⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Columbus Day (Expeditionary Force, Book 1) by Craig Alanson

This was supposed to be a background book. White noise to fill the void while doing other things, or while I lay in bed waiting to fall asleep. It wasn’t supposed to matter if I missed half a chapter after falling asleep in the middle of it, because this wasn’t a book I intended on caring about.
But of course, R. C. Bray just had to be the best narrator in the business. Nay, the best performer in the business. Every book he reads is elevated by his very presence. That unusual blend of raspy and nasally is somehow one of the most beautiful, easy to listen to voices ever. Absolute LEGEND 👑.

Oh yeah, I almost forgot there’s a story here. Meh, it was okay. A cardboard cutout of countless other interstellar war stories, with heavy Starship Troopers vibes. The All-American grunt’s story as they journey through a war they didn’t start, but feel obligated to fight 🇺🇸. This all too generic approach to the story bleeds into the characters themselves, leaving them rather bland and unmemorable. I’m writing this review several months removed from reading it, and don’t remember any of them…
But Skippy… Skippy is awesome, and hilarious, and awesomely hilarious. The million year old, smart-ass beer can of an A.I. that’s been waiting for a “stupid monkey” to do the bidding of it’s self-proclaimed godly whims. Skippy absolutely makes this book.

The point is: The audiobook is the ONLY acceptable way to experience this series. 🎧