Book Review: Columbus Day (Expeditionary Force 1) by Craig Alanson, audio narration by R.C. Bray

 


4/5 stars. I listened to the Audible edition of this book because I had seen a lot about it after I read Dungeon Crawler Carl and then started the Bobiverse. Many people online recommended ExForce as similar to these. I was reluctant to get it until I saw it included with my Audible subscription. At first, I was put off by RC Bray’s unique voice, but it really grew on me, and I now know he is many people’s favorite narrator. I have since purchased the next three audiobooks.


Overall, I am impressed with the military aspects of the storytelling and I enjoy the story, especially when our main character, Joe Bishop, finds a super-intelligent A.I., nicknamed Skippy. The story moves along quickly from beginning to end, but I especially like the military technical language that the author uses throughout - it made the story feel very immersive. The characters are beautifully written, and Joe is an excellent protagonist who is thrown into one demanding situation after another. Skippy is highly intelligent but is also a great source of comedy for the story. I particularly enjoyed the interactions between these two characters.


If you enjoy military scifi, first contact stories, or space opera in general, I highly recommend this series. I do not know how many of the 16 or 17 books I will read, but I do look forward to continuing for now.

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