over the course of the second and third book, both could have been integrated and edited down without losing much of the story, so in one way much of the action can be seen as padding. However if your reason was the battles, then you’re in for a treat, as Campbell dishes up more of the same. One man’s padding is another’s delight.

Book three is not a good place to start as the book does not work well as a standalone story, much is presumed, although Campbell put enough in to get you pretty much up to speed. The book works well and has the advantage of a strong ending.

7

Charles Packer