Call number
Series
Genres
Collection
Publication
Spectra (1997), Reissue, Mass Market Paperback
Pages
688
Description
Fiction. Science Fiction. HTML:From the bestselling author of "Chaos and Order" comes the conclusion of the "Gap" series. As the crew attempts to pursue the pirate ship "Soar" and her captain, their hopes turn to Angus Thermopyle. Angus, Morn Hyland, and her son, Davies, race home, unaware that Warden Dios and The Dragon are locked in a final confrontation that may alter the fate of humankind forever.
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
1996-05
Physical description
688 p.; 6.88 inches
ISBN
0553573284 / 9780553573282
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User reviews
LibraryThing member TadAD
This final volume in the The Gap Quintet finally draws this extended series to a close. I'd summarize the quality of the series by saying it has a very weak start in The Real Story, manages to get on its feet in Forbidden Knowledge, provides some exciting rides in A Dark and Hungry God Arises and
The series was too long by about 40% of its text. Most of that extra text was constant re-summarization of what had happened before, repeats of character analyses, and what one friend described as scenery-bashing. Characters have just a touch of the cardboard in their makeup, substituting emoting, angst and a good wallow in self-loathing for depth of character. A character like Nick just doesn't convey a sense of reality to me. The only exception was Angus...easily the most enjoyable (though not likable!) person in all five books.
Donaldson does manage to convey the grand scale of events in this story. There is something that feels a bit epic about the whole thing. The writing is readable—consistent with what I’ve found in his other works. The only exception I can think of are the horribly trite and overblown speeches made by the government at the end; even politicians don’t speak like that.
I would have liked to have seen (along with a page reduction) just a little bit of tension, just a dash of something not turning out in the predictable way. Along the way of this story we have clashes of civilizations, war, political machinations, betrayals, piracy and a lot of action—unfortunately, you realize after a while that you can call the results without a crystal ball.
If you enjoy galactic-scale science fiction and read a lot of it, you might want to try this series. If you pick and choose, I don't think this is a first-class example.
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Chaos and Order, before coming to a very predictable ending in this volume.The series was too long by about 40% of its text. Most of that extra text was constant re-summarization of what had happened before, repeats of character analyses, and what one friend described as scenery-bashing. Characters have just a touch of the cardboard in their makeup, substituting emoting, angst and a good wallow in self-loathing for depth of character. A character like Nick just doesn't convey a sense of reality to me. The only exception was Angus...easily the most enjoyable (though not likable!) person in all five books.
Donaldson does manage to convey the grand scale of events in this story. There is something that feels a bit epic about the whole thing. The writing is readable—consistent with what I’ve found in his other works. The only exception I can think of are the horribly trite and overblown speeches made by the government at the end; even politicians don’t speak like that.
I would have liked to have seen (along with a page reduction) just a little bit of tension, just a dash of something not turning out in the predictable way. Along the way of this story we have clashes of civilizations, war, political machinations, betrayals, piracy and a lot of action—unfortunately, you realize after a while that you can call the results without a crystal ball.
If you enjoy galactic-scale science fiction and read a lot of it, you might want to try this series. If you pick and choose, I don't think this is a first-class example.
Show Less
LibraryThing member Scribble.Orca
Murder, mystery, metaphysics, psychology. A sci-fi re-take on Wagner's Ring Cycle. This series is long, dark, absorbing read. Better read together and in order than as individual books, as the many-threaded plot winds through the whole series.
LibraryThing member reading_fox
This is it. The final intense conclusion - with hardly any action. It's almost all people talking in various venues. Everyone is now in Earth's orbit and decisions made here will impact untold billions of lives. Exposition is over, it's just the vital consequences, both foreseen and those
Morn arrives back just in time to find out the Amnion have jumped her purposes, they've parked their largest warship directly over the seat of Earth's government. However they are not attacking (yet), and they hope to strike a final bargain for the continued requirement of Morn's son Davis. Despite all of Morn's prior desperation and Angus' inventiveness they have it all to do again. This time the whoel world is watching and at least two of the interested parties have different requirements. When push really comes to shove, it is Morn's choice (and each of the female character's in turn) - who do they really trust with the fate potentially of all human life.
If I'm going to be slightly picky, this aspect of trust and choice is overplayed because no-one is a forgiving, capable of overlooking such hurt for so long, but then that's what stories are for, to show us how hero's behave and that dragons can be overcome. It's a very unlikely ending considering where the take started, but every single step is totally believable, the characters so intense the writing enthralling and demanding, that really it is one of the best ever Space Operas.
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unanticipated. Morn arrives back just in time to find out the Amnion have jumped her purposes, they've parked their largest warship directly over the seat of Earth's government. However they are not attacking (yet), and they hope to strike a final bargain for the continued requirement of Morn's son Davis. Despite all of Morn's prior desperation and Angus' inventiveness they have it all to do again. This time the whoel world is watching and at least two of the interested parties have different requirements. When push really comes to shove, it is Morn's choice (and each of the female character's in turn) - who do they really trust with the fate potentially of all human life.
If I'm going to be slightly picky, this aspect of trust and choice is overplayed because no-one is a forgiving, capable of overlooking such hurt for so long, but then that's what stories are for, to show us how hero's behave and that dragons can be overcome. It's a very unlikely ending considering where the take started, but every single step is totally believable, the characters so intense the writing enthralling and demanding, that really it is one of the best ever Space Operas.
Show Less
LibraryThing member stnylan
A wonderful conclusion to the series. It starts with the title which, imo, is one of the best titles from a series (and author) that has several great ones. The book itself is a marvellous conclusion to the series. It starts off in a sort of lull after the rather hectic goings on at the end of
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Chaos and Order, before slowly gathering pace to the denoument. I would advise setting aside several hours to finish it. Once you've gotten past the first third or so it becomes very difficult to put down. Show Less
LibraryThing member TheOneTree
Non-stopable action all the way. Violent in part, brilliant as it was compelling from the very first novel.
LibraryThing member danconsiglio
I love the title of this book. Satisfying end to a good space opera. I really wish that the first three books in this series weren't so hard to get through. I'm not sure that the last two books are worth reading the earlier ones, but hey, if you like laser gun toting cyborgs you can probably sit
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through some pretty nasty nastiness. Show Less
LibraryThing member Ma_Washigeri
What can I say - another half a star because when it's going well I just love his style. I didn't get on with Gap #1 but I'm glad I picked up this last one. Only falls down when the time comes for some action - luckily right near the end of this long book. While it is about the internal life of
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each character, how that translates into speech and actions and the affects of each character on each other then it is riveting. Battles are boring. The wrapping up is pretty poor as well but it's only a few pages compared to the hundreds of pages of brilliance that led to that point. Show Less
LibraryThing member DCavin
Brilliant!
LibraryThing member Ma_Washigeri
What can I say - another half a star because when it's going well I just love his style. I didn't get on with Gap #1 but I'm glad I picked up this last one. Only falls down when the time comes for some action - luckily right near the end of this long book. While it is about the internal life of
Show More
each character, how that translates into speech and actions and the affects of each character on each other then it is riveting. Battles are boring. The wrapping up is pretty poor as well but it's only a few pages compared to the hundreds of pages of brilliance that led to that point. Show Less