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  • Zero Hour

  • Expeditionary Force, Book 5
  • By: Craig Alanson
  • Narrated by: R.C. Bray
  • Length: 17 hrs and 20 mins
  • 4.8 out of 5 stars (2,139 ratings)

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Zero Hour cover art

Zero Hour

By: Craig Alanson
Narrated by: R.C. Bray
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Publisher's Summary

United Nations Special Operations Command sent an elite expeditionary force of soldiers and pilots out on a simple recon mission, and somehow along the way they sparked an alien civil war. Now the not-at-all-merry band of pirates is in desperate trouble, again. Their stolen alien starship is falling apart, thousands of light years from home. The ancient alien AI they nicknamed Skippy is apparently dead, and even if they can by some miracle revive him, he might never be the same.

©2017 Craig Alanson; 2018 Podium Publishing

What listeners say about Zero Hour

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What Has Happened To This Series?

Book 1 was epic. No doubt about it! I read it in a day. Listened to Book 2, still good, book 3 started to drag, book 4 okay and 5 well…. I don’t know… I’m not going to spoil any thing because there is nothing really to spoil unfortunately. (To be fair, there are some good bits and a lead in to the next book at the end.)

Don’t get me wrong I like when a book goes in depth a little and develops characters, situations and plots, all of that adds to the overall story. But it seems like the ideas are running out here.
Skippy, Joe and the crew have been developed quite well and the individual stories that they hold are great, but you put them together and it’s this:
• Skippy: We are going to die
• Joe: Crap, I’ll think of something
• Skippy: I’ve thought of everything
• Joe: what about this … blah blah blah
• Skippy: Crap, I hate you Joe, I didn’t think of that…
• Flying Dutchman Saved

Next problem:
• Skippy: We are going to die
• Joe: Crap, I’ll think of something
• Skippy: I’ve thought of everything
• Joe: what about this … blah blah blah
• Skippy: Crap, I hate you Joe, I didn’t think of that…
• Flying Dutchman Saved

Aaaand repeat, over and over and over again…

Joe being Joe in the first couple books did whatever it took to get the job done, to the detriment of others sometimes, but since book 3 or 4 with his handler Hans Chotek it’s, (and I hate to say this because I love this series) stifled, restricted and boring. There’s no real struggle.
Don’t get me wrong I don’t want a 'Diehard in space' series, but it’s getting to the stage where you can just read the 1st chapter and the last and get the best bits of the story.
For eg:

• Joe: we need to do this to survive/save earth
• Hans: I’ll think about it…uh no I don’t want to do that.
• Skippy: We are going to die … etc etc etc

There is no spontaneity left anymore no real consequences, no real sacrifice, no gung-ho Joe like book 1 or 2 … just a whipped, hamstrung captain who can’t do anything anymore. And a confused beer can, who is still magnificent, but losing his shine.

Really hope the series picks up soon as I am a fan but I’m starting to lose faith.

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24 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Getting Bored

Love the story and the characters but am starting to get a bit bored.
We have 5 books in the series now and am wondering what book 6 will bring - will it be more of the same or will it climax. I hope book six is the last otherwise this adventure is starting to drag out.

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9 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
  • Jan
  • 22-02-2018

Scared of it getting stale..

OK so not knocking the book because I enjoyed it. Great story, interesting ending and wonderful performance as always by RC Bray! But like some others here, I'm started to wonder where it's gonna lead... Will it be another 30 books or will it end in book 6-7?

Not because I don't enjoy the characters, but more that it's starting to remind me of how I felt about the TV show Lost. So many mysteries, and it was so awesome at the start but then it was like hey keep following these breadcrumbs until next season and then next season until you have the last season which was ok but the mystery got too big for one season to explain. Ok I'm starting to rant here..

Basic jist, if you liked the other books you'll like this one but I hope the writer starts moving the overarching series story forward with a bit with more pace..

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8 people found this helpful

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

The 5th book in a row with the same story

I appreciate how hard it is to write a book. What i don't appreciate is being sold the same book 5 times.
Story line: hopeless guy in trouble, accesses incredible intelligent being, Being is rude, makes fun of hopeless guy. Encounter a no win situation, being is useless, hopeless guy thinks of a way out, everyone escapes by the skin of their teeth to sell audible listeners another book,
Really Craig? Are you happy with the writer you've become? I'm sure there was a time, you wrote for the love of writing, not the money. Having said that, i have to hand it to you, I'm dumb enough to buy five books, in the hope the story would change. Tips to you though, you're the rich writer who sold his soul, but is pumping out millions, I'm an idiot that keeps giving you money.
Well played Sir.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

more of the same

More of the same. Story not advancing much at all. If I hear how unforgiving orbital mechanics are one more time I'll scream.

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3 people found this helpful

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

Beginning to Drag

The narrator RC Bray is still fantastic. The author needs to stop dragging his feet.

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2 people found this helpful

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

Too long and too detailed

Great story but whole chapters can be skipped as the story grinds to a holt whilst tedious detailed background storyline is provided. The book is heavily padded with detail the story just doesn’t need. I love the series but I find the books 1/3 too long. Whole chapters could be cut out of this book and the story would not be impacted.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Completely addicted!

I LOVE this series! The story’s exciting and R.C. Bray’s performance is incredibly skilful and entertaining.
Can’t wait to get stuck into the next instalment!

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Enjoyable!

good book, looking forward to the next in the series. wonder storyline is cool and has potential to keep going g without getting dull

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

The incredible imagination of the author

I love the humour and the interaction between skippy and Bishop, the way all the science stuff is explained

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