Gallantry in Action
Halberd Book 1
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- Indie B.R.A.G. Medallion winner (Book Readers Appreciation Group),
- Finalist in the Science Fiction category for the IAN (Independent Author Network) 2022 Book of the Year awards,
- Finalist in the Readers’ Favorite Book Award Contest
- Finalist in the Wishing Shelf Book Awards
In an inter-stellar war between two superpowers, can one man make a difference?
After several years of low intensity conflict, newly promoted Captain Jonah Halberd of the Royal Navy of the Inter-Planetary Commonwealth is assigned a dangerous rescue mission in system belonging to the Rodinan Federation. Success in that venture is the result of Halberd championing the innovations brought forward by members of his crew.
Following the Royal Navy’s disastrous attempt to take the war to Rodinan space, Halberd and his crew find themselves as the only thing standing in the way of a Rodinan task force. If the enemy gets through, it might bring the Commonwealth to the brink of defeat. Against such overwhelming odds, survival is not even a consideration. Their only hope is to cause enough damage to prevent the enemy from proceeding further into the Commonwealth.
So begins the story of Jonah Halberd. Military conflict, political maneuvering, enemies both home and abroad, and romance all feature in this tale of adventure and heroism.
Join the crew and witness Jonah Halberd display Gallantry in Action.
What Others Are Saying
REVIEWED BY PIKASHO DEKA FOR READERS’ FAVORITE
Gallantry in Action is the first installment of the Jonah Halberd Series by John J. Spearman. A sci-fi military novel set in space, the book follows Captain Jonah Halberd, newly assigned commander of the spaceship HMS Cumberland, an advanced cruiser in the Royal Navy of the Commonwealth, currently under the reign of King Edward XII. There is an ongoing war between the Commonwealth and the Rodinan Federation. After rescuing Lady Julia Hawthorne, the fiancee of First Space Lord Chesterfield, Jonah and his crew set off for yet another dangerous assignment. But an ensuing battle with the Rodinan armada causes heavy casualties, and Jonah finds himself captured by the enemy. A daring rescue led by Lieutenant Commander Fred MacMurray results in Jonah receiving a hero’s welcome back home. Now, he must unite the Coalition for war.
An action-packed military drama set in interstellar space, Gallantry in Action is a wild rollercoaster of a book that masterfully captures the lives of soldiers fighting in wars. John J. Spearman’s worldbuilding is impressive, crafting a tale revolving around a war between two mega powers. The sci-fi concepts utilized in the narrative are riveting. Theories of near-light speed travel and advanced futuristic battleships are seamlessly incorporated into the story, pushing the limits of your imagination and reminding readers why they fell in love with science fiction in the first place. The cast is quite large, but each character feels distinct and unique. Anyone who is a fan of popular space sagas like Star Trek or Dune will find Gallantry in Action thoroughly entertaining.
Audiobook Review
Gallantry in Action is a gripping science fiction written by John Spearman and narrated by Tyler Krzeszewski. Set in the future, this first of a four-book series follows the adventures of Jonah Halberd. Jonah is a captain of the Royal Navy of the Interplanetary Commonwealth. Earth had long ceased to exist, and humans had discovered and colonized planets that support life. Humans now reside in planetary colonies.
Tension is high between the Commonwealth and the Rodinan Federation. Lady Julia, the daughter of one of the high-profile leaders in the Commonwealth, has been kidnapped by the Rodinan Federation. Jonah, having proved his military prowess, has been assigned to rescue her. Aboard Cumberland, a spaceship he’s assigned, Jonah and his crew are set for the mission. How will it be? But one thing was for sure. This was just the beginning of another war between the two powerful planetary colonies.
I listened to the Audible version of this book, and I liked how well Tyler Krzeszewski narrated it. The audio was clear and of high quality, and there was no part I had to strain to hear or understand. It was easy to know the various emotions of the characters and their genders just by listening to how the narrator adjusted his voice. The backgrounds of the planetary colonies were also exquisitely given (starting from the Old-Earth era to how they came to be), and this will not only help readers understand this novel but also the next books of the series. I also liked how the author captured the various technologies used in the planetary colonies, and this was evident in the fields of Military Science and Medicine. Apart from that, most of the questions that arose as I was reading were satisfactorily answered. However, the book has a cliffhanger ending, indicating there is more to come.
My favorite aspect of this book was how the author developed and depicted the characters. Through flashbacks and dialogues between the characters, readers get to know their backstories and understand them better. Their interactions were also natural, and it was easy to understand their level of familiarity with one another based on the interactions. I also noticed how they were aptly and vividly described, and through this, readers get to visualize their physiques, traits, and age, among others. In particular, I liked Jonah and Lady Julia. Jonah’s resilience is worth all admiration; on the other hand, Lady Julia’s humility, contagious positivity, and remarkable interpersonal skills were qualities hard to miss.
All in all, I didn’t find anything to dislike about the audiobook. It was clear, of high quality, and well narrated. I am, therefore, glad to award Gallantry in Action by John Spearman 4 out of 4 stars.
I highly recommend this book to fans of science fiction involving space, interplanetary wars, and some elements of romance. Readers who love futuristic novels will also appreciate this. On the other hand, although there was mild sexual content, there were various instances of profanity. None of that detracted from my enjoyment of this book, and I am looking forward to continuing with Jonah Halberd’s adventures in the sequel.