Preview
  • Critical Mass

  • Expeditionary Force, Book 10
  • By: Craig Alanson
  • Narrated by: R.C. Bray
  • Length: 19 hrs and 25 mins
  • 4.9 out of 5 stars (24,086 ratings)

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Critical Mass

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

The Merry Band of Pirates are in desperate trouble after the end of their last mission, and the real danger to humanity is just getting started.

Hostile aliens have discovered there is something odd going on with wormholes in the galaxy, and their investigations could lead to finding a shortcut to Earth....

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2020 Craig Alanson (P)2020 Podium Audio
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What listeners say about Critical Mass

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  • 5 out of 5 stars
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    42

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

Perhaps best in the series

Still a bit dragging but at least the story is moving forward. I hope the next book will have a lot of politics and adventure. Ending was great unlike last book. Performance of R C Bray was great again!

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8 people found this helpful

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

This one felt like he was running out of ideas.

The writing and presentation for the entire is incredible, this book including. The story line from book 2 on, however is a bit like groundhog day. Always one emergency after another. This book felt like the author ran out of ideas and meandered for most of the story until the last several chapters, in which it felt he just mailed this one in, and tied up all the loose ends quickly. Was a bit disappointing. I would have been better if the events, that occurred in the last several chapters, were expanded upon, and all of the meandering that occurred in chapters 3-30 were cut out. Also feels that this is end of the series, where all of the impossible issues facing earth just magically go away. I really hope it's not the end of the skippy/merry band of pirates and mavericks universe, but it might be. It seems that the author has ran out of gas.

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4 people found this helpful

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

This one is great!

they are all really got but this one wraps up and ties stuff together in a very satisfying way.

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1 person found this helpful

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

I am so addicted.

I am so addicted to this series of books. the pace is good and it makes it very hard to put down.

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1 person found this helpful

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

Redemption after previous book

When you get 10 books into a series there has to be some sort of character development and I'm glad that it has finally happened in a few areas (Skippy and Joe, Chang a bit). Other areas, it seems, are being reserved for growth in the authors follow up books apparently (Joe and Adams, any other supporting character). It seems to have finally broken the formulaic rut that the previous 3 books had fallen into and told the story in a refreshing way.

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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

Schmaybe the best so far

Overall this book is far better than the last one, there is a plot-twist here that is so rewarding. Very satisfying to read. The only thing I could think of to make it even better would be more scenery explanations, it would help to make it even more immersive.

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1 person found this helpful

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

You've gone this far, why would you stop now?

He did it again. Keeping me entertained with what feels like an inmate internal perspective. Sure some of the jokes may feel over used (but I still LOL), and people are rude and sometimes mean to the only one keeping them alive. (Poor Skippy) I guess to me that's part of the charm, people are dicks sometimes, we hurt the ones we love. The story and people in it feel real to me, not polished and perfect, but flawed and unsure of themselves. Obviously the narration is as good as could be, RC Bray is just so darn entertaining to listen to.

Bravo.

This book series had been such a fun and entertaining ride. I typically don't get into any military books, but the character development was so well done that I couldn't put it down. I feel as though I know the characters, and wish I could palaver with a beer can. So glad I was recommended this series.

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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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    4 out of 5 stars

Same same, still good.

1st witch is weird.
R.c has my thx for being the voice in my head to give this book life.
And when the book ended I forgot to stop, and heard the voice bloop reel. I laughed so hard my son woke up at the other end of the house.
I'm sorry for not thinking of you before, I'll go straight too the end if next book too hear more.

2nd. This is more normal.
This book is one of the better in the series, even if the best part was after the thing happened and before it came back.
If you like the books before you will like this.
I can almost predict Skippy event and bishop events now.
Keep up the good work. Now to the next book and voicebloop reel.

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1 person found this helpful

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

Best series ever

I love a great sci-fi series, but this one takes the top prize! A beautiful combination of humor, relatively plausible science, a fabulous and engaging story line. The second to last book was a little disappointing, but the final book more than made up for it. It is so easy to get completely wrapped up in the world of Joe Bishop, Skippy; completely drawn into the excitement, drama and plight of humanity in the hands of the Merry Band of Pirates!

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1 person found this helpful

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

Enjoyable all the way through!

R.C. Bray truly made this book stand out for me. The writing was great, to a point. I felt that character growth was in spurts and listening to 10 books of the protagonists argue at this point has gotten a little old. There are some funny moments still. That said I still enjoyed it and look forward to book 11, if that happens.

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1 person found this helpful