Rating: Summary: Not as good as the first two in the series Review: This is the third in the series and I beleive the last. You almost need to read the first two "Island In The Sea of Time" and "Against The Tide of Years" to realy enjoy this one as the premise and most of the real character developement was done in the previous two, which is why I rated this only 3 stars while the other two deserve 4 stars. The story is the continuation of the Island of Nantucket being sent into the far past and this book resolves the majority of the islanders taking care of the rogue element that is taking advantage of the natives. I read the book 1632 by Eric Flint (which I liked immensely) and Stirling was recommended as an author who would also be liked, so I read his series. I felt Stirling's story (3 books) to be much meatier and more realistic then Flint's story, but if you enjoyed this series and time travel , DO read 1632 for a light enjoyable dessert.
Rating: Summary: A series of books that make you think Review: Stirling's trilogy is well worth the purchase price. Once you get back the implausibility of time dislocation, the books follow a very logical "what-if" situation. The most interesting aspect is the insights into the customs and mores of the bronze age as well as 20th century reactions to them.
Rating: Summary: An excellent conclusion to the Trilogy Review: The ending may be anti-climatic to some, but I found it extremely appropriate to the story line. I did not enjoy this book as much as the first two in the trilogy, but did not find it "disappointing" as some have said. I see the potential for another set of books. Lots of lines that would be worthy of following. If you have read the first 2 books, you have to read this one. For those who want more reality, perhaps you shouldn't be reading a "time-travel"/aletrnate history series. All in all, a very satisfying book.
Rating: Summary: More!! I want more!! Review: I hated to get to the end of this book and thus the end of the trilogy. There are several plot threads which could be picked up and continued, plus there is a "hole" of 8 years, when the Islanders explored the rest of the world, between Book 1 and 2. Other than that, the conclusion was very satisfying, with the bad guys getting their comeuppance. (Won't divulge how, it would spoil your fun.) Turns out Odysseus (Odikweos) is a pretty good guy after all, which was foreshadowed in the first book. Loved the last scene in Nantucket, with the world leaders assembled for a barbeque and peace conference. Steve Stirling is a very busy writer, juggling lots of different series, but I hope he can find the time to expand this universe. He makes you care for his characters and you just don't want to let go of them. Hopefully, he feels the same way and will get back to the "Island" soon.
Rating: Summary: Disappointed At Possible Plagiarism! Review: Having greatly enjoyed the first two books of this trilogy I excitedly entered this "last" volume looking for more of the same enjoyable, historically detailed, and imaginative writing present in the first two installments. True, one had to ignore and abide the flaming Political Correctness being foisted (heaped?) upon us by an acknowledged resident of Santa Fe, NM, last bastion of the surviving 60-70's Hippie Set. However, it was a fun read, full of action, and good, if not fully developed characters, and I was enjoying it. Then at Chapter 6 the developing plot line of the "O'Rourke's Ford" segment slapped me in the face! As has been noted by numerous other reviewers, this whole plot line, down to small details, dialogue and even some charater names, was apparently plagagerized from the 1964 movie titled "Zulu", one of the greatest war movies ever. The movie recounts an actual battle at an isolated British outpost during the Zulu War. I wonder if the people who wrote that screenplay are aware of these striking smiliarities? Once past Chapter 7, this suspected literary piracy became so disturbing that I put the book down. I recommend reading the first two, and skipping the third. A bit like enjoying an excellent meal without coffee and dessert, but better than getting sick!
Rating: Summary: Sustains the quality of the first 2 books very well indeed Review: Stirling continues to surprise with intelligent twists to avoid any obvious resolutions. Fans of the first two books will be sorry to finish this one which has just enough plot threads that Stirling could easily do a 4th set either immedicately or a decade later. Unlike some series that seem to become overstretched in the middle like the "Left Behind" series now aiming at an absurd 14 volumes, Stirling keeps it taut, fast-moving, smart, and emotionally gripping. His resolutions in the book make it a fine finish as well.
Rating: Summary: More obvious plot contrivances than in first 2 books Review: I really enjoyed the first two books, but found the third a bit disappointing. Part of that is because much of the action seemed like slightly-changed versions of action in the earlier books -- and part of it is that the plot "twists" seemed more telegraphed and clumsy. In the earlier books the plot seemed to flow more naturally out of the situation, the characters, and events. This time there were several occasions where the hand of the author moving chess pieces around became overly obvious, and it interrupted my ability to get lost in the story. Still enjoyed it though.
Rating: Summary: Not bad for plagarism Review: While I enjoyed all of the books in the series, and this one is just as good as the first two, I was a little disappointed that Stirling felt the need to plagarize Lord Stanley Baker's screenplay for the film Zulu for almost the entire plotline to the "O'Rourke's Ford" storyline. Characters, dialogue and plot all come straight from the movie. The small joke at the end is not enough to justify this.
Rating: Summary: Losing steam at the end - but a reasonable wrap up Review: In general, I thought Stirling did a good job of maintaining the pace and texture of the series in this final volume. Initially, I was surprised by the fate of Walker and Hong, but now feel it was actually more credible than the ends such characters often meet in this type of literature. The really sour note for me was Stirling's virtually detail by detail, incident by incident, character by character rip-off of the screen-play from the 1964 movie, ZULU. Unexcusable, and maybe actionable. Makes one only wonder how much more in these books is owed to authors other than the one whose name appears on the cover.
Rating: Summary: Stirling is a good author, but... Review: This and the other two books in the Nantucket trilogy are excellent, but there is a good deal of totally unnecessary objectionable material in all three books. He gives graphic descriptions of...sexual acts...None of the graphic sexual relationship or any of the off-color language that he litters his books with are even remotely related to the plot...There is a lot of killing in these books and he just loves to write about how they "void" before they die...He also loves to tell of the stench of defecation that is present at the scene of a killing or battle. ...If all of what I just mentioned isn't offensive to you, then you should read all three books.
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