Expeditionary Force: Book 1
Written by: Craig Alanson
Narrated by: R.C. Bray
Originally Reviewed: 02-12-17 on audible.com
Rating: 1 – I’m hesitant to recommend any Sci-Fi to everyone, but this one is that good and fun
This Is The Book That I Would Write…
…if I had a morsel of talent.
I actually had only an inkling of interest in this book, but my brother wanted it and bought the entire series. I’ve listened to Columbus Day and just a few hours of SpecOps, but the entire series has cracked my top 10; this is highly illogical but so is the apparent success of this book in the first place as the author self-published via amazon kindle.
There are scant details regarding the author, but I did find a Q&A session on Goodreads with Mr. Alanson. I’ve been searching for something for one reason only: where and when did Craig Alanson serve in the military? His writing is brilliance mixed with cynicism in only a way a Veteran can – not to mention his uncanny prose that only a military member would say.
Apparently – unless he’s lying or the interview is fabricated – the author is not a military veteran and claims his level of knowledge is due to his many military friends (I don’t know if I’m buying that, but oh well) who read his books before publishing as well as his work in defense contracting.
Seriously I can’t recommend this book enough. It’s witty, snarky, brilliant, fun… there aren’t enough encomiums to describe my feelings for this book. It doesn’t beat my all-time favorite, Starship Troopers, but that’s because it lacks the philosophy I crave; although it is very, very well-written.
The narrator is superb and is one of my favorites. Only Wil Wheaton’s narration of, Ready Player One, tops R.C. Bray, but I don’t think that even Wil could do Skippy better than R.C.. I listened at 3x speed without any issue.
Other works for consideration:
1. Fight Club, by Chuck Palahniuk
2. Spell or High Water: Magic 2.0, by Scott Meyer
3. Red Shirts, by John Scalzi
4. Pilot X, by Tom Merritt
5. We Are Legion, by Dennis E. Taylor
Project 19 