• SpecOps

  • Expeditionary Force, Book 2
  • By: Craig Alanson
  • Narrated by: R.C. Bray
  • Length: 15 hrs and 50 mins
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (34,574 ratings)

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SpecOps  By  cover art

SpecOps

By: Craig Alanson
Narrated by: R.C. Bray
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Publisher's summary

Colonel Joe Bishop made a promise and he's going to keep it; taking the captured alien starship Flying Dutchman back out.

He doesn't agree when the UN decides to send almost 70 elite Special Operations troops, hotshot pilots, and scientists with him; the mission is a fool's errand he doesn't expect to ever return from. At least, this time, the Earth is safe, right?

Not so much.

©2016 Craig Alanson (P)2017 Podium Publishing

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What listeners say about SpecOps

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    26,680
  • 4 Stars
    6,360
  • 3 Stars
    1,202
  • 2 Stars
    232
  • 1 Stars
    100
Performance
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    28,556
  • 4 Stars
    2,745
  • 3 Stars
    339
  • 2 Stars
    48
  • 1 Stars
    35
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    22,863
  • 4 Stars
    6,591
  • 3 Stars
    1,651
  • 2 Stars
    385
  • 1 Stars
    143

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Great book, left me anxious to start the next one

narrator does an awesome job. I loved the book. can't wait to start the third book

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Still Laughing

Any additional comments?

No sophomore slump here. This book continues where the first left off with the Flying Dutchman and a new merry band of pirates off through the galaxy on a search for a space telephone for their resident jerk AI, Skippy.

If you are reading this review without having finished the first book, an explanation: This series follows a dumb lucky military grunt by the name of Joe Bishop as he ends up at the right place at the wrong time, ever time. He has to get himself out of major problems with his average joe sensibilities and the occasional help from a super intelligent AI Skippy who just so happens to be a jerk, and possibly insane.

Skippy and Joe get a bit of character development this time around, however it kind of gets repetitive and draggy at times. That said, overall, it was necessary and I'm fine with it. The humor from the first book remains, and that is all that matters.

This book is just like the first one, no change to the formula or anything else. It is what I wanted, because I like being entertained. So if you feel the same, I recommend this book to you.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

A fun sequel

Craig Alanson's second installment in what he says will be a 12-book series is every bit as fun as Book 1. The developing bond between Joe Bishop and Skippy (the Magnificent) is the heart and soul of these books. Skippy is his old self, complete with short-term memory issues and funny repartee. This is a book, like the first, where Skippy and Joe's dialogue will have you laughing out loud. Alanson did a great job rounding out the other characters. I'm hoping most of them are brought back as continuing characters as the series rolls on. No review of this book could finish without praising the narrator, RC Bray. He is absolutely perfect for this series. His treatment of Skippy is filled with, as Skippy might say, absolutely awesome awesomeness. He makes Skippy come alive, which is saying something since Skippy is a millions of years old AI living in what appears to be a skinny beer can. Loved everything about this book. If you are thinking of using s credit on it, read Book 1 first. Skippy doesn't make an appearance until midway through but once he does the book takes off like you won't believe. Book 2 could standalone, but the developing relationship is so fun to watch develop that why would you not want to be there at the beginning.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Excellent story, excellent performance

I'm convinced that the personality of Skippy was heavily influenced by TV's "Frasier." RC Bray knocks another one out of the park, and Craig Alanson is quickly becoming my favorite author.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

A Next Star wars? Not! Maybe Dark Matter.

More, More, More!......Excellent Escapism. Kinda makes you think of "Sciency" stuff. soaps Still wondering how a "Beer Can" could redesign a Spaceship without hands or help. Ahhh...Skippy.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Columbus Day is a Hard Act to Follow

Skippy's still awesome, Joe's still a monkey and Bray's narration is still spot on. Buy it, listen to it and love it. Highly recommended as the next book in the series.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Pulp

This is a typical pulp sequel, giving you more of what hooked you in the first book, but now it doesn't seem so fresh. A third of the potential series narrative arc was explored in the first book, but only modicum of progress is made here, and somehow without any additional character development. The premise remains compelling enough to keep me buying books, but I could fully bridge the first novel to the third in two or three sentences.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

great book

it was a great story with a great performance And interesting characters with wonderful dynamics!

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Too much Skippy

There was too much conversation with Skippy being impetuous. Not enough story, a lot of Fluff.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Good narrator and a witty AI character.

A decent enough SF story, and an entertaining narrator. The banter between the AI and the main human character had me laughing out loud several times. I'm going on to book three.

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