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Expeditionary Force #9
Valkyrie
Length: 19 hrs and 45 mins
After saving the world many times, the Merry Band of Pirates have accepted the inevitable: Earth is doomed. All they can do is try to bring a few thousand people to safety, before vicious aliens arrive to destroy humanity's homeworld. No. There is one other thing they can do: hit the enemy so hard that the aliens will regret they ever heard of humans.
After saving the world many times, the Merry Band of Pirates have accepted the inevitable: Earth is doomed. All they can do is try to bring a few thousand people to safety, before vicious aliens arrive to destroy humanity's homeworld. No. There is one other thing they can do: hit the enemy so hard that the aliens will regret they ever heard of humans.
20 pages, Audible Audio
First published December 19, 2019
1164 people are currently reading
1626 people want to read
About the author
Craig Alanson
43 books4,267 followersIf you want to stay up to date on releases, receive promotion alerts and speak to me directly, please join my Facebook Page:
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.
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 418 reviews
December 29, 2019
What a letdown.
I've loved pretty much every exfor novel, the endings have all been an equal mix of hopeful and suspenseful. This book, however, has the most abrupt, phone-in ending of any book I may ever have read.
The author provides about 3 pages of exposition "answering all of our questions", then f***s over everybody in about 1 page, ends the book, and then he writes about 10 pages of self-aggrandizing bulls**t author's notes.
Basically, instead of a payoff, Alanson pulls the rug out from under the readers' feet, essentially making every previous book pointless.
I don't even know if I'll bother spending money on the audible version or even bother reading the next book. Like Skippy, I feel like the adventures of the Merry Band of Pirates have been a huge waste of my time.
I've loved pretty much every exfor novel, the endings have all been an equal mix of hopeful and suspenseful. This book, however, has the most abrupt, phone-in ending of any book I may ever have read.
The author provides about 3 pages of exposition "answering all of our questions", then f***s over everybody in about 1 page, ends the book, and then he writes about 10 pages of self-aggrandizing bulls**t author's notes.
Basically, instead of a payoff, Alanson pulls the rug out from under the readers' feet, essentially making every previous book pointless.
I don't even know if I'll bother spending money on the audible version or even bother reading the next book. Like Skippy, I feel like the adventures of the Merry Band of Pirates have been a huge waste of my time.
December 26, 2019
Craig, take some time off and write a better book!
This book is a continuation of the downward spiral of book 8. Not sure what else to say other than the second half of the book should not have been written. I also was able to skip a whole chapter and I didn’t miss out on anything. I skipped it because it was too painful to read. Unlike others I do not have an issue with skippy’s choice in the end, however there most definitely should have been a more complete way to end the book.
So in my perfect world it should have gone first half of book then skippy spills the beans and then the the MBP have to deal with skippy’s choice and it’s consequences.
This book is a continuation of the downward spiral of book 8. Not sure what else to say other than the second half of the book should not have been written. I also was able to skip a whole chapter and I didn’t miss out on anything. I skipped it because it was too painful to read. Unlike others I do not have an issue with skippy’s choice in the end, however there most definitely should have been a more complete way to end the book.
So in my perfect world it should have gone first half of book then skippy spills the beans and then the the MBP have to deal with skippy’s choice and it’s consequences.
December 21, 2019
What the f just happened?
Seriously, whiskey tango foxtrot?!?!?!?! How? Why? What? I am lost! I have no idea what's happening? How could you end the book like that? Damn you! Write faster, please! I beg you!
Seriously, whiskey tango foxtrot?!?!?!?! How? Why? What? I am lost! I have no idea what's happening? How could you end the book like that? Damn you! Write faster, please! I beg you!
May 25, 2024
It's official. This one is my favorite so far.
I am in love with this series. So much happened that I can't put into words. One main question is how many people came off of Earth. I know there are the Army people and some people that got taken illegally.But tell me, how many people really? Because there's so many humans out in the space for my liking, especially when children are involved.
Sometimes, it gets a bit annoying when the story progresses, so slowly.Because there's a bigger mystery that I really want to know.However, I just love the journey, so journey all the way.
Joe is the best commander!!
The ending blew my mind. I need a break because I am scared to continue. I am so accustomed to the humor that when something devastating happens, I am not prepared.
I am in love with this series. So much happened that I can't put into words. One main question is how many people came off of Earth. I know there are the Army people and some people that got taken illegally.But tell me, how many people really? Because there's so many humans out in the space for my liking, especially when children are involved.
Sometimes, it gets a bit annoying when the story progresses, so slowly.Because there's a bigger mystery that I really want to know.However, I just love the journey, so journey all the way.
Joe is the best commander!!
The ending blew my mind. I need a break because I am scared to continue. I am so accustomed to the humor that when something devastating happens, I am not prepared.
December 20, 2019
Cliffhanger
I have been reading this series in the hopes that humans would eventually be able to actually develop their own tech. And once again I am let down.
I am also seriously angry about the ending. I would never have read this book had I known beforehand.
In my opinion it’s time to just let this series go by the way side.
I have been reading this series in the hopes that humans would eventually be able to actually develop their own tech. And once again I am let down.
I am also seriously angry about the ending. I would never have read this book had I known beforehand.
In my opinion it’s time to just let this series go by the way side.
December 23, 2019
Author put himself in a no-win. Shmaybe a Two but enjoyed First Half
I’ve read whole series and have enjoyed it. But the author kinda did himself in with ending.
The cliff hanger ending isn’t right.
It’s extreme and out of character from previous eight books.
Doesn’t feel right nor was it well done.
No problem with going with the twist and turn. But the ending was poorly done, especially considering how much scientific dialogue we go through from previous books. In the space of a medium dialogue that is done throughout series, author goes drama queen and ending with a cliff bigger than......
Not sure if I’ll continue. Don’t see how author continues and, or gets everything back on track. Killing off major players in previous book.... Bravo? Then this little twist..... double Bavo?
I’ve read whole series and have enjoyed it. But the author kinda did himself in with ending.
The cliff hanger ending isn’t right.
It’s extreme and out of character from previous eight books.
Doesn’t feel right nor was it well done.
No problem with going with the twist and turn. But the ending was poorly done, especially considering how much scientific dialogue we go through from previous books. In the space of a medium dialogue that is done throughout series, author goes drama queen and ending with a cliff bigger than......
Not sure if I’ll continue. Don’t see how author continues and, or gets everything back on track. Killing off major players in previous book.... Bravo? Then this little twist..... double Bavo?
January 2, 2020
The author really hit the bottom on this one. Not bad writing but seemingly unedited. New interesting kitty character that might finally move this glacial plot forward.. character disappears.. Banter is getting old.. less of it than last book.. but still. The "exciting rescue" in the last third of the book was just tedious to read... skip over pages tedious... Samwise and Frodo in the swamp tedious. Yeah. Book goes out on The Big Revelation and Cliffhanger.. At this point I just don't care... I'm following my own personal theory that everyone is dead and just not picking up this series again.
December 27, 2025
WOW. Just, wow.
You know how I said the last book was a game changer? Scratch that. This one will blow away your tiny monkey brain. It certainly blew my mind away. I knew my theories were going to be incorrect and that Alanson had something great in store for us. I was not wrong.
The book starts with our Merry Band of Pirates wrecking havoc, it's exciting, it's action filled, it's awesome.
The book ends by finally answering the burning questions we have about the Elders. And trust me, you did not expect that.
If I recommended the series before, I'll be buying copies and forcing people to read it now. Damn it's good.
You know how I said the last book was a game changer? Scratch that. This one will blow away your tiny monkey brain. It certainly blew my mind away. I knew my theories were going to be incorrect and that Alanson had something great in store for us. I was not wrong.
The book starts with our Merry Band of Pirates wrecking havoc, it's exciting, it's action filled, it's awesome.
The book ends by finally answering the burning questions we have about the Elders. And trust me, you did not expect that.
If I recommended the series before, I'll be buying copies and forcing people to read it now. Damn it's good.
December 31, 2019
What???
That has to be the laziest ending I have read in the last decade by a wide margin. Just dumb.
That has to be the laziest ending I have read in the last decade by a wide margin. Just dumb.
January 10, 2020
Well if Ol'Craig really wanted to be Super Awesome Avant Garde, cutting edge, deserving of one star status, he got my vote. I, like the rest of you suckers have read all his 10 plus, novella included books.
Sure some of the books seem to recycle the ususal banter between Bishop and Skippy, but that's normal. Like the drunk uncle that shows up every Thanksgiving and totally makes an ass out of himself at the dinner table. It's to be expected. In fact it wouldn't be Thanksgiving dinner without his usual corn ball attempts of drunken humor. The last 3 books were filled with minor cliff hangers where I felt the author really painted himself into a corner then pulls their bacon out of the fire. Sometimes improbable sometimes corny yet the story line worked. The events that led to the demise of some of the beloved characters started to generate a belief that the author was really maturing into that kind of guy like Sam Sisavath, a touch of realism into the world of his character development. You know all the possibilities of senior species about to lay some heavy smack down on our heroes, or Skippy taking an abrupt vacation would happen, but this ending?!?!?! Either Craig hit the old bottle of Jack Daniels too hard,or a bong load of purple hair kush or was going through some kind of writers angst, maybe getting a divorce and he just got served (That will cause you to lose your sh*t and derail your train of thought) or shmaybe like some of his chapters, his writing portion of his brain split into a micro worm hole and it's trying to sync? Maybe he lost the outline or the arc of the plot? It could be he actually died and his agent got a hold of his rough draft and threw a bunch of crap together hoping to make a deadline? (I need to check the Obits) The ending was truly not really disappointing. It is baffling. Looking at the other reviews the common thread is not disappointment but a deep sense of betrayal. Most readers "follow" authors and a type of relationship is formed. Stephen King always dedicated his books to the "Constant Reader" forming a kind of intimate bond between the reader and the author. No reader wants to be taken advantage of. This relationship quickly grows, matures into a happy wonderful landscape of fantasy and escape for the majority of us. We are not compelled to read anything. We read or listen to audio books for the sheer enjoyment of escaping our dismal soul sucking daily existence. I thought I was coming "Home" to the proverbial little cottage in the woods where my black lab was waiting at the door with slippers, a hot cup of cocoa is placed by my easy chair in front of a roaring fire and my favorite book by my favorite author awaits me. Instead I find myself rudely shoved out of an airlock into the cold freezing blackness of space, heading into the proverbial "Black Hole" while I hear "Skippy" singing off key to Richard Wagner's "Liebestod, Tristan and Isolde"....
Sure some of the books seem to recycle the ususal banter between Bishop and Skippy, but that's normal. Like the drunk uncle that shows up every Thanksgiving and totally makes an ass out of himself at the dinner table. It's to be expected. In fact it wouldn't be Thanksgiving dinner without his usual corn ball attempts of drunken humor. The last 3 books were filled with minor cliff hangers where I felt the author really painted himself into a corner then pulls their bacon out of the fire. Sometimes improbable sometimes corny yet the story line worked. The events that led to the demise of some of the beloved characters started to generate a belief that the author was really maturing into that kind of guy like Sam Sisavath, a touch of realism into the world of his character development. You know all the possibilities of senior species about to lay some heavy smack down on our heroes, or Skippy taking an abrupt vacation would happen, but this ending?!?!?! Either Craig hit the old bottle of Jack Daniels too hard,or a bong load of purple hair kush or was going through some kind of writers angst, maybe getting a divorce and he just got served (That will cause you to lose your sh*t and derail your train of thought) or shmaybe like some of his chapters, his writing portion of his brain split into a micro worm hole and it's trying to sync? Maybe he lost the outline or the arc of the plot? It could be he actually died and his agent got a hold of his rough draft and threw a bunch of crap together hoping to make a deadline? (I need to check the Obits) The ending was truly not really disappointing. It is baffling. Looking at the other reviews the common thread is not disappointment but a deep sense of betrayal. Most readers "follow" authors and a type of relationship is formed. Stephen King always dedicated his books to the "Constant Reader" forming a kind of intimate bond between the reader and the author. No reader wants to be taken advantage of. This relationship quickly grows, matures into a happy wonderful landscape of fantasy and escape for the majority of us. We are not compelled to read anything. We read or listen to audio books for the sheer enjoyment of escaping our dismal soul sucking daily existence. I thought I was coming "Home" to the proverbial little cottage in the woods where my black lab was waiting at the door with slippers, a hot cup of cocoa is placed by my easy chair in front of a roaring fire and my favorite book by my favorite author awaits me. Instead I find myself rudely shoved out of an airlock into the cold freezing blackness of space, heading into the proverbial "Black Hole" while I hear "Skippy" singing off key to Richard Wagner's "Liebestod, Tristan and Isolde"....
December 24, 2019
A brutal slog with an unnecessary cliffhanger ending.
It's hard to believe I've read 10+ of these books (including spin offs). Sadly, the story has become stale after recycling the same few concepts over and over again: witty banter (for pages and pages) between Joe and Skippy, the constant will they or won't they between Joe and Adams, pages and pages of dialogue and over-exposition, etc.
Somewhere in this overly long series is a decent storyline, but as i said before, its stale. I'm tired of it. The last chapter of this book shows that Mr. Alanson has the ability to tell a riveting, exciting tale, but he uses it to tack on a cliffhanger ending to a book that's too long and bloated.
Since I've come this far, I will give #10 a shot. But I'm neither excited or hopeful for the next book. I truly hope some energy can be pumped in to revitalize this series.
It's hard to believe I've read 10+ of these books (including spin offs). Sadly, the story has become stale after recycling the same few concepts over and over again: witty banter (for pages and pages) between Joe and Skippy, the constant will they or won't they between Joe and Adams, pages and pages of dialogue and over-exposition, etc.
Somewhere in this overly long series is a decent storyline, but as i said before, its stale. I'm tired of it. The last chapter of this book shows that Mr. Alanson has the ability to tell a riveting, exciting tale, but he uses it to tack on a cliffhanger ending to a book that's too long and bloated.
Since I've come this far, I will give #10 a shot. But I'm neither excited or hopeful for the next book. I truly hope some energy can be pumped in to revitalize this series.
February 3, 2020
Lack of planned plot finally catching up
The last books in the series have become repetitive and the author has by careless world building painted himself into a corner. This book is a 99% repeat of the last books plus an desperate plot twist in the end by the author to escape his badly planned world building.
The last books in the series have become repetitive and the author has by careless world building painted himself into a corner. This book is a 99% repeat of the last books plus an desperate plot twist in the end by the author to escape his badly planned world building.
December 21, 2019
The first half of the book was great, then our favorite group of pirates sees a squirrel and gets distracted for the rest of the book.
We then get snapped back to the overall plot with a huge info dump at the end and are left with a huge cliffhanger.
Could have used a lot less detail on the distraction mission and ended with less of a cliffhanger.
Feels like a low point in the serries by its self I would wait until book 10 is almost out before picking up. Just due to the size of the cliffhanger.
We then get snapped back to the overall plot with a huge info dump at the end and are left with a huge cliffhanger.
Could have used a lot less detail on the distraction mission and ended with less of a cliffhanger.
Feels like a low point in the serries by its self I would wait until book 10 is almost out before picking up. Just due to the size of the cliffhanger.
January 5, 2020
This series has begun to really stretch out. I suggest you save your time and just read the last 10 pages. Nothing else in this book seems to have any importance.
I felt very familiar with the repetitive challenges, solutions, and rants that Craig fluffs this book with.
Also, I am quite frustrated with the solution to every problem being some fiddly doo that was never thought of before.... It was novel and exciting, at first, but now it feels like lazy writing.
I really love these books/characters, but I really hope Craig works harder on the next book.
I felt very familiar with the repetitive challenges, solutions, and rants that Craig fluffs this book with.
Also, I am quite frustrated with the solution to every problem being some fiddly doo that was never thought of before.... It was novel and exciting, at first, but now it feels like lazy writing.
I really love these books/characters, but I really hope Craig works harder on the next book.
February 7, 2020
Don't read this book
Untill the next book comes out as you will probably end up as pissed as me thinking you will have to wait...
Untill the next book comes out as you will probably end up as pissed as me thinking you will have to wait...
August 25, 2023
Goddamn are these books outstanding!
January 20, 2024
Talk about a cliff hanger... Doesn't happen often in this series, but it happens hear. Get in buckle up and hang on! Things get really exciting at the end.
May 26, 2024
Jau kārtējo reizi iepriekšējās Armageddon grāmatas ietvaros Džozefam ‘’Džo’’ Bišopam, mākslīgajam intelektam Skipijam kopā ar pārējiem pašiesauktajiem pirātiem izdevās paglābt Zemi no īstermiņa draudiem, bet ar katru reizi tā vien šķiet jauni draudi cilvēces eksistencei uzrodas ātrāk un vēl nopietnāki nekā pirms tam. Turklāt jebkurus plānus sarežģī fakts, ka viņu darbības pagaidām vēl nedrīkst ļaut citām sugām, it īpaši vispēcīgākajām Maxolhx (kaķveidīgi)un Rindhalu (zirnekļveidīgi), ka cilvēces rīcībā ir kaut kas tik spēcīgs kā Vecajo radīts AI.
https://poseidons99.wordpress.com/202...
https://poseidons99.wordpress.com/202...
February 3, 2020
Brilliant ending.
An ending is supposed to give you a sense of resolution, of completion... or to shock you, make you think or leave you a bit disturbed.
This is in the second category. It is a very “wtf” ending and now I’m looking forward to the next book.
This is the most effective pattern interrupt I’ve seen in a piece of written fiction in years. It’s the equivalent of enjoying a nice evening at home watching Netflix and then having armed thugs break the door and hold you at gun point.
It’s in the GoT category.
An ending is supposed to give you a sense of resolution, of completion... or to shock you, make you think or leave you a bit disturbed.
This is in the second category. It is a very “wtf” ending and now I’m looking forward to the next book.
This is the most effective pattern interrupt I’ve seen in a piece of written fiction in years. It’s the equivalent of enjoying a nice evening at home watching Netflix and then having armed thugs break the door and hold you at gun point.
It’s in the GoT category.
April 1, 2025
Audiobook
Swietne! I niesamowicie wspanialy Wojtek Masiak
Swietne! I niesamowicie wspanialy Wojtek Masiak
April 26, 2023
Way better than the last few in the series. Actually looking forward to the next one
February 22, 2020
I need to process the ending...
This book is amazing.
The first half of the book was excellent. It was some of the same old Joe and Skippy that we like.
Then the middle 5-10% was very boring, with too much dialogue.
The last half of the story was a "side story" that I didn't feel detracted from the main story. I know some reviewers didn't like it, but the aliens in this story have been fighting for hundreds of thousands to millions of years. War isn't always over immediately. Space is vast, and there are millions of consequences.
Then came the ending. And did it blow my mind. There were so many revelations. For those who feel frustrated that the story is the same over and over, the end is worth the wait. I think in the next book, the story will be moving along at a much faster rate. The alien threats will be expanded. The survival of the entire galaxy is at stake.
I like Craig Alanson's writing because Joe, the main character, is stupid. He has his flaws, and he often rambles on. But he always comes out ahead, and when you least expect it, when things don't go according to plan, he innovates. You really feel like you're in the main character's shoes. When he laughs or cries, you feel it, and hope he comes through.
I was tempted to take one star off, until I read the ending. This book is not edited, but even then, it's hard to tell. There's the occasional missing period, or sometimes sentences can be a bit wordy. Other times, I couldn't tell what was happening, and I was confused.
But the fight scenes and science are still very good.
I wish there was a glossary of all the names, because it's getting harder to remember all the wormholes and planets.
There's one or two situations where Joe Bishop is a little ignorant, such as naming something "Hadjistans", which is a little racist.
If you're wondering if you should get this book or not. If you're tired of the series. Please keep reading. The $5.99 price is worth it because you get 570 pages.
I can't wait for book 10. Things are going to change.
This book is amazing.
The first half of the book was excellent. It was some of the same old Joe and Skippy that we like.
Then the middle 5-10% was very boring, with too much dialogue.
The last half of the story was a "side story" that I didn't feel detracted from the main story. I know some reviewers didn't like it, but the aliens in this story have been fighting for hundreds of thousands to millions of years. War isn't always over immediately. Space is vast, and there are millions of consequences.
Then came the ending. And did it blow my mind. There were so many revelations. For those who feel frustrated that the story is the same over and over, the end is worth the wait. I think in the next book, the story will be moving along at a much faster rate. The alien threats will be expanded. The survival of the entire galaxy is at stake.
I like Craig Alanson's writing because Joe, the main character, is stupid. He has his flaws, and he often rambles on. But he always comes out ahead, and when you least expect it, when things don't go according to plan, he innovates. You really feel like you're in the main character's shoes. When he laughs or cries, you feel it, and hope he comes through.
I was tempted to take one star off, until I read the ending. This book is not edited, but even then, it's hard to tell. There's the occasional missing period, or sometimes sentences can be a bit wordy. Other times, I couldn't tell what was happening, and I was confused.
But the fight scenes and science are still very good.
I wish there was a glossary of all the names, because it's getting harder to remember all the wormholes and planets.
There's one or two situations where Joe Bishop is a little ignorant, such as naming something "Hadjistans", which is a little racist.
If you're wondering if you should get this book or not. If you're tired of the series. Please keep reading. The $5.99 price is worth it because you get 570 pages.
I can't wait for book 10. Things are going to change.
April 6, 2020
How dare Craig Alanson leave this book off on such a cliff hanger. It is simply unfair. I feel cheated and I have already lined up the funds to buy the next book when it is released on audio. As far as the beginning and the middle of the book go, it is bog-standard of the rest of the expeditionary force books. The ending though, especially the final chapter, I could not stop reading/listening. Highly recommend.
July 19, 2020
The book was great, although I'm not sure how I feel about the ending... It seems like it will be hard to come back from that. In my opinion, it would have been more interesting if they took the turn of sharing all their new found knowledge. I'll read the next book if there is one, but again, I'm not sure how they will be able to come back from that ending...
August 24, 2020
Okay so this all could've been summed up in like 2 hours. There wasn't a lot of action, BUT HOLY SHIT the last two hours of the book made up for it. The last 30 minutes had me gasping out loud it was a great cliff hanger.
December 31, 2019
Sooo goood.
This is a good book. You should read it. I like the story. The characters are fun. Must read if fan. Ending is killer.
This is a good book. You should read it. I like the story. The characters are fun. Must read if fan. Ending is killer.
January 5, 2020
All great things must come to an end but to mimic Lost and GoT!?! I wish I could unread this and just leave this series at the story before book 8.
March 7, 2020
The ending... oh, the ending. Everything else was incredible, but that ending!!! Waiting for the next book is going to SUCK!..
August 29, 2025
Valkyrie throws the Merry Band of Pirates into even bigger, crazier stakes while proving the series can still surprise you this deep in. Joe is still reluctantly holding the universe together with duct tape and sarcasm, and Skippy is still the smug, all-powerful AI who somehow manages to make saving humanity feel like an inconvenience. Their dynamic hasn’t lost a step—equal parts hilarious and infuriating.
What makes Valkyrie stand out is how the action ramps up without losing the humor or heart. It’s packed with tense battles, clever twists, and the kind of banter that keeps you grinning even when the odds look hopeless. By now, the formula should feel tired, but instead it just keeps getting sharper.
What makes Valkyrie stand out is how the action ramps up without losing the humor or heart. It’s packed with tense battles, clever twists, and the kind of banter that keeps you grinning even when the odds look hopeless. By now, the formula should feel tired, but instead it just keeps getting sharper.
January 16, 2020
Valkyrie is Craig Alanson’s best novel in the Expeditionary Force Series. Get ready for more humor and more creative problem-solving. Then hold on to your pants for the last quarter or so of the story. It has even more awesomeness than usual, especially the cliffhanging ending.
This ninth book in the series is a little different than the others. Instead of little steps leading to the conclusion of an adventure, it’s really two separate adventures. In the first adventure, Joe Bishop is resigned to the fact that Earth can’t be saved. So rather than focus on this problem, he uses his new pimped out starship to kick furry alien ass instead. He has those kitties chasing their tails and hissing mad. Then one last amazing idea nearly takes those kitties out of the picture.
The second adventure has to do with another set of aliens who plan to experiment on human children. Saving the children will put both Earth and the humans on Paradise at great risk. But because it’s the lives of children and because Bishop comes up with yet another crazy idea, the Valkyrie crew proceeds with the rescue op. And this is the part where the story gets more intense than a Class O star. Plan on reading early in the day or you will end up reading way past your bedtime and being cranky at work. Maybe you can just call in sick, then mope around all day because you can’t read the tenth book yet.
In one way, this second adventure ends in success. But in another, it ends in a complete disaster. I won’t spoil it for you other than to say that you will be so angry at the cliffhanger. You’ll be even more upset when you realize the sequel will not be out for many months yet! Really, though, the ending makes me love this book more.
If there’s one thing I generally don’t like in Alanson’s books, it’s when he changes the point of view character from Bishop to one of the minor characters. Bishop is the Expeditionary Force! I don’t care about anyone else (except perhaps Skippy and Adams). However, whenever Alanson changes the point of view, it’s necessary—and thankfully not excessive.
If you haven’t read Alanson’s first eight books in this series, I highly suggest you do this. You’ll find yourself going through wormhole after wormhole of adventures. Then jump into Valkyrie for an even crazier ride!
This ninth book in the series is a little different than the others. Instead of little steps leading to the conclusion of an adventure, it’s really two separate adventures. In the first adventure, Joe Bishop is resigned to the fact that Earth can’t be saved. So rather than focus on this problem, he uses his new pimped out starship to kick furry alien ass instead. He has those kitties chasing their tails and hissing mad. Then one last amazing idea nearly takes those kitties out of the picture.
The second adventure has to do with another set of aliens who plan to experiment on human children. Saving the children will put both Earth and the humans on Paradise at great risk. But because it’s the lives of children and because Bishop comes up with yet another crazy idea, the Valkyrie crew proceeds with the rescue op. And this is the part where the story gets more intense than a Class O star. Plan on reading early in the day or you will end up reading way past your bedtime and being cranky at work. Maybe you can just call in sick, then mope around all day because you can’t read the tenth book yet.
In one way, this second adventure ends in success. But in another, it ends in a complete disaster. I won’t spoil it for you other than to say that you will be so angry at the cliffhanger. You’ll be even more upset when you realize the sequel will not be out for many months yet! Really, though, the ending makes me love this book more.
If there’s one thing I generally don’t like in Alanson’s books, it’s when he changes the point of view character from Bishop to one of the minor characters. Bishop is the Expeditionary Force! I don’t care about anyone else (except perhaps Skippy and Adams). However, whenever Alanson changes the point of view, it’s necessary—and thankfully not excessive.
If you haven’t read Alanson’s first eight books in this series, I highly suggest you do this. You’ll find yourself going through wormhole after wormhole of adventures. Then jump into Valkyrie for an even crazier ride!
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