A space captain named John Black Jack Geary is rescued from his escape pod after 100 years, finding the Alliance and the Syndic still at war. Forced to take charge of the fleet, Geary must navigate through politics and enemy attacks to deliver a hypernet key to the Alliance. The book focuses on military strategy, space battles, and Geary's struggles with being a hero and a leader in a society where he feels out of place.

The story follows Geary as he adjusts to a world that has changed drastically during his hibernation, dealing with the challenges of being in command of a fleet deep in enemy territory. The book combines elements of military sci-fi with character development, space battles, and political intrigue, offering a fast-paced and engaging read with a focus on military discipline and strategic maneuvers.

Characters:

The protagonist, Geary, is developed through his internal conflict and leadership challenges, while supporting characters tend to serve more functional purposes in the narrative.

Writing/Prose:

Jack Campbell employs a clear and engaging prose style that emphasizes military action and strategy, catering to fans of military science fiction.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot revolves around Commander Geary, who is resurrected after a century to lead an Alliance fleet out of enemy territory, contending with outdated tactics and a significantly changed military culture.

Setting:

The backdrop consists of war-torn space with various alien worlds; however, the lack of distinctiveness in these settings has drawn criticism.

Pacing:

The book maintains a brisk pace driven by action, though some sections may feel repetitive with detailed tactical discussions.

The cold air blowing in through the vents still carried a faint tang of overheated metal and burned equipment. Faint echoes of a blast reached into his stateroom as the ship shuddered. Voices outside ...

Notes:

The main character, John Black Jack Geary, is a legendary figure thought to be dead for a century before being found alive in cryosleep.

Geary's past heroism is exaggerated, leading to a mythic status that he struggles with throughout the book.

The Alliance fleet has changed dramatically since Geary's time, lacking skills and discipline due to prolonged war.

Unlike typical military hierarchies, officers in the fleet now discuss and vote on orders, which frustrates Geary who is used to a more straightforward command structure.

The book's space battles incorporate realistic physics, particularly the impact of light-speed delays on tactics and warfare.

The characters show varying degrees of loyalty and ambition, particularly Captain Desjani and Co-President Rione, hinting at complex dynamics in future books.

Critics note that while the battle scenes are well-written, character development is often lacking and some secondary characters feel flat.

The ships in the series use unconventional weapons like grapeshot and electronic lances, which sparked debate among readers about their practicality in space combat.

Despite its flaws, many readers found the book engaging and entertaining, making it a recommended starting point for military sci-fi fans.

The series is positioned as having six main books, with more expansions later, indicating a larger narrative universe.

From The Publisher:

The first novel in the New York Times bestselling Lost Fleet series!

The Alliance has been fighting the Syndics for a century-and losing badly. Now its fleet is crippled and stranded in enemy territory. Their only hope is a man who's emerged from a century-long hibernation to find he has been heroically idealized beyond belief….

Captain John "Black Jack" Geary's exploits are known to every schoolchild. Revered for his heroic "last stand" in the early days of the war, he was presumed dead. But a century later, Geary miraculously returns and reluctantly takes command of the Alliance Fleet as it faces annihilation by the Syndics.

Appalled by the hero-worship around him, Geary is nevertheless a man who will do his duty. And he knows that bringing the stolen Syndic hypernet key safely home is the Alliance's one chance to win the war. But to do that, Geary will have to live up to the impossibly heroic "Black Jack" legend….

Ratings (30)

Incredible (5)
Loved It (14)
Liked It (5)
It Was OK (5)
Did Not Like (1)

Reader Stats (45):

Read It (29)
Want To Read (12)
Did Not Finish (1)
Not Interested (3)

1 comment(s)

lulareviewla

Loved It

8 months

I don't read sci-fi very often, so I wasn't sure how much I would enjoy this book. When I started reading Dauntless, however, I was pleasantly surprised to find myself interested from the very first page.

The author did a good job of creating interest in these characters and the dilemma they find themselves in. The descriptions of space action weren't overblown, and I found myself pretty easily understanding what was going on in each battle.

I've already read the second book and look forward to reading the third when I can. I can't wait to reach the point in this series when they make it back to Alliance space and have to deal with the repercussions of Jack's return to life!

What can you read after
Dauntless?

See the list (100 books)

About the Author:

"Jack Campbell" is the pen name of John G. Hemry, a retired naval officer who graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis before serving with the surface fleet and in a variety of other assignments. He is the New…

Meet New Books is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a way for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to products and services on amazon.com and its subsidiaries.
When you click the Amazon link and make a purchase, we may receive a small commision, at no cost to you.

Dauntless

Jack Campbell

Book 1 in the series:The Lost Fleet