ARK ROYAL is actively annoying me now. The author's descriptions of battle scenes, the way he relays hits, pseudo ship positions, etc seems entirely plot driven rather than suspending disbelief.
For example:
-- In one sequence, the grav 'tramlines' they use to jump between systems are minutes apart in a system; in the next they're hours apart. Even in the same runing battle, it seems liike the distance to the tramline changes based on getting the ship away or not. In another chase, they're about to be overtaken "less than halfway there", but after blowing up two enemy ships, the main pursuing battlecruiser (said to be fastest of the enemy) can't even make main-weapons range in time. Its like the author though blowing up two ships would somehow slow a 3rd ship down?
-- One fleet is being chased by another. Despite all evidence indicating the primary mass drivers fire forward, and that there's no turrets, somehow they're firing at the pursuers the whole way.
-- One side's fighters will overwhelm a frigate, then are described as backing off then swarming the next frigate, but somehow the enemy covering fighters are 'too far away' to respond.
-- Similarly, the author describes a line of enemy ships as closing fast, they take a few hits, then they're described as "backing off" out of range, as if they suddenly hit perfect reverse like a person backpedaling.
-- Plasma weapons of one side are described as firing "at the speed of light" in one chapter. Not long later, a fighter is described as "flying right into a plasma bolt, not having time to realize his mistake". If they shoot at the speed of light, there's no "mistake" - you're hit or you're not!
-- Giant enemy ships are described as evading mass driver shots, and enemy fighters are described as intercepting mass-driver shots. Unless those are the slowest Mass-drivers ever made, such reaction times shoudln't be possible. Point-defense barrages could work as sometimes described, but not delibarate dodging or counter-fire!
This may all seem quibbly, but the collective effect is one of constant annoyance and confusion.
When I'm reading Weber's Honor Harrington books, I feel like there's a map of the action in my head, and I know exactly what is happening and why. In ARK ROYAL, its all a confusing mish mash like he keeps changing ship positions willy-nilly, and keeps changing his "rules" as suits the story. It's gotten incredibly frustrating, and I'm only continuing because of some intruiging mysteries surrounding the aliens.
It doesn't help either that the audiobook reader has only about 3 male voices to rotate through, making characters blend into one another. And his only female voice he uses seems permanently set on "simpering idiot". Or maybe thats just the writing too...
