Try free for 2 months

1 credit a month to use on any title, yours to keep (you’ll use your first credit on this title).
Stream or download thousands of included titles.
Access to exclusive deals and discounts.
AUD $16.45/mo after 2 months. Renews automatically. Cancel anytime.
Ark Royal cover art

Ark Royal

By: Christopher G. Nuttall
Narrated by: Ralph Lister
Try for $0.00

AUD $16.45/mo after 2 months. Renews automatically. Cancel anytime.

Buy Now for $27.99

Buy Now for $27.99

Pay using voucher balance (if applicable) then card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions Of Use and Privacy Notice and authorise Audible to charge your designated credit card or another available credit card on file.

Publisher's Summary

"If you wish for peace, prepare for war." (Royal Navy Motto)

Seventy years ago, the interstellar supercarrier Ark Royal was the pride of the Royal Navy. But now, her weapons are outdated and her solid-state armour nothing more than a burden on her colossal hull. She floats in permanent orbit near Earth, a dumping ground for the officers and crew the Royal Navy wishes to keep out of the public eye. But when a deadly alien threat appears, the modern starships built by humanity are no match for the powerful alien weapons. Ark Royal and her mismatched crew must go on the offensive, buying time with their lives And yet, with a drunkard for a Captain, an over-ambitious first officer and a crew composed of reservists and the dregs of the service, do they have even the faintest hope of surviving....

And returning to an Earth which may no longer be there?

©2014 Christopher G. Nuttall (P)2014 Audible Inc.

What listeners say about Ark Royal

Average Customer Ratings
Overall
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    48
  • 4 Stars
    39
  • 3 Stars
    13
  • 2 Stars
    5
  • 1 Stars
    5
Performance
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    48
  • 4 Stars
    31
  • 3 Stars
    13
  • 2 Stars
    6
  • 1 Stars
    5
Story
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    48
  • 4 Stars
    32
  • 3 Stars
    14
  • 2 Stars
    4
  • 1 Stars
    5

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

wow

as an ex service man i throughly enjoyd this book in fact the entire series to date ,the use of historical names of vessels in a futureistic setting bloody brilliant ,true military jargon took me back , well done thank you

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Great idea poorly executed

What would have made Ark Royal better?

Less stilted dialogue.
A decent narrator.
Better character development.
Deliver on the potential excitement.
Remove the cringeworthy internal dialogue.

If you’ve listened to books by Christopher G. Nuttall before, how does this one compare?

This is the first Chris Nuttall book I've listened to... and more than likely the last.

How did the narrator detract from the book?

The voices were laughable (and I don't mean funny) and the delivery disjointed. Left me wishing he would just read in a relatively fast monotone.

You didn’t love this book--but did it have any redeeming qualities?

The idea was interesting, reminiscent of the Lost Fleet series. But there it ends I'm sorry to say.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

If you like Jack Campbell, You'll Love C Nuttall!

If you could sum up Ark Royal in three words, what would they be?

Since nothing here restricts me to three words, I'm just going to let you all know that this book has the feel of space drama, the action of mil-scifi, and a development of character to rival its peers. I strongly recommend a listen. Good fun!

What was one of the most memorable moments of Ark Royal?

Definitely the development of the underdog status of the Ark Royal (Space Carrier), as an old ship, and the challenges faced by her crew. Really well written.

Which scene did you most enjoy?

The early scene where Commodore Smith is ordered to relinquish command, and his powerful defense of his position.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Absolutely everything I was looking for in a series I will continue to follow (hopefully more audiobooks Chris!!!)

Any additional comments?

Overall a fun read. I usually listen to this on night shift at my workplace. Despite the nature of my role, I found consistently imagining what happens next, daydreaming about the situations the crew found themselves in, and keen to continue listening when interrupted by pesky work! If you are looking for a great way to engage in a different universe, or some fun escapism, I really can't recommend this enough. ENJOY!!!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Simple but good

Thoroughly enjoyed this military space sci-fi adventure, very human and flawed characters, grear action scenes, lots of sex, politics, grounded in a universe which makes sense. Loved it!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

Massive snooze fest and annoying performance

Returned it after 5 hours for a refund.

Overall.... its a political position with a story poorly and forcefully woven around it that is booooooooring and annoying at all times.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

hated it

i want to throw my phone away and buy a new one after soiling it with this book

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

ark royal series

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

absolutely.it is written and read excitingly

What other book might you compare Ark Royal to, and why?

the rest of the series because it follows the same path

Which character – as performed by Ralph Lister – was your favourite?

all of them.he does a great job getting the message over

If you made a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

unknown

Any additional comments?

in find it is like reading a great book that you do not want to put down as i do not want to stop listening to it

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Interesting and addictive.

While the story is fairly standard it's cultural placement and modern traditionalism increases it's interest. Also the story provides the required adventure, intrigue and military framework to satisfy most readers.

A point to note here is that I am an English born Australian embued with the traditions and accents expressed. This may challenge some reader's but if you enjoy Patrick O'Brian or the Hornblower stories this may interest you.

I look forward to the next and future editions of this series.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

Amateur hour

So its 300 years in the future, but the political structures on Earth haven't changed since the 1950s? The Ark Royal is a (space) carrier of the British Royal (space) Navy. They fly (space) Spitfires and shoot at (space) enemies. I gave up before they could reveal the bad guys were (space) Nazis led by (space) Hitler.

The only thing worse that the story was the performance. Every character, including the female ones, sounded like an angry Rene Auberjonois with a sore throat. I couldn't tell which was which, and I didn't care.

This is the first audiobook I have given up on without finishing. I quit about three hours in.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Great Series

Really enjoyed this series and highly recommend for those who enjoy good science fiction.
Looking forward to more works by this writer.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.