The novel “The Lost Fleet: Courageous” by Jack Campbell was published for the first time in 2007. It’s the third book in The Lost Fleet series and follows “The Lost Fleet: Fearless“.
Captain John “Black Jack” Geary managed to get the Alliance fleet out of the traps set by the enemy in Syndic territory. However, it’s become increasingly difficult to use new strategies and tactical variations to prevent his moves from becoming predictable.
On his journey, Geary must manage several damaged spaceships with difficulties in repairing them without being able to stop and the problem of supplies emerges. The fleet includes support ships that have the machinery to manufacture what is needed but raw materials need to be found and that increases the risks.
“The Lost Fleet: Courageous” continues The Lost Fleet military science fiction series which forms one big story in which what remains of an Alliance fleet that, after a severe defeat, tries to return home. The Alliance fleet faces new difficulties over the course of a long journey that can’t take place in a direct path to avoid enemy traps.
At this point in the series, my impression is that each novel is focused on one phase of the fleet’s journey. At the same time, some elements are included which are developed slowly and could become central in later novels. In particular, hypernet-related oddities continue to emerge.
In this novel, the problems of resupplying the fleet and the consequent need to find indispensable raw materials are central especially in the first part. They can’t stay long in a system to conduct mining operations, but attacking the Syndic’s installations still means taking risks.
The previous novels had strengths and weaknesses and from my point of view, the worst flaw seems to become even more important in “The Lost Fleet: Courageous” with the relationship between John Geary and Co-President Victoria Rione. The complications and surprises associated with it seem to me much more suitable for a soap opera than a space opera!
On the bright side, at least John Geary’s personal story has some development in a series where few characters have good characterization. From the beginning of the series, Geary had to handle the Black Jack legend that was developed over the course of a century as part of the Alliance propaganda. The temptations to use that legend to get what he wants increase in this novel and Geary’s reactions and thoughts offer some reflection on power and propaganda.
Another positive element is that the parts about the battles that the Alliance fleet must fight have become more sophisticated. Initially, John Geary exploited a surprise effect by also using his skills as a strategist at a time when both factions fight based only on being aggressive. It seems that the Syndic’s military leaders finally started seriously studying Geary’s actions making the battles tougher for the Alliance fleet.
The Lost Fleet series is the kind that can be especially appreciated by fans of military science fiction. It has the merit of being improved compared to the beginning and “The Lost Fleet: Courageous” has a more open ending than ever that suggests big twists in the next novel, in which perhaps we’ll really understand what forces are at work.
