Mavericks: Expeditionary Force, Book 6

The author has done a great job with this installment of the Expeditionary Forces. At this point we have been introduced to all the major alien species except the Rindhalu although Alanson gives us a small glimpse of their behavior patterns, just enough to tease and still leave room for surprises. I believe the story arc took an interesting and necessary turn with Emily Perkins and her band of Mavericks. Alanson is taking the time to let his readers get to know the characters that we were introduced to in the first couple of books; if all I did was read about Colonel Joe and his merry band of pirates, the adventure would become monotonous. Although, reading about Joe’s new companion had me laughing hysterically, I can’t wait to hear what RC Bray makes of that one...I have read other reviews criticizing the mannerisms of Colonel Joe in this particular series and how he is still unqualified for his role as a leader. I submit to you that Alanson has actually showed us what the burden of command feels like, when you’re down range and the proverbial @#$% hits the fan, you do the best you can with the information at hand. Sometimes you can’t call someone else and ask them what to do and you have to make it up as you go...Joe also cannot indulge himself with all the desires of his heart, his command does not allow him to “fraternize” with members of the band of merry pirates and that can wreak emotional havoc on anyone if they see everyone else finding some kind of emotional release and they are not able to, enter our shiny beer can to help out...All in all this was a well thought out novel and very fun to read. Alanson has expanded the galaxy quite a bit and it feels like revelations about the Elders will be everything we hoped for. I’m looking forward reading the next book.

Personally I would like to see less of the mavericks or what the Paradise based squad calls itself. Don't get me wrong, the characters were already familiar from the earlier books and the author didn't want to discard his worldbuilding on Paradise and the Ruhar, I understand, but I like Skippy and Bishop. I've invested in Skippy and Bishop, they're the reason I buy the books. To experience the Awesomeness of the humblest beer can in the galaxy.I also see where the author is going with this, how he builds up the story for a big pay off down the line.My problem is that I don't really care for it that much. At the very least not the how and the why of it. I want to see the galaxy, explore the ancient ruins of the elder civilization, dive into the current civilizations. Hopefully that pay off down the line is that last one.I did not enjoy spending half a book reading about characters I don't care for doing stuff I'd like to see handwaved or as short interplays to complement the story I wanted to read. It took me a few months to get back to this book because I couldn't find the motivation to read about the inner workings of hamster bureaucracy and psychology that seems to mirror monkey bureaucracy and psychology.

Another wonderful set of stories set in the same universe. It was a nice side story about some human grunts (Mavericks) working for the Ruhar who are treated as interiors but show their worth, then the other part of the pirates and their own problems, then the pirates coming to aid the mavericks which makes the story one. Yep, good reading.

Excellent action adventure Sci Fi! Fun read. Very enjoyable read to take my mind of the problems in my life. Good characterization, funny and reasonably believable situation. May buy the whole series in paperback, if I can figure out if the author gets better royalties. Writing is hard work and authors are real humans with bills to pay.

I have read the prior reviews and found them wildly different from positive to negative. Their is some truth in all of those reviews.. The splitting up of the storyline in of itself was fine. I did find though the Mavericks tale was to long at the beginning and disrupted the storyline. I kept wondering what Skippy and Joe were doing, but teh author mostly ignored them for to long a period in the book. Author made an error in how he almost turned the book into 2 books. The story plot continuity would have been better served to break it up in chronological pieces so that the plots could be tracked side by side. They are interlinked over the pathogen virus so this technique would have been smoother. The stars of this series are Skippy and Joe. The story itself is very good. So no disappointment there. Author would be wise to not lose track of that. The series needs more action and a move to get Earth into a more serious battle mode with its own fleet. The author needs to embrace going forward how he wrote Columbus Day. Thats was a fast action paced storyline that never bogged down. This is a very good series. This book is an enjoyable read. But it is in danger of getting stale. I give this 4 stars. Hopefully the author read these reviews.

Hi all!Book 6 - right… where to go from here? Book 7 I guess… however, I’m loving the work done and I’m not stopping .. the author is hitting it for 6. Well done! I assume by now the garage was left as was…

Once again I have been thoroughly gripped and entertained by this series. If you don't trust anything else...trust the awesomeness!

Another fine addition to the series We finally get to see what kind of trouble Major Perkins' crew has been up to since book 3.5 "Trouble in Paradise" as well as the outcome of the events from Zero Hour involving the Merry Band of Pirates. A real fist pumping high five for a certain member of the Merry Band of Pirates near the end. The outcome of this book turns a significant corner in the series as things become more dire and yet their course of action becomes more clear... Can't to hear RC Bray's narration in September.

Ik vind het een goede serie maar het duurt nu wel erg lang. Ik ben een beetje klaar met de ontwikkelingen op Paradise. De sterren van de serie zijn natuurlijk Joe en Skippy en wat ik vooral wil weten is hoe het nu zit met Skippy, de Elders, wie heeft Newark uit zijn baan gehaald en waarom, heeft Skippy daar iets mee te maken. DAT zou het hoofdthema van de reeks moeten zijn.

The Mavericks portion of the book covers like 70% of it, and is a great history, could have been a good side book like the "Trouble in Paradise" book, but i was a little disapointed at the end of this book since as it continued the numbered series(book 6, not 5.5) i was expecting more of the main history. For me, the "main history" on this book feels like filler (especially the handling of the "incident on the few first chapters)