Black Ops

Joe and Skippy for the win!

With this book I've come to realize that my favourite thing about the Merry Band of Pirates is Joe and Skippy's relationship. Seriously, 90% of my highlights are either Joe or Skippy or both showing appreciation and support for each other. I love books and I read oh so many of them, yet, I can honestly say it's rare for me to find examples of pure unapologetic friendship like these two have. It's awesome.

Back to the book, we see Joe having to come up with a BlackOps plan to stop the Kristang from reaching Earth. It's action filled with twists and turns at every corner. One of my non Joe and Skippy appreciation highligts goes like this:
- "Sometimes I wonder why the Merry Band of Pirates even bothers to create show more a Plan A" - Said Chocula
- Because that gives us a basis for a Plan B?

By now, anyone reading the series knows what to expect, and this book delivers, so it's great. show less

Joe, his merry band of pirates aboard the stolen starship Flying Dutchman, and Skippy, self-styled the magnificent, discover the necessity of a plan B because the first plan never works exactly the way it should. Yes, another group of feisty aliens may be headed to Earth.

At one point, there is a curious role reversal: Skippy gets a little humility and asks to be made an honorary monkey, while Joe says, “I don’t need a plan. I am the plan.” Uh oh.

This series should be read in order. The first one is Columbus Day. If you have already read a few of these, you know Alanson delivers a consistent product.

Black Ops by Craig Alanson is book four in the amazing and humorous space series. The dangers, slick maneuvers, schemes, and great dialogue make this lots of fun!
Joe and Skippy make it over the top especially when you have R.C. Bray performing the narration! The book is great but I can't even think about reading this book, I have to LISTEN to it! Bray makes it so fun! I giggled and laugh out loud with every book so far! Can't wait to start the next one!

Another fun adventure with the Merry band of Pirates and Skippy the magnificent. There were a few too many coincidences for my suspension of disbelief, but it still kept me entertained.

Expeditionary Force