Conrad's Quest for Rubber

Rating:
Summary: Leo's FINALLY back!!
Review: I had just about given up on a sixth Conrad book so I was very suprised when my friend came running up to me in the bookstore with two copies in his hands. The book is very different from the first five but just as enjoyable. There is much less emphasis on technical details (we were glad for that) and much more emphasis on social, moral, and legal issues. Without giving away important details I can relate some of the issues as being: 1) Who is really "King" of Poland? 2) How does a race of "not quite human" animals fit into society? 3) How far should Conrad's Christian federation go in expanding it's borders...and how much "right" do they have to do so? 4) How much should Conrad's cousin Tom "help" Conrad? One of the more interesting issues Frankowski brings up in the first five novels concerns man's natural preferences for reproductive purposes. One of the strongest assets of the book is the humanitarian manner in which Conrad attempts to "spread the faith"...he's trying VERY hard not to repeat the mistakes of our timeline's explorers and settlers. I think that all of Frankowski's books bear a striking similarity to Robert Heinlein's Starship Troopers (they even use several of the same phrases and sayings!!)....an entertaining story that makes us take a closer look at our beliefs and attitudes about the world and society around us.

Rating:
Summary: Still one of the most entertaining and re-readable SF series
Review: I have been a fan of this series for over a decade and have read the series at least 7 times. This latest issue continues the FUN with the saga and the characters. The ideas and concepts presented are at once thought provoking and creative. Leo has taken the story line in an unexpected but enjoyable direction. The new characters introduced are both sypatetic and fun. This series is is a must read for any SF fan or anyone who likes a GOOD saga. I look forward to more from this story line and from Leo. Just don't take sooo.. long.

Rating:
Summary: A good conceptual story line that falters on delivery
Review: I have long been a fan of Mr. Fankowski's through the Conrad books 1-5 as well as had to find Copernick's Rebellion. I had heard book six was coming out and I too salivated. When it came to store's I snapped it up asap and.....well....it was O.K. I enjoyed the next generations perspective of events as well as the omittion of Tom's Tangents. All I can say is hey how about some technical mumbo jumbo about the ferocrete boats. How about more modern tech/old tech blend and the appropriate discussion pertaining to each as we saw in the earlier 5 books. Book six wasn't up to par and I fear we (avid readers of Mr. Frankowski's) may have forced his schedule. I hope the next one is better.

Rating:
Summary: Awesome.....about time!
Review: I love this series. It is about time Leo wrote another one. If you have not read the first five, they are a must!

Rating:
Summary: Fed the Fix but still hungry for more
Review: I zipped through this yarn and enjoyed it, somewhat. It was better than its predecessor, Conrad's Lady. And she only had a brief walk-on cameo in this book. I have followed Conrad since the first printing of CTE ('80s). If one looks at the back cover of that one gets the impression that there were to only be the four. Yes the first 50 pages are rehash; however, in Leo's defense, by providing a new perspective of familiar events you don't have to re-read the prior novels (its both old and new). Writing from a 1st person perspective ain't an easy task either. That is all part of the formula. (As is the wonton and often pedophile sex, which I could do without.) One thing that I have felt is that Leo watched James Burke's Connection series and modified it to push his hero's engineering wonders. Please don't take that as a criticism. Incorporating an idea into good story is still a difficult feat. Still he did rush the end. I hope the next book will feature more engineering and more Conrad. Also, the next text will either explore the sea or aim for space before Conrad passes on. Father Iggy will be pope and Conrad may get canonized before he dies. I do hope there is a new book, I am still a fan-just looking for a stronger story than the past two.

Rating:
Summary: Fed the Fix but still hungry for more
Review: I zipped through this yarn and enjoyed it, somewhat. It was better than its predecessor, Conrad's Lady. And she only had a brief walk-on cameo in this book. I have followed Conrad since the first printing of CTE ('80s). If one looks at the back cover of that one gets the impression that there were to only be the four. Yes the first 50 pages are rehash; however, in Leo's defense, by providing a new perspective of familiar events you don't have to re-read the prior novels (its both old and new). Writing from a 1st person perspective ain't an easy task either. That is all part of the formula. (As is the wonton and often pedophile sex, which I could do without.) One thing that I have felt is that Leo watched James Burke's Connection series and modified it to push his hero's engineering wonders. Please don't take that as a criticism. Incorporating an idea into good story is still a difficult feat. Still he did rush the end. I hope the next book will feature more engineering and more Conrad. Also, the next text will either explore the sea or aim for space before Conrad passes on. Father Iggy will be pope and Conrad may get canonized before he dies. I do hope there is a new book, I am still a fan-just looking for a stronger story than the past two.

Rating:
Summary: At long last an entertaining return to Conrad's Poland
Review: It was a great day when I stumbled on to the 6th installment of the Conrad series. I had given up on Leo Frankowski revisiting the facinating story of Conrad in 13th Century Poland. I devoured this book in one night. I found the story very entertaing and a great read. I enjoyed the tangent of telling the story thru a new character yet I thought we could do with a lot less background, come on we all have read the first 5 books and don't need a complete rehash of them. Just one chapter to establish the new character's background should be enough. Frankowski's piggish attitude towards women reaches new lows with this book. The characters Maude and Baboo are very insulting. One a bio-engineered Super-Woman, the other a primative simpleton treated like a house pet. The author has tread into dangerous waters here and should tone it down in future books. Exploring the 13th Century world with a new and young character is quite exciting as it ads personal drama to the quest. In the future I would like to see Conrad have to deal with and interact with the real historical characters. Including Holy Roman Emporer Fredrick, Alexander Nevski of Novograd, and of course Kublia Khan would add great villans and allies to this already rich series. I would love to see Conrad sucked into the Crusades by Pope Ignacius Conrad's Confessor.

Rating:
Summary: disappointing
Review: Sadly, this last gasp does not live up to the previous five in the series. Too many pages are spent rehashing what we already know, Conrad himself has been relegated to a back seat, and most disappointing of all is that the author has not outgrown his adolescent compliant-naked-girlie fantasies, but has intensified them to embarrassingly offensive levels. I might give Number Seven a miss if it ever appears.

Rating:
Summary: Frankowski leaves Poland on a concrete boat...
Review: The Adventures of Conrad Stargard series is excellent. Frankowski delivered a refreshing take on medieval Poland. A sort of " I wonder what would happen if..." experience. Can't put it down kind of storytelling. The newest addition to the series - 'Quest for Rubber', leaves much to be desired, however it does give the reader enough of a 'fix' to get by. Those of us who waited so long for this addition to the series were not disappointed, but this book does not rise to the level of say Book 3. The four and five star reviews should be reserved for earlier Frankowski tales. He seems to have left his formula behind. Most of the book's action take place outside of Poland. Conrad makes only minimal appearances. The main character, I forget his name (you see what I mean), is a slightly modified Piotr. Not much engineering going on in this book. Only glimpses of the technological advances made my Conrad and his people. I miss Francine, Anna, Henryk, Tadeos, and Vladimir. Mr. Frankowski - take us back to Poland.

Rating:
Summary: Don't bother
Review: The beginning of the series starting with "The Cross-Time Engineer" is excellent, but this one has nothing new to offer. In fact it departs strongly from the theme of modern man succeeding based on superior knowledge and instead has him summoning up one deus-ex-machina after another. What's the point in a science fiction story where the hero has access to a magic wand?