Fleet Elements audiobook

It's a middle book with some of the middle book's faults (setting up a finale, advancing the story just enough), while there is an element of artificiality in the main characters interactions as opposed to the first books of the series, but Fleet Elements delivers a lot too - a faster pace than Accidental War, decisive military encounters, a great ending in many ways (not to the main storyline of course but still - won't spoil more) and more, so overall it was another book not to put down until the ending and as noted in my current review of Accidental war, the novel rekindled my interest in the series, so the final book (presumably of course as the storyline started in Accidental war doesn't look like having more than one book to go) is an asap againOverall - definitely recommended though of course, one should start from book 1, The Praxis, of this series

Superb. Highly recommended.

Fleet Elements by Walter Jon Williams- Military Space Opera set in William's Praxis series. This would be number five in the series, but really set in a second trilogy, being the second book there, following "The Accidental War". It's filled with exciting space battles, knuckle-biting encounters, and dazzling escapes. On the other hand, as with the first four books, there is a wispy tangle of romance and political intrigue that just goes on and on, making it a bit of a slog. I found the main characters Martinez and Sula, who appear in all the books, interesting and engaging, but many of the others seemed stock figures with unnecessarily long dull back stories. And, yes, I have read other books in this series, so I know from what I speak. Still the space opera part is first rate.

Absolutely superb. I was somewhat worried this might be a typical middle trilogy book used largely as a vessel to set up the finale. I was extremely pleasantly suprised to find this is the not the case at all. Despite being 5 books in, Williams has maintained a tight cast of core characters who feel fully realised and complex. Their interactions are equally so and the highs and lows for them in this book and indeed the entire series have kept me constantly engaged. Can't wait for the next installment.

This review is more about Walter Jon Williams, and his writing, than it is about the book itself. I didn't mean to do that, and I do mention the book, at least. Move along iWhat can one say when it comes to Walter Jon Williams? Easily one of Sci-Fi's greatest modern luminaries, WJW's books take an effort to write, and read that I don't find with any other author.When I first started reading Dread Empire's Fall a few years back, starting with The Praxis of course, I had no idea what I was getting into. I had no idea who WJW was, and frankly I didn't care. My taste at that point had been wet by reading The Expanse series. With it, I was thrust back into Sci-Fi for the first time in decades - since my youth, in fact. The Expanse was my first taste of a true "Space Opera." A story that spans both light years, and billions of years. I was eager for more of that, because much like the television series, each Expanse installment leaves us with a cliffhanger. Ty Frank, and Daniel Abraham - those boys are masters of both sci-fi, and the art of the cliffhanger.But, as I found with Dread Empire's Fall, while masters practice their art, there are actual doctors of sci-fi - men and women whose works will remain timeless. Asimov, Heinlein, Haldeman, Stephenson, and Card are the likes of which I invoke with my statements here.This list wouldn't be complete without Walter Jon Williams, and this epic saga, Dread Empire's Fall. Fleet Elements find Gareth Martinez as a growing family man - stuck in a war that has to be won, for the safety of his family. We also find his (quite literally) star-crossed lover Lady Caroline Sula at his side once more, this time as his tactical officer, no less.I found this installment to be much "quicker" than the others, and that's possibly because the book is essentially centered around the main battle described in the book. There's an earlier battle that is quickly passed-by, but aside from action of the battles, the book offers little background, history, nor character development. I can't recall, in fact, if any new characters were even introduced.What I can tell the reader of this review, without making a spoiler out of myself and my review, is that in Fleet Elements, many people, humans, and non-humans alike, do not have the opportunity to walk away from its last pages. The main battle is savage, costly, and full of heart-pounding action. In the end, there's hope, trepidation, fear, and a lot of mourning.The book doesn't end without a sense of dread for what still has yet to come, and for the losses incurred by all sides. As the book ended, I found myself feeling that dread for the rest of that day. That's how I can tell a book affected me in a great way!I loved every moment of it!

As a transgender individual, I must press upon any who know, meet, or write a transgender person that our former names are private and often sources of dysphoria and childhood trauma. It's rude to tell others these private things. Would you tell someone a person's former cup size if you knew them before they had gotten breast augmentation? It is a more embarrassing and unprofessional form of this action to dead name a transgender person.The representation of a transgender woman is in-and-of itself progressive, given that efforts to erase transgender identity is a harsh reality that my community faces. However, in Fleet Elements this is lessened by the dead naming of Lady Haas (I listened to this as an audiobook so my spelling may be wrong).While I applaud the author for his characters gendering her correctly and not dead naming her, the readers are reminded of her former name in almost every scenes she is in. It's okay to have characters unsure how to act or start to dead name and correct themselves. This would organically introduce the characters transgender nature and hopefully normalize/promote our existence as living thinking/feeling people.In the end, the narrative is derailed on at least two occasions to give an explanation of Lady Haas's existence, both times it mentions her former name and remarks on her pre-transition body. These scenes would've been fine without bringing in her former name and physique, in fact in the scene with Lady Sula and Lady Haas discussing the war, it would be much improved to only mention transition. Any people who cared about trans representation would've felt represented and any who didn't care could go on in blissful ignorance. It would've even been funny to transgender readers such as myself.

I received an advanced copy of this book. The Dread Empire's Fall series was on my to-read list, but I had not started before receiving this book. I went to the beginning of the series and enjoyed reading all of the books giving each of them 4 stars. I was concerned I'd get bored along the journey but just the opposite. The story evolved and if the 6th book was available today I would keep going.The universe building is quite detailed and I was drawn into the political dynamics. There are a couple main characters, a couple hands full of supporting characters, and a lot (and I mean A LOT) of transitory characters which I guess is to be expected in a universe of this size. There were many times when my mind didn't take time to catalog all of the characters and ships that came and went and I don't think my appreciation of the story suffered from that. There were however times when a character would pop back up and I'd have to go search for their origin.There are a number of themes that recur over and over (and over and over) but with enough variation that I remained interest. I can certainly see where some readers would tire of peer caste influence peddling, family tree analysis, dinners and dinner parties (oh the dinner parties).Space battles? Yes, there are space battles. Is it hard sci-fi? I don't know but for me there's enough science in service of the fiction to keep me going.If you like big universes, politics, space battles, and social sciences in your space operas, the Praxis and The Dread Empire's Fall has all of that and more. Solid 4 stars.

The Terran race has been forced into a war of survival. The most of the other races have joined together to attack Terrans every where they live. Luckily a piece of the Great Fleet has been crewed by Terrans and they are able to flee to a space where they are the majority. While holding their worlds and protecting them from harm they know that the majority of the Grand Fleet is coming to annihilate them.As divisions and sections of the fleet have been taken over by Terrans, they are all fleeing to a system where they can ready their own fleet to protect their people. They call themselves the "Restoration" and they are determined to continue the Empire that was built by the Shaa under the Praxis. But even after most of the Terran ships have settle into a Fleet, they are still only half as big as the Great Fleet.It's up to Gareth and Lady Sula to create a new fleet that will allow them to pick-off parts of the Great Fleet as it travels towards the Restoration Fleet.

I have to say I really enjoyed this story. Sure its part of a long running series and I just happen to jump right in the middle of everything. At times there are places and events I’m not sure about. But overall I enjoyed it. At the end you have a space battle happening which is always entertaining.There is a long list of characters listed at the front of the book. It helped me for some not all. Most people talked about in the book I really did not care about. Some call this a Military Space Opera book which is fine.The character that stood out the most for me was Caroline Sula. I really like her past, what she was pushing for and wonder if Gareth Martinez will ever find out the truth (or even ask her to explain what happened).Good ending which clearly will lead to another book. https://theworldisabookandiamitsreade...

I enjoyed it. The following things were best in my reading of it:First, it continued to be an excellent series for giving you a clear picture of the problems faced by the characters as the characters understand them. This may seem like a low bar but it is an impressive virtue when it comes to space opera.Second, it did a pretty great job centering class/caste-based anxiety and complacency as a major force driving the characters' thinking - affecting everything from which pieces of history they considered relevant to how they read pauses in a romantic relationship. Sort of Edith Wharton writes Hornblower in Spaaaaaaaace.

I see disclaimers every once in a while so let me start by saying I got this for free in a Goodreads giveaway. I would have purchased a copy anyway because I'm a big fan of the Praxis series. This was more of the same with great space battles interspersed with a few formal receptions, as per usual with Praxis military functions. Not so much on the political side as the previous book. A little bit /r/HFY/ but then I really kind of like that type of story anyway.There was a great call out to Sula's rescue of the racing yacht in book 1 and a more realistic outcome given the 3d nature of space maneuvers.Overall I liked it quite a bit and am looking forward to the next one.

Really way to many characters introduced at once. Not interested in reading the pages of synopsis on characters until I decide if I like the book and if it's worth reading. It took a lot away from the story trying to remember who they were and how they fit in.Otherwise a very good read, good story line, good action scenes. Didn't love the characters but they emerged lifelike from the pages. Will read more of this series. Military space fight scenes, arranged marriages in wealthy families, power of the aristocracy all covered in this book.

Well, well, well. It took five books after the fall of the brutal Praxis for the series even to mention the word democracy. I will grant Williams that the 10+ years actually is realistic or even rushed given the eons of the previous reign. My nitpicking aside, the book stands out again with wild military action in space, but also with the all too human sides of the main two characters. Nice read, if you have come this far, this tome is a must.

Another great adventure in the Praxis empire. Multiple fleets are homing in on humanity and the only way to stop them is to meet them head on before they can group together. Even then the fleet is outnumbered.It's going to take a brilliant strategist and a ton of missiles.So reluctantly Martinez and Sula are put together against their wills and forced to work together to defeat the enemy.Great epic space battles and intrigue onboard.Highly recommended book series and author

Martinez and Sula are thrown together 10 years after the last book in the series. Once again they work and defeat the enemy but at great cost. While the battle is a large part of this story line the relationship between Martinez and Sula is again center stage. Things look great for the two but there is another player who can really change the relationships and destroy both. How does it end. Badly.

The political intrigue, dictatorial aspirations, concerns about the economy and making money off of war seems terribly contemporary, as the the environment within the ships of the fleet. Unlike "Expanse" and "The Lost Fleet," the crew members of these ships enjoy freshly cooked meals, regular eating utensils and plates, as well as recreation. Of course, this is deep into this series, so I can't compare to earlier episodes, yet.