What do you think?
Rate this book
Ark Royal #5
A Savage War Of Peace
On her maiden voyage, HMS Warspite discovered Vesy, a world populated by primitive aliens, aliens whose culture had already been twisted and warped by human refugees from the First Interstellar War. Now, Captain John Naiser and his crew spearhead a diplomat mission to the alien homeworld, hoping to ease them into the galactic mainstream.
But with hundreds of others hoping to influence and shape the developing alien culture, and all hell threatening to break loose as human ideals meet alien realities, events on Vesy might just mark the start of a new interstellar conflict ...
... And a civil war that will tear the human sphere apart.
[Like my other self-published Kindle books, A Savage War of Peace is DRM-free. You may reformat it as you choose. There is a large sample of the text – and my other books – on my site: chrishanger.net. Try before you buy.]
But with hundreds of others hoping to influence and shape the developing alien culture, and all hell threatening to break loose as human ideals meet alien realities, events on Vesy might just mark the start of a new interstellar conflict ...
... And a civil war that will tear the human sphere apart.
[Like my other self-published Kindle books, A Savage War of Peace is DRM-free. You may reformat it as you choose. There is a large sample of the text – and my other books – on my site: chrishanger.net. Try before you buy.]
368 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2015
216 people are currently reading
298 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
August 7, 2015
I wasn't really engaged until about 75% into the book. Not bad, just not great.
May 6, 2015
This book was, unfortunately, not at all my cup of tea. The Ark Royal series which essentially started this universe (some people seems to consider these books to be part of this series but according to the cover this is a separate series named after the name of the ship and that is what I am going by) was great. Warspite, the first book in this series, was also a book I enjoyed very much although it was clear that it was taking a somewhat different direction from the Ark Royal books.
This book however goes down a path that I did not like at all. Now please understand that there is nothing wrong with the book as such. Mr. Nuttall’s writing is a good as ever but not even he could really manage to make me keep my interest in this story. Why? Because it is almost entirely about politics, scheming, treachery, politicians screwing up and such like despicable activities. When it is not about politics it is about religion (the distinction is sometimes difficult) and naïve idiots that cannot keep their mouths shut. Not only do I not like to read about these things, I positively hate it. Sure there are some action towards the end but I am afraid that it did not really manage to get my interest rekindled.
The newfound aliens are almost only a backdrop to all kind of screw-ups, mostly of the political nature. It is pretty clear already from the start that the real adversaries (in this book it happens to be the Indians) are going in with malicious intent and all through the book we read about how stupid incompetent politicians back on earth screw up the situation while the Indians profit from the situation. As usual they send in our heroes to late and without sufficient resources to do anything meaningful about the situation.
If I would be rating this book entirely based on how much I liked the story itself it would probably get an even lower rating. However, that would be utterly unfair. As I wrote before there is nothing wrong with the technical qualities of the book. The writing is excellent, the characters well done and the story is well developed. I just do not like the story itself and that is of course a very personal opinion.
I will doubtlessly pick up the next book in this series even though I did not really like this one very much. Given how much I have enjoyed the vast majority of Mr. Nuttall’s book I am not about to give up this easily and the title of the next book A Small Colonial War does indeed seem promising.
This book however goes down a path that I did not like at all. Now please understand that there is nothing wrong with the book as such. Mr. Nuttall’s writing is a good as ever but not even he could really manage to make me keep my interest in this story. Why? Because it is almost entirely about politics, scheming, treachery, politicians screwing up and such like despicable activities. When it is not about politics it is about religion (the distinction is sometimes difficult) and naïve idiots that cannot keep their mouths shut. Not only do I not like to read about these things, I positively hate it. Sure there are some action towards the end but I am afraid that it did not really manage to get my interest rekindled.
The newfound aliens are almost only a backdrop to all kind of screw-ups, mostly of the political nature. It is pretty clear already from the start that the real adversaries (in this book it happens to be the Indians) are going in with malicious intent and all through the book we read about how stupid incompetent politicians back on earth screw up the situation while the Indians profit from the situation. As usual they send in our heroes to late and without sufficient resources to do anything meaningful about the situation.
If I would be rating this book entirely based on how much I liked the story itself it would probably get an even lower rating. However, that would be utterly unfair. As I wrote before there is nothing wrong with the technical qualities of the book. The writing is excellent, the characters well done and the story is well developed. I just do not like the story itself and that is of course a very personal opinion.
I will doubtlessly pick up the next book in this series even though I did not really like this one very much. Given how much I have enjoyed the vast majority of Mr. Nuttall’s book I am not about to give up this easily and the title of the next book A Small Colonial War does indeed seem promising.
October 3, 2015
Captain John Naiser and the crew of HMS Warspite are back on Vesy with the newly appointed Ambassador to Vesy. In the prior book Naiser and crew had discovered a world (Vesy) populated by primitive aliens. The Russians were already on the planet when Warspite arrived.
When Warspite returned they found many countries of Earth already there with India having the largest contingency. India wants to control the plant and all the tram lines in the system.
The book moves very slowly and bogs down in political rhetoric which in many ways makes it boring. Nuttall usually writes a fast paced action packed story, this is not his usual writing style. I did note the irony of the British/India twist.
I read this as an audiobook downloaded from Audible. Ralph Lister does a good job narrating the story.
When Warspite returned they found many countries of Earth already there with India having the largest contingency. India wants to control the plant and all the tram lines in the system.
The book moves very slowly and bogs down in political rhetoric which in many ways makes it boring. Nuttall usually writes a fast paced action packed story, this is not his usual writing style. I did note the irony of the British/India twist.
I read this as an audiobook downloaded from Audible. Ralph Lister does a good job narrating the story.
June 21, 2017
With the introduction of a 2nd alien race, things have become very complicated in the Ark Royal universe.
A new planet has been discovered with a new alien race, the Vesy. They are not very technologically advanced, but that does not matter. With the Russians that had fled from the war at New Russia having landed their and corrupting the race, breaching all sorts of different rules and laws, things have become very messy.
The British have left a small deployment behind to try and sort things out planet side, whilst Warspite returns to Earth to try and sort out the Political nightmare.
A Savage War of Peace is a thoroughly fascinating book, looking at multiple angles of interstellar politics mixed with the concepts of alien contact with a more primitive species, and the ramifications of a non-unified planet.
There are multiple storylines occurring in this book, with the continuation from the first book of the Warspite stories of Captain Nasier, Percy and the Marines, Penny and the Reporters, Admiral Fitzwilliam is now a more solid character, and as things begin to unfold in the Vesy system, there is the introduction of Ambassadors and other military leaders from multiple different countries.
It quickly becomes apparent to the reader that some countries are interested in the Vesy, some in the tramlines of the system, and some are just interested in power. The Political and Ambassadorial games that play out during this book are utterly fascinating, and leave you with a few sleepless nights as you realise that you have to read another chapter to find out what is going to happen.
Whilst this story continues the ‘Space’ arc of the Military Sci-Fi story, there are some exceptional scenes on the planet of Vesy with peace talks that don’t go to plan that superbly written and captivating in the sheer terror of the moment as they unfold. They are created and described so well that you really believe that you are there, living these scenes as they are played out. Nuttall has done a brilliant job of capturing the characters emotions and feelings and putting you inside that character.
This is a really clever book, as it depicts an alien face at a lower level of technology, but does not assume that because of that, they are less intelligent, or easy to defeat. This is the great thing about Nuttall’s work, you get a brilliant story, with exceptional characters, but you also get something that is intriguing, that if you are so inclined, you can think about various aspects of the story, such as the Vesy, their differences, how they evolved, the Tadpoles and how the three races are all different.
This is a brilliant book – the political intrigue mixed with the usual military aspect of the story makes it a stand-out in the series.
If you love Military Sci-Fi – as in proper Military Science Fiction with real characters – then you can’t go past this series, it is outstanding.
A new planet has been discovered with a new alien race, the Vesy. They are not very technologically advanced, but that does not matter. With the Russians that had fled from the war at New Russia having landed their and corrupting the race, breaching all sorts of different rules and laws, things have become very messy.
The British have left a small deployment behind to try and sort things out planet side, whilst Warspite returns to Earth to try and sort out the Political nightmare.
A Savage War of Peace is a thoroughly fascinating book, looking at multiple angles of interstellar politics mixed with the concepts of alien contact with a more primitive species, and the ramifications of a non-unified planet.
There are multiple storylines occurring in this book, with the continuation from the first book of the Warspite stories of Captain Nasier, Percy and the Marines, Penny and the Reporters, Admiral Fitzwilliam is now a more solid character, and as things begin to unfold in the Vesy system, there is the introduction of Ambassadors and other military leaders from multiple different countries.
It quickly becomes apparent to the reader that some countries are interested in the Vesy, some in the tramlines of the system, and some are just interested in power. The Political and Ambassadorial games that play out during this book are utterly fascinating, and leave you with a few sleepless nights as you realise that you have to read another chapter to find out what is going to happen.
Whilst this story continues the ‘Space’ arc of the Military Sci-Fi story, there are some exceptional scenes on the planet of Vesy with peace talks that don’t go to plan that superbly written and captivating in the sheer terror of the moment as they unfold. They are created and described so well that you really believe that you are there, living these scenes as they are played out. Nuttall has done a brilliant job of capturing the characters emotions and feelings and putting you inside that character.
This is a really clever book, as it depicts an alien face at a lower level of technology, but does not assume that because of that, they are less intelligent, or easy to defeat. This is the great thing about Nuttall’s work, you get a brilliant story, with exceptional characters, but you also get something that is intriguing, that if you are so inclined, you can think about various aspects of the story, such as the Vesy, their differences, how they evolved, the Tadpoles and how the three races are all different.
This is a brilliant book – the political intrigue mixed with the usual military aspect of the story makes it a stand-out in the series.
If you love Military Sci-Fi – as in proper Military Science Fiction with real characters – then you can’t go past this series, it is outstanding.
November 25, 2020
A Savage War of Peace by Chris Nuttall (I can call him Chris now – I have read that many of his books, he can call my Vicky) is another SciFi gem. In fact, I think this may be the best piece of SciFi that I have read that shows why Star Trek had a non-interference policy. Sadly, not even Picard could have gotten out of this one since it was a group of deserters who actually made first contact, and oh boy, did they make a mess of things.
Enter the British who try to restore some kind of order, although communications over distance slap them around. Enter the Indians, who want the place for themselves, the Turks, Americans and French plus NGO and missionaries . . . things go from bad to worse quickly.
Add the ins and outs of tribal conflicts, religious troubles, and multiple cultural interferences and you have a pretty good idea of the issues. Handled with finesse, I might add, by Chris. Lots of action, multiple betrayals – a fine piece of SciFi.
Enter the British who try to restore some kind of order, although communications over distance slap them around. Enter the Indians, who want the place for themselves, the Turks, Americans and French plus NGO and missionaries . . . things go from bad to worse quickly.
Add the ins and outs of tribal conflicts, religious troubles, and multiple cultural interferences and you have a pretty good idea of the issues. Handled with finesse, I might add, by Chris. Lots of action, multiple betrayals – a fine piece of SciFi.
May 17, 2021
This was as much a geo-political thriller as it was a sci-fi story. Following on from Warspite the various factions of earth are determined to become the dominant power on Vessy the new alien world recently discovered. Captain Naiser has to transport a British Ambassador to Vessy and between them they have an impossible mission. There are to try and secure influence with the native population without further impacting their culture and if possible without trading weapons. As the other powers arrive and start trading weapons the British are left no choice but to trade them as well. India is running its own powerplay to not only secure Vessy but to be invited to the top table and join the 'Great Powers'. As things begin to escalate the impossible mission becomes harder can they protect Vessy, protect their own people and prevent war from breaking out
July 31, 2021
This is the steady build-up as India tries to assert its might and build influence in the 22nd century. The only way to do so in the universe is to take control of a star system that has not been colonized. With colonization rights come control of the "tramlines" - FTL routes. Unfortunately, there is the Vesy, the local natives - introduced in the previous book. India gives modern weapons to the city states and build an alliance.
There are plenty of modern analogs - the real India in the early 21st century, China, Iran - all nations trying to increase its influence. To do so, they must go to the "weaker" nations and take control through "soft" power - giving weapons, building roads, and offering modern medicines. This is where fiction and reality meet. Nuttall does a good job and it does take some suspension of disbelief.
I did enjoy this book; Penny and Percy come into their own.
There are plenty of modern analogs - the real India in the early 21st century, China, Iran - all nations trying to increase its influence. To do so, they must go to the "weaker" nations and take control through "soft" power - giving weapons, building roads, and offering modern medicines. This is where fiction and reality meet. Nuttall does a good job and it does take some suspension of disbelief.
I did enjoy this book; Penny and Percy come into their own.
August 28, 2022
Honestly didn't enjoy this as much as previous instalments, I think the author beat around the bush a bit much with this story I feel as if it could have been halved. It was essentially an entire book about setting up a war between two human factions, but first with proxy armies. The story kind of mirrors what the Americans and Russians did during in the middle east and in other places around the world but instead it was the world powers vs the lesser powers with the Visi alien race being used as the proxy armies, the stakes were control over the Visi system.
I will continue with this series but at my own pace, hopefully the next book with be more interesting and have more actual space battles even if it is human vs human. This book had none of that and a lot of politics.
I will continue with this series but at my own pace, hopefully the next book with be more interesting and have more actual space battles even if it is human vs human. This book had none of that and a lot of politics.
July 15, 2018
I really enjoyed this story
This novel was as much about the frustration of people on the ground dealing with the muck of reality while answering to a political authority that is almost willfully ignorant of what is happening. These leaders fail to consider the consequences of their orders both the the short term and long term.
This novel was as much about the frustration of people on the ground dealing with the muck of reality while answering to a political authority that is almost willfully ignorant of what is happening. These leaders fail to consider the consequences of their orders both the the short term and long term.
August 9, 2023
Almost entirely politics with some small engagements to back up the rhetoric. I was expecting some grand tactic to save the day but the sh!t hit the fan and covered the room. Britain is stabbed in the back and quite rightly so. I thought a diplomatic solution could have been brokered but I'd hate to put my head in a noose to prove it.
Refreshing and excellent.
Refreshing and excellent.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 27, 2018
Too much politics for my taste.
Still it is well written and for the overall series ark I can see the need for the politics. Will listen to the next book, hoping that the Capt. is allowed some combat.
Still it is well written and for the overall series ark I can see the need for the politics. Will listen to the next book, hoping that the Capt. is allowed some combat.
June 20, 2017
Great reading
The story continues to pull me in, less action in this installment but it seems like a nice set up for the next book
The story continues to pull me in, less action in this installment but it seems like a nice set up for the next book
September 14, 2017
Overall a good book, but a bit of an excessive use of "shit hitting the fan"
December 7, 2017
Quite slow at times, but picked up in the second half of the book.
January 31, 2019
Not boring
He got back on track... I enjoyed it and will be continuing with the series...its been fun. I hope it continues.
He got back on track... I enjoyed it and will be continuing with the series...its been fun. I hope it continues.
December 18, 2019
Great, modern Star-Trek Story
April 1, 2020
Nuttall swings too many cats.
May 28, 2020
Great Book
I am enjoying this series almost as much as those by David Weber and Tom Kratman. I really good reaf.
I am enjoying this series almost as much as those by David Weber and Tom Kratman. I really good reaf.
July 25, 2022
Not really a whole book as it seems to be concluded in the next.
March 23, 2023
I love it
I'm very impressed with this series, it's definitely left me on the edge of my seat the entire time, now excuse me while I immediately read the next one...
I'm very impressed with this series, it's definitely left me on the edge of my seat the entire time, now excuse me while I immediately read the next one...
April 12, 2015
Two and half stars. I like most of the characters, they are not complex, but they are interesting. This particular story fell flat for me. I find it very ironic that Nuttall just wrote an interesting essay on hopelessness in fiction (April 10 chrishanger.net) because that is how I felt reading this story. I am sure in the final installment of the trilogy things will come back and improve for the crew of Warspite, but I am not reviewing the trilogy, I am reviewing this book.
The British embassy to Vesy is slowly buried by its good intentions. The are outsmarted and out-maneuvered by the Indian embassy at each and every step. Of course; "when your only tool is a hammer, all your problems start to look like nails...". It may have been more interesting to have had more of this story told from the perspective of General Anjeet or the Indian ambassador with multiple cameo's from the Warspite crew to keep them tied in as opposed to the other way around... it certainly would have been less hopeless.
The British embassy to Vesy is slowly buried by its good intentions. The are outsmarted and out-maneuvered by the Indian embassy at each and every step. Of course; "when your only tool is a hammer, all your problems start to look like nails...". It may have been more interesting to have had more of this story told from the perspective of General Anjeet or the Indian ambassador with multiple cameo's from the Warspite crew to keep them tied in as opposed to the other way around... it certainly would have been less hopeless.
January 14, 2017
This review will be posted with each book in the Ark Royal series with separate ratings for the individual books as I found them.
Christopher Nuttal is one of my favourite authors. I enjoy his plots and characters equally and, with the exception of his fantasy novels, I read whatever I can find. And he is prolific.
Ark Royal is the first book in a great series. So far, it goes on for 9 books in three separate trilogies. The first and last trilogy are the best but the other three are worth reading. For the most part, the stories contain a number of characters that are well developed with heroic aspects as well as the fatal flaws. The reader gets to know them well. The action is fast paced and contains a healthy dose of space opera and military on-the-ground action.
You often end up with a sense of loss but with the feeling that it is all worthwhile.
Christopher Nuttal is one of my favourite authors. I enjoy his plots and characters equally and, with the exception of his fantasy novels, I read whatever I can find. And he is prolific.
Ark Royal is the first book in a great series. So far, it goes on for 9 books in three separate trilogies. The first and last trilogy are the best but the other three are worth reading. For the most part, the stories contain a number of characters that are well developed with heroic aspects as well as the fatal flaws. The reader gets to know them well. The action is fast paced and contains a healthy dose of space opera and military on-the-ground action.
You often end up with a sense of loss but with the feeling that it is all worthwhile.
December 3, 2015
Review of A Savage War of Peace
I have enjoyed the Ark Royal series but I found this book a bit confusing. I think I was confused by what is an apparent on-going British and Indian hostility. Now I can understand this in my head but not being British or Indian leaves me without a basis for fully understanding some of the emotions and politics in this book.
Regardless of that, the Ark Royal series continues to be well written space series. It is interesting that in the far future, Mr Nuttall feels that military leaders will still be hand cuffed by politicians and local news outlets.
It is a good series, but sometimes without a British reference, it gets a bit hard to follow. I do like the series and recommend it to those who like a good space opera.
I have enjoyed the Ark Royal series but I found this book a bit confusing. I think I was confused by what is an apparent on-going British and Indian hostility. Now I can understand this in my head but not being British or Indian leaves me without a basis for fully understanding some of the emotions and politics in this book.
Regardless of that, the Ark Royal series continues to be well written space series. It is interesting that in the far future, Mr Nuttall feels that military leaders will still be hand cuffed by politicians and local news outlets.
It is a good series, but sometimes without a British reference, it gets a bit hard to follow. I do like the series and recommend it to those who like a good space opera.
August 24, 2015
This was an adequate entry to a burgeoning book series. Adequate in that it advances the plot and shows the characters getting into all kinds of situations. While it provides plenty of tension and suspense, its length and the way the plot is structured hasn't left room for something that readers find a little bit important, and that is closure. I feel I have just read half a book instead of a single complete one. This is a rather cheap cop-out. Ending a story in a cliff hanger should only be acceptable in serials, comic books and television episodes, not in a separate book.
June 9, 2015
Caught in a battle between opposing directives, the British forces of the Warsprite find themselves with their hands tied as a duplicitous Indian force talks the Vesy into making alliances against the British. This was a tough read, even though I could see the parallels to British colonialism because it is tough for me to constantly see the protagonist put into situations where they must fail. I am looking forward to the next book when I hope to see them shine a bit more.
May 19, 2015
A good book as is typical of Nutall
Enjoying this author greatly. Interesting to see he has a new series coming out featuring a young starship officer called "Kat"... I say this as the author of the Catherine Kimbridge Chronicles featuring a young starship officer named "Cat". If you have not read any of Mr. Nutall's work I would highly recommend it.
Enjoying this author greatly. Interesting to see he has a new series coming out featuring a young starship officer called "Kat"... I say this as the author of the Catherine Kimbridge Chronicles featuring a young starship officer named "Cat". If you have not read any of Mr. Nutall's work I would highly recommend it.
June 26, 2016
Another dimension
Christopher Nuttall builds on his first book, developing the international, or interspacial politics that he hinted at in the previous books. Tapping into the frustration of colonialism and building an interesting dynamic between these frustrations and the independent rise of India on Vesy. More please.
Christopher Nuttall builds on his first book, developing the international, or interspacial politics that he hinted at in the previous books. Tapping into the frustration of colonialism and building an interesting dynamic between these frustrations and the independent rise of India on Vesy. More please.
December 14, 2016
Nuttall takes political strategy and intrigue to the next level. This book is an outstanding military novel specifically for readers with an affinity for the sea services but in space. This book really takes off the last 1/4.
April 17, 2023
I had forgotten how much I disliked the vesy trilogy
August 22, 2015
Still good, but fading a little from the previous novels, however I might revise this rating later if it turns out this is a particularly good set up for the next book!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews