Expeditionary Force

Craig Alanson

When an alien artifact crashes to Earth on Columbus Day, former Army officer Joe Bishop is drawn into a conflict far larger—and stranger—than humanity imagined. As rival extraterrestrial powers turn Earth into a battleground, Joe joins an unlikely military mission that must navigate advanced technology, desperate alliances, and overwhelming odds. Blending fast-paced space opera, military strategy, and sharp humor, the novel launches an expansive adventure about courage, ingenuity, and humanity’s struggle to survive among the stars.

Craig Alanson

Colonel Joe Bishop and the Merry Band of Pirates venture back into the dangerous reaches of space on a mission to locate the elusive network of advanced AIs that may hold the key to humanity’s survival. Guided—and frequently exasperated—by Skippy, a brilliant but unreliable artificial intelligence, the crew encounters unsettling evidence that someone is manipulating planetary orbits and destroying remnants of the ancient civilization that once ruled the galaxy. As humanity struggles to navigate a universe dominated by far more powerful alien species, Joe must rely on ingenuity, loyalty, and unconventional military tactics to keep his crew alive. Blending military science fiction, high-stakes space adventure, and irreverent humor, the novel expands the series’ cosmic mysteries while deepening its exploration of friendship, power, and the dangers of forgotten technology.

Craig Alanson

On the troubled colony world of Paradise, escalating Kristang raids threaten crops, food supplies, and the fragile human settlement struggling to survive. Joe Bishop, Skippy, and their unconventional band of pirates must confront a crisis that demands more than clever plans and advanced technology—it tests their loyalty, courage, and ability to outwit a powerful enemy. Blending military science fiction, interstellar adventure, and sharp comedic banter, the story explores survival, leadership, and the uneasy alliances forged in wartime. Fast-paced and irreverent, it continues the series’ high-stakes campaign to protect humanity from forces far beyond Earth.

Craig Alanson

When the crew of the UNS Flying Dutchman is tasked with determining whether the Thuranin are sending another starship toward Earth, a seemingly straightforward reconnaissance mission quickly becomes a dangerous black-ops operation. Cut off from meaningful support and facing enemies with technology far beyond humanity’s capabilities, Joe Bishop and his unconventional team must rely on deception, improvisation, and sheer nerve to survive. As alien alliances shift and the stakes rise, the crew confronts the brutal realities of interstellar power—and the unsettling question of whether humanity can outsmart forces it can never hope to overpower. Blending military science fiction, fast-paced space adventure, and irreverent humor, the novel expands its ambitious galactic conflict while deepening its exploration of loyalty, ingenuity, and survival against impossible odds.

Craig Alanson

Humanity’s struggle for survival in a dangerous galactic conflict takes a new turn as a group of soldiers becomes isolated far from Earth and must navigate unfamiliar worlds, hostile forces, and uncertain loyalties. At the same time, Joe Bishop and the irreverent artificial intelligence Skippy confront challenges of their own, as military strategy and alien politics grow increasingly complex. Blending fast-paced space battles, inventive science fiction, and sharp comedic banter, the novel explores courage, improvisation, friendship, and the difficult choices of soldiers operating far beyond the reach of home. It expands the larger universe while introducing a compelling perspective on humanity’s fight to survive among far more advanced civilizations.

Craig Alanson

Humanity is pulled into a deadly interstellar war after an alien invasion leaves Earth fighting for survival among powerful and unfamiliar civilizations. Army soldier Joe Bishop is thrust into command, where courage, improvisation, and hard-won military experience may be humanity’s best weapons against overwhelming odds. His unlikely ally is Skippy, an advanced artificial intelligence from an ancient civilization whose extraordinary abilities—and unpredictable personality—could change the course of the conflict. Blending military science fiction, fast-paced space opera, humor, and themes of friendship and ingenuity, the story launches an expansive adventure across the galaxy.

Craig Alanson

With Earth safe for the moment, Joe Bishop and the crew of the Flying Dutchman face the uneasy reality of peace—and the political tensions and hidden dangers that come with it. When a fast-moving crisis erupts on the home front, Joe, Skippy, and UNEF forces are drawn into a dangerous new mission that will test their loyalty, ingenuity, and ability to outmaneuver far more powerful enemies. Blending military science fiction, high-stakes space opera, and sharp comedic banter, the story explores friendship, sacrifice, leadership, and the unpredictable strengths of humanity.

Craig Alanson

Humanity’s fragile foothold in the galaxy is threatened as two powerful enemies emerge aboard ships vastly superior to the Valkyrie. Joe Bishop, Skippy, and the crew of the Flying Dutchman must turn to audacious strategies, desperate gambits, and the uniquely unpredictable nature of human ingenuity to keep the war from tipping irrevocably against them. Blending large-scale space battles with sharp humor, military problem-solving, and the evolving bond between a determined soldier and an enigmatic artificial intelligence, this installment explores courage, loyalty, and survival against overwhelming odds.

Craig Alanson

The battle-scarred star carrier Flying Dutchman and its unconventional crew face a mission that could alter the balance of power in a galaxy-wide war. As humanity struggles to survive among hostile alien powers and ancient technologies, Joe Bishop and the irreverent artificial intelligence Skippy must rely on ingenuity, daring, and an uneasy alliance of allies. Blending high-stakes space combat with sharp humor, military strategy, and questions about loyalty, leadership, and the limits of human adaptability, this fast-paced space opera raises the danger—and the ambition—of the Expeditionary Force saga.

Craig Alanson

After years of relentless combat, the Merry Band of Pirates faces an unexpected challenge: adjusting to peacetime while dangerous forces and old enemies continue to threaten humanity’s fragile place in the galaxy. Joe Bishop and the irreverent artificial intelligence Skippy must navigate shifting alliances, political complications, and missions where the consequences of failure reach far beyond their own crew. Blending military science fiction, space-opera adventure, and sharp comedic banter, the story explores loyalty, friendship, leadership, and the uneasy transition from war to peace. The result is a fast-paced continuation of a sprawling interstellar saga filled with tactical ingenuity, high-stakes danger, and unlikely heroes.

Craig Alanson

The Merry Band of Pirates faces a crisis that could determine the fate of humanity when hostile aliens begin investigating strange behavior in the galaxy’s wormholes. As their enemies close in, the crew must navigate dangerous missions, shifting alliances, and the ever-present challenge of outsmarting forces vastly more powerful than themselves. Blending military science fiction, inventive space opera, and sharp irreverent humor, the story explores loyalty, leadership, ingenuity, and the high cost of survival. The result is a fast-paced, character-driven installment filled with tactical gambits, escalating danger, and the series’ signature banter.

Craig Alanson

With humanity still reeling from an alien invasion and the devastation of war, the Merry Band of Pirates attempts to protect Earth by enforcing an uneasy ceasefire across the galaxy. When the aliens refuse to play by the rules, Joe Bishop and Skippy the AI face a dangerous mission to eliminate threats before they reach humanity’s homeworld. Meanwhile, the fledgling UN Navy seeks powerful allies with the Alien Legion, while the Ethics & Compliance Office confronts dilemmas that may demand more than bureaucracy. Blending military science fiction, fast-paced space opera, irreverent humor, and intricate long-term plotting, the story raises questions about loyalty, survival, diplomacy, and the price of humanity’s place among the stars.

Craig Alanson

Earth is plunged toward a devastating ice age after the Maxolhx retaliate against humanity, leaving cities ravaged and the planet’s survivors scrambling for warmth and safety. With time running out, Joe Bishop must devise a desperate counterattack—one that can halt the crisis while making certain no one in the galaxy mistakes humanity for an easy target again. Combining military science fiction, high-stakes strategy, and Craig Alanson’s signature irreverent humor, the novel propels the Expeditionary Force series into another fast-moving confrontation filled with unlikely plans, escalating danger, and galaxy-spanning consequences.