Failure Mode cover art

Failure Mode

Expeditionary Force, Book 15

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Failure Mode

By: Craig Alanson
Narrated by: R.C. Bray
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About this listen

When a mission ends in disaster—there is no way to achieve the objective, no way to regroup and try again, no plan B, no hope—all you can do is fall back into FAILURE MODE and try to salvage whatever you can.

...if it is even possible to save anything, or anyone.

The galaxy is doomed. Monkeys may be clever and too stubborn to give up, but Skippy The Idiot Who Got Played knows the harsh truth: this is a fight he can’t win. The odds are not only stacked against him, he was designed not to win this fight.

Maybe he can salvage some faint memory of the civilizations that inhabit the galaxy, but those beings are doomed. Doomed. Including the Merry Band of Pirates.

©2022 Craig Alanson (P)2022 Podium Audio Fantasy Fiction Humorous Military Science Fiction Space Opera Comedy Interstellar

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All stars
Most relevant
I have reviewed every one of the superbly written books in this series, so there isn't really too much I can add that I haven't already said. Those following this excellent series will know what I mean. Should any one stumble across this review and wonder what all the fuss is about, go back and check out Columbus Day and start your awesome journey now!

As ever, R.C Bray does a fantastic job narrating and there is no one else on Audible capable of rendering Joe Bishop and Skippy like him. If there is ever a TV series made of these books, then R.C Bray MUST do the voice of Skippy, otherwise, it's just not Skippy.

So, onto the plot. Well, things are at their most critical and it's not only the human race in jeopardy, it's all sentient life in the galaxy. The stakes don't get much higher than that. Given the nature of this story, it either marks a conclusion to this series, or perhaps the beginnings of a new chapter in the exploits of the Merry band of Pirates. Unlike nearly all prior books, this one does not end on a cliff hanger, so hence my observation above. Given the complex interactions in the universe Craig Alanson has so skilfully created, there is plenty more stories to be had, I'm sure. However, does the author want to pursue this? I can't say, I hope he does.

As with the previous book, I did notice a few typos or read errors. I imagine it's typos given R.C Brays superb talent at narration. In one, the AI controlling Valkyrie, Billby, is referred to as "herself" when it is a male persona. In another I spotted, the word "looking" was used rather than what I assume based on the context of the sentence should have been "locking" and the last I found was "Neuron" instead of "Neutron" used when first describing the location of a research facility. Of course, none of these minor errors detracted from the story, just my nit picking ear that picks up on this stuff. Oddly, no proof reader was credited at the end of this story, unlike the prior book.

Finally, I was a bit disappointed to find there was no out takes segment at the end of the production that I have come to enjoy immensely. It's absence was conspicuous and I hope to have this brought back in the future.

Suffice it to say, Failure Mode is another example of a fantastic story and one, that does contain something sad, but necessary as part of good writing and situational story telling. I can't say what, but you'll know it when you get there.

Craig Alanson, we salute you.

End of an Era, or Something New?

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What a fantastic series this has been. Slick scripts, incomparable presentation from the superb RCBray it has been a treat from start to finish. A brilliant balance of humour interspersed with comic reference to other well know sci-fi genre and oddball plots. The only down side is when listening to other unrelated books read by Mr Bray I keep expecting ‘the awesomeness’ to chime in and declare his latest opera finished. This meat-sacked monkey has enjoyed every line of this unique literary adventure. Wouldn’t it be good if it all went to a mini series? I think it’s good enough although the required CGI might be a bit of a stretch.

Simply brilliant

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The incomparable Bob Bray does more excellent work in this latest chapter of the misadventures of Joe & Skippy The Magnificent. Craig Alanson had the real heavy lifting though - to tie up so many loose ends into one novel is insanity, but he manages it. Oh I don't mean EVERY story is run down to its final destination, but he does an amazing job of both closing a lot of chapters and leaving plenty of threads open for potential sequels. Yet this also feels like it could be a natural point for the series to end, safe in the knowledge that the Merry Band of Pirates will continue kicking ass all over the Milky Way.
Personally, I can't ever get enough of this series so I hope Craig and Bob have a long and fruitful working relationship ahead of them! But, if this is truly the end - then it has been a pleasure and an honour.

DON'T LET IT BE OVER!!?!

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Well, that's all folks. but as big a story arc as it was, it's brought to a satisfying conclusion. Bray knocks it out of the park as usual, and the banter and laughs mix well with the seriousness and heartbreak. This is one happy monkey, but also sad that there will be no more of the incomparable awesomeness that is Skippy. Or will there.........

Well it had to end sometime.

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The Exforce conclusion, and a fitting farewell to our heroes. I'll certainly miss hearing more installments of the adventures of Joe, Skippy & the gang.

A fitting end

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