Zero Hour cover art

Zero Hour

Expeditionary Force, Book 5

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Zero Hour

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

United Nations Special Operations Command sent an elite expeditionary force of soldiers and pilots out on a simple recon mission, and somehow along the way they sparked an alien civil war. Now the not-at-all-merry band of pirates is in desperate trouble, again. Their stolen alien starship is falling apart, thousands of light years from home. The ancient alien AI they nicknamed Skippy is apparently dead, and even if they can by some miracle revive him, he might never be the same.

©2017 Craig Alanson; 2018 Podium Publishing Adventure Fantasy Fiction Military Science Fiction Space Opera Interstellar Haunted

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I'm not quite sure how he does it but this is another one that's fallen off of Craig Alanson's production line and for anyone that can't get enough of Skippy the Magnificent then just pile in because there's plenty more here. And apparently this book is a long, long way from the end of the series too so those with Skippy addiction have no need to panic yet!

Alanson once again sends his Merry Band of Pirates careering through a universe full of bizarre alien races as they try to dodge all of them with them alone holding the fate of our species in their hands. Of course behind the microphone, there really is no other choice for this series now, RC Bray is put through his paces by this author's zany brand of humour.

I think it would be reasonable to suggest that some of this is repetitive and there are structural problems such as some gags being repeated very close together and I'm not convinced this book represents a logical section of the overall story line.

At the end of the day though these books are fun and imaginative. The pseudo science fiction leads through a series of dire situations met with no little ingenuity. The star of the show is inevitably sci-fi's greatest ever beer can though even he doesn't get it all his own way in this one . . .

I'm in for the long haul, these books never fail to make me smile and that is after all what really matters!

There Ain't No Stopping Us Now!

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Another fest of awesomeness that had me laughing out loud. Yes, there are some repetitive uses of certain stock phrases from Joe and Skippy. Yes, there is a lot of reliance on the now very familiar monkey brained ideas scenario, but hey, that's what makes this series so darn entertaining! Plus, I really want to know what's going on with the strange shit that Skippy keeps finding all over the galaxy, I won't stop listening any time soon... bring it on Mr Alanson.

Amazingly magnificently awesome!

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There have been very few books I've read/listened to that has ever captivated me like this series has. At the start of the series I found my self getting quite tiresome of Skippy, but as the series went on I grew to love the guy and the relationship with him and Joe. Throughout this entire book I actually found myself worried about what will happen to him. Will they find a conduit that will allow him to fix himself?

Throughout the entire book I had that sense of dread at the back of my mind, much like the characters did. I found myself overcome with relief when he eventually did, then I found myself with excitement and dread at the ending of the book with the Maxults. Very few books have actually gotten me emotionally invested in a story like this one has.

Now I find myself at a loss because now I have to wait for the next one to come out. This needs to happen ASAP, RC Bray, push aside all of your other projects!

This series just keeps getting better

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The whole series is just fun. A big boy version of a great kids book. A little formulaic but enough joy and verve to make you look forward to the next instalment.

Rip roaring yarn

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Laugh out loud, nail biting thrills, unputdownable. Supremely performed. One might say “behold the awesomeness”.

Yes yes yes

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