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Ground State
429 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 27, 2026
389 people are currently reading
4 people want to read
About the author
Craig Alanson
46 books4,304 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 - 7 of 7 reviews
February 11, 2026
Same crap, different book.
If this series wasn’t free and I couldn’t scroll through 90% of the useless filler and repetitive banter, I would have quit reading it. Even then, I think I just have a morbid curiosity now as to how many times this author can repeat the same plot, with different circumstances and get away with it?
Book starts, as usual, after some cliffhanger. As usual, Skippy declares it’s all over for whoever matters (in escalating stakes as the series goes on, now we’re at the whole galaxy phase). As usual, Joe says they can’t give up. As usual, banter and brain storming ensue for a large position of the book until they land on a workable idea. As usual, we go through that whole process for it to fail and/or have unforeseen consequences. GO BACK TO STEP 2. This time at STEP 5, as usual, the plan works, but, as usual, has unforeseen consequences, and start the next book at STEP 1.
When will this story end? I don’t know! Honestly, the author built a cool world to tell stories. It’s just sad that he can’t seem to see that the better option all along was to use Skippy as a touchstone and tell stories over a long chronological (in story) period of his escapades with humanity. That would have got us new characters, new tech, new processes, new procedures, new ways of doing things other than rehashing the same five step process in every single book with the same characters saying the same things over and over times 19!
Instead the only thing this series can do is increase the stakes with each iteration. From protecting Joe and his team to now endangering the entire universe. It’s what I call, the DBZ Effect.
This series will never be more than pulp fiction. Frankly it’s astounding how long the author takes to publish something that’s only a few hundred digital pages. But hey, good for him, if he was an operator, his nickname would “the milkman.”
If this series wasn’t free and I couldn’t scroll through 90% of the useless filler and repetitive banter, I would have quit reading it. Even then, I think I just have a morbid curiosity now as to how many times this author can repeat the same plot, with different circumstances and get away with it?
Book starts, as usual, after some cliffhanger. As usual, Skippy declares it’s all over for whoever matters (in escalating stakes as the series goes on, now we’re at the whole galaxy phase). As usual, Joe says they can’t give up. As usual, banter and brain storming ensue for a large position of the book until they land on a workable idea. As usual, we go through that whole process for it to fail and/or have unforeseen consequences. GO BACK TO STEP 2. This time at STEP 5, as usual, the plan works, but, as usual, has unforeseen consequences, and start the next book at STEP 1.
When will this story end? I don’t know! Honestly, the author built a cool world to tell stories. It’s just sad that he can’t seem to see that the better option all along was to use Skippy as a touchstone and tell stories over a long chronological (in story) period of his escapades with humanity. That would have got us new characters, new tech, new processes, new procedures, new ways of doing things other than rehashing the same five step process in every single book with the same characters saying the same things over and over times 19!
Instead the only thing this series can do is increase the stakes with each iteration. From protecting Joe and his team to now endangering the entire universe. It’s what I call, the DBZ Effect.
This series will never be more than pulp fiction. Frankly it’s astounding how long the author takes to publish something that’s only a few hundred digital pages. But hey, good for him, if he was an operator, his nickname would “the milkman.”
February 9, 2026
Good
Good. Idk why but things seemed to putt around, a bit, ( kind of in slow motion) in this book. Thats a first for this opinion. It may just be my life nowadays but it really felt like it was the book. As usual it was written well, different complicated scenarios with the Outsider & other things. The characters were wonderful as usual and the storyline was intriguing. I did find the battle scenes to be rather lax-a daisy, not nearly as intense as some of the previous books. There still action but it was more a one shot deal and then that battle was ended or suspended, etc. Not really the way most battles go. Anyway,… I love this series! I wait in great anticipation for the next release date so I can once again submerge myself into the storyline.. There’s a huge cliffhanger of what seems ti be insurmountable catastrophe so the next book is already set up for immense drama and action. Can’t wait!!
Type faster!! lol
Good. Idk why but things seemed to putt around, a bit, ( kind of in slow motion) in this book. Thats a first for this opinion. It may just be my life nowadays but it really felt like it was the book. As usual it was written well, different complicated scenarios with the Outsider & other things. The characters were wonderful as usual and the storyline was intriguing. I did find the battle scenes to be rather lax-a daisy, not nearly as intense as some of the previous books. There still action but it was more a one shot deal and then that battle was ended or suspended, etc. Not really the way most battles go. Anyway,… I love this series! I wait in great anticipation for the next release date so I can once again submerge myself into the storyline.. There’s a huge cliffhanger of what seems ti be insurmountable catastrophe so the next book is already set up for immense drama and action. Can’t wait!!
Type faster!! lol
February 9, 2026
OMG! Fantastic Read
Fantastic. One of the best books in the series! Returning to the roots of the earliest books. The plot and story built up slowly and expanded exponentially towards the end. There were additional bonuses in that characters other than Joe Bishop got to show he was NOT the only clever monkey in the room! I rationed my reading time to have more time to savor the story and I’m glad I did! The only downside is the post dopamine rush collapse that will linger til the release of the finale.
Fantastic. One of the best books in the series! Returning to the roots of the earliest books. The plot and story built up slowly and expanded exponentially towards the end. There were additional bonuses in that characters other than Joe Bishop got to show he was NOT the only clever monkey in the room! I rationed my reading time to have more time to savor the story and I’m glad I did! The only downside is the post dopamine rush collapse that will linger til the release of the finale.
February 2, 2026
Alanson thinks BIG!
This was a very satisfying lead up to what I hope will be an "awesome" ending. I'm sure Alanson is ready to put Joe and Skippy in his rear view mirror but I will miss them. With humans now as the most powerful species in the Galaxy, thanks to Skippy of course, I hope he'll swing back to this story line again.
This was a very satisfying lead up to what I hope will be an "awesome" ending. I'm sure Alanson is ready to put Joe and Skippy in his rear view mirror but I will miss them. With humans now as the most powerful species in the Galaxy, thanks to Skippy of course, I hope he'll swing back to this story line again.
January 30, 2026
Great book
I loved the book. Well worth the wait. Bring on book 20. It can't come soon enough. Great job Craig and RC
I loved the book. Well worth the wait. Bring on book 20. It can't come soon enough. Great job Craig and RC
February 9, 2026
funny but a lot of fluff, still always good reading exforce
February 12, 2026
great story
This is such a fun and unique story. I have often found myself Lol at the dialogue. How many more unexpected ending scenes can there be?
This is such a fun and unique story. I have often found myself Lol at the dialogue. How many more unexpected ending scenes can there be?
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews