The New York Times best-selling author puts the Alliance fleet’s enemy in the spotlight as the people of the Syndicate Worlds attempt to rebuild their lives after Admiral John “Black Jack” Geary defeated them....

The authority of the Syndicate Worlds’ government is crumbling. Civil war and rebellion are breaking out in many star systems, despite the Syndic government’s brutal attempts to suppress disorder. Midway is one of those star systems, and leaders there must decide whether to remain loyal to the old order or fight for something new.

CEO Artur Drakon has been betrayed. The Syndic government failed to protect its citizens from both the Alliance and the alien enigmas. With a cadre of loyal soldiers under his command, Drakon launches a battle for control of the Midway Star System - assisted by an ally he’s unsure he can trust....

CEO Gwen Iceni was exiled to Midway because she wasn’t ruthless enough in the eyes of her superiors. She’s made them regret their assessment by commandeering some of the warships at Midway and attacking the remaining ships still loyal to the Syndicate empire. Iceni declares independence for the Midway Star System on behalf of the people while staying in charge as “President”. But while she controls the mobile fleet, she has no choice but to rely on 'General' Drakon’s ground forces to keep the peace planet-side....

If their coup is to succeed, Drakon and Iceni must put their differences aside to prevent the population of Midway from rising up in rebellion against them, to defend Midway against the alien threat of the enigma race - and to ferret out saboteurs determined to reestablish Syndic rule....

Listening Length

12 hours and 51 minutes
Author

Jack Campbell
Narrator

Marc Vietor
Audible release date

October 2, 2012
Language

English
Publisher

Audible Studios
ASIN

B009KEYW1U
Version

Unabridged
Program Type

Audiobook
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Product details

Listening Length	12 hours and 51 minutes
Author	Jack Campbell
Narrator	Marc Vietor
Whispersync for Voice	Ready
Audible.com Release Date	October 02, 2012
Publisher	Audible Studios
Program Type	Audiobook
Version	Unabridged
Language	English
ASIN	B009KEYW1U
Best Sellers Rank	#69,712 in Audible Books & Originals (See Top 100 in Audible Books & Originals) #1,027 in Military Science Fiction (Audible Books & Originals) #1,379 in Space Opera Science Fiction (Audible Books & Originals) #1,740 in Adventure Science Fiction

Customer reviews

5 star		62%
4 star		30%
3 star		7%
2 star		1%
1 star		1%

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Top reviews from the United States

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Jack Gardner

Exciting – with a fundamental confusion

Reviewed in the United States on November 14, 2017

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The Lost Stars series has good characters, political intrigue, interesting space battles and ground actions – fun stuff. Only quibble, as common with much sci-fi, is depicting a fundamental philosophical and practical confusion. Clearly and succinctly stated in the fourth book: “Syndicate mind-set . . . all that matters is profit and efficiency, that self-interest is the ultimate good.”

Leaders of the Syndicate Worlds are called CEOs, ruthlessly destroy anyone they fear is a threat to their power, and live in constant fear of such threats. They are rich, but friendless, and can expect short lifespans. This is self-interest? This is efficient? The story frequently comments on the inefficiencies, waste, and incompetence produced by this system of oppressive government.

Leaders of the breakaway Midway star system work at creating political freedom, democratic procedures, and gaining the support of the people. They develop trusting and loyal friendships and subordinates. This is not self-interest? This is not a better life? This is self-sacrifice? The story actually shows that this is a better life and results in a more efficient and profitable society capable of protecting itself from the Syndicate threats.

Great story, but Campbell needs to read Ayn Rand’s exciting sci-fi novel, “Atlas Shrugged,” to resolve conflicting notions regarding free market societies, personal self-interest, power hunger, and such.

7 people found this helpful

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A 3 Star Series That Could've Been 5 Stars

Reviewed in the United States on August 5, 2021

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**SPOILER FREE**
Tarnished Knight is book one in a four part series and is, by itself, a 4 star novel. I began reading this with the lowest expectations (spin off series are usually lame) and was pleasantly surprised.

This series as a whole, unfortunately, is a solid 3 stars. There are numerous logical inconsistencies, unresolved plot threads, eye-rolling moments, tons of deus ex machina, and the author falls into the trap of almost remaking the "Lost Fleet" characters but with different names--Victoria Rione becomes "Gwen", John Geary becomes "Artur", and so on. The series had a lot of potential, but only lived up to about 1/3 of that potential.

All that said, it's still a fun and mostly entertaining romp through the "Lost Fleet" universe, but from a different perspective. Worth a read!

One person found this helpful

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C.T. Top Contributor: Star Trek

A book from the perspective of those scheming Syndics

Reviewed in the United States on August 29, 2021

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I'm a huge fan of the LOST FLEET series starring Blackjack Gerry and it's a good comfort food for me. This is a very different series set in a different world with the evil, conniving, backstabbing Syndics. It's a bit like going from reading a series about Captain Picard or Kirk to one about the Romulans. General Drakon and President Iceni are the least repellent of the Syndics, though, and they want to free their home system of Midway from its tyrannical rulers. Well, so they can become its rulers in their place. But they're not tyrants! Sort of!

Much of the book is how it is hard to unlearn being a paranoid backstabbing jerk when it's all you know as well as the difficulties of creating a democracy [which they don't want] in a totalitarian dictatorship. As usual, Jack Campbell does a great job of writing the many battle scenes and tactics that make the series fun. Still, the leads are a bit unlikable compared to Captain Gerry.

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Kindle Customer

A good start

Reviewed in the United States on December 21, 2012

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It took me quite a while to read this book but that was not really due to the book itself but rather to us having been quite occupied with repainting, tiling, birthdays etc. so I have not had as much time to read as I usually do.

This book is the first in a new spin-off series (The Lost Stars) from Jack Campbell’s The Lost Fleet series. I quite enjoyed The Lost Fleet series and, so far, it looks like I will enjoy this series as well.

I have to admit that I was a bit hesitant at first given that this series, to some extent, deals with a view from the side of the bad guys in the previous books. I usually never find that kind of story as amusing to read since I am always somewhat biased by the fact that the previous books, if they were any good, have instilled a certain animosity towards these guys in me.

One issue I had with The Lost Fleet series was the politics and bickering by useless commanders who thought the military was some kind of democracy and even their own political playground. This was another thing that I was afraid might be the case with this book since the two main characters obviously was not exactly going to be best buddies from the start.

Luckily none of my fears came true, at least not true enough to be a problem. I found the book quite enjoyable. Maybe not as enjoyable as the best of the Lost Fleet books but nonetheless, quite enjoyable.

It becomes quite clear from the start that the two main characters, Drakon and Iceni, are not Syndicate goons and wants nothing more to do with the Syndicate government. There are quite a bit of politics, mistrust and some behind the back scheming in the book but it is well managed in the plot and, unlike the plonkers in some of the Lost Fleet books, these two people are skilled professionals who are victims of a corrupt and totalitarian system.

Both of them struggle to trust other people, something which could not be done during the Syndicate rule, at the same time as they are trying to hold together and defend the star system that they have wrestled out of the syndicate hands.

There is of course a reasonable amount of action both on the ground and in space. As usual the author creates believable physics and, consequently, believable battles between space ships.

It’s definitely a good start. I’m looking forward to read the continuation of this and I hope the author manages to keep a balance between the politics and the real action. With this opening salvo it can go either way and personally, I would vote for the action and not so much for the politics as usual.

2 people found this helpful

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Top reviews from other countries

Paul Tapner

The battle of Midway

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 12, 2013

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A new military science fiction novel, which is a spin off from the popular 'the Lost Fleet' series.

This is a book that you might be able to get into if you haven't read that, as there is some exposition, but you would probably be much better off having read that series first. If you haven't, start with The Lost Fleet: Dauntless (Book 1) (Lost Fleet 1) .

If you have, read on.

This volume runs for four hundred and forty seven pages, and is divided into eighteen chapters.

It details events in the Midway star system. A place that was seen and mentioned in the Lost Fleet novels. Where, as the Syndic system of worlds and government starts to crumble, people start to rebel.

The two leaders of the rebellion are Artur Drakon and Gwen Iceni. They are both viewpoint characters in the book, and the narrative does flash back and forth between them. Since Drakon spends most of his time planetside and Iceni spends most of her time in space, this is a pretty effective approach.

The syndic system has been enforced by the ruthless ISS security service. As the would be rebels make their play for freedom, they have these vicious, fanatical and highly skilled warriors to contend with. Even once they win through, that's just the start of the battle. The syndic won't let them go without a fight. How do they bring freedom and democracy to a place that has never known it? Can all the rebels trust each other? And those enigmatic aliens are still out there somewhere...

Written very much in the same style as the Lost Fleet books, this has characters going through a lot of moral introspection and space battles that conform to the law of physics. We join the story just as the rebellion is about to start, and it does take about fifty pages to get going. But once it does, it's a good read. Although the style is the same as the other books, having new characters makes for a fresh approach. It does make the reader think about the moral dilemmas they encounter. And you do get interesting scenes of Black Jack from the lost fleet being viewed and thought about by these characters. And how his influence has rubbed off on them.

There are some decent space battles that manage to grip, and it all ends on a very big cliffhanger indeed.

Well worth it if you're a fan of the Lost Fleet.

4 people found this helpful

Jeff N.B

A new super story

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 5, 2014

Verified Purchase

After the two Lost Fleet series it is great news that Jack Campbell (real name John G Hemry) has come up with further adventures set in the same universe. Now we follow the struggle of former Syndicate worlds to throw off the old master and achieve freedom...of sorts.

Several of the characters from the original series have cameo roles in Lost Stars - Tarnished Knight but mainly whole new set of characters and very different aspects on life in the Syndicate Worlds. Campbell writes as well as any author I have read and retains a grip on the reader that is a true delight. I never want to put the book down until the end and then I want the next book NOW!

I see at least a couple more in this series (at least) and also some more Lost Fleet in the offing.. Fantastic!!

One person found this helpful

Russell A. Sayle

Expectations exceeded

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 21, 2012

Verified Purchase

When i read the blurb for this latest take in the "black Jack" universe i wasn`t sure it have the action and adventure which the other books enthralled me with. I was wrong. From the srart it had the same verve and excitement of the other books.It had the same feel and style of writing i`ve grown to enjoy from Mr. Campbell (Johyn Hemry). Very strong leading female characters take us on a new tangent to explore the break-up of the evil syndicate empire. All in all a very good "known universe" experience and i`m looking forward to the next instalment.

2 people found this helpful

Jack Tudor

lost stars

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 7, 2014

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Got off to a slow start but with the need to introduce all the characters this is not surprising. Hopefully any more in the series will proceed a little faster.Otherwise I liked it as it gave a view from the other side from the Alliance fleet. Any contact with Jack Geary will now prove more interesting as MIDWAY SYSTEM now has something in common with the Alliance even if they barely trust each other. Should make life there more interesting for readers.

Miketi

The saga continues with an insight into the other side's perspective

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 10, 2015

Verified Purchase

A spin off from the lost fleet series which tells the story through the eyes of two former Syndic leaders. Adds a new perspective to the existing story line but if you are new to the lost fleet series of books you might enjoy it more if you start at book one of the original series. This continues to be a gripping series of books which is hard to put down because you want to know what happens next.

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