Steadfast (Beyond the Frontier #4) is the latest instalment in the Lost Fleet series by Jack Campbell, the pen name of John G Hemry. This is the tenth direct sequel focusing on John ‘Black Jack’ Geary , while Campbell has also written a side-series called the Lost Stars, so far consisting of two novels with a third to come later this year. In short, if you’ve not read any of the previous novels then this is not the place to start. At all. If, however, you have been following the exploits of Geary then you’ll know exactly what to expect within the pages of Steadfast.
After the events of Guardian, Geary and his fleet are touring Earth before making preparations to leave Sol with the alien Dancers. But when two of his lieutenants go missing the fleet track them down only to be faced with a problem none of them expected: having to make a rescue from the strictly off-limits moon of Europa. Back in Alliance space, Geary is ordered to the edges of Alliance territory to settle refugee issues from a Syndic system. Once there he discovers that information that the Alliance has been presenting isn’t quite what it seems, and that’s only the start of his troubles…
Steadfast was both the novel I was expecting, and the novel I wasn’t. Let me tackle the first point. Quite simply, Steadfast is a Lost Fleet novel. There are no major differences to the storytelling, to the characters, to the setting. It is what it is, and let’s be honest, if you’re going to read Steadfast you know that you’ll enjoy the way Campbell tells the tale.
As for what I wasn’t expecting… Well, Steadfast does almost nothing of significance for, perhaps, 90% of the novel. It was very much along the lines of same stuff, different day. Now, this isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but when the foundation Campbell has laid over the previous novels is so varied, and the possibilities countless, it’s a shame that this one meanders along, essentially going from A to B and doing nothing but setting up the BIG REVEAL.
In Steadfast situations arise and Geary deals with them as he usually does, by thinking outside the box. This is the case with Europa, the refugee situation, his orders, and the general state of his fleet. It’s all very samey, more so that I would like from an ongoing series without massive changes.
However, there was a one particular aspect that I was very pleased to see introduced. From the first book, Dauntless, all the way through to Guardian, Geary has spent his entire commanding career on his flagship, Dauntless, with Captain Desjani – his wife – and other recurring characters such as the unflappable Senator Rionne. No longer. His orders detach Geary and part his fleet to the Alliance border, but not with Dauntless. Instead his flagship is Inspire captained by another of his close friends, Duellos. This helps to shake up the familiar formula, and lets the reader see how Geary deals with situations without his trusted Captain Desjani.
The really interesting and game-changing plot points only came in towards the very end of Steadfast. I won’t go into detail, but suffice to say that this book seemed like a stop gap while Campbell figured out how to introduce it properly, when it really could have been introduced much earlier on. After all, the set-up is there in previous novels and it wouldn’t have felt rushed.
Steadfast is, ultimately, a disappointment. It’s not badly written, it’s not a poor story, but it does feel needlessly prolonged. I can’t say I didn’t enjoy it because, after nine previous volumes, I like the characters and the setting – I just wish it had more urgency. Despite my disappointment in Steadfast, this is a series that has some serious potential from here on out, and I will be greatly anticipating the release of the next volume.
Publisher: http://www.penguin.com/meet/publishers/ace
Author: http://www.jack-campbell.com
May 2014, 400 Pages
Hardcover, ISBN: 9780425260524
Review from a purchased copy
© 2014 Mark Chitty
