12 books like The Lost Fleet

I found this book when surfing the Baen public library on their site. It was free to read, and I liked some of the short stories I had read from Eric Flint. 

Holy crap, nothing prepared me for the rollercoaster ride that this novel was. I loved the no-nonsense character that he gave to the main character. Add to that the fantastic alt-history spin he put to the story, and I was hooked.

I can completely understand why so many other authors added their own stories to the universe that Eric Flint created.

I loved this series from the first book.

Lewrie is going up the ranks, and watching/reading his attempts at being a proper officer while keeping his inner rogue nature in check is fantastically satisfying. I was absolutely fascinated following his adventures this time.

Even if this is the 6th novel in the series, I could not predict how each choice was going to resolve.   

I picked up a copy of this short, thought-provoking science-fiction novel in a library over forty years ago. I loved it so much I wanted a copy of my own – though in pre-internet days it was to be fifteen years before I finally found a secondhand copy in a bookshop on Charing Cross Road in London.

I hoped it would be as good as I remembered! It was, and I’ve read it again since several times. Cultural Survey Officer Forzon is sent to the planet Kurr in the hope that he will find a way to turn its people against their ruler, and discover democracy for themselves. An unlikely hero, Forzon is underprepared for his role, and unprepared for betrayal by one of his own. The result is a clever and engaging story of politics, prejudice, and beating the system by utilising the most unlikely tools.

Chock full of great characters, political scheming, spaceships, and conflict, Elizabeth Moon’s terrific space saga features a strong, believable female protagonist in Heris Serrano. As the story begins, Heris has been forced to resign from a space fleet she’d lived for, banished to what she believes to be a dead-end job on a private cruiser. The layers of intrigue that underly the action and interactions throughout the story are beautifully realised, and the characters are all recognisable individuals, distinct, human, flawed, each looking for a path to follow. A page-turner that will have you looking for Book 2 (Sporting Chance) as soon as you’ve read it

I have loved Robert Asprin as a storyteller since I read his fantasy series.

When I saw his name on a sci-fi action/adventure/comedy, I knew I had to give it a go. I am very glad I did. I loved the main character and how he was introduced; it had to be one of the best setups I have ever read in this genre.

This novel went by too fast. I finished it in just over a day because I did not want to put it down.

This book presents a not-uncommon theme of humans discovering wondrous alien technology. But rather than this technology being sequestered in top secret labs or carefully reverse-engineered, it is given to risk-takers and thrill seekers for the promise of riches.

I love the way Pohl builds his characters, both human and non-human. Set in a vastly overpopulated Earth, humans remain plagued by poverty, national barriers, class distinctions, and the full gamut of the best and the worst we have to offer. 

The gateway series offers two unique views of artificial intelligence. 

Early in the series, the story takes a deep dive into the actual psychology of the protagonist through an artificial intelligence therapist. It's easy to simply enjoy this subplot, but this theme deserves a good, hard look. Our world is rife with mental issues that range from personal questions to dangerous pathology. Human expertise and resources are inadequate to meet… show more.

I loved the setting for this novel, the first command of the young officer.

I loved the setting and the cultures that he introduced. I found the main character to be so believable and someone I could easily sympathize with. The choices they face and the decisions they make are not simple, and so very human.

I had no problems whatsoever with getting lost in a story set many hundreds of years in the future.

When I finished this book, I was a little heartbroken because I didn’t want to leave that crew.

I love how Chambers builds a world that doesn’t put heroes on a pedestal—a world full of ordinary, flawed people trying to understand one another while doing extraordinary work in an uncaring universe.

It taught me about quiet courage, the kind that doesn’t need destiny to feel meaningful. It made me believe again that kindness and curiosity can be forms of rebellion.

I come back to the Wayfarer whenever I need reminding that connection, not perfection, is what makes us human.

As with my other recommendations, I am making this one based on the impact the book had on me. From this novel, as well as the others that Jerry wrote, I learned how important it is to build a comprehensive world-universe when planning a book. And, when I sat down to pen the first book in what would become the Legion of the Damned series, I attempted to build a reality as fully realized as the CoDominium universe is.  

Bill, the Galactic Hero is a satirical novel by Harry Harrison published while I was still in my teens. It’s funny, it’s satirical, and still delivers a good plot. Harrison also wrote the fabulous Stainless Steel Rat books. Taken together Harry’s novels taught me about the use of humor in military books—and literature generally.