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Expeditionary Force #19
Ground State
The mission to destroy the enemy Gateway was literally a smashing success.
Except the Pirates were too late, and now not one but two of the enemy are loose in the galaxy. And they are equipped with starships more powerful than Valkyrie. A direct fight would be hopeless, so the Pirates must rely on wacky ideas from the mushy brain of a monkey—and some serious sketchiness.
The Expeditionary Force saga continues in book 19 from epic sci-fi writer Craig Alanson and narrated by none other than R.C. Bray.
Except the Pirates were too late, and now not one but two of the enemy are loose in the galaxy. And they are equipped with starships more powerful than Valkyrie. A direct fight would be hopeless, so the Pirates must rely on wacky ideas from the mushy brain of a monkey—and some serious sketchiness.
The Expeditionary Force saga continues in book 19 from epic sci-fi writer Craig Alanson and narrated by none other than R.C. Bray.
Audible Audio
Published January 27, 2026
About the author
Craig Alanson
49 books4,394 followersIf you want to stay up to date on releases, receive promotion alerts and speak to me directly, please join my Facebook Page:
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My Bio:
Craig Alanson used to create financial reports for a large IT services company. Writing fiction at nights and on weekends, he finally independently published three novels on Amazon. Within 6 months of his first ebook release, he was able to quit his day job and pursue a full-time writing career.
The breakout success of Columbus Day (Expeditionary Force, Book 1) reached new heights when Podium Audio released it in audio format, narrated by Audie Award Winner R.C. Bray. The Columbus Day audiobook was a huge hit, and a finalist for an Audie Award as Audiobook of the Year.
The ExForce series, as it is known to fans, has gone on to 10 books/audiobooks, many of which have hit the NYT best-seller list, with a 11th book releasing June 2021 and 14 books planned.
Craig has also published a spin-off series, ExForce: Mavericks; an ExForce audio drama, Homefront; a fantasy trilogy, Ascendent; and a young adult space opera, Aces. Craig lives in Virginia with his wife, who loves him even though he perpetually refuses to clean the garage.
https://www.facebook.com/Craig.Alanso...
My Bio:
Craig Alanson used to create financial reports for a large IT services company. Writing fiction at nights and on weekends, he finally independently published three novels on Amazon. Within 6 months of his first ebook release, he was able to quit his day job and pursue a full-time writing career.
The breakout success of Columbus Day (Expeditionary Force, Book 1) reached new heights when Podium Audio released it in audio format, narrated by Audie Award Winner R.C. Bray. The Columbus Day audiobook was a huge hit, and a finalist for an Audie Award as Audiobook of the Year.
The ExForce series, as it is known to fans, has gone on to 10 books/audiobooks, many of which have hit the NYT best-seller list, with a 11th book releasing June 2021 and 14 books planned.
Craig has also published a spin-off series, ExForce: Mavericks; an ExForce audio drama, Homefront; a fantasy trilogy, Ascendent; and a young adult space opera, Aces. Craig lives in Virginia with his wife, who loves him even though he perpetually refuses to clean the garage.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 72 reviews
February 2, 2026
The wait in my imaginary tent, standing in an imaginary line to meet Skippy again, was worth every second of our toxic relationship.
Alanson took his sweet time building this universe, and frankly, he’s earned the right to mess around in it however he wants.
Alanson took his sweet time building this universe, and frankly, he’s earned the right to mess around in it however he wants.
February 13, 2026
Listen.
I have ridden with Joe and Skippy for nineteen books. NINETEEN. I have defended this series on the internets. I have evangelized RC Bray like he is a patron saint of snark and orbital bombardment.
And yet.
This one?
This one felt like homework.
Even RC Bray, whose narration is normally so godlike I would listen to him read a CVS receipt, could not fully resurrect the increasingly reanimated corpse of this plot cycle. And I committed the ultimate sin: I increased the narration speed. I sped up RC Bray. I feel like I need to confess that somewhere.
There were glimmers. Little flashes of what made this series electric in the first place. A few exchanges that reminded me why Skippy being an insufferable beer can once felt revolutionary instead of… routine. The Dungeon Crawler Carl reference? Genuinely delightful. I perked up like a dog hearing a cheese wrapper.
But most of the time?
It felt played out. The beats are familiar. The stakes feel recycled. The banter, once sharp and chaotic, now occasionally feels like it’s reenacting itself.
At multiple points I caught myself thinking:
“I kind of want to be back in the Cosmere.”
Which is WILD, because I literally just took a break from Sanderson to come here. I should not be fantasizing about GraphicAudio storming in to save me mid space opera.
The worst part is that this series used to feel addictive. I used to devour these. Now I’m checking progress and nudging playback speed like I’m trying to finish mandatory CE.
I’m not mad. I’m just… tired.
I do still care about these idiots. That might be the problem.
Anyway, I have a fresh Orphan X queued up and I am READY to let Evan Smoak emotionally damage me in new and interesting ways before I crawl back to the Cosmere like the fantasy gremlin I apparently am.
Joe. Skippy. I’ll probably see you again.
I have ridden with Joe and Skippy for nineteen books. NINETEEN. I have defended this series on the internets. I have evangelized RC Bray like he is a patron saint of snark and orbital bombardment.
And yet.
This one?
This one felt like homework.
Even RC Bray, whose narration is normally so godlike I would listen to him read a CVS receipt, could not fully resurrect the increasingly reanimated corpse of this plot cycle. And I committed the ultimate sin: I increased the narration speed. I sped up RC Bray. I feel like I need to confess that somewhere.
There were glimmers. Little flashes of what made this series electric in the first place. A few exchanges that reminded me why Skippy being an insufferable beer can once felt revolutionary instead of… routine. The Dungeon Crawler Carl reference? Genuinely delightful. I perked up like a dog hearing a cheese wrapper.
But most of the time?
It felt played out. The beats are familiar. The stakes feel recycled. The banter, once sharp and chaotic, now occasionally feels like it’s reenacting itself.
At multiple points I caught myself thinking:
“I kind of want to be back in the Cosmere.”
Which is WILD, because I literally just took a break from Sanderson to come here. I should not be fantasizing about GraphicAudio storming in to save me mid space opera.
The worst part is that this series used to feel addictive. I used to devour these. Now I’m checking progress and nudging playback speed like I’m trying to finish mandatory CE.
I’m not mad. I’m just… tired.
I do still care about these idiots. That might be the problem.
Anyway, I have a fresh Orphan X queued up and I am READY to let Evan Smoak emotionally damage me in new and interesting ways before I crawl back to the Cosmere like the fantasy gremlin I apparently am.
Joe. Skippy. I’ll probably see you again.
February 2, 2026
To save myself time, pretty much everything I said in my review for book 18 applies to this one. I'll copy the link at the end if anyone comes across this and is interested in my full review for this book.
While I stand by the fact that Alanson has long since beaten the proverbial dead horse by continuing this series to at least 20 books, I will acknowledge that Alanson may have recognized this issue himself in this book. There were several times where Alanson seemed to give us a 'thumb in cheek' nod at the formulaic nature of the books, and find other characters mimicking the usual Bishop thinking of something simple that Skippy didn't. It happened twice that I can directly recall, with the characters saying this must be how Skippy feels, which I found humorous.
There are two other reasons why I enjoyed this book notwithstanding my desired conclusion about eight books ago. First, the tone of this book was less desperate despite the stakes increasing. There was something cathartic about Bishop taking a "we can only do our best" approach at all the antics.
The final reason why I will still continue to read these books? Alanson knows that the Jeraptha are probably the single greatest alien species ever invented in any medium, and two of our favorite senior members of the Ethics and Compliance Office got a lot of screen time.
As mentioned in the link below, we are set up - once again! - for the escalation principle that we must raise the stakes and only Bishop and Skippy can save the universe.... or can they ....
Full review of book 18 because everything is essentially the same here:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
While I stand by the fact that Alanson has long since beaten the proverbial dead horse by continuing this series to at least 20 books, I will acknowledge that Alanson may have recognized this issue himself in this book. There were several times where Alanson seemed to give us a 'thumb in cheek' nod at the formulaic nature of the books, and find other characters mimicking the usual Bishop thinking of something simple that Skippy didn't. It happened twice that I can directly recall, with the characters saying this must be how Skippy feels, which I found humorous.
There are two other reasons why I enjoyed this book notwithstanding my desired conclusion about eight books ago. First, the tone of this book was less desperate despite the stakes increasing. There was something cathartic about Bishop taking a "we can only do our best" approach at all the antics.
The final reason why I will still continue to read these books? Alanson knows that the Jeraptha are probably the single greatest alien species ever invented in any medium, and two of our favorite senior members of the Ethics and Compliance Office got a lot of screen time.
As mentioned in the link below, we are set up - once again! - for the escalation principle that we must raise the stakes and only Bishop and Skippy can save the universe.... or can they ....
Full review of book 18 because everything is essentially the same here:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
March 5, 2026
Sigh.
I’m honestly pretty disappointed. I didn’t think I’d ever say this about this series, but there is such a thing as too much. At this point the story feels like it’s just going in circles without much depth or real progress.
Don’t get me wrong—I still love Skippy, Joe, and the Merry Band. They’re the reason I’ve stuck with the series this long. But when the overall story barely changes from book to book, it starts to feel stale. The last several books—honestly the last six or seven—have felt like filler. This entire book could probably have been condensed into a couple of chapters without losing much.
It’s gotten predictable, and even Skippy didn’t feel as sharp or entertaining as usual. At times it almost sounded like R. C. Bray was reading an encyclopedia rather than performing the story, which says a lot about how slow things felt.
That said… I’m still here. After nineteen books in Expeditionary Force, I’m committed to seeing it through. I just really hope the final book brings back the magic and excitement that made the beginning of this series so special.
I’m honestly pretty disappointed. I didn’t think I’d ever say this about this series, but there is such a thing as too much. At this point the story feels like it’s just going in circles without much depth or real progress.
Don’t get me wrong—I still love Skippy, Joe, and the Merry Band. They’re the reason I’ve stuck with the series this long. But when the overall story barely changes from book to book, it starts to feel stale. The last several books—honestly the last six or seven—have felt like filler. This entire book could probably have been condensed into a couple of chapters without losing much.
It’s gotten predictable, and even Skippy didn’t feel as sharp or entertaining as usual. At times it almost sounded like R. C. Bray was reading an encyclopedia rather than performing the story, which says a lot about how slow things felt.
That said… I’m still here. After nineteen books in Expeditionary Force, I’m committed to seeing it through. I just really hope the final book brings back the magic and excitement that made the beginning of this series so special.
February 19, 2026
It's a series NINETEEN books in. It had gotten a bit stale for me, and i was continuing on just because I knew it well/I'd read plenty of it. Ground State was a great refresh of the series, and reminded me of some of the fun in the first few books. The audio book narration was great- however do note there is some funky editing where lines are repeated, that seemed a bit sloppy. But on the whole a good read
February 6, 2026
Rounding up to about 4.5 stars. I can’t believe I’ve read/listened to 19 of these, some better than others. This one started out kind of slow but I was pretty locked in by the last half. 19 books in and the plots are kind of rinse and repeat at this point just with different man antagonists every few books. But I mainly like these books for the banter between characters, especially our two mains Joe and Skippy. It’s pretty funny stuff sometimes. The ending sequence of events reminded me of the first few books in this series when we were discovering new things about space and how to access/navigate certain areas. They went in a cool direction that we haven’t seen yet in this series and when we got there I was pretty shocked we hadn’t explored that concept yet. Looking forward to book 20 to see how this series wraps up, if it even wraps up at 20. It was supposed to end at book 15 and here we are still going, but hey I’m not complaining. Keep ‘em coming!
February 21, 2026
I liked the progression of this one! Glad to see that the story is still engaging after so many books. I look forward to the next one!
April 27, 2026
Kuunneltu. Vaikka sarjassa alkaa olemaan jo tosi monta kirjaa ja aina on mahdoton tilanne joka tarvitsee ratkaista, niin viihdyttää sarjan uusin osa edelleen. Kirjassa sopivasti keveitä koomisia osia, mutta myös vakavaa draaman vivahdetta. Kaiken kaikkiaan jos on päässyt sarjassa jo tähän asti voi jo arvata mitä on luvassa.
February 24, 2026
Rats, out of books in this series. I read somewhere that there will be at least one more book. My hope is this series will never end. The Scarpetta series is at 29 books, others series exceed that. Expeditionary Force is such a fun series. So far I haven't found a sci-fi series with AIs that is this fun and twisty. We always look forward to listening to a chapter or two at breakfast. The laughs and groans get our days started off right. More Skippy & Joe please!!!
March 30, 2026
3.5/5 stars
I love this book series. It is *easily* one of my favorite sci-fi book series. That being said, nothing really special to say about this book. Just more classic ExFor shenanigans that I cherish.
I love this book series. It is *easily* one of my favorite sci-fi book series. That being said, nothing really special to say about this book. Just more classic ExFor shenanigans that I cherish.
April 7, 2026
Stale State
Craig feels like he's beating a dead horse by bringing joe out of retirement. It's the same script the entire series has suffered from.
- Something bad happens and an impossible task is placed on Joe
- Joe thinks about the issue and does or talks about some random thing until he has an idea
- He ask Skippy questions until Skippy looks like a moron or tells Joe how much he hates him
- The crew pulls together assets and do the thing which either fails or is done successfully, but something else complicates it
- Repeat as needed
Book 15 really should have been the end of Joe's story, maybe picked up with Skippy or Nagatha with a future threat with a new team. Craig introduces more species in this arc and does nothing with them, he already has a bunch of species and cultures he doesn't do anything with. Ending of this one is just... like, you know they are going to figure out the issue and everything will be okay in the end. There hasn't been a character death since Smyth died, only fakeouts and countless redshirt Maxohlx and Human ships. There's absolutely no stakes present and no character development. These are the same characters from the first book. Joe is constantly like, "Wow I was so young and doubted myself all the time," and still doubts himself all the time.
I'm going to be ending this series. I'm tired of the same jokes on constant rotation, the E-4 Mafia, power point slides, politicians dumb, general officers dumb, dmv slow, guys are idiots. This is likely the worse EXFOR book editing wise. There's more than a few instances of R.C. Bray redoing lines, mispronouncing words like library and combat instead of com-bot.
Craig feels like he's beating a dead horse by bringing joe out of retirement. It's the same script the entire series has suffered from.
- Something bad happens and an impossible task is placed on Joe
- Joe thinks about the issue and does or talks about some random thing until he has an idea
- He ask Skippy questions until Skippy looks like a moron or tells Joe how much he hates him
- The crew pulls together assets and do the thing which either fails or is done successfully, but something else complicates it
- Repeat as needed
Book 15 really should have been the end of Joe's story, maybe picked up with Skippy or Nagatha with a future threat with a new team. Craig introduces more species in this arc and does nothing with them, he already has a bunch of species and cultures he doesn't do anything with. Ending of this one is just... like, you know they are going to figure out the issue and everything will be okay in the end. There hasn't been a character death since Smyth died, only fakeouts and countless redshirt Maxohlx and Human ships. There's absolutely no stakes present and no character development. These are the same characters from the first book. Joe is constantly like, "Wow I was so young and doubted myself all the time," and still doubts himself all the time.
I'm going to be ending this series. I'm tired of the same jokes on constant rotation, the E-4 Mafia, power point slides, politicians dumb, general officers dumb, dmv slow, guys are idiots. This is likely the worse EXFOR book editing wise. There's more than a few instances of R.C. Bray redoing lines, mispronouncing words like library and combat instead of com-bot.
May 1, 2026
Ground State by Craig Alanson delivers more of the same: Joe, Skippy, the Pirates, and a string of unpredictable, impossible situations. The formula hasn’t changed. But it still works.
This time, the stakes feel especially bleak. An invulnerable enemy manipulates even the galaxy’s most dangerous powers, turning them into unwilling allies. The situation quickly spirals into something that feels truly hopeless. The attacks get personal, the odds get worse, and every “solution” only seems to create a new, bigger mess. It’s one long Hail Mary after another.
In one particularly memorable stretch, things get very personal. The Outsider lures Joe away and goes directly after his friends and family. That’s a dangerous move. There’s no quicker way to land on the “least favored enemy” list than sneaking in the back door and facing off with Gunny Margaret Adams. I won’t spoil it, but a pregnant Gunny Adams is an army unto herself.
You’d think that cycle would wear thin. I caught myself thinking, “here we go again.” But it doesn’t. These characters still carry it. We’ve spent enough time with them to care, to understand how they react, and to stay invested when everything falls apart. And Ground State leans into that.
This isn’t really a spoiler, but like every book in the Expeditionary Force series, expect a cliffhanger. And this one is a doozy. Just when it seems like things couldn’t get worse, they do. And once again, I have no idea how they’re getting out of it.
Expeditionary Force isn’t Shakespeare. After all, it has Skippy. But it sure is addicting.
This time, the stakes feel especially bleak. An invulnerable enemy manipulates even the galaxy’s most dangerous powers, turning them into unwilling allies. The situation quickly spirals into something that feels truly hopeless. The attacks get personal, the odds get worse, and every “solution” only seems to create a new, bigger mess. It’s one long Hail Mary after another.
In one particularly memorable stretch, things get very personal. The Outsider lures Joe away and goes directly after his friends and family. That’s a dangerous move. There’s no quicker way to land on the “least favored enemy” list than sneaking in the back door and facing off with Gunny Margaret Adams. I won’t spoil it, but a pregnant Gunny Adams is an army unto herself.
You’d think that cycle would wear thin. I caught myself thinking, “here we go again.” But it doesn’t. These characters still carry it. We’ve spent enough time with them to care, to understand how they react, and to stay invested when everything falls apart. And Ground State leans into that.
This isn’t really a spoiler, but like every book in the Expeditionary Force series, expect a cliffhanger. And this one is a doozy. Just when it seems like things couldn’t get worse, they do. And once again, I have no idea how they’re getting out of it.
Expeditionary Force isn’t Shakespeare. After all, it has Skippy. But it sure is addicting.
May 7, 2026
Ground State. My Brain? Also Ground State.
Look. Book 19 had me rolling in like, “Okay Craig, I’m tired, YOU’RE tired, Joe’s tired, Skippy’s… well Skippy’s Skippy.” I was fatigued. I was ready to tap out. And then this book grabbed me by the collar, slapped a Sun Burn on one cheek, an Ice Burn on the other, and said “LISTEN.”
And I did.
Oh, I did.
I couldn’t stop. I was inhaling chapters like Skippy inhales sarcasm. And then… THEN… I felt it. That familiar dread. That “Craig is about to kill another one of my emotional support characters” dread. I swear I groaned out loud like a Victorian widow clutching her pearls.
Because listen… he already took my favorite character several books back. I had to take a whole sabbatical from the series to mourn. I had to emotionally hydrate. And now? NOW? I thought he was coming for another one of my faves. I was ready to throw my phone into the sun.
But no.
Instead, he ends it at Ground State.
GROUND. STATE.
Sir.
Craig.
Why.
You’ll have to listen to figure out what that means, but just know: I screamed. I paced. I considered writing a strongly worded letter to a fictional AI.
Also: I need more Bilby. Inject Bilby directly into the plotline. I want Bilby chaos. Bilby commentary. Bilby merch. Bilby presidential campaign. “Duderino for Prez”…
Sun burns. Ice burns. Emotional burns. And now I’m stuck waiting for the next book like a raccoon at an empty trash can.
Four stars for reinvigorating my ExForce soul.
Zero stars for the stress.
Look. Book 19 had me rolling in like, “Okay Craig, I’m tired, YOU’RE tired, Joe’s tired, Skippy’s… well Skippy’s Skippy.” I was fatigued. I was ready to tap out. And then this book grabbed me by the collar, slapped a Sun Burn on one cheek, an Ice Burn on the other, and said “LISTEN.”
And I did.
Oh, I did.
I couldn’t stop. I was inhaling chapters like Skippy inhales sarcasm. And then… THEN… I felt it. That familiar dread. That “Craig is about to kill another one of my emotional support characters” dread. I swear I groaned out loud like a Victorian widow clutching her pearls.
Because listen… he already took my favorite character several books back. I had to take a whole sabbatical from the series to mourn. I had to emotionally hydrate. And now? NOW? I thought he was coming for another one of my faves. I was ready to throw my phone into the sun.
But no.
Instead, he ends it at Ground State.
GROUND. STATE.
Sir.
Craig.
Why.
You’ll have to listen to figure out what that means, but just know: I screamed. I paced. I considered writing a strongly worded letter to a fictional AI.
Also: I need more Bilby. Inject Bilby directly into the plotline. I want Bilby chaos. Bilby commentary. Bilby merch. Bilby presidential campaign. “Duderino for Prez”…
Sun burns. Ice burns. Emotional burns. And now I’m stuck waiting for the next book like a raccoon at an empty trash can.
Four stars for reinvigorating my ExForce soul.
Zero stars for the stress.
February 17, 2026
I have been invested in this series since I was a middle schooler, and I graduate college next year, so it has a very special place within my heart. The voice of R.C Bray has been serenading me for a significant portion of my life now, and so while I rarely write reviews, I wanted to get this one off of my chest.
The last couple of books have felt like we are just going though the motions. Catastrophic problem, existential dread, clever solution, and then the law of unintended consequences spits back an even more catastrophic problem. It feels almost stale?
Obviously I love the characters. It’s the reason we all keep coming back. The banter between characters is always refreshing, but what keeps me coming back is learning the dynamics between all of the alien species, especially the predecessors. I would love if the next book explored that topic more.
I will definitely be picking up the 20th book in a year. I remember how excited I used to be to preorder these books, and travel through the universe with Skippy and Joe. But it’s starting to lose its luster, and I’m yearning for some respite for the pirates.
The last couple of books have felt like we are just going though the motions. Catastrophic problem, existential dread, clever solution, and then the law of unintended consequences spits back an even more catastrophic problem. It feels almost stale?
Obviously I love the characters. It’s the reason we all keep coming back. The banter between characters is always refreshing, but what keeps me coming back is learning the dynamics between all of the alien species, especially the predecessors. I would love if the next book explored that topic more.
I will definitely be picking up the 20th book in a year. I remember how excited I used to be to preorder these books, and travel through the universe with Skippy and Joe. But it’s starting to lose its luster, and I’m yearning for some respite for the pirates.
March 2, 2026
"Ground State" is another stellar installment that proves this series just keeps getting better! The mission ramps up with epic action, clever twists, and galaxy-spanning stakes that feel fresh even after 19 books. Alanson's imagination for sci-fi problems and solutions is unreal—always surprising, always fun.
But let's be real: the heart of it all is Joe Bishop and Skippy. Their relationship deepens so beautifully here—the banter is sharper, the trust more evident, and the moments of real connection shine through the snark. Skippy's over-the-top arrogance paired with Joe's dry wit and determination creates comedy gold, but it's built on a foundation of loyalty and partnership that makes you root for them harder every time. It's the kind of dynamic that makes you laugh out loud while warming your heart—classic ExForce magic.
The crew's antics, high-stakes battles, and those "how are they gonna pull this off?!" moments keep the pages flying. And yeah, that cliffhanger? Brutal in the best way—it has me counting down to the finale!
But let's be real: the heart of it all is Joe Bishop and Skippy. Their relationship deepens so beautifully here—the banter is sharper, the trust more evident, and the moments of real connection shine through the snark. Skippy's over-the-top arrogance paired with Joe's dry wit and determination creates comedy gold, but it's built on a foundation of loyalty and partnership that makes you root for them harder every time. It's the kind of dynamic that makes you laugh out loud while warming your heart—classic ExForce magic.
The crew's antics, high-stakes battles, and those "how are they gonna pull this off?!" moments keep the pages flying. And yeah, that cliffhanger? Brutal in the best way—it has me counting down to the finale!
February 10, 2026
I'm somewhat disappointed by this one.
Joe wasn't there for the birth of his daughter.
None of the Mavericks were there. Least of all Surjet Gates.
No Ruhar. No Nertie.
Nothing worked. Joe kept screwing up.
The Jeraptha just weren't that funny. And they are dependably funny.
The whole tone of the book was pretty depressing.
The ending.
The highlights:
Joe to Skippy: "no, you ass."
Skippy to Joe: "yes, you dumbass." That was funny.
The whole René and Jeremy stealing the truck and the "Mafia." Hilarious.
Nagatha was the voice of reason.
Margaret was a badass.
The Maxaulx (sp) and their data core with the attitude that quit on Skippy.
I'm sure there were more but that's all I can remember 2 days post finishing it. I love the series, I'll always keep reading about these characters, but this one just wasn't the strongest. It feels like a setup to the last book.
RC Bray is always great and certainly is the voice of Skippy and Joe.
Joe wasn't there for the birth of his daughter.
None of the Mavericks were there. Least of all Surjet Gates.
No Ruhar. No Nertie.
Nothing worked. Joe kept screwing up.
The Jeraptha just weren't that funny. And they are dependably funny.
The whole tone of the book was pretty depressing.
The ending.
The highlights:
Joe to Skippy: "no, you ass."
Skippy to Joe: "yes, you dumbass." That was funny.
The whole René and Jeremy stealing the truck and the "Mafia." Hilarious.
Nagatha was the voice of reason.
Margaret was a badass.
The Maxaulx (sp) and their data core with the attitude that quit on Skippy.
I'm sure there were more but that's all I can remember 2 days post finishing it. I love the series, I'll always keep reading about these characters, but this one just wasn't the strongest. It feels like a setup to the last book.
RC Bray is always great and certainly is the voice of Skippy and Joe.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 21, 2026
Ground State is one of the strongest entries in the Expeditionary Force series so far. After nineteen books, it would be easy for the formula to feel tired, but this one feels sharp, focused, and genuinely exciting. The pacing is tight, the stakes feel real, and the balance between humour and tension lands perfectly.
Alanson continues to manage scale impressively. Galactic level conflict never loses the human element, and the tactical problem solving remains satisfying without becoming repetitive. This is the kind of instalment that reminds you why you committed to a long running series in the first place.
And of course, it ends in a way that leaves you wanting more.
Alanson continues to manage scale impressively. Galactic level conflict never loses the human element, and the tactical problem solving remains satisfying without becoming repetitive. This is the kind of instalment that reminds you why you committed to a long running series in the first place.
And of course, it ends in a way that leaves you wanting more.
March 23, 2026
I'm finally done and won't come back to this series again. It's just unforgivable that the author takes so much time to tell so little (I mean not even adventures at this point), just rinse, repeat. And then at the end of it, literally the last half hour he " half solves" the thingy and something else happens and see ya next book for some more "none" story. That's what I did this last book, I listened to the last few chapters, went back and skimmed the rest. So glad I did. Because I can't, I just CAN'T listen to Joe's meaty whatever accent anymore. Done. Over and out. It irks me so much so glad never to hear it again.
March 11, 2026
Me gustó : Si
Recomendaría su lectura : Si
Sin dudarlo leeré el próximo libro de la serie que se plantea como el episodio final de esta larga historia de 20 libros.
De una o otra manera atravez de 19 libros se ha planteado un problema casi sin solución y mediante rebuscados métodos se logra obtener una solución; en ocasiones victoria, en otras un-semi-empate , otras una victoria pirrica.
Para el desenlace de este libro parece que la victoria conlleva un gran desastre de magnitud galactica. Estoy muy intrigado en conocer como se le dará solución final.
Recomendaría su lectura : Si
Sin dudarlo leeré el próximo libro de la serie que se plantea como el episodio final de esta larga historia de 20 libros.
De una o otra manera atravez de 19 libros se ha planteado un problema casi sin solución y mediante rebuscados métodos se logra obtener una solución; en ocasiones victoria, en otras un-semi-empate , otras una victoria pirrica.
Para el desenlace de este libro parece que la victoria conlleva un gran desastre de magnitud galactica. Estoy muy intrigado en conocer como se le dará solución final.
February 6, 2026
Sometimes, a series runs its course. This probably did so a few books ago.
I'll finish this series, I've loved this series, but maybe 19 or more books, might just be a few too many.
This was still a good book. RC Bray did his exceptional job narrating as he usually does, but by the 19th book, if you're expecting something new, you won't find it here.
It's not diminished in quality, its just..... reached the end of its course.
I'll finish this series, I've loved this series, but maybe 19 or more books, might just be a few too many.
This was still a good book. RC Bray did his exceptional job narrating as he usually does, but by the 19th book, if you're expecting something new, you won't find it here.
It's not diminished in quality, its just..... reached the end of its course.
February 15, 2026
General Joseph Bishop and Skippy The Magnificent, I salute you. Thank you for saving the Milky Way for the 19th book in a row. I enjoyed the pulp, as always.
I feel like the natural end for this series was book 15. Something has been lost but they're too fun to stop. As long as Craig writes em, and Bray speaks em, I'll tune in. Helps me whistle and giggle these dark nights at work away. I bet the next one will be the last.
I feel like the natural end for this series was book 15. Something has been lost but they're too fun to stop. As long as Craig writes em, and Bray speaks em, I'll tune in. Helps me whistle and giggle these dark nights at work away. I bet the next one will be the last.
February 18, 2026
19th book in the series and I still love them. Somethings have grown wearisome, such as Joe constantly interrupting Skippy with stupid questions as Skippy tries to explain things. I feel like it’s just to fatten the book
Overall, it’s still a great and fun series. Most authors can’t keep it up after a few books, one out of five according to Tony Stark, but Allison’s gettin’ ‘er done. Great job!
Overall, it’s still a great and fun series. Most authors can’t keep it up after a few books, one out of five according to Tony Stark, but Allison’s gettin’ ‘er done. Great job!
February 23, 2026
This was the first book I began to question if I might be worn out with the series. It then picked up about half way through and then it was as business as usual, in some moments peak awesomeness (in trusting of). A very good finish overall. There were a couple repeats in the audio. My guess is a less than perfect editing job which I don't recall experiencing before this, atleast not this blatent. I look forward to the next one overall.
March 5, 2026
The story continues where the previous one left off. As I have mentioned commenting on the one before, it sort of gets tiring at this point, prolonging the story, but somehow still sucks you in when you get it in your hands. Skippy is as awesome as always, the mess keeps getting bigger in the universe, and the stakes are getting even higher. The end is left with a gaping problem, seemingly unresolvable, until the first chapter in the next book.
March 20, 2026
For Die-Hards Only.
Ground State is the literary equivalent of a "comfort food" meal that you’ve eaten every day for a month. It’s technically edible, but you’re no longer enjoying the taste. Unless you are a completionist who needs to see every interaction between Joe and the Beer Can, your time might be better spent elsewhere.
It’s a 19-hour commitment to a story you’ve already heard at least ten times over.
Ground State is the literary equivalent of a "comfort food" meal that you’ve eaten every day for a month. It’s technically edible, but you’re no longer enjoying the taste. Unless you are a completionist who needs to see every interaction between Joe and the Beer Can, your time might be better spent elsewhere.
It’s a 19-hour commitment to a story you’ve already heard at least ten times over.
February 1, 2026
I love the Skippy-verse! Alanson has built a fantastic world in this series and each book deepens the layers. The characters also continue to evolve. This book is continuing the storyline with The Outsiders and the latest threat to the universe. The Pirates are working to save the world and there are losses along the way. Loved the adventure
February 10, 2026
always great to be back with the Pirates! the solution to this book's problem though was not as smart as previous books... feels a bit like filler for book 20... there is going to be a book 20... right? the stuff which was the best was the rest of the universe stuff... like the big events with the maxalts... that was wow. anyway, if you read 18 books in the series, you'll like this.
February 11, 2026
As this is the most recent book it’s the only one I’m going to review. All of these books are amazing in my opinion. The story’s of each book are pretty much formulaic but are always new and fun despite that. The characters are the reason I love this series so much though. The two main characters drew me in and kept me in for 19 books.
February 11, 2026
TRUST THE AWESOMENESS...
It took 19 books for Skippy to get it... for him to understand what his own saying meant... because, gulp, the saying is not TRUST THE SKIPPY... its TRUST THE AWESOMENESS... and THE AWESOMENESS IS TEAM SKIPPY AND JOE... and now that they know that, anything can happen... will happen... oh crap what is that, oh no... I NEED BOOK 20 right now!!!!
It took 19 books for Skippy to get it... for him to understand what his own saying meant... because, gulp, the saying is not TRUST THE SKIPPY... its TRUST THE AWESOMENESS... and THE AWESOMENESS IS TEAM SKIPPY AND JOE... and now that they know that, anything can happen... will happen... oh crap what is that, oh no... I NEED BOOK 20 right now!!!!
February 15, 2026
I’ve read all of his books and loved every one of them, and this one was just as brilliant. I still loved the characters, the pacing was spot on, and I genuinely struggled to put it down. He has such a talent for pulling you into the story and keeping you hooked until the very last page. What I loved most, though, was the humour, it’s exactly my kind of comedy.
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