The Cruel Stars cover art

The Cruel Stars

Ark Royal, Book 11

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About this listen

A stand-alone set during the Ark Royal Era.

The Royal Navy never expected to fight a full-scale interstellar war. Everyone knew the Great Powers would never risk everything on armed conflict when there was plenty of room for everyone in outer space. But when a hostile alien force stumbles across humanity's handful of colony worlds, the Great Powers must set aside their differences and fight to preserve humanity from utter destruction.

Desperate for starships and manpower, the Royal Navy embarks upon an ambitious plan of converting freighters into makeshift carriers and recruiting reservists and criminals to fill the ranks. Classed as expendable, the small carriers will be given the most dangerous missions to slow a remorseless alien foe.... And the pardons their crews have been offered will be meaningless if they die.

©2017 Christopher G. Nuttall (P)2018 Audible, Inc. Fiction Military Science Fiction Space Opera Interstellar Royal Navy War
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This book takes us back to the start of the Tadpole wars and introduces an interesting storyline to that universe.

It's great to listen to another back story that adds depth to the Ark Royal universe, I enjoyed it and do recommend it.

A great stand-alone story

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Definitely could have done with a 'fade to black' a few times, but great otherwise.

A bit risqué, but worth it

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This book starts just before Book 1 in the Ark Royal series and continues through parallel to the first Ark Royal book.

You follow the crew of a freighter captain who's ship is conscripted into the Navy as an escort carrier. This ship never crosses paths with Ark Royal at any point but fights in it's own engagements in systems near to where Ark Royal is deployed.

Interesting story that on the whole I did enjoy. Nothing much to wright home about though.

Parallel to Book 1

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An interesting view of the start of the Terran/Tadpole war. I spent happy minutes placing it in context with Ark Royal herself. Much of which happens before and during the first half of Ark Royal's story.

A nice addition to the Ark Royal Saga.

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really enjoyed this book can't wait to get the next book to see how far the story goes.

the story continues

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