Teaser

Thrown backwards in time, Lieutenant Selene Genji must alter history if she is to save the world. Is such a thing even possible? And if it is, will erasing the future also erase Selene herself . . ?

Review

For most of the past two decades, Jack Campbell (pen name for John G. Hemry), has immersed readers in his Lost Fleet universe – a saga consisting of five separate, but nonetheless linked, series. It is hands-down my favourite Military SF series, and Campbell among my favourite active authors. Last year saw a change of pace with the somewhat lighter and significantly more fun In Our Stars. This week, the concluding half of that story sees print. This review was supposed to go up on release day, but lambing (and life in general) really knocked me for six. Still, better a day late than a dollar short. And better two days late than never at all.

I’ll be upfront and say that I don’t think The Doomed Earth is as strong a series as The Lost Fleet. It is not as thematically engaging, nor as intricately detailed. That, however, is akin to comparing oranges and apples. These past few weeks I’ve really needed something grabbable in my life, and Destiny’s Way is the very definition of grabbable. It’s nice to have a story that is fleshed out beyond a single volume, but doesn’t spiral outwards forever. Two books and the story is done, with neither suggestion nor trace of further stories featuring the same characters. It’s a complete package, and a highly engaging one at that.

We pick up right where In Our Stars left off, with Selene Genji and Kayl Owen arriving on Earth after a hectic flight through space. Things do not slow down once they’re on the ground, with bullets soon flying and the duo engaged in one pursuit scene after another. It’s only in the second half of the book that the characters (to say nothing of the readers) get a chance to breathe. In spite of this breakneck pace, Destiny’s Way never feels too rushed. The chases and fight scenes are different enough to remain interesting, and each seeming safe haven is just dubious enough to keep the tension simmering away.

As with any thriller, a major theme is not knowing who you can trust. What I particularly liked about this book is that there are plenty of people who, it transpires, can be trusted. Fellow soldiers, principled students, honest politicians. If there is any message to be taken from Destiny’s Way, it is that, deep down, humanity is largely comprised of good people. Even those who appear evil or antagonistic are more likely to be driven by fear or misguided duty than any real malice. Yes, there are bad people out there, because every book needs a villain, but most people are just trying to get by. Show a little respect, deal out a little kindness, and people might just surprise you.

The time travel elements once again remain a reason for the book happening than something that happens in the book. Selene worries about erasing herself from history if the future is changed, and there is some discussion of paradoxes, but this rarely becomes an issue. By the end, it has not been swept under the rug, but has been dealt with in an understated and subtle manner. It’s also a solution to a grandfather paradox-esque situation that I haven’t seen applied before, but one that makes perfect sense in terms of the story. Scientific theories have never been the core of Campbell’s stories, but he earns major points for originality on this one.

Ultimately what makes Destiny’s Way work is its simplicity. It’s a fantastic adventure story, and one that will leave you smiling when it reaches a climax. In a genre crowded with darkness and pessimism, a book like this can be just what you need. I know that I, for one, had a great time, and I hope you will too.

Book Stats

• The Doomed Earth #2
• Published by Titan Books
• Released 25/02/2025
• 269 pages

My thanks go to the publisher for providing me with a free copy in exchange for an honest review.