SpecOps

Expeditionary Force, Book 2

By: Craig Alanson

Narrated by: R.C. Bray

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.

©2016 Craig Alanson (P)2017 Podium Publishing

Repetitive and watered-down

The story seemed forced and less important then book 1. What really started to bother me was the same 2 or 3 scenerios kept playing out over and over. Skippy has no plan, Joe comes up with plan, Skippy cant believe a monkey came up with a plan. Tbat happend about 5 times i swear. Even phrases and information was repeateded. The performance was top notch, the writing was lazy.

Sci-Fi Military-In-Space with humor

Entertaining, with more emphasis on chat than on plot, ideal as an audio book since there is a lot of repetition of what-is-happening - if you are doing something while listening don't worry about going back because you missed a bit - the author has the characters repeat what's going on at least twice, if not three times.

The humor is more the guys-insulting-each-other kind of joshing and less the clever or witty kind of humor. It still made me laugh out loud or at least put me in a good mood.

Sometimes the narrator's British character's voice (Smythe?) slipped into the same as Skippy's voice, but other than when that happened the narration is fantastic.

Light and fun sci-fi.

Another great book in this series!

Man I'm really liking this series. RC Bray came through with another awesome performance and Craig Alanson another great book. I can't wait for the next book! It can't get here soon enough.

very good

good book goo balance of actioin, comedy, and syfy coolness. i love skippy he makes the series.

Bit repetitive but loving these characters

The other reviews are correct, there are many repetitive elements in this story, which doesn’t have the creative flare of Book 1.
They go out to find Skippy’s Elder communication node, get into multiple problems along the way, and the “stupid monkeys” usually figure out how to save the day.
And then, they all suddenly change their mind about the importance of the mission they’ve been prepared to die for umpteen times before, pack up and go home in like 5 pages as if the publisher has just rung and demanded the script RIGHT NOW.
As formulaic as this becomes, if you liked the first book you’re probably going to put up with it. The characters are still pretty endearing, the writing is still funny, and R.C. Bray could read read a pew bulletin and make it seem interesting.
His narration saves this book from being something that might stop you from buying the next one. It’s not so let’s go do that then.

They really should be longer. grrrr.

My only possible complaint is that these novels should be longer. Mr. Alanson has achieved the creation of a timeline/universe that is as entertaining and intriguing as the likes of Alastair Reynolds and Peter H. Hamilton. High praise as far as I am concerned. The narration, so we'll matched to the text, is stellar - and the humor, completely unexpected, and so well delivered by, has seriously endangered my fingers as I've been listening while framing renovations in my house. Seriously. I'm not going to stop listening and if I lose my thumb to my chop saw, somebody is going to owe me a night at the pub.

An amazing accomplishment, for a monkey.

I surely hope that you are working on the next book in the Joe and the monkey brigade series. I am burning through these things at what feels like better than light speed. And don't take this the wrong way, because I understand what it takes to write a story, I'm working on a space Opera of my own. So's I'll tell you like I tell my writer colleagues, chop chop buddy boy. There's enough time for sleep in the grave. So suck it up and get it done!

-I just finished Paradise. Who's fucking monkey brained idea was it to end the book there!!? Now I need to get the next one like asap. Asshole.

-i gotta say, Bray and his narration brings the characters color and flavor to life. And again, the story ended and I'm left wanting.

asshole!

- book 4 done. I hate you. Major asshole. gotta get the next book.


I'm done with Mavericks. wtf... leave a man hanging like this? the next audio book needs to be coming out soon.

Book 2 as much fun as book 1

Great continuation of the saga. Lot of fun and well read by RC Bray. Love his accents. Cant wait to get book 3.

narration at its finest

sometimes sequels should never happen, however, this sequel lives up to the expectation, and beyond. even throwing in some xenoarchaeology, which, in my humble, professional archaeological opinion, is just awesome, and alanson actually didn't mess up any major details. which always makes me happy. nothing ruins a good story for me faster than messing up stuff I love, and he put in just enough details to get it right. thank goodness.
As always the narration is incredible. Skippy is so well narrated I'm not sure I could read the print version without Bray's Skippy voice running in my head.
can't wait to read the rest of the series!

Another great book in the universe of Skippy.

I loved this book. Great story, fantastic narrator and a wonderful worldview with lot of fun.

Earth has a spaceship and Earthlings travel into the universe to find an Elder radio for Skippy. It's here, it's there, ummm, maybe it's nowhere.

Captain Joe's band of pirates has been augmented by a stop on Earth. They head out with their supply of cheeseburgers and other food stuffs to find a way for Skippy to connect with the Elder continuum, if it exists. They visit Elder sites, known and suspected, looking for an Elder radio or wormhole controller, while Skippy spends a fraction of his consciousness finding ways to embarrass Captain Joe.

Such a great book for anyone who likes star travel, space battles, snarky AIs and long suffering monkeys.