Dauntless, the first book in Jack Campbell’s ongoing The Lost Fleet
series, combines the mythos of a General George Washington type figure
known as Black Jack Geary and military Sci-Fi fiction into a very
entertaining novel.
The legend of Black Jack Geary has been passed for generations in the Alliance fleet as the supreme example of valor. He has now become a hero that no human can possibly live up to but it serves as inspiration for men and women of the fleet. Kinda like a George Washington or Alexander the Great legends have grown over time. Now imagine if either one had suddenly returned, there is would no way they would be able to live up to their own legend. That is the premise of Dauntless.
The Alliance and The Syndics have been fighting an endless war for over a century. The Alliance was able to steal a key that will allow them access to a hypergate into The Syndic home world. In this universe ships are able to travel over vast distances thru the use of hypergates. But each side has their own keys for their respective gates so enemy ships cannot use them. Now that the Alliance has secretly obtained a Syndic key, they plan to send a large strike force against their enemy’s home plant in hopes of ending the war.
While the strike force is traveling to the Syndic home planet the Alliance fleet discovers a survival pod floating in space and that the occupant was still alive. When the pod is retrieved they discover that the individual is none other than Black Jack Geary. Jack is revived but is relegated to his room for the rest of the mission. Unfortunately, the Alliance learns a hard lesson when they arrive at the Syndic’s home planet and there is as armada of warships waiting there for them. Needless to say, the Alliance loses the battle and the Syndics request that the Alliance Admiral is shuttled to their lead ship to discuss terms of their surrender. Before the Admiral leaves the ship he makes Jack Geary the Admiral of Fleet in case he does not return.
You can pretty much predict that the Admiral won’t make it back and that Jack is forced to take commend of the fleet. So begins the daring escape of the smashed Alliance fleet lead by a legend that is over hundreds of years old. Plus if Jack can get the fleet back home, he will bring back a valuable treasure, the Syndic key. Since the Syndic’s cannot allow the key to end up in the Alliance’s hands, they will through everything at the small fleet.
What I liked: Even though this is a military Sci-Fi novel there are many debates running through the novel about having an honor or a code to live by during war. Jack Geary comes from the old school that believes that once the enemy surrenders the battle is finished and the killing stops. The Alliance that exists in the future has been numbed by the ongoing death and destruction they don’t have a second thought about slaughtering the enemy. I really enjoyed the back and forth between the characters on this issue and gives the story a richer depth. Essentially, if you stoop to the level of your enemy then you have become your enemy and they have won.
I also enjoyed the numerous discussions of the legendary Black Jack Geary versus the real Jack Geary. He is put into a no win situation with a reputation that was built beyond his control but he needs it in order to maintain control over the fleet. Basically, unless he makes a perfect decision each and every time the captains of the fleet question his command. Living up to your legend can bite you in your hand.
What I didn’t like: There is one major space battle at the end of the book. For me, it was never very exciting or all that enthralling.
Last word: This is an excellent foundation novel that adequately introduces all the characters and lays out their motivations for the future novels. I immensely enjoyed this story because it deals with the real issues that surround war and what it actually means to have honor.
The legend of Black Jack Geary has been passed for generations in the Alliance fleet as the supreme example of valor. He has now become a hero that no human can possibly live up to but it serves as inspiration for men and women of the fleet. Kinda like a George Washington or Alexander the Great legends have grown over time. Now imagine if either one had suddenly returned, there is would no way they would be able to live up to their own legend. That is the premise of Dauntless.
The Alliance and The Syndics have been fighting an endless war for over a century. The Alliance was able to steal a key that will allow them access to a hypergate into The Syndic home world. In this universe ships are able to travel over vast distances thru the use of hypergates. But each side has their own keys for their respective gates so enemy ships cannot use them. Now that the Alliance has secretly obtained a Syndic key, they plan to send a large strike force against their enemy’s home plant in hopes of ending the war.
While the strike force is traveling to the Syndic home planet the Alliance fleet discovers a survival pod floating in space and that the occupant was still alive. When the pod is retrieved they discover that the individual is none other than Black Jack Geary. Jack is revived but is relegated to his room for the rest of the mission. Unfortunately, the Alliance learns a hard lesson when they arrive at the Syndic’s home planet and there is as armada of warships waiting there for them. Needless to say, the Alliance loses the battle and the Syndics request that the Alliance Admiral is shuttled to their lead ship to discuss terms of their surrender. Before the Admiral leaves the ship he makes Jack Geary the Admiral of Fleet in case he does not return.
You can pretty much predict that the Admiral won’t make it back and that Jack is forced to take commend of the fleet. So begins the daring escape of the smashed Alliance fleet lead by a legend that is over hundreds of years old. Plus if Jack can get the fleet back home, he will bring back a valuable treasure, the Syndic key. Since the Syndic’s cannot allow the key to end up in the Alliance’s hands, they will through everything at the small fleet.
What I liked: Even though this is a military Sci-Fi novel there are many debates running through the novel about having an honor or a code to live by during war. Jack Geary comes from the old school that believes that once the enemy surrenders the battle is finished and the killing stops. The Alliance that exists in the future has been numbed by the ongoing death and destruction they don’t have a second thought about slaughtering the enemy. I really enjoyed the back and forth between the characters on this issue and gives the story a richer depth. Essentially, if you stoop to the level of your enemy then you have become your enemy and they have won.
I also enjoyed the numerous discussions of the legendary Black Jack Geary versus the real Jack Geary. He is put into a no win situation with a reputation that was built beyond his control but he needs it in order to maintain control over the fleet. Basically, unless he makes a perfect decision each and every time the captains of the fleet question his command. Living up to your legend can bite you in your hand.
What I didn’t like: There is one major space battle at the end of the book. For me, it was never very exciting or all that enthralling.
Last word: This is an excellent foundation novel that adequately introduces all the characters and lays out their motivations for the future novels. I immensely enjoyed this story because it deals with the real issues that surround war and what it actually means to have honor.
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