Earth Strike: Star Carrier: Book One [Mass Market Paperback]

Ian Douglas (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 23, 2010 | Series: Star Carrier (Book 1)

The first book in the epic saga of humankind's war of transcendence

There is a milestone in the evolution of every sentient race, a Tech Singularity Event, when the species achieves transcendence through its technological advances. Now the creatures known as humans are near this momentous turning point.

But an armed threat is approaching from deepest space, determined to prevent humankind from crossing over that boundary—by total annihilation if necessary.

To the Sh'daar, the driving technologies of transcendent change are anathema and must be obliterated from the universe—along with those who would employ them. As their great warships destroy everything in their path en route to the Sol system, the human Confederation government falls into dangerous disarray. There is but one hope, and it rests with a rogue Navy Admiral, commander of the kilometer-long star carrier America, as he leads his courageous fighters deep into enemy space towards humankind's greatest conflict—and quite possibly its last.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Ian Douglas is the author of the popular military SF series The Heritage Trilogy, The Legacy Trilogy, and The Inheritance Trilogy. A former naval corpsman, he lives in Pennsylvania.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 368 pages
• Publisher: Harper Voyager; Original edition (February 23, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0061840254
• ISBN-13: 978-0061840258
• Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 4.3 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (42 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #10,102 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #52 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Science Fiction > General

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

258 of 280 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Page turner but very similiar to other books by this author, February 28, 2010

By 

The Chief (VA, United States) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Earth Strike: Star Carrier: Book One (Mass Market Paperback)

A real page turner and entertaining read, however...

This author has done this storyline before. He is using almost identical plot lines and enemies as the previous stories. Heck, this story is set with a similar beginning as the last and in the same universe..The major change is a different enemy even they are also billion year old, galaxy-spanning, mega-bad-guys bent on the destruction of the human race. Hmm, sound like the Xul again.

I do enjoy the science though and will buy the next series. I just wish more effort was spent on creating a new universe and change of plot lines...

The plot lines in both series:

1. Politicians are idiots and only the military are smart enough to know what's best

2. Civilians are idiots and only the military are smart enough to know what's best

3. Civilians and politicians are proven wrong only after an attack on earth that kills billions

4. Only the Admiral/General of a battle group seems to have all the answers and no one listens to him

5. The billion year old enemy is too stupid or slow to use basic combat tactics or sensors and are constantly caught off guard by humans' creative genius

I wish the author would take note and put more effort into maturing the relationship dynamics between military, civilian, and politicos and NOT make them so stereo typical.

Enjoy

58 of 64 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars It's more of the same, March 19, 2010

By 

Damien Stewart (Marietta, GA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Earth Strike: Star Carrier: Book One (Mass Market Paperback)

William H. Keith Jr. writes under several pseudonyms and I was surprised to discover that I have several of his other books from non-related genres. Having read all of the Heritage, Legacy, and most recent Inheritance Trilogies I was kind of disappointed that Earth Strike has a lot of carry over from those series in technology and plot structure. The book was entertaining but predictable and at times I'm sure I could find very similar passages from the previous nine books of those series. I just was expecting a little more but overall was satisfied enough to read it over a week or so. The last book of the Inheritance Trilogy I read in a single night the day it released as a comparison. So if you enjoyed other Ian Douglas books I'm sure you'll enjoy this one. I also plan on continuing to read the rest of the series as they are released.

60 of 79 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars "Not all Muslims are fanatics, Lieutenant", April 16, 2010

By 

RaDadIndy "indiana_dad" - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Earth Strike: Star Carrier: Book One (Mass Market Paperback)

This book had a number of serious turn-offs for me: (1) the insipid political correctness reflected in the above quote (from page 152 and echoed in later pages); (2) the incredibly tough female fighter pilot who we've only seen in, gosh, about 300 previous books and movies; (3) the stock dialogue that we've also seen about 300 times before (for example, after the battle, at page 341: "We weren't going to let you have all the fun to yourselves.") (4) the psychiatric leave taken by the main character in the midst of a battle zone; and (5) the lack of any character who there was reason to care about.

That said, the battles have a number of strong points. If you've liked this author before, you will probably like him again here. For myself, I much prefer the "Dauntless" series by Jack Campbell.