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Columbus Day

Expeditionary Force, Book 1

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Columbus Day

By: Craig Alanson
Narrated by: R.C. Bray
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Nominee, Audie Awards - Audiobook of the Year, 2018

We were fighting on the wrong side of a war we couldn't win. And that was the good news.

The Ruhar hit us on Columbus Day. There we were, innocently drifting along the cosmos on our little blue marble, like the native Americans in 1492. Over the horizon come ships of a technologically advanced, aggressive culture, and BAM! There go the good old days, when humans only got killed by each other. So, Columbus Day. It fits.

When the morning sky twinkled again, this time with Kristang starships jumping in to hammer the Ruhar, we thought we were saved. The UN Expeditionary Force hitched a ride on Kristang ships to fight the Ruhar, wherever our new allies thought we could be useful. So, I went from fighting with the US Army in Nigeria, to fighting in space. It was lies, all of it. We shouldn't even be fighting the Ruhar, they aren't our enemy. Our allies are.

I'd better start at the beginning.

©2016 Craig Alanson (P)2016 Podium Audio Adventure Fantasy Military Science Fiction Space Opera
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A good pace, plenty of action, comedy, and a bit of drama. Physics were a little off, but hey, it's sci fi. A great read/performance none the less.

A lot of fun

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World building sometimes comes short, we should replace it with Universe building nowadays.

Alanson's debut has become a classic for science fiction. There is no denying that when you start seeing references in other works, and its success is understandable. While I enjoy my hard science fiction doses, the world building Craig manages with some hand waving is magnificent, always respecting his own physics or bluffing it through - like his characters. Joe and his memorable beer provide some of the best comical scenes in recent scify. Although character development is not the strongest along the current 14 weeks, this is compensated through the story behind the curtains that we all try to uncover and the great banter and dialogues between the main characters. And what would be of this work and its banter without R.C. Bray...

Bray's performance has improved the work of Craig with his delivery and outstanding pacing. This is the performance that made me look for all his other jobs. Great fit! Never forget to listen till the end for the bloopers!!!

Proud of being a monkey!

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Reader is good and gives different characters their own voice. The story is entertaining. But it does drag on a bit too much with bits that add nothing to the story other than male ego stroking, especially on the first half. I did enjoy the book overall but am not convinced enough to buy book 2.

Good but a bit too long

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amazing story, full of subverted expectations, heart-wrenching humanity, and deep moral choices. I wish I could say more without spoiling anything.

High-sci-fi through the eyes of an army grunt

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I don't wanna spoil anything so I keep it vague... It's starts like a bleak sci fi space opera that looks kinda realistic just to have a sudden plottwist and starts having a few very good laughs in it! But overall a really decent book if you like space operas! Narration is top notch!

If you like space operas you gonna love this one

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