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Armageddon
- Expeditionary Force, Book 8
- Narrated by: R.C. Bray
- Length: 17 hrs and 51 mins
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Armageddon
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Summary
After the Renegade mission by the crew of the starship Flying Dutchman, the UN Expeditionary Force thought Earth was safe for hundreds of years, at least.
After there was trouble on the home front and the president had to authorize a nuclear strike on an American city, UNEF decided they did need the Merry Band of Pirates again.
So, the Flying Dutchman is sent out on a simple recon mission. But for the pirates, nothing is ever simple, and their mission will become Armageddon.
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What listeners say about Armageddon
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story1 out of 5 stars
- james clough
- 09-11-19
A long wait for deja vu!!!!!!!!!
Thank god its nothing like homefront!!!!
I love this series, when it started it was not anything like what i had heard before i found it fresh and invigorating a new spin on sifi. Now we are at book 8 with numerous spin offs and everything seems the same nothing new ever happens its the same plot, we never get any solid answers only more questions. The author has said i the past that this was going to be a 12 book series i really hope that has changed because trying so answer all the questions raised so far would feel very rushed if it only spanned 4 books!
Joe's insistence on making sure he is blamed for the cause off all the problems that have befallen humanity is beyond ridiculous, it goes way past him being a young naive officer who feels lost.
Newtons third law is 'for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction'
For this book series there is a similar law 'For every positive action in one book there is multiple bad reactions in the next book' Its getting tiresome never learning any answers.
For me the next book needs to be entirely answering questions it wouldn't bother me if they didn't see any combat and the whole book was a fact finding mission.
CA needs to tread very carefully the series has the potential to be one of the best written (in terms of entertainment not English) if he keeps leading his audience down rabbit holes with no answers he may lose they big fan base he has amassed
I DID ENJOY THE BOOK from the view point of it being on its own but if you look at it from the series prospective it didn't answer any questions for me.
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18 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Simon
- 12-11-19
Stepping it up!
These books are coming out at a lightning pace and once again this pits Joe and Skippy into another set of zany, crazy against the odds adventures. There is plenty of everything that has made this series so very, very enjoyable including of course the one-man human theater troupe we know as RC Bray.
For most of the book it really is more of the same, and for those of us that enjoy it so much this is no bad thing. However, in among all the usual impossible scenarios, crazy sif-fi and of course the banter between the characters there is a real feeling of progression here too. The possibility of Joe developing a real love interest and further hints at the cosmic back story are intertwined in the books fast-paced story. But it's the ending that delivers something of a punch, things genuinely get a bit serious in ways that this series hasn't done before. No spoilers but things do get a bit more real for our favourite Pirates.
If that sounds heavy don't let it put you off at all, this is still one of the most laugh out loud and fast-paced sci-fi series you are going to find anywhere on Audible!
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12 people found this helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- S. Morris
- 26-11-19
Not The Best In The Series
Once more, the writing of Craig Alanson and the narration of R.C bray come together to make for another great story in the Expeditionary Force series of books, of which, this is the eighth. Actually, Armageddon, is more like two stories. The book is more or less divided into two acts, the first deals with the finding and exploration of a "Beta" site - a last ditch refuge for humanity should the worst happen and Earth gets blasted. This sub plot has future potential as there is mystery about the worm hole that lead to this world and Skippy's ability to unlock it. I'm sure this is an element that will be expanded in future stories, so I do look forward to that.
The second act, which is the real "meat and potatoes" of the story, sees our merry band of pirates having to do what us monkeys do best, come up with radical solutions to seemingly impossible problems and finding that problem to resolution isn't a straight line process.
However, Armageddon isn't perfect. For me, the pacing of the first part of the two-phase story was a bit too slow. I think Alanson could have compressed this part and perhaps shortened the book by a couple of hours or so. The problem with great writers like Alanson is that anything below his best is keenly felt, even though that level is quite a bit above the average out there. I would hate to think that Alanson, now turned full time writer, has to perhaps fulfil some contractual requirement to produce books of a minimum length or page count. I would imagine many writers have had their natural creative direction somewhat controlled by the publisher in order to meet deadlines or quotas. I hope this isn't the case here.
Either way, speculation aside, in overall terms I enjoyed Armageddon. Perhaps my biggest minor niggle is the padding that comes from the jibe laden interaction between Bishop and Skippy. It was entertaining to have this banter for the first few books as a way to establish the dynamic between these two pivotal characters. However, it does start to wear a little thin and feels more, in this book, like padding. If not padding, then it serves, for the most part, to slow things down a little as the focus shifts to witty put downs and dialogue rather than more narrative driven. Sure, by all means, let's keep the humerus back and forth between Bishop and Skippy, but halve the instances of this and the plot - certainly in act one of this story - can move along better, I think.
Still, Armageddon is another great listen and once the real action starts, Alanson comes good and thrills us with his lively prose.
Although this story isn't perhaps the best in the series, Alanson has pulled another rabbit from his hat in terms of the ingenious problem solving abilities on display. It really can't be easy at all to write this sort of material and yet Alanson does so with aplomb.
Not the best in the series, but well worth a read and a worthy addition nonetheless.
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5 people found this helpful
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- Iain Campbell
- 23-11-19
Boring
As ever MR Bray's performance is on point.
Mr Alanson's story however just feels like a rinse and repeat of previous books in the series.
I'm getting seriously bored with a series I previously loved.
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5 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Jamie
- 11-11-19
Story keeps getting better
The books starts the same for a while but ends very very differently. Alanson is starting to ramp up the storyline!
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5 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Perfectus
- 11-11-19
a welcome change of tempo for the series
great addition.
I was getting tired of the old formula.
new toys make for happy monkeys.
author channeled r r Martin this time which came as a shock.
9/10 bananas
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4 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Dustyfox
- 08-11-19
Freaking awesome - 7.5 never happened!!!
Just listened to two very good books before this, so thought this book might be a bit flat...nope, Craig & RC have only gone and smashed another awesome audiobook out. Really hard to think if there's a better series of books out there.
For anyone who hasn't started this series, i would say go and start it and you can join the "spacesuit" club.
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3 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Paul J
- 07-11-19
Too good, toooo good
I waited ages for this book and finished it within 1 1/2 days. Next please. Highly entertaining and highly recommended. RC Bray is just superb. I can’t understand how he manages some of the intense parts with multiple people and the emotional content. Hurry up with the next one - no pressure 🙃
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3 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Kindle Customer
- 06-11-19
Trust the Awesomeness
No, really, TTA.
Ok, if you haven't started this series, just please, go back and start with book one, Columbus Day, if you don't you're going be a little lost and won't appreciate the full awesomeness of this story.
RC Bray is one of those narrators who is so good, he can take something truly epic and bring it to life. Just give it a go, you have nothing to lose. Craig, as always, thankyou for giving us this outstanding series and for trusting Bob with reading it.
I have listened to the first 6 books 3 times now (to refresh myself as each new book comes out)and will probably go through the entire series once a year for the rest of my life.
Another reason to get into this series, as Craig is self published through amazon, he doesn't have all that pesky hoop jumping that authors going the traditional route (having one book published every year or so) have, so his books are only a few months apart. Book 9 is coming out in the next month or so as an eBook and hopefully on audio within a couple of months depending Bob's commitments.
I'm not talking about the story itself, because that would mean spoilers. It's well written, excellent story continuation, lots of easter eggs. and I miss Kate Mulgrew as Nagatha (see Homefront).... just putting that out there.
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2 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Notally_Not_A_Robot
- 07-02-23
A new layer to the story
It's nice to see that characters are slowly being expanded upon and that there is some actual character development.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Amazon Customer
- 08-11-19
Great and not so great
This continuation of the expeditionary force was hilarious and highly enjoyable like all the rest but for the love of god move the story forward. Every time a new book comes out I’m like yes finally there’s been enough piddling around with minor struggles now I’m sure craig will explore the Elders plot line and see where skippy came from but it never happens. Another story continuing seven books of a cliff hanger. Find the elders!
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146 people found this helpful
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- Spartacus
- 11-11-19
My patience is running thin!
After 8.5 books, this is where we're at? About the only thing holding my attention is the banter between Bishop and Skippy. Seriously, where are these books going?? The first few were fun, but now it just feels like were running from one emergency to another and the overall story isnt progressing. With all the things the Merry Band of Pirates are doing, what is the rest of the galaxy doing? Playing pinochle? Bishop is the captain of a pirate ship, and he's already committed mutiny once, yet he's still hell bound on following the rules of people who don't even care if he's around. Dude, wake up! It's time to see this plot pick up. You have multiple avenues this can go. I'm almost having more enjoyment imagining where I'd take the story at this point.
I can not fault the performance of Mr. Bray. Once again he's done a great job with his narrating! I never get tired of hearing him bring the story to life!
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136 people found this helpful
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Overall1 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story1 out of 5 stars
- Schofield
- 19-11-19
Tired of waiting for the shoe to drop.
8 books in and hoping every time for the looming story arch of what's really happening with the Elders to finally take center stage. I'm starting to think it may never happen. The banter is starting to get repetitive and stale. I could care less about the senior species at this point. It's time to get some answers please. :)
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108 people found this helpful
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story2 out of 5 stars
- Wargolem
- 08-11-19
author got lazy this time.
the first six hours can be summed up as the writer using material from the previous books as filler. EVERY. DAMN. CHAPTER. in the first 6 hours is Joe and someone having flashbacks. it is like a sitcom where about episode 15 or 16 they do a season recap.
that being said RC Bray is phenomenal once again and the stuff after 6 hours is totally worth getting. sorry Craig but you know this is a lazy attempt.
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93 people found this helpful
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Overall2 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story2 out of 5 stars
- Batman
- 20-11-19
Please move the plot along!
Once again a great performance by Bray! As for the actual meat of the story, let’s just say it’s mostly filler. The same banter between skippy and bishop is recycled over and over. The earth is in danger again, shocker. Oh no we need to complete an impossible mission to gain one valuable component, again. Please just complete the story arc, this is getting boring.
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77 people found this helpful
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story1 out of 5 stars
- Mary and Stephen
- 18-11-19
So many writing tropes I can't keep up....
I'm done. I'm so tired of Alanson's juvenile writing skills. Every story is the same. Threat followed by an hour of poor exposition explaining why it can't be addressed, followed by Joe Bishop having an epiphany in the middle of eating and saving the day while Skippy curses Joe's monkey brain. There are so many MacGuffins in this series that it boggles my mind. Every story has one or two major "we need X to do Y" scenarios. In a series so lacking in character development, you would think we could drop this garbage in lieu of some actual intrigue or story. Instead it's rinse and repeat, over and over again.
The only reason this series remains interesting is because of R.C. Bray. If it weren't for him, this series would be toast. Honestly, I could listen to R.C. Bray read the owners manual from my car and I would be entertained. That doesn't say much for Alanson honestly...
I will not spend another dime on this story. I'm done.
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77 people found this helpful
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- Ahmad
- 08-11-19
R. C. Bray is amazing as ever. But...
Loved R. C. Bray vocal talent as always. However the story is getting old.
Character development is painfully slow and the story dosent seem to be changing much either. Earths in is endangered, the pirates save it. Rinse and repeat.
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73 people found this helpful
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Overall1 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story1 out of 5 stars
- NMMTB
- 14-11-19
Same stuff, different book.
I returned the last 2 books and now this one. I decided 3 strikes and I'm done. Well this is strike 3. R.C. Bray is awesome as always and I will keep looking for books read by him.
I loved the first 5 books, I lost plenty of sleep listening to them. I think Craig Alanson is trying to pump out books way too fast. At first he was building a great story line. Now The books are 10% story and 90% filler. We spend hours listening about stuff that doesn't even contribute to the story. Many times I find myself going, GET TO THE POINT ALREADY! It has also become easy to predict the story. There are no unexpected twists. It's just here is an impossible situation. Joe mopes around for days with no clue how to solve the new situation and thinks about how he's letting everyone down. Then he looks at some random object and finds a solution and it's done. Unfortunately I that's how the last 3 books have been. I haven't even finished the last 3 books because I got so bored and frustrated. As far as I'm concerned this is a 5 book series, because I'm done there at book 5.
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64 people found this helpful
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story2 out of 5 stars
- Amazon Customer
- 11-11-19
Schmayybe move the plot forward
While I always enjoy Skippy and the gang, until the last hour of the book it felt like lazy writing... very repetitive. Sorry Craig - I really love this series and the majority of your work but it's true. Bring on the elders already.
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62 people found this helpful
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story2 out of 5 stars
- Peter
- 07-11-19
Repetitive. Why am I surprised?
Earth is in danger, the tin can is sarcastic, and the stupid monkeys are lucky.
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53 people found this helpful