Rating: 
Summary: Yes, it does get even better after "Forbidden Knowledge"...
Review: "A Dark and Hungry God Arises" is an expansion from the second book as much as the second is an expansion from the first. The structure changes from mostly-Morn-and-occasionally-Angus to swapping between many different characters over the course of the long and dizzyingly complex story. Donaldson's world expands to include politicians and leaders, both power-crazy and honest, all driving at their own aims and all caught in utter deadlock by each other. The theme of all the plots and complex intentions of every character in the book concentrating in one spot and acting like a "critical mass" is a good one, and gives a suitable background for a highly explosive ending. The structuring is brilliant - unfaultable, in my book - and if you try listing all the characters the story swaps between after you've read it, you'll find a couple of interesting "nuggets" for the really attentive reader . . . This is true of the third and fourth books, as well. In my review on here of the second book in the Gap Series, "Forbidden Knowledge", I stated that my considerations of readers of a more squeamish disposition forced me to mark down. In the third book this is less true - the darkness is still there, but the utter horror of the second (particularly the "force-growing" of Davies Hyland on Enablement Station) isn't so much in evidence. Only one particular scene - where an important conversation is conducted to the background of a woman gutting herself for the pleasure of a crowd - is particularly vile. I think that is the only example of horror in the series which can be considered entirely gratuitous. It is unnecessary, and rather wince-worthy. That it elicits disgust from me is testament to that. But there is none of the intense and ghastly - though never gratuitous - horror of the second book. At any rate, it is a minor complaint. This book is superb. It is chock-full of characters in situations unbelievable in their horror and tense extremity, but which Donaldson somehow manages to *make* believable. I state categorically that he is a master story-teller - one of the best who has ever lived. All the characters are larger than life. They run the story, rather than the other way round. The opening concept of Norna and the crib inversion with Angus is particularly good, and intriguing; not to mention excellently executed. This is a superb third book to the series. I have this to close with. You may have read the first two, and been left unsure as to whether the series gets better. Believe me, it does. Once you start reading the third book you will be so gripped you'll forget reading this.
Rating:
Summary: Powerful
Review: "The Gap into Power: A Dark and Hungry God Arises" is a brutal novel. It focuses, at great length, on extreme suffering, pain, depression, isolation, defeat, violence, and insanity. Stephen R. Donaldson, of course, has never run away from aggressively dark and vicious literature. Even by his standards, however, "The Gap into Power" still stands out. This novel is frequently unpleasant, sometimes even painful to read. But those who have the guts to get through it will find a masterpiece waiting in here. This is no ordinary science fiction experience. Nick Succurso recaptures Morn Hyland and reaches Thanatos Minor. But once there, he finds himself short on allies and facing a most unpleasant surprise. Angus Thermopylae travels through space, heading for the exact same outlaw's hangout, his brain still controlled by UMCP computers. Unpredictable developments are in store for him as well, however. Meanwhile, back on Earth, the political situation approaches boiling point, as every player tries to outmaneuver the others and emerge from the scenario on top. This truly is one of the most far-reaching and intricate plots of all time. Not a cheesy setup where you can see all the twists and turns coming far in advance. Here everything is up in the air. You actually have to think about what each person is trying to accomplish, and more importantly, about which ones are actually good and which are evil. But behind all this, Donaldson is actually telling us something. He is showing us not just how technology changes the human experience, but how humans themselves will change the shape of the future. The characters we see, Nick Succurso, Angus Thermopylae, Holt Frasner, the Bill and all the rest, live in a world where morality is completely gone. In its place, these characters let their most raw emotions dominate them entirely, with no considerations for what is morally acceptable. Indeed, most of them don't seem to believe that there is any difference between right and wrong. And it is to show us the consequences of such beliefs, especially to those who hold them, that Donaldson delves into such brutal and painful detail regarding what happens in the story. The scenes of suffering and torture, even the ones that aren't strictly relevant to the plot, are not gratuitous. They make us understand the true meaning of what we are seeing. "The Gap into Power" is not a story for children, nor is it for squeamish adults. But for those willing to take it on, it is one of the most rewarding science fiction novels ever.
Rating:
Summary: Yes, it does get even better after "Forbidden Knowledge"...
Review: "A Dark and Hungry God Arises" is an expansion from the second book as much as the second is an expansion from the first. The structure changes from mostly-Morn-and-occasionally-Angus to swapping between many different characters over the course of the long and dizzyingly complex story. Donaldson's world expands to include politicians and leaders, both power-crazy and honest, all driving at their own aims and all caught in utter deadlock by each other. The theme of all the plots and complex intentions of every character in the book concentrating in one spot and acting like a "critical mass" is a good one, and gives a suitable background for a highly explosive ending. The structuring is brilliant - unfaultable, in my book - and if you try listing all the characters the story swaps between after you've read it, you'll find a couple of interesting "nuggets" for the really attentive reader . . . This is true of the third and fourth books, as well. In my review on here of the second book in the Gap Series, "Forbidden Knowledge", I stated that my considerations of readers of a more squeamish disposition forced me to mark down. In the third book this is less true - the darkness is still there, but the utter horror of the second (particularly the "force-growing" of Davies Hyland on Enablement Station) isn't so much in evidence. Only one particular scene - where an important conversation is conducted to the background of a woman gutting herself for the pleasure of a crowd - is particularly vile. I think that is the only example of horror in the series which can be considered entirely gratuitous. It is unnecessary, and rather wince-worthy. That it elicits disgust from me is testament to that. But there is none of the intense and ghastly - though never gratuitous - horror of the second book. At any rate, it is a minor complaint. This book is superb. It is chock-full of characters in situations unbelievable in their horror and tense extremity, but which Donaldson somehow manages to *make* believable. I state categorically that he is a master story-teller - one of the best who has ever lived. All the characters are larger than life. They run the story, rather than the other way round. The opening concept of Norna and the crib inversion with Angus is particularly good, and intriguing; not to mention excellently executed. This is a superb third book to the series. I have this to close with. You may have read the first two, and been left unsure as to whether the series gets better. Believe me, it does. Once you start reading the third book you will be so gripped you'll forget reading this.
Rating:
Summary: Powerful
Review: "The Gap into Power: A Dark and Hungry God Arises" is a brutal novel. It focuses, at great length, on extreme suffering, pain, depression, isolation, defeat, violence, and insanity. Stephen R. Donaldson, of course, has never run away from aggressively dark and vicious literature. Even by his standards, however, "The Gap into Power" still stands out. This novel is frequently unpleasant, sometimes even painful to read. But those who have the guts to get through it will find a masterpiece waiting in here. This is no ordinary science fiction experience. Nick Succurso recaptures Morn Hyland and reaches Thanatos Minor. But once there, he finds himself short on allies and facing a most unpleasant surprise. Angus Thermopylae travels through space, heading for the exact same outlaw's hangout, his brain still controlled by UMCP computers. Unpredictable developments are in store for him as well, however. Meanwhile, back on Earth, the political situation approaches boiling point, as every player tries to outmaneuver the others and emerge from the scenario on top. This truly is one of the most far-reaching and intricate plots of all time. Not a cheesy setup where you can see all the twists and turns coming far in advance. Here everything is up in the air. You actually have to think about what each person is trying to accomplish, and more importantly, about which ones are actually good and which are evil. But behind all this, Donaldson is actually telling us something. He is showing us not just how technology changes the human experience, but how humans themselves will change the shape of the future. The characters we see, Nick Succurso, Angus Thermopylae, Holt Frasner, the Bill and all the rest, live in a world where morality is completely gone. In its place, these characters let their most raw emotions dominate them entirely, with no considerations for what is morally acceptable. Indeed, most of them don't seem to believe that there is any difference between right and wrong. And it is to show us the consequences of such beliefs, especially to those who hold them, that Donaldson delves into such brutal and painful detail regarding what happens in the story. The scenes of suffering and torture, even the ones that aren't strictly relevant to the plot, are not gratuitous. They make us understand the true meaning of what we are seeing. "The Gap into Power" is not a story for children, nor is it for squeamish adults. But for those willing to take it on, it is one of the most rewarding science fiction novels ever.
Rating:
Summary: Powerful
Review: "The Gap into Power: A Dark and Hungry God Arises" is a brutal novel. It focuses, at great length, on extreme suffering, pain, depression, isolation, defeat, violence, and insanity. Stephen R. Donaldson, of course, has never run away from aggressively dark and vicious literature. Even by his standards, however, "The Gap into Power" still stands out. This novel is frequently unpleasant, sometimes even painful to read. But those who have the guts to get through it will find a masterpiece waiting in here. This is no ordinary science fiction experience. Nick Succurso recaptures Morn Hyland and reaches Thanatos Minor. But once there, he finds himself short on allies and facing a most unpleasant surprise. Angus Thermopylae travels through space, heading for the exact same outlaw's hangout, his brain still controlled by UMCP computers. Unpredictable developments are in store for him as well, however. Meanwhile, back on Earth, the political situation approaches boiling point, as every player tries to outmaneuver the others and emerge from the scenario on top. This truly is one of the most far-reaching and intricate plots of all time. Not a cheesy setup where you can see all the twists and turns coming far in advance. Here everything is up in the air. You actually have to think about what each person is trying to accomplish, and more importantly, about which ones are actually good and which are evil. But behind all this, Donaldson is actually telling us something. He is showing us not just how technology changes the human experience, but how humans themselves will change the shape of the future. The characters we see, Nick Succurso, Angus Thermopylae, Holt Frasner, the Bill and all the rest, live in a world where morality is completely gone. In its place, these characters let their most raw emotions dominate them entirely, with no considerations for what is morally acceptable. Indeed, most of them don't seem to believe that there is any difference between right and wrong. And it is to show us the consequences of such beliefs, especially to those who hold them, that Donaldson delves into such brutal and painful detail regarding what happens in the story. The scenes of suffering and torture, even the ones that aren't strictly relevant to the plot, are not gratuitous. They make us understand the true meaning of what we are seeing. "The Gap into Power" is not a story for children, nor is it for squeamish adults. But for those willing to take it on, it is one of the most rewarding science fiction novels ever.
Rating: 
Summary: I don't want to pity the characters....
Review: ...but it seems like that is all there is left to do. I tore through the first two books in this series, but I am now left with a sense of continual pity and boredom with the characters. Are they are destined to be pummeled by Donaldson forever? Whereas I enjoy his concept of drama vs melodrama (in melodrama, you have a hero, the oppresed, and the oppressor; in drama you have the same characters but through the story they change their roles) the characters demonstrate their changes only through an ever increasing cruelty. While this can be interesting, it very soon becomes tedious and purposeless. 15 years after reading the "Lena" chapter of Lord Foul's Bane, I remember the scene vividly because it carried such a punch. In this book, the punches are numbing, and I fold. I've given up on the rest of the series and moved on.
Rating:
Summary: Brutal, convoluted, and exciting. Your blood will pound.
Review: After a stale but tantalizing prelude ("The Real Story") and a convoluted but exciting sequel ("Forbidden Knowledge"), the third book of the Gap Series takes you deeper into the intergalactic drama of back-stabbing, subterfuge, treason, and mindless cruelty. While the previous two books were told from the perspectives of a single character (Angus in "The Real Story", Morn in "Forbidden Knowledge"), this one explodes onto center stage with a multi-character viewpoint, which will be maintained in the fourth and fifth volumes. Nick and his crew arrive on Billingate, the bootleg shipyard ruled by a less-than-charming fellow known as the Bill. When Nick fails in his attempts to sell Morn into prostitution, he trades her with the Amnion to get them off his back. Meanwhile, Angus, now a cyborg bereft of free will -- and a secret weapon of Warden Dios -- also arrives on Billingate to execute his lethal mission. When oldtime rivals Angus and Nick run into each other, things get progressively nasty. This is the best book in the entire Gap Series, thoroughly and consistently evoking mood: Billingate's obscene depravity; people's seething motives; plots and counter-plots; truths revealed as lies; allies more dangerous than enemies...By the time you've reached the (literally) explosive climax, your blood will be pounding, and you'll have no idea who has been doing what to whom for what reason. Important debut: Holt Fasner, UMC boss and the most powerful man in human space. He is evil personified and makes people like Nick and Angus look benign. The festering tension between him and UMCP Director Warden Dios (the second most powerful man in human space) only promises to get worse in the next book, "Chaos and Order".
Rating:
Summary: A Sunday drive through Hades
Review: All good myths (or operas, if you will) must have the characters travel into the underworld, for only there lies the key to solving the problems in the mortal realm. Billingate *is* Hades--take special note of the Bill's physical description and his manner of dealing with people. The Devil you say? I read in one review of person complaining regarding Davies' whining. Wouldn't you whine in his place? Milos deserved his fate--he sold his humanity years ago. Angus's walking crib is painful to endure, but his being let go is as wonderful as when Mhoram came into his power. Remember Mhoram from Thomas Covenant? I've always thought he was one of the truly great fictional characters. Notice how similar Mhoram and Vector Shaheed are? Donaldson continues to excel--each book is a masterpiece.
Rating:
Summary: A powerful and exciting book
Review: In book 3 of his Gap series, Stephen Donaldson ups the ante quite a ways. The first two books of the series were merely a prelude for this explosive turning point in the series. The plot is exceptional, Donaldson takes his main characters on a roller-coaster ride through the dark and corrupted Billingate. Unlike most Donaldson books, the plot can actually stand up and compare to his characters, which are still typically dark, brooding, and human
Rating:
Summary: Best Donaldson Read
Review: In it's category, this gotta be one of the best books ever. I was totally absorbed, and went on to read the rest of the series. I was a little disappointed in the last book of the series, "This Day All Gods Die", but "A Dark and Hungry God Arises" had both extremely exciting plot development and excellent characters. I recommend the whole series to any serious SF reader. It is way better than the books of the Covenant series that I have read. Donaldson tends to be a bit longwinded, but the Gap series is so intense that you _want_ the length. Just superb.
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