To the Final Frontier
352992
Switching from his lengthy and detailed historical fiction, T.A. Uner starts off his next series with a fast paced and action-packed novella to introduce us to life on Mars.

 The series promises to be delightful for it mixes advances technology with a world that is still so very human with its bias against mutants. And yet it is also a world where the madness of one man or a select handful can corrupt, even possibly change, not only the path of those who are walking it but also life as we know it.

 The story has plenty of action to keep you moving forward and turns to keep you on your seat while you continue to read. It is here in many novels that this would be the end of the story for there is no actual character development or background setting to get you into the book but it just whets your appetite in "Doctor Mars" as the book ends up with a bang that leaves too many loose ends to be content with closing its cover.

 **I received a copy of this book in return for an honest review**
2652257
The finish of the series started by Ender's Game. A little slower than the previous novels, but a fitting end to the series.
2658842
This final part of the story is perhaps the best of the series.  Though some may disagree, I found it a necessary and quite logical step in ending the series.  The actual conclusion is so obvious that even I knew what was coming, so why did I like it so much?

Well not to be overly Zen about it, this is a (the journey of Katniss Everdeen) trip and that's what counts.  The book is like Beethoven's 7th, 2nd movement, or Barber's Adagio for Strings, maybe Wagner's Tristan and Isolde prelude (Copeland's 3rd not so much).  I guess you can guess what I listen to when I read this series.

If you've seen the two film finale based on this volume, but not read the book, forget them.  Read this and remember the mediums are not overly compatible.  I think you'll enjoy the wrap up, I know I did.
4280679
This much anticipated "final" adventure of Gabriel Allon, wayward son of Israeli Intelligence was reminiscent of several other earlier books in the series, and seems to represent a final chapter in Allon's time in the field, with a win of sorts and a loss that should never have been allowed to occur, leaving the reader with a feeling of letdown instead of elation; then again real life can be like that, so maybe Silva makes his point here.  The tying together of many loose ends from preceding books gives the impression that Allon steps into the top spot in the "Office", and will nevermore be permitted to exercise his skills in the field.  Silva may be able to eke out another novel with Allon in transition, but it seems like he (Allon) deserves to have his life, or what's left to him of it, with his beautiful wife and new family without the relentless risks he has carried all his adult life as Israel's avenger.  It has been a great ride through the series, with the Defector still my favorite, but if this is the end it was anticipated, and the series remains one of the best by any author, IMO.
3632409
I have just finished all 10 episodes of the Frontier Saga.
I could not put it down. Great continuity, surprises around every corner, very intriguing technically. I cannot wait for more!
1509227
Almost but not quite there, the final episode should tie in all the plots and perhaps create even more. This penultimate book in the series addresses many mini plots. Hopefully the finale will be as dramatic. Looking forward to reading the ending.
550555
excellent replacement for the Frontier model that is no longer available.
3836812
'The Last Stand' is the big finale to the 9-part 'Forever Gate' series. It follows Ari, Tanner, and Hoodwink as they complete their separate missions to ensure the survival of the crashed colony ship and its occupants. This final episode is a great conclusion to a great story. Mr. Hooke's vivid writing continues to paint clear and fantastic pictures as he gives each of his three heroes the time and space they deserve to tell their part of the story.

While the immediate storyline has come to an end, much material and multiple questions remain, so I hope this is not the last we hear of Hoodwink and the Satori.

This is a great story with many twists and turns that will keep you on edge and reading on. It is well worth your time and I highly recommend to start reading this series with episode one; not because the individual episodes cannot stand on their own, they can, but because the complete story arc is such a surprise and enjoyment to discover.

Great job, Mr. Hooke, I am looking forward to reading many more of your stories.
4336588
Getting down near the end of this epic, now -- at least, the end of the nine volumes so far published. Recently returned from two years in deep space, Bren Cameron, the paidhi-aiji (and now Lord of the Heavens, whether he likes it or not), has found the atevi world in an uproar, a usurper having attempted to oust Tabini, the aiji of most of the world. His boss has gone into hiding to raise a counter-revolution. At the end of the previous book, Bren and the aiji's dowager grandmother (an intimidating old lady with razor-sharp political skills and a devoted following), as well as the aiji's very young heir, have survived an attempt to eliminate them by dissident members of the Assassins Guild and have finally met up with Tabini. This eighth volume is taken up with the journey, partly by commandeered bus, partly by rail, to the capital at Shejidan, where the aiji intends to take back his position. They gather forces as well as momentum -- the ultimate road trip, in a way -- and by the time they hit the palace gates (or, rather, underground train station), the usurper has fled the city. There's quite a bit of action this time out, but also considerable in-depth discussion of the concept of man'chi, which isn't "loyalty," exactly, but a hardwired atevi sense of belonging to the herd, being subject to its instinctive hierarchy. As long as he's been immersed in atevi society, Bren still doesn't quite understand his hosts' psychology, not instinctively. An absorbing and illuminating episode in the ongoing saga. (A small complaint, however: Michael Whelen has provided the cover paintings for the first seven books, and he's generally done a good job. But this time, for some reason, the painting is by Donato Giancola, and it's really pretty poor.)
3950220
I enjoyed picking up the story and putting an end to this adventure after following these kids through their travels. This I assume is the end, but there are endless possibles.
The book gives each person a place in the book that works and it flows and ends when and where it should
1521767
At long last, the seventh and final volume of Shinichiro Watanabe's follow-up to Cowboy Bebop, Samurai Champloo is here.

It's been a long, exciting, and sometimes strange journey for Fuu, Jin, and Mugen -- and it all comes down to the climactic three-part finale. "Evanescent Encounter" is the culmination of everything the series has to offer.

The finale opens up with the three main characters having a surprisingly open and heart-felt chat by a fire. Secrets are revealed and some lingering questions are answered. This prelude really hits it home that the trip Watanabe-san has taken us on is coming to an end.

I don't want to divulge too much -- as there are plenty of shocks and surprises in this final volume -- but the action and drama in the last three epiosdes is arguably the best in the entire series. The final battles are animated so incredibly well and will keep many on the edge of their seats. And the lingering question of whether Fuu will finally meet the Sunflower Samurai is at last answered...

Shinichiro Watanabe has done an incredible job with Samurai Champloo. While it may not be the instant pop classic that Cowboy Bebop is, it is a great tale of three strangers setting out on a journey who come to discover a great bond and friendship. The last three episodes are everything the viewer has been waiting for and then some. I can honestly say, this is one of the best endings I've seen to any television series (animated or live-action).

So, what are you waiting for? Go pick up the final volume of Samurai Champloo now! You will not be disappointed.
2658922
All good things have to come to an end and this series has been a memorable journey. For anyone wanting to read this book I highly recommend reading the first installments of the story before venturing into this one, even though you could read and understand it without read other books.

Haden Hawk and friends continue their epic adventure, by adding some new characters in to the fray and introducing us more to the elves and there culture. As I said in a previous review I think for book 2, the characters really steal the show in his books and this is no exception in this book.

The journey continues through many plot twists and that at times has the characters out for revenge making this one personal. The book vaults you toward the final showdown with the warlord and his minions being the target. As we move toward the climax of the book we are told a story of how power has corrupted the warlord and how he fell to darkness of evil.

This the best of the book of the series in my opinion and the best overall series which I have read in quite some time. If you enjoy epic adventure and fantasy action with a great story, then this is the book for you to read.  This is a highly recommended book and series it will be on my favorites list.
3147992
This is the third and final book in the Frontier Magic series by Wrede.  This has been a great series, it is very deliberately paced but I really enjoy the characters and world.  This book is a very satisfying conclusion to the series.

When the threat of the Medusa lizards became apparent in the last book it is decided that someone needs to go on an expedition to explore the Far West and figure out what is driving the Medusa lizards into the settlements.  Eff, Lan, William, Professor Torgeson, Wash, and Professor Ochiba are all asked to participate in the expedition.  They are hoping to discover new magical creatures, learn more about the magical creatures they already know about, and hopefully find the cause for all of these magical animals migrating east.

As with previous books in the series the pacing is a bit slow and the story takes a bit to get started.  This is more a day to day telling of the events in Eff's life than a complex epic story.  I do really enjoy watching Professor Torgeson and Eff as they catalogue a ton of new magical animals and discuss new theories.  I like the scientific aspect of their travels (even if most of it is the made up science of magic).

I enjoyed this reimagined Wild West.  I love that for the most part the people work together without bias.  There are women professors, a woman Army Sergeant, and many races and skin colors all working together.  Its a world I would love to visit.

Eff has grown a lot from the first book.  She is more confident in her skills.  Her main contribution is her ability to look at all types of magic and use them together.  She just has a very different way of looking at things from everyone else.  This is the first book where she has to also seriously deal with some romantic issues.

Lan has also changed quite a bit throughout the series.  He is no longer just concerned about power, but wants to learn new things and figure out how to do something great.

All of the other characters are wonderful, interesting, and engaging to read about.  Their journey through the Far West is a good one.  The plot is well done and brings together a number of elements from the previous two books nicely.

I had two complaints with this book.  The first is it takes absolutely forever to get to the expedition to the Far West in the book.  The second is that when they discover the problems they are able to bandage it but not actually fix it.  This made the ending feel a bit rushed and incomplete.  There is an Epilogue that did a good job of tying up some of these unresolved issues, but again it just felt very dense and rushed.  It was odd considering the deliberate pace of the rest of the book.

Overall I enjoyed the way this wrapped up this series and I enjoyed this series overall.  This is one of the few series where I kept thinking I would love to visit this world and travel with these characters!  I enjoyed the world, the engaging characters, and the fascinating magical animals.  My only complaint really is pacing...it takes forever to get the story moving and then the ending is incredibly rushed.
4176858
This is the third and last of the "Mars" series (Red Mars, Green Mars).  The focus of this book is the development of a new culture on Mars in an ever shrinking Solar System, as mankind stretches its colonial reach to other planets and planetesimals.  The increasingly growing Earth population is threatening the new Mars society, old thinking against the new, old lifestyles against the new freedoms of life on Mars.  Kim Stanley Robinson continues to make the First One Hundred settlers our eyes and ears as we are taken through the development of a new global constitution, the wonders of scientific exploration, the unknowns of extended aging and the limits of memory.  The last of these takes us full circle and revisits how it all began in Red Mars, elegantly closing loose threads and bringing this epic story to a satisfying conclusion.
The entire series is a must, if long read.  Robinson never dumbs down to his readers, instead he requires one to contemplate an onslaught of fascinating scientific information that truly demonstrates the author has done his homework, and that there is so much for us to learn.
3441543
In my view, I believe this to be the best book (maybe the last) in this series.  It starts off with a bang and ends with a bigger bang.  Jonathan Dallas, the Callaway and the rest of the battle group are returning to Earth after the destruction of the Rakkarr Elk home world.  Many in the fleet believe they were duped into destroying the Elk and now the Elders are going to test the worthiness of humankind's continued existence. This book is devoted to Capt. Dallas dealing with the Elder threat and saving of the Earth and humankind.  Many questions are answered and some new ones hinted at.  Some reviewers believe this to be the last book in the series but I feel we haven't yet heard the last of Jonathan Dallas and his adventures across the universe. I, for one, hope not!
4367711
A good wrap up of this segment in this series.  It was interesting that the author chose to bring most of the main characters back when the ship finally made it back.  Since I do not understand the rank structure, I would hope that the main characters stay together in the next segment.  Great adventure, strong cast of characters and believable action.
2810025
Jump forward in time from where the original series ended. Exploration of the universe comes at a huge price. A new battle has begun with a far superior enemy.