Rating: 
Summary: "Atkins strikes back!"
Review: Plot Summary: Phaethon has his ship and must now determine who the true enemy is, and what needs to be done about it. The Golden Oecumene is about to enter into its millennial Transcendence celebration where all minds are joined as one to pass judgement on the human and transhuman events of the last millennium and to set a direction of development for the next 1000 years. Also at this time, humanity (encompassing humans and all other recognized mind forms that participate in the Transcendence) is vulnerable to attacks from the recently rediscovered threat of the "lost" Silent Oecumene. The same Silent Oecumene that has been the apparent enemy of Phaethon throughout his trials to get his memory back and reclaim his ship.Opinion: There is alot of debate to plow through in this book. Philisophical differences as to the nature of reason and morality as well as varying economic systems are covered in this dense conclusion to a great trilogy. I thought the dialog could have been a little more spaced out with more in Phoenix to clear up some room in this book. Other than that, I loved it. As a whole, the series was really good. I was especially engrossed in the universe of this series. I am not usually one to read descriptions of settings and such, but I couldn't get enough of the world and technology of the Golden Oecumene. This book in particular was more character and dialog driven though. There are books that leave questions unanswered, and there are book that answer everything. All of the events in the first 2 books are explained and/or answered in this book (if they haven't been already). There is an appendix that explains the economy and even the naming conventions of the series. Recommendation: If you like sci-fi in general and hard sci-fi in richy imagined universes in particular, then read this series. The conclusion does not dissappoint. 4.5 out of 5 stars because I thought it was a little too philosophy heavy. I would read future works by Wright whether set in this universe or a completely different one, I like this series that much.
Rating:
Summary: Plain and Simple...
Review: Pretty heady stuff, but a must read for those interested in hard- and literary sci-fi. Makes up for the hump that was "The Phoenix Exultant". A lot to think about in this one...
Rating: 
Summary: Wonders, insights, deep thought
Review: Rarely does the thoughtful sci-fi connoisseur find such a treat as the Golden Transcendence (and its preceding volumes). The conjunction of sophisticated legal thinking, philosophical insights, and smart sociological speculation is probably unmatched anywhere in this genre. I do not hesitate to give J.C. Wright 9 points on my scale from 0 to 10 (for comparison, Vernor Vinge's Peace War/Marooned in Realtime get 9, The Lord of the Rings is 4 and the Bible is 1). Highly recommended.
Rating:
Summary: Wright is a Master
Review: Those that try to pidgeonhole Wright by claiming that his work follows in the footsteps of whining intellectual infants like Ayn Rand or Robert Heinlein do this author a great disservice. Unlike Rand, who claims that all philosophies other than her own are innately evil, Wright draws from philosophical works throughout history in creating this masterpiece. The viewpoint of his main character and the hyperintelligent Sophotechs is about as far removed from Rand's Objectivism as it is possible to be. The fact that many of the characters have Greek names and the presence of a reconstruction of Socrates should give the reader a clue as to what Wright considers his philosophical roots.
While they initially appear similar, the philosophy Wright's characters espouse demonizes neither the spiritual nor the compassionate. Individual freedom is the word of the day, as is small government, but his ideal society is decidedly socialistic - none of its members are left wanting as it's overabundant resources are shared so that none are left wanting, save through crime or their own willful negligence. He does advocate market forces, but in his writing, they work out only through the benevolent intervention of the godlike Sophotechs, who are able to direct the market towards both efficiency and fairness while allowing humans to do their own thing. In many ways, it is, in fact, an argument against laisez-faire capitalism which, as shown by the demise of the Silent Ocumene, Wright believes to be a destructive force rather than a constructive one in the presence of plentiful wealth.
Make no mistake, however. Despite the liberal use of philosophy, this is space opera on its grandest scale, wrapped in the trappings of hard sci-fi. Whether you're looking for a simple adventure or a philosophical discourse and examination of mankind's future, the Golden Age books are just what the Sophotech ordered.
Rating:
Summary: A Worthy Conclusion to a Hidden Gem of a Trilogy
Review: Wright's "Golden Age" trilogy is one of the best series I've ever read. It compares favorably to William Gibson, Iain M. Banks, and Frank Herbert ... yes, it's THAT good! It has the big ideas, engrossing plot, and richly crafted universe that evoke the best of sci-fi. The book can be heavy at times as Wright explores the philosphical ramifications of the plot he lays out, but never so much so that the book bogs down. As with the earlier installments, I was so engaged that I read this over the course of a single weekend--and immediately put in my pre-order for Wrigth's next novel! This book is not a stand-alone; you definately need to read parts 1 and 2 of the trilogy to understand the story. However, the time invested is well worth the pay off here.
Rating: 
Summary: An OK Ending for a Great Series
Review: Wright, through his The Golden Age series (The Golden Age, The Phoenix Exultant and now, The Golden Transcendence) has demonstrated a truly monumental scope of vision and consistency of application. Wright has built a hopeful future vision of a market-driven humanity that has risen past need and must find a purpose for itself. He has provided the reader with a driving concern, the fall and rise of our protagonist, Phaethon, whose experience allows us to explore the entire range of life in this future.
Introducing this, and making it both interesting and compelling is quite an accomplishment and Wright deserves credit. I loved the first book and enjoyed the second book. However, by the time we reached the conclusion of the trilogy, Wright was pushing to wrap up the story line and I felt a number of corners were cut in the logic and fluidity of the narrative.
If you read the first two books, you probably need to read this one out of pure curiosity. I say wait for the paperback - I wish I had.
If you have not read the first two, pick up The Golden Age. It is definitely worth the price of admission.
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