Rating: 
Summary: Absolutely Brilliant!
Review: All those familiar with the Objectivist Epistemology will automatically recognize the influences of both Ayn Rand and Robert Heinlein, upon John C. Wright's work. To call this book, and it's two precursors "hard science" is a gross understatement of Wright's deconstruction of rationality and the human conscience.
The science fiction concepts take back seat to the ethical and moral issues which stem from their use. For instance, a "noetic device" is that which stores the entire knowledge, memories, and psyche of a human. This is what gives the human race its immortality, for if one's physical flesh is to perish, society can simply resurrect that person from their last saved copy contained within the noetic device. But what happens if many profound events occur between the last update to the noetic device and the person's death-- can they resume being the person they were before, or are they simply a relic, a duplicate with no rights to the property of the body which contained those thoughts previously?
This, and many other litrerary devices make this one science fiction series hard to beat.
Rating:
Summary: Mindboggling SF at its very best
Review: All three books in this saga are awesome! Hard science fiction, philosophical destiny of man, utopian notions, humans in far space... they have it all. Couldn't agree more with reviewer Rhunter. I've been reading sci-fi since age 16 and I'm 55 now. This trilogy is way up there on my all-time favorites.
Rating: 
Summary: jeeze, enough already
Review: I enjoyed the Golden Age, but by the end, the main character had begun to knaw at me a little. By two books later at the end of The Golden Transcendence, I was so sick of the pompous bastard that I almost threw the book away.
What began as an interesting universe and a mystery to solve,descended into a maze of endless shells of lies and deception. The apparent solution to the mysteries that began this whole saga was revealed, proven wrong, and re-revealed so many times that i just didn't care anymore. It was the this faction, no it was this faction, no it was this faction controlling that faction... on and on... Whatever.
Rating: 
Summary: Trapped author makes a masterful escape
Review: I think the "Golden Age" books are a tremendous work, and I am eager to see what this author produces next. In some ways the conclusion to the series was not nearly as good as the lead up in books 1 and 2 were, but he ties it up nicely in the end.
In general the actual "bad guys" were a bit of a let down, and in true Captain Kirk style the main character nearly talks it to death. It proves the old axiom that any intelligent space faring species can be annoyed and bored to the point where it would rather die than let you go on.
The most enjoyable aspects were the activities of Atkins, the resolution of the "crazy old man at the beginning of the book" bit (very well done!) and the penultimate ending sequence. Again I would have rather had the might engineering guy driving the starship have to be a lot more inventive when facing a technologically superior enemy (thinking on his feet) than what happened, but the author did a great job of wrapping this up.
Rating:
Summary: Should be up for a Hugo/Nebula
Review: It's a bit of a sin that this book hasn't been nominated while a book like Singularity Sky is, but the Golden Transcendence series really should get wider exposure. It is a truly original series with very memorable characters (especially Atkins, the one-man military force of the Golden Oecumene) and some truly funny scenes, yet also manages to have a sense of grandeur and scope by this, the last volume of the series, My only complaint about the series is that it is obvious in hindsight that it was meant to be two books, as The Phoenix Exultant was a little longer than necessary and felt too drawn out.The hyper-libertarian future portrayed in these books is an interesting contrast to the quasi-socialist futures seen in books by Ken MacLeod or Charles Stross, quite a cultural commentary on American writers like Wright versus UK writers.
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: 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: 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.
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