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Dark Operator #3
No Fail
Failure is a hateful word.
For Dark Ops Sergeant Kel Turner, it's unthinkable. Until now. Kill teams are accustomed to achieving the impossible, and Kill Team Three has done the impossible more than any other. Tasked with mission after mission against a never-ending list of enemies, Kel and Three brace themselves to rise to the occasion yet again.
Kel lives under no doubts about his kill team's ability to win against any odds, until an enemy thought long defeated reappears. From a dingy city locked in the center of a cold war to a nightmarish alien landscape, the one constant that defines their latest missions is that a kill team is always alone.
Living in the black world of covert operations, there are secrets, then there are secrets. The first might lead to his death. The second might lead to failure.
For this Dark Operator, in a galaxy filled with potentials, death is preferable to failure.
For Dark Ops Sergeant Kel Turner, it's unthinkable. Until now. Kill teams are accustomed to achieving the impossible, and Kill Team Three has done the impossible more than any other. Tasked with mission after mission against a never-ending list of enemies, Kel and Three brace themselves to rise to the occasion yet again.
Kel lives under no doubts about his kill team's ability to win against any odds, until an enemy thought long defeated reappears. From a dingy city locked in the center of a cold war to a nightmarish alien landscape, the one constant that defines their latest missions is that a kill team is always alone.
Living in the black world of covert operations, there are secrets, then there are secrets. The first might lead to his death. The second might lead to failure.
For this Dark Operator, in a galaxy filled with potentials, death is preferable to failure.
- GenresScience FictionAudiobook
Audio CD
First published October 5, 2020
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
May 6, 2021
Not as good as the first volume
The first part of this book concerns West Berlin, East Berlin and, excuse me, I mean South and North Mercia and the Crudes. What a great nickname for the obvious stand-ins for the East German and Russian communists in this military sci-fi novel.
The second part concerns the discovery, on a moon orbiting a gas giant planet, of a strong hold of a once human species called the savages. These are the people the Republic defeated in a 1500 year war. So any discovery of remnants is a cause for grave concern. Kill Team Three is sent to recon the situation. A very strange situation develops.
How stealthily the dark ops men move, how much difficulty an enemy would have noticing them, how they climb, how they do this and that was interesting in the first book, somewhat interesting in the second, but it is becoming tedious in this third volume.
The first part of this book concerns West Berlin, East Berlin and, excuse me, I mean South and North Mercia and the Crudes. What a great nickname for the obvious stand-ins for the East German and Russian communists in this military sci-fi novel.
The second part concerns the discovery, on a moon orbiting a gas giant planet, of a strong hold of a once human species called the savages. These are the people the Republic defeated in a 1500 year war. So any discovery of remnants is a cause for grave concern. Kill Team Three is sent to recon the situation. A very strange situation develops.
How stealthily the dark ops men move, how much difficulty an enemy would have noticing them, how they climb, how they do this and that was interesting in the first book, somewhat interesting in the second, but it is becoming tedious in this third volume.
January 11, 2025
I was slow to warm to Kel Turner, as I thought no one could rival my adoration for Tyrus Rechs and Ford/Keel. It was quite a change from the all-skate cast of characters in other GE books. Kill Team Three has won me over and I am a die-hard Kel fan now. He has swagger, but can back it up and does so regularly with humility. As someone who loves and writes romance, a book has to be darned good to keep me interested without a romantic subplot. This might be the 20th or so book in the GE universe for me. This one had plenty of action and camaraderie between teammates. I'm not sure how the first part ties to the second part, as it felt like two completely different books. I had to check the audiobook playback, thinking I'd accidentally switched books. I'm assuming we'll get some follow-up on things. Kel always seeks to learn from the local population and understanding context and motivation is important. This particular installment in the series made me feel more connected to Kel, as we get to know him better. This felt intimate--he's a person with feelings and doubts, and this book is grounded that way in his point of view. These men are not mindless machines, although it can be easy to equate military with uniformity in thinking. As much as I love Chhun, we didn't get much insight into his family, or what he was like before the Legion. I like getting that here. Rolling right into Exigency.
Stephen Dexter's narration has grown on me. He's quite good, but I needed to warm up to him, too, after listening to RC Bray for so many GE books.
Stephen Dexter's narration has grown on me. He's quite good, but I needed to warm up to him, too, after listening to RC Bray for so many GE books.
May 5, 2022
The Nuclear option
The first of the two missions in thisb3rd Dark Operator series parallels a similar situation in our past with a little of our present thrown in to give a fascinating what if. A city divided by a high tech barrier in similar fashion to Berlin was after World War II is invaded by the rigid authoritarian state surrounding it. Kill Team three is tasked to train a guerrilla underground. But their hidden task is really the primary task.
Part 2 is the evaluation of a world of the strange Savages, descendants of the first wave of stellar galactic expansion. Not long in the past the Republic finally won a thousand year war against these strange and violent people. The people behind this mission find out they have no idea of the forces a DO team brings to any mission. DO Kill Team 3 is not a tool to be misused..
The first of the two missions in thisb3rd Dark Operator series parallels a similar situation in our past with a little of our present thrown in to give a fascinating what if. A city divided by a high tech barrier in similar fashion to Berlin was after World War II is invaded by the rigid authoritarian state surrounding it. Kill Team three is tasked to train a guerrilla underground. But their hidden task is really the primary task.
Part 2 is the evaluation of a world of the strange Savages, descendants of the first wave of stellar galactic expansion. Not long in the past the Republic finally won a thousand year war against these strange and violent people. The people behind this mission find out they have no idea of the forces a DO team brings to any mission. DO Kill Team 3 is not a tool to be misused..
October 23, 2020
Another outstanding trip in to the Galaxies Edge universe. This time you get a interesting Sci Fi take on perhaps what would have happened if the Soviets had pushed into West Germany, complete with stay behind units, partisans and special forces. I don't want to spoil much, but we also get another look at what is my favorite enigmatic antagonists, the Savages. This time, it's post Savage Wars though, and with some interesting political and social implications. We also get a interesting epilogue that hints at the worst of the Republics agencies. Can't say enough good things about this series, and if your a fan of Galaxies Edge, you don't need me to.
October 26, 2025
Better than the first two
The first two books were really bad. It's still pretty cringey at times, but this one doesn't have the "this frigging guy" moments as often because it is busier. Kel Turner is still kind of the most boring guy in the galaxy and hopelessly naive, but the author has sort of settled into being g-rated Dollar General Craig Alanson.
It's less a novel than two novellas stapled together, structurally. But at least something is starting to go in the direction of actually happening.
The first two books were really bad. It's still pretty cringey at times, but this one doesn't have the "this frigging guy" moments as often because it is busier. Kel Turner is still kind of the most boring guy in the galaxy and hopelessly naive, but the author has sort of settled into being g-rated Dollar General Craig Alanson.
It's less a novel than two novellas stapled together, structurally. But at least something is starting to go in the direction of actually happening.
November 24, 2020
Awesome read
I enjoyed myself again reading this book in the series has me wanting more can't wait for the next book which I've already pre-ordered awhile back I can't wait this entire series is amazing and has the adventure and military sci-fi to satisfy the fans of this series I can't wait for the next book in the series
I enjoyed myself again reading this book in the series has me wanting more can't wait for the next book which I've already pre-ordered awhile back I can't wait this entire series is amazing and has the adventure and military sci-fi to satisfy the fans of this series I can't wait for the next book in the series
December 9, 2023
This is the five-star rating system I use:
★★★★★ Great book! Can’t wait to read it again (and I will).
★★★★☆ Good book. I am glad I read this.
★★★☆☆ OK book. Nothing special but not bad.
★★☆☆☆ Not good. Why did I waste my time?
★☆☆☆☆ Lousy. I didn’t finish.
If for whatever reason, I go back and reread a good book, I will change the rating to five-star because I read it again.
★★★★★ Great book! Can’t wait to read it again (and I will).
★★★★☆ Good book. I am glad I read this.
★★★☆☆ OK book. Nothing special but not bad.
★★☆☆☆ Not good. Why did I waste my time?
★☆☆☆☆ Lousy. I didn’t finish.
If for whatever reason, I go back and reread a good book, I will change the rating to five-star because I read it again.
October 12, 2020
No fail
The book, Dark Operator, No fail by Doc Spears, et al, was a total win. I look forward to reading this book over and over. Appreciated the 75 items of advice at the ending.
The book, Dark Operator, No fail by Doc Spears, et al, was a total win. I look forward to reading this book over and over. Appreciated the 75 items of advice at the ending.
October 31, 2020
Another good book. At least Kel isn't mister perfect this time.
November 4, 2020
Great third book in the Dark Operator series. The story unraveled with the savage colony and the conspiracy with keeping it secret and alive is thrilling and well written.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 12, 2020
Good series
An excellent addition to the series Kel is always a fun protagonist to follow and always a unique view it's worth reading the series
An excellent addition to the series Kel is always a fun protagonist to follow and always a unique view it's worth reading the series
December 15, 2020
One of the better GE books for sure.
Read
February 4, 2021throughly entertaining
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 28, 2025
Loved part 2 of this book. Part 1 was ok. Some fun AI’s introduced which I hope appear in future books.
January 11, 2021
The "Galaxy's Edge" series is a bit of a guilty pleasure for me and the "Dark Operator" spinoff is interesting in that it gives a much longer / more personal view of one of the people that make 'things happen' militarily.
In the third installment it is a bit of a return to the original Galaxy's Edge series in that it is pretty much non-stop action with much less "personal time", a refreshing mix up, curious to see where the series goes.
In the third installment it is a bit of a return to the original Galaxy's Edge series in that it is pretty much non-stop action with much less "personal time", a refreshing mix up, curious to see where the series goes.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews