This is a really brilliant series that is a lot of fun, and a really exciting and interesting read.
I said in my review of ‘Supercarrier – Part 1’, that I thought this series had a lot of similarities to the reboot of BattleStar Galactica, and I still stick with that.
I also had a few comments about the quality of the dialogue in my review of ‘Supercarrier’, and it is was good to note that there was a subtle change in ‘Juggernaut’, that the characters matured, keeping their overall tone, but not quite as overdone as they were in the first book. This was definitely a better book.
The remnants of Humanity, fighting for their lives against hopeless odds, being pounded around the galaxy, looking for various bits and pieces to try and save themselves.
Only in this instance, there are multiple alien races. And thankfully some of them have decided to become allies with the humans.
In this particular episode, the President of the humans is basically in league with the Darktech industry, and so sets about trying to help them. As a result, she makes some horrendous decisions, and policy that leads to worse decisions.
UHF acts in a way that is beyond criminal, turning on their once allies, and in the middle of this Keyes decides he can stand for it no longer.
This is where other comparisons to BSG come in, the true integrity and moral fibre of the characters and crew of the Providence. Keyes in particular has so much in common with Adama, the two could be mirror images of each other. And it's what makes this series such a good read, the depth and character strength of each of the main characters that draws you to them, makes you follow them, and want to read the story into the late hours of the night.
‘Juggernaut’ is an exceptional sequel to ‘Supercarrier’, picking up almost straight away after the events of the first book. The characters are more developed and stronger in ‘Juggernaut’, the Author having had the chance to get to know them a bit more, and thus getting to explore them more in ‘Juggernaut’.
This also goes for the Aliens, and the Main Alien characters, in ‘Juggernaut’, we get a much greater in-depth view of both Fesky and Ek, but we also get to know more about Piper, the Tumbran from the short story ‘Traitor’, as well as the Gok. The aliens are a highlight of the series, each of them being so unique, bringing something rather amazing to the table. The individual Main characters are also wonderfully brilliant adding something special to the story.
The other thing that is touched on in this story thanks to the Aliens is the concept of discrimination. It's something that Bartlett does with a few issues, using his work to highlight these issues without making it either obvious, but it allows it to be a discussion point for readers. It is wonderfully clever.
Bartlett has subtly touched on a few topics in this series, such as mental health, discrimination etc, and it is very clever, letting you enjoy the series, and if you want, ponder these greater issues as well. It is a series that leaves you thinking after about some of the bigger issues in life and that is always a good thing.
Overall this is a brilliant sequel to an epic series and if you have read the first, then you have to read this!
I'm already into the 3rd book.