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Battleground: Unification War Trilogy, Book 1 Audible Audiobook – Unabridged

Joshua Dalzelle (Author), Mark Boyett (Narrator), Podium Audio (Publisher)

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This war was inevitable.

After two brutal, bloody struggles for their very existence against implacable alien foes, humanity is victorious, but not at peace.

As distrust and accusations consume the political discourse between the two major factions, the Eastern Star Alliance military has already begun executing small raiding missions into United Terran Federation space. The Federation fleet, still reeling from the last war, is in no shape to try and protect its own borders.

Now, as diplomacy crumbles and tensions escalate, the ESA has moved into a Federation star system and declared it for themselves. Desperate, the Federation deploys a full task force commanded by Admiral Jackson Wolfe to try and defuse the situation, hoping his reputation forces calmer heads to prevail. Wolfe knows that even if he can stop the ESA here, the die has been cast. Humanity's march to war with itself cannot be stopped.

Battleground is the first book in the final trilogy of the Black Fleet Saga.

Listening Length

9 hours and 13 minutes
Author

Joshua Dalzelle
Narrator

Mark Boyett
Audible release date

April 14, 2020
Language

English
Publisher

Podium Audio
ASIN

B086VP5Y2G
Version

Unabridged
Program Type

Audiobook
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Product details

Listening Length	9 hours and 13 minutes
Author	Joshua Dalzelle
Narrator	Mark Boyett
Whispersync for Voice	Ready
Audible.com Release Date	April 14, 2020
Publisher	Podium Audio
Program Type	Audiobook
Version	Unabridged
Language	English
ASIN	B086VP5Y2G
Best Sellers Rank	#7,356 in Audible Books & Originals (See Top 100 in Audible Books & Originals) #125 in Military Science Fiction (Audible Books & Originals) #192 in Space Opera Science Fiction (Audible Books & Originals) #535 in Military Science Fiction (Books)

Customer reviews

5 star		68%
4 star		24%
3 star		5%
2 star		1%
1 star		1%

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Terry Lawhon

They can't be that stupid!

Reviewed in the United States on May 18, 2020

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I'm still reading this book, but I just had to say something about one plot point that bugs me. First, let me say that I've read all the previous books in this series, and enjoyed each one. In the current story, however, the author seems to have used a common and always frustrating trope of making the characters who are normally quite perceptive be specifically stupid and oblivious to the implications of a situation in order to have a certain plot advance. Specifically, the second unexpected suicide on a ship in space occurs after a particular character visits the one who dies, who is in custody, and the video surveillance conveniently fails during the visit, after which the prisoner is found dead from "suicide"...and no one thinks to question the visitor or the camera malfunction! This kind of thing makes it difficult to continue reading the book, as it completely blows the sense of continuity and my own suspension of disbelief.

20 people found this helpful

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Shane Pruyne

Mixed feelings about this book.

Reviewed in the United States on July 1, 2019

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Three and a half stars. I have many mixed feelings about this book. The second Black Fleet Trilogy (Expansion Wars) saw the rise of the "Black Fleet Mafia". This developed many interesting characters who were overshadowed by Jackson Wolfe in the first trilogy. Dalzelle throws this all aside in this new trilogy and goes back to the old standby. The other "Black Fleet" characters play a roll, but are lost in the shadow of a returning Jackson Wolfe.

Admirals just aren't as interesting as Captains. Admirals who can't realize that they are no longer Captains are even worse. I'm not sure where that leaves an author who can't decide if his main character is an Admiral or a Captain. If he wanted to write stories from a Captain's perspective, he never should have promoted Wolfe beyond Commodore. It isn't too hard to think of a Commodore as just a Captain who is responsible for a couple extra ships.

The rest of the story is rock solid. A great balance that focuses on the intensity of battle while still keeping ever-present the vast distances of space. The minor characters who were so well developed in the "Expansion Wars" still are just as interesting if not more so. I like to imagine Pike as an older James Bond in space (think Sean Connery in "Never Say Never Again"). In fact Dalzelle put so much work into the characters, it is a real shame he doesn't use them more.

There are many threads left to pull you into the next book but this story is complete on it's own. There are so few authors who do that these days it should be noted. When you add interesting characters to a complete story it makes Dalzelle stand out even more. I may have been hard on Jackson Wolfe, but don't for a minute think that I'm not already waiting for the next book...

16 people found this helpful

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BKD970

Once again The Wolfe leaps into the fray.

Reviewed in the United States on June 21, 2019

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The Wolfe has been tested over and over but will he fall victim to his own legend? A new enemy rises to give him the ultimate test. The human race has faced an alien excursion from the Phage and alien vengeance by the Darshik. Now they face the threat of domination from the race that kicked off all the trouble in the first place, other humans. The Blue Jacket Mafia swing back into action when Wolfe is made the target of a crazed Admiral trying to make a name for himself at Jackson Wolfe's expense. Oh, and Pike is back too.

11 people found this helpful

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Modi

Explosive from the start

Reviewed in the United States on June 23, 2019

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It’s been a while... Blackfleet and Expansion Wars trilogies were immensely enjoyable and Captain Wolfe and his gang of followers were great characters to follow. Dalzelle is a master storyteller, and this long awaited book is not disappointing. I look forward to the next two in this last (?) trilogy of the Blackfleet universe.

3 people found this helpful

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Bulk Slash

Jackson Wolfe returns!

Reviewed in the United States on June 30, 2019

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Unlike certain space franchises that come in trilogies, Joshua Dalzelle doesn’t tarnish the beloved characters from previous trilogies just to make the new characters look good. Hopefully Jackson Wolfe won’t be killed off in the final book, I think he deserves a chance to retire.

If you’re new to the series, definitely start from the first book, they’re all brilliant page turners (which is ironic considering the space battles often take place over several days!) and this is another fantastic read. I look forward to finding out how the story finally ends!

2 people found this helpful

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Ruth

4 1/2 Stars - excellent story, but some technical flaws hold it back

Reviewed in the United States on July 13, 2019

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This may be my favorite Black Fleet universe book yet, with excellent space combat, political intrigue, and great characters. My one and only complaint is the large number of typos throughout the book, making it feel like it was rushed to get it published. On the whole, this felt more like a 2nd or 3rd draft, rather than a final copy, with simple mistakes that probably should have been caught before putting it out as a finished product. For example, there’s a chapter in the book where the helmswoman on the Nemesis is written as ‘Haley’, instead of her actual name in the series, ‘Healey’.

It’s a nitpick, but one that kept distracting me right at some of the most engrossing parts of the story. Clean those up in an update, and this is five stars all day, everyday.

3 people found this helpful

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Vulcan38019

Some inconsistencies but a fun read nonetheless

Reviewed in the United States on January 24, 2021

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Our hero, Jackson Wolfe, does not perform as well as he has in the past which results in the deaths of millions of innocent civilians. Also, his two senior officers on his battleship, the captain and the executive officer, are both killed and it’s made to look like a suicide in each instance. The last one to see the X-O was his CIC aide Lieutenant Tripp, (she wanted to question him) and mysteriously, the X-O was found dead shortly thereafter. Also mysteriously, the TV camera keeping watch went on the “fritz” during that visit. Jackson’s guard, Sgt. Barton, knows this so Lt. Tripp should be investigated as an enemy agent and a murderess, but somehow no one thinks of this. I feel that loose ends such as the above detract from the tightness of the story. Still enjoyable but author could benefit from better editing.

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Anthony Kempka

Excellent continuation of the Black Fleet Saga

Reviewed in the United States on July 17, 2019

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This latest installment of the Black Fleet Saga focuses more on character development and the inner-workings of the human factions, which are now in a sort of "Cold War about to become Actual War". The story is engaging and exciting. Full of intrigue, plots and plans that pulls the reader into the story.

2 people found this helpful

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Top reviews from other countries

Jarrak

Wolfe Returns

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 18, 2019

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Humanity has survived yet another interstellar conflict but its greatest challenge is emerging as the Eastern Star Alliance having broken away from the rest of the human worlds sees an opportunity to claim resources thanks to their insignificant action and negligent losses during the last war. The Confederation sends out Admiral Jackson Wolfe along with a task force to "show the flag" as it were but they are unaware of the long planned objective of the ESA to use the defeat and capture of Wolfe to encourage the drive for an all out invasion on their part and provoke a rash reaction on the part of the Federation. As the military of all sides play out a game that one half remains unaware that it is rigged the spies and politicians play their own game but when the weapons are unleashed all bets are off and survival is as important as victory.
The first book of a new trilogy within the Black Fleet saga starts strong and takes us deep into the new interstella dynamic which at this point is conflict within humanity. Yet we still see that as always events turn on the decisions and actions of individuals and the narrative continues to play that aspect strong. An enjoyable addition to the series and looking forward to the next novel.

Mr R

Fantastic series!

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 25, 2021

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I read Black Fleet Saga book one years ago. I enjoyed it, but forgot about it by the time the sequels came around (I read a lot of books). In 2021 I noticed it again and reread it, this time I read all available books in around 3 weeks. I cannot wait for the conclusion of the third trilogy next year.

One person found this helpful

Phil Jackson

A stunning return!

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 9, 2019

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Back to being a captain, of sorts....Wolfe makes a stunning yet naive return. It's a little obvious who the mole is but where's the fun exposing it from the get go?....read.....enjoy.....get annoyed waiting for the next one!

jimbob

Great series

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 8, 2019

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Great storyline, this is another good read from this author. Space battles galore with character building tension as the book goes on. Cannot wait for the next instalment. Keep it coming.

Nigel Frankcom

Much more fun than expected…

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 12, 2021

Verified Purchase

I started reading these in the wrong order but enjoyed this story immensely. Great characters and a funky story line.

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Battleground: Unification War Trilogy, Book 1 Audible Audiobook – Unabridged

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