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Star Carrier #2
Center of Gravity
In the evolution of every sentient race, there is a turning point when the species achieves transcendence through technology.
The warlike Sh'daar are determined that this monumental milestone will never be achieved by the creatures known as human.
On the far side of known human space, the Marines are under siege, battling the relentless servant races of the Sh'daar aggressor. With a task force stripped to the bone and the Terran Confederation of States racked by dissent, rogue Admiral Alexander Koenig must make the momentous decision that will seal his fate and the fate of humankind. A strong defensive posture is futile, so Koenig will seize the initiative and turn the gargantuan Star Carrier "America" toward the unknown. For the element of surprise is the only hope of stalling the Sh'daar assault on Earth's solar system--and the war for humankind's survival must be taken directly to the enemy.
The warlike Sh'daar are determined that this monumental milestone will never be achieved by the creatures known as human.
On the far side of known human space, the Marines are under siege, battling the relentless servant races of the Sh'daar aggressor. With a task force stripped to the bone and the Terran Confederation of States racked by dissent, rogue Admiral Alexander Koenig must make the momentous decision that will seal his fate and the fate of humankind. A strong defensive posture is futile, so Koenig will seize the initiative and turn the gargantuan Star Carrier "America" toward the unknown. For the element of surprise is the only hope of stalling the Sh'daar assault on Earth's solar system--and the war for humankind's survival must be taken directly to the enemy.
389 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published February 22, 2011
About the author
Ian Douglas
89 books554 followersIan Douglas is a pseudonym used by William H. Keith Jr..
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 135 reviews
January 3, 2024
I think I was first introduced to this type of thing with Jack Campbell's (or John G. Hemry's, if you prefer) Lost Fleet series (Dauntless) and the Starfire series by David Weber & Steve White (Crusade). A nod should probably also go to Walter John Williams' Dread Empire's Fall (The Praxis). All of these I highly recommend, by the way.
Ian Douglas is, arguably, a staple in the Military Science Fiction genre, and it was inevitable that I would start reading his works.
One could probably argue that there are certain conventions that a reader needs to embrace in order to fully appreciate or enjoy this genre, but hot-doggity-dog it can be a lot of fun. Sprawling space battles, all kinds of interesting aliens and tech, strategy and tactics, beating the odds, fist pumping. You're either going to like this, or you're not, and that's just fine.
As for this particular book, which is the second entry in the Star Carrier series: I don't want to go into plot details, because frankly, you already know how this goes (and that is why you're here). Suffice to say, I enjoyed it. It was what I expected, which really says it all (if I had expected it to be a book I wouldn't like, I wouldn't have read it).
I did knock one star because it wasn't quite as exciting as Earth Strike (which, might I add, opened with a battle scene that took up a third of the book, so it set the bar really high).
Ian Douglas is, arguably, a staple in the Military Science Fiction genre, and it was inevitable that I would start reading his works.
One could probably argue that there are certain conventions that a reader needs to embrace in order to fully appreciate or enjoy this genre, but hot-doggity-dog it can be a lot of fun. Sprawling space battles, all kinds of interesting aliens and tech, strategy and tactics, beating the odds, fist pumping. You're either going to like this, or you're not, and that's just fine.
As for this particular book, which is the second entry in the Star Carrier series: I don't want to go into plot details, because frankly, you already know how this goes (and that is why you're here). Suffice to say, I enjoyed it. It was what I expected, which really says it all (if I had expected it to be a book I wouldn't like, I wouldn't have read it).
I did knock one star because it wasn't quite as exciting as Earth Strike (which, might I add, opened with a battle scene that took up a third of the book, so it set the bar really high).
April 14, 2015
I read the first book in this series and really thought Ian Douglas had set up an interesting universe full of aliens, advanced technology and desperate situations. Unfortunately the second book was a huge disappointment. I don't know if Douglas just banged the story out in three days to fulfill a contract or if he had someone else ghost write the book. Either way it is a huge mess.
To me what makes a space opera interesting is when the author chooses a universe very similar to our real universe with one or two changes. Like a hostile alien race that is in conflict with us poor humans. Then determine what advances in technology is needed to make such a story possible and interesting.
In the Star Carrier series the there are three main technological advances.
1)Advanced nano technology in the form of star ship hulls that can change shape, replicators that can create most anything from feed stock, and nano bots that keep humans healthy and alive for a very long time.
2)Artificial intelligence that is faster and smarter than human intelligence.
3)FTL spacecraft capable of travelling many light years in a few days and the ability to create artificial black hole singularities that allow small fighter space craft to accelerate at 50,000 gravities so they can reach light speed in about 10 minutes. This technology also allows humans access to practically unlimited energy drawn from the quantum vacuum.
Now this could make for some very interesting stories if the author spent a few minutes to figure out how these technologies would change the tactics of space warfare. And write stories that reflect that thought. Instead Douglas fights the space battles as if he where using aircraft carriers and fighter jets.
Even worse he changes the capabilities of the technology depending on what the plot needs at the moment. For example in one scene the human shield technology can withstand everything an entire enemy fleet can throw at it for several weeks while waiting for reinforcements to arrive. Then a bit later we have a situation where the shields are brushed away by a single ship with the first shot. This sort of hand waving is scattered throughout the book so frequently it completely disrupted my ability to accept any of the technology as real.
As for tactics, if you have a technology that lets you accelerate things to light speed in 10 minutes then all you need to do is send light speed missiles to impact the enemy home worlds and bases. Plus the enemy would do the same to us. No need to send a fleet of ships. Just one ship that can launch a few light speed rocks and you win. Anything approaching at light speed is by definition undetectable and unstoppable. Even worse the humans have the technology necessary to create artificial black holes and it never occurs to anyone that a black hole might make a pretty good weapon. Even when several human ships are destroyed by their own black holes when they take damage.
So the technology is inconsistent, poorly defined and in many cases completely ignored if Douglas thinks the plot needs a bit of suspense.
This leaves the character development of the aliens and humans to make the book interesting. Not in this mess. The aliens had huge potential from the first book. Then in the second book the aliens are all over the place. Sometimes they are given god like powers and then a few pages later they act like brain damaged apes. The humans don't do any better, they are all caricatures at best. Completely one dimensional, predictable and boring.
In summary - if you read the first book cut your losses, put this book down and move on to something else. I recommend the Lost Fleet series by Jack Campbell.
To me what makes a space opera interesting is when the author chooses a universe very similar to our real universe with one or two changes. Like a hostile alien race that is in conflict with us poor humans. Then determine what advances in technology is needed to make such a story possible and interesting.
In the Star Carrier series the there are three main technological advances.
1)Advanced nano technology in the form of star ship hulls that can change shape, replicators that can create most anything from feed stock, and nano bots that keep humans healthy and alive for a very long time.
2)Artificial intelligence that is faster and smarter than human intelligence.
3)FTL spacecraft capable of travelling many light years in a few days and the ability to create artificial black hole singularities that allow small fighter space craft to accelerate at 50,000 gravities so they can reach light speed in about 10 minutes. This technology also allows humans access to practically unlimited energy drawn from the quantum vacuum.
Now this could make for some very interesting stories if the author spent a few minutes to figure out how these technologies would change the tactics of space warfare. And write stories that reflect that thought. Instead Douglas fights the space battles as if he where using aircraft carriers and fighter jets.
Even worse he changes the capabilities of the technology depending on what the plot needs at the moment. For example in one scene the human shield technology can withstand everything an entire enemy fleet can throw at it for several weeks while waiting for reinforcements to arrive. Then a bit later we have a situation where the shields are brushed away by a single ship with the first shot. This sort of hand waving is scattered throughout the book so frequently it completely disrupted my ability to accept any of the technology as real.
As for tactics, if you have a technology that lets you accelerate things to light speed in 10 minutes then all you need to do is send light speed missiles to impact the enemy home worlds and bases. Plus the enemy would do the same to us. No need to send a fleet of ships. Just one ship that can launch a few light speed rocks and you win. Anything approaching at light speed is by definition undetectable and unstoppable. Even worse the humans have the technology necessary to create artificial black holes and it never occurs to anyone that a black hole might make a pretty good weapon. Even when several human ships are destroyed by their own black holes when they take damage.
So the technology is inconsistent, poorly defined and in many cases completely ignored if Douglas thinks the plot needs a bit of suspense.
This leaves the character development of the aliens and humans to make the book interesting. Not in this mess. The aliens had huge potential from the first book. Then in the second book the aliens are all over the place. Sometimes they are given god like powers and then a few pages later they act like brain damaged apes. The humans don't do any better, they are all caricatures at best. Completely one dimensional, predictable and boring.
In summary - if you read the first book cut your losses, put this book down and move on to something else. I recommend the Lost Fleet series by Jack Campbell.
May 1, 2012
Star Carrier: Center of Gravity (Book 2)
So lets start this off by saying I rated Book 1 (Earth Strike) at 3.5 overall.
The overall story was VERY interesting when the two books combine (meaning read them both) however there were some major issues I had with it so lets get going.
Pros: Story, the way he keeps the story moving without you feeling bored or slowed down is very nice. When I was reading the book I found myself not wanting to stop as I loved the space battle combat and the way he described everything. Characters, some may remember that my main issue with the last book was the cardboard cut out characters of his. Well rejoice! In this book we not only get even more in depth look at the mind and emotions of Grey (main character from last book) but he also dives into a little bit of history and emotions of the Rear Admiral. He also does something I had not expected. He brought in a new character, and not only brought in but made you connect with her in the same fashion he did with Grey in the last book (not completely but fairly close). I love how he is foreshadowing the last book and the reveal that any intelligent reader can see coming. He makes it kind of obvious but I still like the way he is revealing it to the characters in the book.
Cons: Continuity, the way he ignores obvious military options that would have opened up because of certain things happening in the last book boggles my mind. Instead of a military learning from an improvised attack that proved effective they completely ignore it in this universe. Tactics that he used in the first book that would be perfect for some battles in this book are overlooked and not even touched on at times. Granted I understand he had new ideas that he wanted to use but he could have at least explained why he didn't use some of the same tactics he did in the first book. Plus it also felt like the rules of the universe changed slightly around the tech that he used. Over description, the other issue I had with the first book appears to just be this authors writing style it seems. This issue is purely personal however I felt as though he explained how the FTL drive worked 5 times over the course of the 2 books and truthfully I don't think most people are that forgetful. On a last note I did find 3 Spelling/Grammar errors that should have been corrected...not a huge deal but worth mentioning.
Overall: Good book with a great continuing of the story from the first book. Slightly over descriptive and has some continuity errors that are easy to see if looking. But over compensates by creating an emotional link between you and a couple characters that his first book lacked.
While I can't in good conscious give this book a full 4/5 I can give it a 3.7/5 as it is better then the first and kept my attention longer but the errors and over description keeps it from a full 4/5
Star Carrier Book 1 Earth Strike: 3.5/5
Star Carrier Book 2 Center of Gravity: 3.7/5
So lets start this off by saying I rated Book 1 (Earth Strike) at 3.5 overall.
The overall story was VERY interesting when the two books combine (meaning read them both) however there were some major issues I had with it so lets get going.
Pros: Story, the way he keeps the story moving without you feeling bored or slowed down is very nice. When I was reading the book I found myself not wanting to stop as I loved the space battle combat and the way he described everything. Characters, some may remember that my main issue with the last book was the cardboard cut out characters of his. Well rejoice! In this book we not only get even more in depth look at the mind and emotions of Grey (main character from last book) but he also dives into a little bit of history and emotions of the Rear Admiral. He also does something I had not expected. He brought in a new character, and not only brought in but made you connect with her in the same fashion he did with Grey in the last book (not completely but fairly close). I love how he is foreshadowing the last book and the reveal that any intelligent reader can see coming. He makes it kind of obvious but I still like the way he is revealing it to the characters in the book.
Cons: Continuity, the way he ignores obvious military options that would have opened up because of certain things happening in the last book boggles my mind. Instead of a military learning from an improvised attack that proved effective they completely ignore it in this universe. Tactics that he used in the first book that would be perfect for some battles in this book are overlooked and not even touched on at times. Granted I understand he had new ideas that he wanted to use but he could have at least explained why he didn't use some of the same tactics he did in the first book. Plus it also felt like the rules of the universe changed slightly around the tech that he used. Over description, the other issue I had with the first book appears to just be this authors writing style it seems. This issue is purely personal however I felt as though he explained how the FTL drive worked 5 times over the course of the 2 books and truthfully I don't think most people are that forgetful. On a last note I did find 3 Spelling/Grammar errors that should have been corrected...not a huge deal but worth mentioning.
Overall: Good book with a great continuing of the story from the first book. Slightly over descriptive and has some continuity errors that are easy to see if looking. But over compensates by creating an emotional link between you and a couple characters that his first book lacked.
While I can't in good conscious give this book a full 4/5 I can give it a 3.7/5 as it is better then the first and kept my attention longer but the errors and over description keeps it from a full 4/5
Star Carrier Book 1 Earth Strike: 3.5/5
Star Carrier Book 2 Center of Gravity: 3.7/5
October 2, 2024
A rather decent follow-up to the first book in the series. However, I’m still not entirely sold on the characters. Admiral Koenig is the typical military strong-man who is always right and could easily solve all the world’s problems if those damned always-wrong politicians would just stay off his back. I know it’s the trope and gives us a hero with proper antagonists, but it’s sometimes a bit overdone. And I just don’t really like Gray. I kind of think he’s meant to be the “every man” component to the story that we can identify with – since he’s the outsider in a strange world – but, he’s just not a likeable guy to me. And, looking at some of the future titles in the series, it makes me sad that he’s going to become ever more important.
Having said all of that, I really enjoy the world-building that goes on in these stories. The politics of a disunited and yet, united, Humanity…a sort of mirrored situation with the omnipresent alien empire made up of its disparate and, seemingly, not-as-united-as-we-weren’t-meant-to-believe coalition. Some of the diverse alien members seem downright resentful of the thumb-pressing of their overlords.
There are also hints dropped here and there that there may actually be some kind of reason other than “because we can” behind the alien overlords’ control over the galaxy. There have been hint drops about “protecting” Humanity (and the other subjugated alien races) from the dangers of achieving some kind of ascendance through a technological singularity.
Having said all of that, I really enjoy the world-building that goes on in these stories. The politics of a disunited and yet, united, Humanity…a sort of mirrored situation with the omnipresent alien empire made up of its disparate and, seemingly, not-as-united-as-we-weren’t-meant-to-believe coalition. Some of the diverse alien members seem downright resentful of the thumb-pressing of their overlords.
There are also hints dropped here and there that there may actually be some kind of reason other than “because we can” behind the alien overlords’ control over the galaxy. There have been hint drops about “protecting” Humanity (and the other subjugated alien races) from the dangers of achieving some kind of ascendance through a technological singularity.
January 31, 2012
This is the second book in Ian Douglas’s new series. It is along the same lines as his triple trilogy Galactic Marine series.
In this adventure we start out several months after the Earth Star Fleet has defended Earth against a xenophobic race called the Sh’daar who launched meteors broken out of orbit towards Earth. They are determined that humanity should not evolve technologically enough to challenge their rule of the Universe as they know it.
Rear Admiral Alexander Koenig has been ordered back to Erath to attend a special meeting with the Senate. This involves bringing the flag ship America back to Earth.
The Senate has a special offer for Admiral Koenig but Koenig is convinced that the answr to the war with the Sh’daar is to take the fight to them. Something they would never think humanity would do. The element of surprise would certainly be in the Earth’s Fleet benefit.
However Earth is still paranoid about another attack being launched on the home world by the Sh’daar so while Admiral Koenig will get to undertake Operation Golden Arrow it with a very small fleet of ships.
Can the Earth Fleet prevail ? Is Admiral Koenig’s first target important to the Sh’daar or just a minor player ? What other weapon technology do the Sh’daar have in their arsenal ?
There is great character development in this story along with great tactical manoeuvres both individually and fleet wise. Lots of action.
STORY ATTRIBUTES:
ORIGINALITY (standard, high, stellar) – HIGH – Ian Douglas has a vivid imagination
ACTION (none, some, lots) – LOTS – aliens aliens and more aliens to kick but
SEX (none, some, lots) NONE
PROFANITY (none, some, lots) NONE - no time
In this adventure we start out several months after the Earth Star Fleet has defended Earth against a xenophobic race called the Sh’daar who launched meteors broken out of orbit towards Earth. They are determined that humanity should not evolve technologically enough to challenge their rule of the Universe as they know it.
Rear Admiral Alexander Koenig has been ordered back to Erath to attend a special meeting with the Senate. This involves bringing the flag ship America back to Earth.
The Senate has a special offer for Admiral Koenig but Koenig is convinced that the answr to the war with the Sh’daar is to take the fight to them. Something they would never think humanity would do. The element of surprise would certainly be in the Earth’s Fleet benefit.
However Earth is still paranoid about another attack being launched on the home world by the Sh’daar so while Admiral Koenig will get to undertake Operation Golden Arrow it with a very small fleet of ships.
Can the Earth Fleet prevail ? Is Admiral Koenig’s first target important to the Sh’daar or just a minor player ? What other weapon technology do the Sh’daar have in their arsenal ?
There is great character development in this story along with great tactical manoeuvres both individually and fleet wise. Lots of action.
STORY ATTRIBUTES:
ORIGINALITY (standard, high, stellar) – HIGH – Ian Douglas has a vivid imagination
ACTION (none, some, lots) – LOTS – aliens aliens and more aliens to kick but
SEX (none, some, lots) NONE
PROFANITY (none, some, lots) NONE - no time
July 31, 2016
This is the 2nd book in the Star Carrier series by Ian Douglas. In this one Earth is attacked yet again by allies of the mysterious Sh'darr. The Space Navy beats them of but at grave cost. It is finally decide to carry the war to them instead of maintaining a merely defensive position. This one has great space battles scenes as well back stories about several key individuals in the conflict. I recommend this one to all fans of Space Opera/Military Science Fiction and fans of Ian Douglas.
August 28, 2018
The middle book of this trilogy is another solid entry in the series. A few less battle scenes and a bit more character building, which some readers won't like, but I had no problem with. It's been an enjoyable series so far.
March 12, 2011
Earth Strikes back …
Ian Douglas likes the theme of humanity against a huge galactic empire where the American military by human ingenuity and flexibility overcomes both the aliens and the stupid civilian administration that tries to lead them astray. The civilians are not so over the top stupid this time but that is not to say they are smart.
Center of Gravity starts in the aftermath of Earth Strike and Admiral Alexander Koenig and his crew are officially the heroes that saved the day. The closeness of it all scares the political leadership so much that they want to pull more forces back to defend earth, a posture that would put the center of gravity of the conflict right on top of earth. Admiral Koenig knows a strong defense is futile against an aggressor with overwhelming resources. He has to take the initiative and bring the fight to the Sh’daar. He eventually gets a reduced task force he has to sneak away with fully knowing that an order to stay and bolster earth defenses is only hours away.
As usual in Ian Douglas series the focus is on the military actions with vivid descriptions of combat and what is happening with the people involved including the alien point of view. The humans are a bit bland compared to the aliens’ interesting psychology. Ian introduces a few more races and starts to reveal more about the Sh’daar, the mystic race leading the galactic empire and their motivation behind the edict against transcendence technologies that started the war.
The humans all have their struggles beside the obvious military ones Alexander struggles with the death of Karyn Mendelson in the recent destruction of the synchorbital military base Phobia above Mars while Lieutenant Trevor Gray struggles both with prejudices against Prims and his feelings for Angela who he had to enroll for to pay for the treatment that saved her life but also made her another person, a person not in love with him.
Center of Gravity was all in all an enjoyable read but it is on familiar grounds. I hope Ian Douglas deviate more from the formula in forthcoming books. I still want to read the next book No Return when it comes out in 2012.
Ian Douglas likes the theme of humanity against a huge galactic empire where the American military by human ingenuity and flexibility overcomes both the aliens and the stupid civilian administration that tries to lead them astray. The civilians are not so over the top stupid this time but that is not to say they are smart.
Center of Gravity starts in the aftermath of Earth Strike and Admiral Alexander Koenig and his crew are officially the heroes that saved the day. The closeness of it all scares the political leadership so much that they want to pull more forces back to defend earth, a posture that would put the center of gravity of the conflict right on top of earth. Admiral Koenig knows a strong defense is futile against an aggressor with overwhelming resources. He has to take the initiative and bring the fight to the Sh’daar. He eventually gets a reduced task force he has to sneak away with fully knowing that an order to stay and bolster earth defenses is only hours away.
As usual in Ian Douglas series the focus is on the military actions with vivid descriptions of combat and what is happening with the people involved including the alien point of view. The humans are a bit bland compared to the aliens’ interesting psychology. Ian introduces a few more races and starts to reveal more about the Sh’daar, the mystic race leading the galactic empire and their motivation behind the edict against transcendence technologies that started the war.
The humans all have their struggles beside the obvious military ones Alexander struggles with the death of Karyn Mendelson in the recent destruction of the synchorbital military base Phobia above Mars while Lieutenant Trevor Gray struggles both with prejudices against Prims and his feelings for Angela who he had to enroll for to pay for the treatment that saved her life but also made her another person, a person not in love with him.
Center of Gravity was all in all an enjoyable read but it is on familiar grounds. I hope Ian Douglas deviate more from the formula in forthcoming books. I still want to read the next book No Return when it comes out in 2012.
September 9, 2012
In this book we learn much more about the ancient alien race - the Sh'daar - that is trying to prevent Humans from achieving transcendence (aka the technological singularity). The book balances action with plot and character development. Sadly, we only get a brief glimpse of Commander Koenig's past and his motivations in this book. I'm looking forward to seeing further character development in the next book.
Ian Douglas does a good job of describing the physics and gets most of it "right". Obviously he has to stretch a few things to make space combat work on a reasonable time-scale.
Some of the things he gets wrong:
1) For some reason the ships use WATER as reaction mass. For God's sake WHY? It has horrible properties (like not compacting well and not being very dense and expanding when it freezes). And worse they stick it in the front of their ships - as a partial shield, so when penetrated it ruptures ice all over the place.
2) Many of the ships use mass drivers (throwing a 1kg mass) at the enemy. The velocities described for them are no where near "c", yet they supposedly do horrible amounts of damage to the enemy ships when they're hit. Yet these ships routinely accelerate up to near light speed within a solar system. The energy from hitting just one micro-meteorite would be much more than the 1kg mass and yet the ships don't blow up cruising around.
3) I'm sure there are others that I'm recalling at the moment...
Still a fun, easy, read where humans are the underdog in the fight!
Ian Douglas does a good job of describing the physics and gets most of it "right". Obviously he has to stretch a few things to make space combat work on a reasonable time-scale.
Some of the things he gets wrong:
1) For some reason the ships use WATER as reaction mass. For God's sake WHY? It has horrible properties (like not compacting well and not being very dense and expanding when it freezes). And worse they stick it in the front of their ships - as a partial shield, so when penetrated it ruptures ice all over the place.
2) Many of the ships use mass drivers (throwing a 1kg mass) at the enemy. The velocities described for them are no where near "c", yet they supposedly do horrible amounts of damage to the enemy ships when they're hit. Yet these ships routinely accelerate up to near light speed within a solar system. The energy from hitting just one micro-meteorite would be much more than the 1kg mass and yet the ships don't blow up cruising around.
3) I'm sure there are others that I'm recalling at the moment...
Still a fun, easy, read where humans are the underdog in the fight!
January 4, 2015
The second book in the Star Carrier series continues the story from Earth Strike with Admiral Koenig leading the battlegroup from the Star Carrier America and Trevor Grey still flying his starhawk but finally fitting in a bit better despite his prim beginnings.
The battlegroup is being feted at a party in one of the archeologies on earth after they saved the Earth from a strike by the Turasch. Grey meets up with his old flame Angela, who he lost to the "modern" world after bringing her in to a hospital when she had a stroke, and was the prime reason he became a starhawk pilot, any old feelings he may have had finally brought out in the open, but before any resolution could be made there is a recall to the ships and he is back out in the stars where he feels more at home.
A H'rulka ship is seen in Earths space, the H'rulka being another client species of the overlording Sh'daar, and one had followed a recon probe back to earth. Koenig has to make a decision - to go "rogue" and take the star carrier out to battle the aliens on their turf, or wait for the inevitable orders that are only hours behind him to stay and defend the earth. Since good things don't always come to those who wait the good Admiral decides to leap into the unknown and the book is filled with the usual well done descriptions of a space battle that Ian Douglas is known for.
Looking forward to the third (and final?) book of the series.
The battlegroup is being feted at a party in one of the archeologies on earth after they saved the Earth from a strike by the Turasch. Grey meets up with his old flame Angela, who he lost to the "modern" world after bringing her in to a hospital when she had a stroke, and was the prime reason he became a starhawk pilot, any old feelings he may have had finally brought out in the open, but before any resolution could be made there is a recall to the ships and he is back out in the stars where he feels more at home.
A H'rulka ship is seen in Earths space, the H'rulka being another client species of the overlording Sh'daar, and one had followed a recon probe back to earth. Koenig has to make a decision - to go "rogue" and take the star carrier out to battle the aliens on their turf, or wait for the inevitable orders that are only hours behind him to stay and defend the earth. Since good things don't always come to those who wait the good Admiral decides to leap into the unknown and the book is filled with the usual well done descriptions of a space battle that Ian Douglas is known for.
Looking forward to the third (and final?) book of the series.
March 20, 2015
This review will be for the complete first three book arc of this series. This novel reminded me a lot of the Jack Campbell Lost Fleet series as there was lots of space battles with ship to ship action. In this series, humans are fighting multiple alien species and not other human groups and for the most part are behind them technologically but the author makes up for this in the tenaciousness of the human fighting spirit. The author also does a pretty good job in fleshing out the multiple main characters and well as building a nice universe to tell the tale in.
I really enjoyed this who series and look forward to reading more in the followup series. 4 stars for a fun read. Recommended for any fan of space navy military sci-fi.
I really enjoyed this who series and look forward to reading more in the followup series. 4 stars for a fun read. Recommended for any fan of space navy military sci-fi.
May 11, 2013
So I liked this book...
You know how when you watch a movie featuring giant fighting robots and every second not featuring giant fighting robots is a waste of time?
Ian, the author, is good at tech, excellent at warfare and excellent at alien aliens. And if you can overlook the terrible characters and ham handed social commentary you might like this book as much as me.
I recommend this book to people who like high tech space battles, cool actual aliens and high tech stuff enough to excuse the characters and the terrible social commentary.
You know how when you watch a movie featuring giant fighting robots and every second not featuring giant fighting robots is a waste of time?
Ian, the author, is good at tech, excellent at warfare and excellent at alien aliens. And if you can overlook the terrible characters and ham handed social commentary you might like this book as much as me.
I recommend this book to people who like high tech space battles, cool actual aliens and high tech stuff enough to excuse the characters and the terrible social commentary.
July 10, 2017
Repetition, repetition and repetition. It gets boring hearing the same explanation for the 6th time. I had hoped the author would have gotten better in the second book. The story is fairly interesting but I've had enough.
I'm quitting the series to find something better for now. Will maybe return and continue.
I'm quitting the series to find something better for now. Will maybe return and continue.
December 8, 2020
I really enjoy a good SiFi story that has a lot of actual science based tech in it. I don't mind if the science is future based as long as it is based on actual theories. This series has excellent science tech throughout along with some fictional science thrown in. Great portrayal of aliens and alien races and their cultures. I am very glad I found this writer. Very recommended
October 11, 2017
All too shallow when it comes to characters.
November 23, 2020
Star Carrier 2: Center of Gravity
Author: Ian Douglas
Publisher: Harper Voyager
Publishing Date: 2011
Pgs: 389
Dewey: PBK F DOU
Disposition: Irving Public Library - South Campus - Irving, TX
_________________________________________________
REVIEW MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS
Summary:
_________________________________________________
Genre:
Science Fiction
Space Opera
Fleet Action
Militaria
Why this book:
I really liked Book 1. Have to give 2 a try.
_________________________________________________
Plot Holes/Out of Character:
I thought he had sought Angela out and been turned away by her at some point in the last book maybe in a flashback. I could be wrong...but it feels like he did.
Think there is a hole in the continuity. Right after the second Battle of Arcturus, there is a mention of the client races of the Sh’daar. They mention the Jivad Rallam who I don't think humans knew about yet. Though in fairness, the Agletsch could have mentioned them.
Favorite Scene:
Admiral Koenig acting to save the H’rulka city in the gas giant atmosphere.
Favorite Concept:
I love well done sci-fi military space opera: fighter planes, battleships, destroyers, submarines.
Hmm Moments:
I get that space is big. But, considering how tightly the Terrans watch space, how did that H’rulka ship manage to sneak into Saturn.
The Pan Europeans sending somebody of higher rank seems hinky. Considering the political climate on Earth when the task force warped out.
Meh / PFFT Moments:
I really hope this prim crap was over after he saved all of them at the end of the last book. I get it’s used to build background drama, but c’mon. Collins should’ve been smacked down at some point. Putting the onus on Gray isn’t kosher after the previous book. If this goes on forever, it will impact my enjoyment of future volumes.
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Pacing:
Very well paced.
Last Page Sound:
Good story. Good space opera.
Things I’d Like to See:
A map of Star Carrier space.
Author Assessment:
I’m definitely in for Part 3.
_________________________________________________
Author: Ian Douglas
Publisher: Harper Voyager
Publishing Date: 2011
Pgs: 389
Dewey: PBK F DOU
Disposition: Irving Public Library - South Campus - Irving, TX
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REVIEW MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS
Summary:
_________________________________________________
Genre:
Science Fiction
Space Opera
Fleet Action
Militaria
Why this book:
I really liked Book 1. Have to give 2 a try.
_________________________________________________
Plot Holes/Out of Character:
I thought he had sought Angela out and been turned away by her at some point in the last book maybe in a flashback. I could be wrong...but it feels like he did.
Think there is a hole in the continuity. Right after the second Battle of Arcturus, there is a mention of the client races of the Sh’daar. They mention the Jivad Rallam who I don't think humans knew about yet. Though in fairness, the Agletsch could have mentioned them.
Favorite Scene:
Admiral Koenig acting to save the H’rulka city in the gas giant atmosphere.
Favorite Concept:
I love well done sci-fi military space opera: fighter planes, battleships, destroyers, submarines.
Hmm Moments:
I get that space is big. But, considering how tightly the Terrans watch space, how did that H’rulka ship manage to sneak into Saturn.
The Pan Europeans sending somebody of higher rank seems hinky. Considering the political climate on Earth when the task force warped out.
Meh / PFFT Moments:
I really hope this prim crap was over after he saved all of them at the end of the last book. I get it’s used to build background drama, but c’mon. Collins should’ve been smacked down at some point. Putting the onus on Gray isn’t kosher after the previous book. If this goes on forever, it will impact my enjoyment of future volumes.
_________________________________________________
Pacing:
Very well paced.
Last Page Sound:
Good story. Good space opera.
Things I’d Like to See:
A map of Star Carrier space.
Author Assessment:
I’m definitely in for Part 3.
_________________________________________________
June 12, 2018
Excellent, the best military science fiction in decades
Stephen V Cole using wife Leanna's account. I am, BTW, a registered engineer who spent 17 years in military intelligence and 11 in the Texas Guard including three years in command of a combat security company and the rest in personnel, intelligence, and operations staff jobs. My final year was head of brigade operations and training. I also run a game publishing company and once designed a little game with 2000 pages of rules called Star Fleet Battles.
This series is great, fun to read not just for great writing but for following real science and physics. In this universe ships can warp faster than light but communication is limited to light speed. Radio signals from that distant star tell you the enemy had a base there 72 years ago. Ships can warp between stars but have to drop out of warp at the outer edge of a star system. From that point fighters and kinetic weapons accelerate to .99 c and ships to .50 c so once the light of your arrival warns the enemy your fighters and kinetic rocks are five minutes behind. The fighters have to fight for nine hours until the ships arrive. Most of the kinetic rocks will miss since their targets try to move. Ships and fighters can fly sideways and backwards to aim their weapons. Unusual tactical situations allowing unusual ways to use weapons do not feel contrived.
And what fighters! Carrying dozens of nuclear missiles, sandcasters, particle beam weapons, and cannons firing uranium slugs, one fighter can wreck several warships. If it survives.
People ARE the story. The admiral still has to deal with knowing that his every order means the deaths of some of his ships and people. Pilots who grew up in uncivilized ruins in Middle Ages lawless conditions have to struggle against the prejudice of comrades who grew up with computer implants and downloaded college degrees.
Aliens are people too and the alien characters are fully developed people not cardboard cutouts.
Stephen V Cole using wife Leanna's account. I am, BTW, a registered engineer who spent 17 years in military intelligence and 11 in the Texas Guard including three years in command of a combat security company and the rest in personnel, intelligence, and operations staff jobs. My final year was head of brigade operations and training. I also run a game publishing company and once designed a little game with 2000 pages of rules called Star Fleet Battles.
This series is great, fun to read not just for great writing but for following real science and physics. In this universe ships can warp faster than light but communication is limited to light speed. Radio signals from that distant star tell you the enemy had a base there 72 years ago. Ships can warp between stars but have to drop out of warp at the outer edge of a star system. From that point fighters and kinetic weapons accelerate to .99 c and ships to .50 c so once the light of your arrival warns the enemy your fighters and kinetic rocks are five minutes behind. The fighters have to fight for nine hours until the ships arrive. Most of the kinetic rocks will miss since their targets try to move. Ships and fighters can fly sideways and backwards to aim their weapons. Unusual tactical situations allowing unusual ways to use weapons do not feel contrived.
And what fighters! Carrying dozens of nuclear missiles, sandcasters, particle beam weapons, and cannons firing uranium slugs, one fighter can wreck several warships. If it survives.
People ARE the story. The admiral still has to deal with knowing that his every order means the deaths of some of his ships and people. Pilots who grew up in uncivilized ruins in Middle Ages lawless conditions have to struggle against the prejudice of comrades who grew up with computer implants and downloaded college degrees.
Aliens are people too and the alien characters are fully developed people not cardboard cutouts.
May 31, 2022
3.75
This was slightly better than the previous entry in this series. It may be because I know the world a little better and some of the characters within the world...but I also feel the book was better paced and a more enjoyable story.
Recently I've been thinking about space elevators, espcially since watching Foundation and the events that happen with theiirs. So, they have a space elevator from the Earth upwards - with LOTS of modules.
I believe in the previous story, they talked about space elevators on the moon...which I've never even though was possible.
These books are split between a personal story or stories with characters that we've gotten to know, then world building mechanics (lots of facts, but made it work).
Building the legend of The America (home), but home was actually "out there".
Then, another personal story...with Captain Randolph.
Introduced to their next adventure? It was a really good one. He (the author) continues the formula of personal stories and world building. It isn't hidden, but fairly obvious to the reader. Oh, a personal account with the characters he created. Oh, now he's going to info dump for a while, so that the personal story he tells next makes more sense...onward.
It sound predictable, which it is, but then again, I am still becoming more inveseted into this world and the characters and the aliens they come in contact with.
May wait a bit for the final book. We shall see.
This was slightly better than the previous entry in this series. It may be because I know the world a little better and some of the characters within the world...but I also feel the book was better paced and a more enjoyable story.
Recently I've been thinking about space elevators, espcially since watching Foundation and the events that happen with theiirs. So, they have a space elevator from the Earth upwards - with LOTS of modules.
I believe in the previous story, they talked about space elevators on the moon...which I've never even though was possible.
These books are split between a personal story or stories with characters that we've gotten to know, then world building mechanics (lots of facts, but made it work).
Building the legend of The America (home), but home was actually "out there".
Then, another personal story...with Captain Randolph.
Introduced to their next adventure? It was a really good one. He (the author) continues the formula of personal stories and world building. It isn't hidden, but fairly obvious to the reader. Oh, a personal account with the characters he created. Oh, now he's going to info dump for a while, so that the personal story he tells next makes more sense...onward.
It sound predictable, which it is, but then again, I am still becoming more inveseted into this world and the characters and the aliens they come in contact with.
May wait a bit for the final book. We shall see.
May 23, 2020
This is another fine addition to the collection if you are a lover of Ian Doublas books. His characters can be slightly one dimensional, and the political ramblings are predictable as usual. Our heroes want to fight for freedom, truth, justice, and the right to keep getting into more action packed battles against a host of all-powerful aliens, while the peaceniks at home want to save their own hides and consolidate their own power base by appeasing the aliens. But in the end you don't read Ian Douglas for political intrigue. You read it for the pure space opera, the unparalleled high tech action. Douglas has succeeded in taking carrier based battles into the 25th century, substituting kilometer-long space carriers and near-light speed Starhawks for the nuclear carriers and the jet fighters of today. The world that Douglas has created is one where nanotechnology, artificial intelligence and FTL drive technologies are seamlessly woven into the fabric of the world inhabited by our heroes. They are human beings, ofc, but they are not quite the humans that we know today because of the way that technology has changed the very way in which they interface with the world around them. Overall, no one does space battles better than Ian Douglas, and this book is another worthy addition to the many fine books set in the world that he has created.
September 17, 2017
If you haven't read Book 1 of this series, I highly recommend you read Earth Strike: Star Carrier: Book One first to make sure you are up to speed on the characters and their background as the author draws on a lot of the personal relationships, as well as to make sure just who the heck the bad guys are.
This book pick right up where the first one left off, and it is pretty much non-stop action with good character dialogue. I also like how he brings you along on the technological front, which makes the light drive systems more believable. You know you're reading an intriguing . thought-proviking book when you dream about some of the technologies like I did - I wouldn't mind having a replicator!
About the only drawback I have with the book is the different alien names as it was hard for me to keep them all straight. There is a lot of repitition to his other series with idiotic politicians and similar characteristics of the soldier heroes but it's not that big of a deal to me.
Bottom line is this is a good story - well worth the investment on my Kindle. Now, how much longer do we have to wait for the next book in the series?
This book pick right up where the first one left off, and it is pretty much non-stop action with good character dialogue. I also like how he brings you along on the technological front, which makes the light drive systems more believable. You know you're reading an intriguing . thought-proviking book when you dream about some of the technologies like I did - I wouldn't mind having a replicator!
About the only drawback I have with the book is the different alien names as it was hard for me to keep them all straight. There is a lot of repitition to his other series with idiotic politicians and similar characteristics of the soldier heroes but it's not that big of a deal to me.
Bottom line is this is a good story - well worth the investment on my Kindle. Now, how much longer do we have to wait for the next book in the series?
February 12, 2018
I stumbled on this book and this author and read the book not knowing it was part of a series. I enjoyed it thoroughly from start to finish. The use of what I think is speculative physics or perhaps cutting age theory to create a technology that is carefully explained throughout the book opened my mind to new ways of space travel and ultimately space warfare. Yet the most interesting were the aliens who were highly complex beings fascinating to consider. There was the nature of the human race with its tendency toward prejudice against people and cultures different than their own and then there was the problem of military defense within a world that is trying unsuccessfully to unite to stop fighting itself and protect itself against aggression from the outside. Well done. Now I must read the rest of the series. Now if he only included a few gay characters :)
August 19, 2020
Uncomplicated military sci-fi. We got a carrier group led by Admiral Koenig (inspired on the US marine), a space fighter squadron with Trevor Gray as MC pilot and various alien races that want earth destroyed. So, space fleets gather and head into each other. What has been done quite good is the description of weaponary and their effects, although there is quite some unnecesary repetition. The backstory is here and there worked down with stand points from alien perspective, and we get some backstory from Gray, albeit somewhat too obvious. I dont think in a premium fighter squadron with brains being scanned by in body AI, verbal bully fights should return in like every meeting between Collins and Gray. That should have been way sophisticater. Anyways, enjoyable read if you want uncomplicated, 3.5 stars, rounded down.
December 9, 2022
Star Carrier continues to be entertaining and delivers quality world building. I love the aliens - they are all very different from human life and the author seems to take great pains to make sure we consider and expand our minds. The military spaceship combat is superb, with plenty of light speed limitations tossed in with softer science fiction elements.
That said… I’m still not bought into any of the characters for some reason. There is a lot of loss but they feel like just names in the history books. Not feeling emotional when characters die should indicate a weak author.
Still it’s an easy read and entertaining. An easy three stars.
That said… I’m still not bought into any of the characters for some reason. There is a lot of loss but they feel like just names in the history books. Not feeling emotional when characters die should indicate a weak author.
Still it’s an easy read and entertaining. An easy three stars.
September 14, 2023
Still middle of the road but getting better. Some book series that have this type of world building really take a few installments to take off and this is one of them. This series was unveiled in 2010, which is 3 years after the original Halo trilogy concluded, and this series is very similar to the Halo universe. I have read every Halo book and know that universe well, and I would definitely highly recommend that universe over this one. However, I do love the fact that the author decided to put his heart and soul into this future-scape, and I enjoy these types of military space operas, and this is definitely one of the better ones than a lot out there that I've tried out. I will probably continue with the series after taking a break. I would recommend this book to anybody that is a fan of the genre.
December 13, 2019
Story wise, this book bring a good progression from book one and provides better idea of the surrounding universe. It was great the see variety of species, and the issues with communication and understanding between each of them.
While reading I kept getting distracted from what was going on by the cliches of the book. The evil kid story does not seem to have a place in this book. Her actions do not make sense, nor how she does not get in trouble by the constant bursts of hanger against Gray. And why is the worlds politics a copy of what we currently have? The Pluto still been a discussion also did not miss my attention.
While reading I kept getting distracted from what was going on by the cliches of the book. The evil kid story does not seem to have a place in this book. Her actions do not make sense, nor how she does not get in trouble by the constant bursts of hanger against Gray. And why is the worlds politics a copy of what we currently have? The Pluto still been a discussion also did not miss my attention.
January 28, 2023
A military scifi that knows exactly what it is and what it isn’t. Characters feel somewhat 2-dimensional, but the space battles are gloriously 3-dimensional and gripping. The aliens are interesting and different, and I enjoyed their point of view. It was a mild annoyance though when the author would frequently break from the story to explain a piece of technology of history directly to the reader. It interrupted the pacing a little too much. But the technology is well thought out and the space dogfights are the heart of what makes this good.
At the end of the day, this series knows what it’s best at and when it’s in its element it’s a blast.
At the end of the day, this series knows what it’s best at and when it’s in its element it’s a blast.
July 9, 2020
This was a decent book. It was well written and did a good job of trying to explain the science behind some of the technologies it used. Parts were a little long winded but I thought overall Ian did a good job writing this book. I have read the first one in the series and I do plan to read the last one. I usually only have time to read at breaks and lunch at work and it was difficult to put the book down so I would not be out to long.
December 2, 2017
Great Military sci-fi
Excellent military sci-fi action coupled with a believable plot-line makes for an exciting space saga. The author does an admiral job developing and humanizing the characters, as well. Note that there is a lot of hard science so be prepared for lengthy, technical explanations. I love this so it’s only a plus for me.
Excellent military sci-fi action coupled with a believable plot-line makes for an exciting space saga. The author does an admiral job developing and humanizing the characters, as well. Note that there is a lot of hard science so be prepared for lengthy, technical explanations. I love this so it’s only a plus for me.
May 9, 2018
Most of these stories are hard sci-fi detailing a few major engagements between spacefaring fleets. It's actually pretty enjoyable; the writing is a little bit informal, with the author's perspective bleeding through (along with a fair bit of jingoism) but that's not a major detraction from the series, unless such things grate specific readers.
August 21, 2018
A good sequel to the initial offering in this series, Center of Gravity ramps up the stakes, action and potential for the next book. While some of the writing tools and tones do get repetitive, it is enjoyable enough for fans of the first book, and the future created within its' pages, to come back for more.
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