Review: Rocking Space Opera
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 01 28, 2012
This is an enjoyable space opera series with lots of derring-do.  This is the second book in the Kelly Blake Series.  So far books in the Kelly Blake series are standalone novels although they build upon each other.  It is really nice to read a series where each novel is complete.  I would not recommend reading books out of order.  Kelly Blake continues his service in the Galactic Republic's Scout Force which is responsible for monitoring the border with the aggressive K'Rang Empire.  Second novel also throws pirates into the mix.  Although intelligence gathering and scouting are still a major theme, second novel has significantly more space battles.For space opera fans, this is a good one and I recommend reading it.  Classic space opera plot line with humans defending against the alien menace with pirate action thrown in on the side.  Space battles really pick up in the second book but intelligence gathering and scouting remain a strong theme.  Science Fiction is light as no effort is made to justify FTL, space battle physics, real time long range sensors and technology advances.  Action and intrigue are very captivating to make this a good overall space opera read.  Kelly is still chased by every pretty girl in the story but it is not as heavy handed as it was in the first story, Scout Force.First Command is 6,443 Kindle locations long. Standard length novels seem to run in the 4,500 to 7,000 plus Kindle location range.  Books in Jack Campbell's first Lost Fleet series were approximately 5,000 Kindle locations.