If you haven't read the first three books in this series, go back and start at the beginning. If you have read them and enjoyed them, you will like this installment as well. Like most military SF it suffers from stuffiness -- since everyone is SO sincere, and SO self-sacrificing (except for the baddies of course, who are SO self-serving, and SO sincere in their maliciousness). However, this series doesn't seem to be quite as over the top in this regard as, say, the works of David Weber. Nevertheless it lacks the saving and ingratiating humor of Lois Bujold's Vorkosigan series.

Once past that (and the ridiculous cover art -- I mean, our hero is a fleet commander, not a marine grunt; come on!) this volume, like the others, is well plotted, with an interesting protagonist, who is presented with some interesting problems. And the space battles seem "realistic" (given the assumed technology of this future), fought with very clever tactics and stratagems.

In short, it was good enough that I will buy the next volume in the series to see how things -- if not "work out" -- progress.

This is the fourth book I have purchased in the series Lost Fleet. The story is put together with large epic pieces looming forming the back drop of an intricate dance of small details that unfold for Captain Black Jack Geary. Jack's injection of fleet combat over a up and down series of subplots is done in true story teller style. This book is polite to it's readers, keeping tradition with "The just shall prevail" and dishing up a nice serving of inter-character drama.

While I found myself looking forward to finding out "who did what" rushing me to the next chapter, there is a upsetting side effect of finishing the book. I would like to read more .... alas, I will need patience.

While reading this series, see if you can piece together some joking jabs at what is possibly Jack's own passion, writing. I say possibly because I do not know him. However his imagination is organized and fun to unpack after a hard days work.

I'm not one for writing reviews, so I'll just say I really like this series. Jack Campbell has been able to describe enough detail that I can see the scenes playing out in my mind. I can't wait for the last 2 books to come out.

I am not much at writing book reviews, I only know one thing in regards to the books that I read. That is did I enjoy the book? In this case I would have to say that yes I do. I wholeheartedly recommend this series to anyone who enjoys Military SciFi. The science, as little as the author goes into it, seems believable and the mysteries associated with the different characters and the aliens only grows deeper as the series progresses. In this book the conspiracy against 'Black Jack' Geary grows in scope as the conspirators grow ever more desperate to remove him from command. Also the possible motives for both the conspirators and the aliens are probed deeper than before. Overall this book continues the excellence of the series and shows what potential it has for the ending.

I love this series, its a good read and great characters. I am enjoying the new novel in the series "Valiant" but I don't want to read to fast becuase I don't know when the next one will be published. Black Jack Geary is a mix between Kirk and Picard (Star Trek fame).

I was looking forward to this as the series has kept my interest so far, but now it seems to be rehashing the previous plots. Did anything new happen?

Do we not see the plots of the previous books,

Flee from the enemy, can't seem to shake them, have a battle, survive, find a new idea based on an old idea, have plotters and detractors, fight the feelings of love...

This book didn't move enough of the overall plot. Perhaps Campbell got a multi book deal and is stretching it.

I enjoy these types of books. The waiting for the next one is painful however.

Good books, getting a bit predictable, but that's ok for mindless enjoyment.
I would also check out Helforts war.

I have read the first four books of this series and I must say that it is a very engaging story. I highly recommend it to those who enjoy passing time with a little sci-fi reading as I do.

I do feel a little bogged down at times from the naming of all the classes, names, etc. etc. of all the different war ships. The author clearly enjoys this idea and talking about the details of this fleet and it makes a very interesting backdrop for a story, but it can get a bit tedious.

The underlying series background story about the mysterious alien race that has been conjectured to exist is one of the aspects of these books that I find especially interesting.

The internal struggle of the main character, I think, is well handled as well.

I look forward to the next installment

I've enjoyed each novel in the Lost Fleet Series and was not disappointed by this addition to the lineup!

Despite some of the negative reviews, I did not find the repetition of information annoying or the manner in which Campbell deals with Geary's love interests. This is a serialized Space Opera!!! As such, Campbell is absolutely faithful to the genre.

Its interesting, but some of the negative reviews have expressed complaints about previous novels in the series and complain that those flaws still exist in the current novel. Yet, these reviewers still bought and read "Valiant" and I bet most of them will buy the next in the series! Why? Because Campbell tells a good story! Also, he takes the time to think through the tactics and strategy of space battles and campaigns. Campbell's novels are lots of fun to read and provide a worthy diversion from our everyday lives.

This is also my first "Lost Fleet" book purchased for my Kindle: Amazon's New Wireless Reading Device. It was formatted perfectly and was an enjoyable way to experience the current novel. It took several weeks after the release of the paperback version before they released the electronic version. Hopefully, future novels will be aligned better. No reason the electronic version should not come out at the same time as the hardback or paperback versions. Baen books typically release an electronic version a few months PRIOR to the release of the paper version.

Jack Campbell (nome de plume of former U.S. Navy officer John G. Henry) has come up with a thoroughly entertaining military sci-fi series of novels with his Black Jack Geary/Lost Fleet books. I give it four stars because the books (generally) are extremely well crafted, highly entertaining efforts.

The Good:
Campbell is one of the best in his descriptive tactical and situational accounts of what large scale fleet actions in future space could be like. Detailed, but not overly-technical, descriptions of large space fleet engagements are very well thought out, yet so well written that a non-military person can grasp what's going on.

Capt. John "Black Jack" Geary is an extremely well-crafted protagonist that we immediately like and empathize with. He's the kind of man everyone wishes to known and work with and for. His struggles with his situation are grist for the mill of legends and Campbell is masterful at getting Geary and the Fleet into impossible situations and then credibly getting them out again.

In the series, the other fleet captains hinder Geary's efforts to get the fleet home safely as much as they do to help him. This makes up some of the best, most entertaining aspects of the books. This is also done in the best tradition of literary military heroes as Horatio Hornblower, Jack Aubrey and Richard Sharpe. Campbell's expert use of divisive, internal fleet politics also gives us a candid look into the military cultures of any age, not just ones in a space fleet-dominated future. Here Campbell writes with the sensitivity and authority of someone who has been on both the winning and the losing ends of such inter-personal political engagements.

The Bad:
Geary's character is very well done but other important characters are not as well-developed as you might hope. Their actions and motivations sometimes strain the credulity of the situations they find themselves in. Captain Desjani, female captain of Geary's flagship, is an interesting character but could be more so, given a little more room to breath. Her continued one-dimensional hero worship of "Geary the Legend" rings true in the first two books.

But as she is both an extremely capable and a highly intelligent, aggressive commander, she might be better served having a more visible (to the reader) internal/external conflict going on about who Geary really is and questioning his military and personal decisions, especially her continued suffering-in-silence about Geary's relationship with Victoria Rione.

Victoria Rione, as written, borders at times on clinical schizophrenia. Though an attempt is made in the third book to explain her actions over the course of the series, they often fail to jibe with the consumate politician she is initially presented as in the beginning of the series. Given all of the other problems on his plate, it is puzzling to most readers why a strong character like Geary would continue to put up with her "Three Faces of Eve" act after the first 2-3 installments, no matter how good she might be in the rack.

The overall problem is that, aside from Geary, no attempt is made to better clarify in better detail for the reader the inner thought processes and motivations that lead important characters to agree with or oppose Geary. Keeping Geary's character "in the dark" some of the time is one thing, and it's consistent that Rione might want to keep her motivations a secret from a legendary and potentially politically dangerous military leader who's seemingly returned from the dead.

What's desperately needed, most of all for Rione, is a clarification for readers of her true thoughts and motivations, especially after so many installments. By the end of Book 3, her character is not so much a difficult-to-figure femme fatale as simply an annoying, ultra-irrational sufferer of the Universe's worst cast of pre-menstrual syndrome. In book 5 (if there is one - I can't seem to find anything online about a release date) if she stays her current course, readers will be hoping that before the fleet makes it home that Madame Co_President has been inadvertantly blown out an air lock.

The Ugly:
This is nit-picking, and a relatively small burdern on the series. While it's an accepted convention to minimally re-explain certain aspects of the hero's Universe so that the individual book stands on its own, Campbell does seem to spend an inordinate amount of space re-explaining far too much that has already been covered. The series as a whole is good enough that, if you were one of those people who inadvertantly began with Book 3, you'd still probably go back and get 1 and 2 to get caught up on what you missed.

Final opinion: The Lost Fleet series is great fun and well worth the time spent in the Alliance/Syndic Universe.

Fun to read... Also gives a really good in depth character study of John Geary, the primary character.

If you enjoy escaping this world for an hour or two, are entertained by military based sci fi, interwoven with a mixed bag of philosophy, romance, and politics, and do not take yourself too seriously, read this series.

I started this series based on Amazon reader reviews. Reviewers of this installment are 'right on' in all their comments, but to varying degrees. Amazon reviewers are really quite good at pegging a book ... discount the outliers on both ends of the 5-star scale and you can pretty much take the reading expectation to the bank.

This is one of those rare ones that sucked me in for an all night read. I think the series has improved over time. I think it's the best installment ... I can't tell you why after reading the other reviewers thoughtful comments ... it just is.

Bring on the last 2 installments, please.

I was somewhat discouraged after reading the negative reviews about this book, but since I loved the first 3, I went ahead and downloaded it anyway (ebook). I am very pleased to say this one is as good as the first 3. IMO it all depends on what you expect out of your reading material.. are you the type of person who will relish a 12 book saga like the wheel of time.. or do you like your books short and sweet. I am of the former category and so.. I really liked this one. Characters get threshed out further.. yes Rionne gets even more irritating but it is necessary to allow a certain twist in Geary's personal life. Some new developments occur within the fleet captains that only adds an element of subterfuge and mystery to the day to day struggle of remaining alive against the syndicate. The alien menace storyline proceeds a little further, not much though. This is fine as I hardly expect much to happen in that direction without the syndicate problem being resolved first. The battles and ship maneuvres are as always, excellent. I look forward to Geary's return in #5!!

This book seems as good as the previous books unlike what others say. The female characters are not bothersome except to young men (insecure ones at that).and the story line seems fine and leaves you wanting more (that's what a good science fiction book is supposed to do!) Buy it you will like it. This is one of the best recent science fiction series is recent memory, not since area 51 have I enjoyed a book more and I have thousands of volumes of science fiction books in my library.

Another excellent chapter in the story of the lost fleet. As usual, great battle scenes and naval tactics, very realistic. The story is moving to another level as Geary explores the motives of the aliens who are pulling the puppet strings in the war between humans, and what to do about it. I just wish Geary would get over the soul-searching about his hero status, it's getting tedious and making him look a bit wimpish.

I have read these books as they came out one by one. While I really enjoyed the 1st and eagerly looked forward to the 2nd and then 3rd, I've noticed a decline in the pace of the story and am not as engaged in the story as I was early in the series. I echo some other comments made here, it feels as if this series is artificially drawn out into 6 books. Alternatively, 3 thicker and tighter books feel like the right thing to me in this place (so says I the experienced publisher, ahem).

So, this 4th was just ok for me. Don't get me wrong, I'm still hooked and want to know how the series ends up, but I'm not on edge awaiting the next book right now.

On the note of a "special edition". I've yet to read the end of the 4th book, my book ends on page 256 and then goes into page 199 of a book called "Valentine's Exile". I'll have to write the book publisher when I get around to it and describe what happened and ask for a replacement... BUT, that more than anything sums up this latest book for me. It was comfortable and fun to read, but I am missing the last 50 pages, don't even know the ending, and its not that big of a deal to me I pretty much think I know where the story is going... kind of like a TV series, its gonna wrap up and say 'tune in next week'.

I know the author has it in him to do better, his first books very much show that.

Just finished the 4 book in the series. It's better than the 3rd because a bit more than just space battles happen in this one. Anybody who enjoys military science fiction, particularly big ship battles, will like this series. My only concern is I don't know how the author will wrap up some of the plot points regarding the aliens unless a 2nd series is planned. I understand this series is to go 7 novels. Given the pacing so far, to fully resolve the alien situation by then may lead readers to feel the story in the last book or two is moving too fast compared to earlier books.

There are series of books that you look forward to, like the Prey series, the Dresden Flies,or the Plum series, because you care about the characters and the author doesn't disappoint his fans. That is how I have felt about the The Lost Fleet series, but not now. I have written some of my best reviews when comes to this series, but the last one and this one have begun to wear on me. The news is that the characters are still growing and interesting and... well that is all there is, character developement plus a guide on how to command and war dehumanizes man. Oh yeah, there is porn in space and it is deadly. Wow just what I need to be remind of. Look this book is almost 300 pages long. There is one terrific battle sequence at the first of the book and a short battle at the end. In between the two is Geary leaving one woman for another and finding out he can't have the new woman until the fleet gets back home, which means a lot of cold showers for both of them. Seriously there is a great deal of talk and talk and ...well talk. I have compared the first two of the series to Johm Wayne movies, the last one to a breather for the author, and now I am just frustrated over the lack of anything remotely looking like action or movement. Oh I will buy the next one and I will hope it will return to the style of the frist two books, but I am not sure.

P.S. I know this may sound petty, but I really hate the cover of this book. It has nothing to do with anything that happens in the story. The first two covers were very good and the last one of kind of strange looking, but this one, oh brother. That makes my point when I am paying more attention to the cover and not to the book there is something wrong and it is no me this time.

I have up till this book enjoyed all the others in the series very much but this one seems more like filler than a fourth. Pretty much all the themes carry over and are repeated over and over.

I agree with some other posts that making this series either 3 or at the most 4 books may have helped so we would not have so much of the same over and over. I am honestly no longer looking forward to the last two as I am not looking forward to another explination on how he doesnt want to be the hero.

Still for a fan of the series its a good book to pickup for a quiet afternoon as its a fast read due to its nature.

Another good read book.
People who expect too much will be disappointed (like some of the reviewers), but people who just want a good read will like it.

It has drama, good battles, plausible technology and decent characters.
Why would his enemies want to still get rid of him even though he keeps winning? I find that totally plausible and even likely, people are not logical and they can be jerks just for the sake of being a jerk and once they've decided that someone is the enemy, it might require them to admit they were wrong and far too many people can never do that.

I would not say that this is the best book in the series, but I awaited it eagerly and finished it in one sitting without being bored.

It's a good read and possibly trite and predictable (you know the good guys are going to win, but, well, duh. As if you thought that Sauron was going to get the Ring back too).

As for the aliens, I'm gonna have to disagree that they are setting up another series, there is something in this one that seems to explain why the aliens are doing what they are doing. There have been hints in other books (book 3 had a bunch) that make them look not necessarily like bad guys. But that's just my opinion.

I hope Campbell does more books, but I just don't see him setting up another series with a war against the aliens.

It's Book four, and although it's well written, it is painfully predictable. There really is no reason why it could not have been writtten as three longer books, rather than six drawn out volumes (unless it was to make money, but I wont be as cynical as that).

Valiant is pretty much like what most others have said. Well described space battles, Rione obviously has some emotional issues she needs to deal with, and would you please hurry up Mr Campbell and point the fleet towards Alliance Space already, so the hero can get on with fighting the real enemy- the unknown Aliens.

Personally, I'm finding this getting like books from Star Wars - once you start, you just keep reading to see what happens in the end, not because they are good reading. It'd be a shame if the last two books were like that.

As with the previous three books, my reading of the fourth book in the series leaves me longing for more. The exciting adventure continues: the complexity of the battle scenes, the threats from three corners, and the struggles of personalities make this an outstanding read.

This book gets 3 stars only because the series is ok. The first two books were great, than the third was not very good, and this one continues the trend.

I've had enough repeat scenes. The "is this Blackjack or John" conversation got old in book 1, enough already. Jeez. And, could we please skip the romance? Really, this is what you thought the book needed, a completely awkward, non-contributing, repetitive romance? It's like Rhione all over again.

And, like another reviewer said, we're looking at 6 more "humans versus the aliens" books after this series. With recurring, "but can a syndicate trust a human" conversations every 25 pages.

It has to be said this book is much the same as the novel which preceded it. We continue to get a series of space battles and fleet commanders who can think of nothing better than to get rid of Geary no matter what the cost. Having said that these books are light-weight and enjoyable reads with a main character who continues to hold the series together.

The plot seeds that have been noted in the earlier books are finally coming into great focus with these later novels and I'll be happy to continue with this series. I think these are the sort of novels you pick up to be entertained, not blown away by fantastic writing and intricate plots and with that in mind these books continue to be a source of enjoyment even if these later novels aren't quite as good as the earlier books in the series.

I have enjoyed the rest of the series so far and this was the same. Nothing really unique from other military SCIFI, however I really like the main character (Black Jack Geary). Fun book to take on a trip.

This was a fine addition to a very enjoyable series. I won't repeat all the plot lines and character twists in this review but I will add that it seems like this book in particular is positioning itself for whatever follow-up series that might be in the works. It continues its repetition of the whole "Black Jack" resisting all the temptations placed before him... blah blah blah but that's a minor annoyance. It does a masterful job (as always) with the fleet psychology and physics of space battle.

If you endured the slight lag in book 3 then this will have been worth it.

Captain Jack Geary the Legendary "Black Jack Geary" is blasting through the Syndic Navy on the way to bringing the Alliance fleet home. 100 years of war has lead to a severe downgrade of fleet Commanders and Jack uses every trick and tactic to keep the fleet alive. Jack learns that the rank and file of the Alliance Fleet finally believe in him and his enemies within the fleet learn this too. So the mindless opposition in fleet conferences are replaced by subtle and hidden attempts against Jack and those close too him. The best book since the first in the series well worth reading.

A lot of reviews about this series of books say this these books tread on tired territory, repeating the same themes every book and just barely improving on the concept at all before printing "THE END" and making you wait for the next book.

They're absolutely right, and that's exactly why I absolutely love these books. When I opened the first book in this series, I was looking to get into a good serial Sci-Fi that would actually keep me waiting for future episodes, and that's precisely what this is. The story isn't terribly original, but it's very well-written and involving. The themes aren't that new, but they're complex and interesting. Above all, Jack Campbell writes some of the best space battles I've ever read, and I'll honestly keep coming back just for that.

This series of books is like a modern novelized Flash Gordon or Star Wars. It's not about what the individual elements are, it's how they add up. The sum total of this series is an excellent little space opera punctuated by Hollywood-worthy battle scenes, and I absolutely must see how it all ends. Bring on the next book, Mr. Campbell!

And in case you're wondering about the plot- Geary's still trying to get the fleet home and treachery abounds. Sound familiar? Good. If you're expecting much more, you've honestly missed the entire point of this series.

My thoughts, in no specific order:

* The character of Rione has pushed beyond annoying/irritating into the "get rid of this character" territory - move her to one of her own ships, kill her off, whatever... her attitude was required in book 1, growing tiresome in book 2, and completely useless in book 3 and 4 - yes, her attitude has a different focus in this book (Desjani) but it doesn't matter - her purpose has been served. Geary is fully aware of the thin line between Hero and real-world leadership; he doesn't need Rione anymore to remind him.

* The 3rd party (aliens) storyline in the book is obviously not going to be resolved in book 5, so I fully expect a 2nd series with Geary leading both Syndic and Alliance forces against this unknown enemy. The problem I have with this is that the 3rd party was introduced in Book 1 and has dragged out to the point where I'm not sure I want to wait until 2011/2012 for this story to be completed and we find out how Geary chooses to spend the remainder of his days...

* Whereas the previous books had 2-3 well-written battle scenes in them, this one has only 1 detailed battle (1 at the end is hastily written and no explanation of where this force has jumped in from or how they happened to just 'be there') - again, this goes back to my argument that the series is losing steam.

* This series could easily have been done in a trilogy (with longer pagecounts); these books are short and can be read fairly quickly and it only makes me wary of getting started with the next Black Jack series as I'm ready to move on to something new. If the next series ends up being a 5 parter, don't say I didn't warn you.

* My biggest complaint is the author's tendency to repeat things in all 4 books (and probably will be repeated in book 5) - this includes explaining how the 100+ of ship captains use the conference room (virtual, of course), the importance of the hypernet key, how Geary was found floating suspended for 100 years, etc... any reader who cannot look in the front of the book and see this is book 4 in a series of 5 deserves to be confused... the repeated content just makes the story more tiring and comes off as "filler" so the book meets a specific page count.

* My last bit of review is a plea to the author to ask his publishers to consider releasing the next series as a 3 parter, with longer page count and shorter release periods.

The latest installment in a solid space opera series. This is a decently written and plotted book, above average for this genre. It is better than the last book in the series but not as good as the first two books, both of which used some clever literary devices to enhance the plot.