Relentless

Table of Contents

“Fast paced and enjoyable . . . Readers who enjoyed David Weber’s Honor Harrington books, Ian Douglas’s Space Marines, or Walter Hunt’s Dark Wing series should also enjoy this series.”

—
SFRevu

 

“The series is military SF, rigorously extrapolated in the classic tradition of hard SF. The laws of physics and the effects of relativity govern the battles and shape the action, while military virtues and ideals like honor and courage shape the conduct and personalities of the more admirable characters . . . Jack Campbell does a good job of fulfilling the requirements of both military SF and hard SF in
The Lost Fleet: Valiant
, and the novel will please fans of both forms.”

—
Sci Fi Weekly

 

“Will grip the audience . . . Black Jack is a fascinating hero . . . Fans will appreciate the fourth Lost Fleet tale.”

—
Alternative Worlds

 

“Refreshingly well written with no pretensions to be anything more than it is—lively adventure.”

—Don D’Ammassa,
Critical Mass

 

“This wonderfully well-plotted story is strongly reminiscent of the old Hornblower novels, featuring exciting and believable battles with the fascinating addition of military tactics. The story brings back the true meaning of romance and captures the spirit of strong men and women facing unimaginable odds with courage and honor. It carries you along on the adventure, and you’re eager to go where it takes you.”

—
Romantic Times

“Definitely recommend[ed] to people . . . [who] thoroughly enjoy military science fiction and probably some people who would just enjoy a good military story.”

—
BookSpot Central

 

“It’s almost nonstop action and conflict . . . Jack Campbell does an excellent job with the space battles . . . It’s a hall-mark of his talent in this arena that he can coordinate such large battles and make them both exciting and coherent, so that even someone without a military background of [his] own can follow and enjoy the action . . . The Lost Fleet is some of the best military science fiction on the shelves to-day, and
Courageous
doesn’t disappoint in the least. I’ll eagerly be awaiting the next installment in the series.”

—
SF Site

 

 

THE LOST FLEET: FEARLESS

“Straightforward, solidly written military space opera . . . It’s all good fun, and Campbell has actually given some thought to the problems of combat in space.”

—Don D’Ammassa,
Critical Mass

 

“Another satisfying [Campbell] cocktail to slake the thirst of fans who like their space operas with a refreshing moral and intellectual chaser . . . The Lost Fleet deserves to find a home on your bookshelf.”

—SF Reviews.net

 

“A great and gripping read. It’s a fast-paced roller coaster of action and intrigue, with realistic characters and situations.”

—
TCM Reviews

THE LOST FLEET: DAUNTLESS

“A rousing adventure.”

—William C. Dietz

“Jack Campbell’s dazzling new series is military science fiction at its best. Not only does he tell a yarn of great adventure and action, but he also develops the characters with satisfying depth. I thoroughly enjoyed this rip-roaring read, and I can hardly wait for the next book.”

—Catherine Asaro, Nebula Award-winning author of
Diamond Star

 

“Black Jack Geary is very real, very human, and so compelling he’ll leave you wanting more. Jack Campbell knows fleet actions, and it shows . . . [
The Lost Fleet: Dauntless
is] the best novel of its type that I’ve read.”

—David Sherman, coauthor of the Starfist series

 

“A slam-bang good read that kept me up at night . . . a solid, thoughtful, and exciting novel loaded with edge-of-your-seat combat.”

—Elizabeth Moon, Nebula Award-winning author of
Victory Conditions

 

“[
Dauntless
] should please many fans of old-fashioned hard SF.”

—
Sci Fi Weekly

 

“Readers will admire and like [Geary], who believes in honor, teamwork, and civilized behavior . . . This is a hardmilitary -science novel with space battles out of
Star Wars
. The battle scenes are so intricately described that readers will be able to visualize them . . . A fast-paced but intricate story line and fully developed characters turn this novel into a fun reading experience. Fans of David Weber, Elizabeth Moon, and Peter F. Hamilton will find
The Lost Fleet:
Dauntless
thoroughly enjoyable.”

—
SFRevu

THE LOST FLEET: DAUNTLESS
THE LOST FLEET: FEARLESS
THE LOST FLEET: COURAGEOUS
THE LOST FLEET: VALIANT
THE LOST FLEET: RELENTLESS

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This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental. The publisher does not have any control over and does not assume any responsibility for author or third-party websites or their content.

 

THE LOST FLEET: RELENTLESS

 

An Ace Book / published by arrangement with the author

 

PRINTING HISTORY
Ace mass-market edition / May 2009

Copyright © 2009 by John G. Hemry.

 

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eISBN : 978-1-101-04421-6

 

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Ace Books are published by The Berkley Publishing Group,
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ACE and the “A” design are trademarks of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.

 

 

 

To Doug Tillyer (aka “Hellfire”),
a man who loved books, ideas,
and people, who brightened many a convention
and panel with his remarks,
and who left his wife and the rest of us
far too soon and will be deeply missed.

 

I remain indebted to my agent, Joshua Bilmes, for his ever-inspired suggestions and assistance; to my editor, Anne Sowards, for her support and editing; and to Cameron Dufty at Ace, for her help and assistance. Thanks also to Catherine Asaro, Robert Chase, J. G. (Huck) Huckenpohler, Simcha Kuritzky, Michael LaViolette, Aly Parsons, Bud Sparhawk, and Constance A. Warner, for their suggestions, comments, and recommendations. Thanks also to Charles Petit, for his suggestions about space engagements.

THE ALLIANCE FLEET

CAPTAIN JOHN GEARY,

Commanding (acting)

 

 

As reorganized following the losses suffered immediately prior to Captain Geary assuming command in the Syndic home system.

 

Ship names in bold are those lost in action, with the name of the star system of their loss given afterward.

 

 

SECOND BATTLESHIP DIVISION

 

FOURTH BATTLESHIP DIVISION

Warrior
(lost at Lakota II)
Triumph
(lost at Vidha)
Vengeance
Revenge

 

THIRD BATTLESHIP DIVISION

Paladin
(lost at Lakota)
Orion
Majestic
(lost at Lakota II)
Conqueror

 

FIFTH BATTLESHIP DIVISION

 

SEVENTH BATTLESHIP DIVISION

Indefatigable
(lost at Lakota)
Audacious
(lost at Lakota)
Defiant
(lost at Lakota)

 

TENTH BATTLESHIP DIVISION

 

 

FIRST BATTLE CRUISER DIVISION

 

Courageous
Formidable
Intrepid
Renown
(lost at Lakota)

 

FOURTH BATTLE CRUISER DIVISION

Dauntless
(flagship)
Daring
Terrible
(lost at Ilion)
Victorious

 

 

 

SIXTH BATTLE CRUISER DIVISION

 

Polaris
(lost at Vidha)
Vanguard
(lost at Vidha)
Illustrious
Incredible

 

EIGHTH BATTLESHIP DIVISION

 

 

FIRST SCOUT BATTLESHIP DIVISION

 

Arrogant
(lost at Kaliban)
Exemplar
Braveheart
(lost at Cavalos)

 

SECOND BATTLE CRUISER DIVISION

 

 

FIFTH BATTLE CRUISER DIVISION

Invincible
(lost at Ilion)
Repulse
(lost in Syndic
home system)
Furious
Implacable

 

SEVENTH BATTLE CRUISER DIVISION

Opportune
(lost at Cavalos)
Brilliant
Inspire

 

THIRD FAST FLEET AUXILIARIES DIVISION