Rating: 
Summary: A Ransom for Freedom
Review: Anne McCaffery has done it again in this book. Although this isn't her normal stand alone novel, "Freedom's Ransom" must be taken and should be read after the others in the Freedom Series. I think she's done well in keeping with the Characterization and shows that there is much to be done even after a revolution in order to get things running smooth. I look forward to seeing her next novel as our Main Characters may go hunting for the Farmers or completing thier joint mission in becoming partners with the Cattini.
Rating:
Summary: A Ransom for Freedom
Review: Anne McCaffery has done it again in this book. Although this isn't her normal stand alone novel, "Freedom's Ransom" must be taken and should be read after the others in the Freedom Series. I think she's done well in keeping with the Characterization and shows that there is much to be done even after a revolution in order to get things running smooth. I look forward to seeing her next novel as our Main Characters may go hunting for the Farmers or completing thier joint mission in becoming partners with the Cattini.
Rating: 
Summary: Disappointing
Review: Anne McCaffrey has become quite a good writer. If you look at the awkward writing in one of her early books, like "Dragonflight," and compare it with the superior writing in, say, "All the Weyrs," you can see the development. Ms. McCaffrey has always brought new ideas to her readers. But much of the pleasure for old fans has been seeing the level of writing improve.Until now. The "Freedom" series has been interesting, but the ideas in it were not particularly new. It's plowed ground. Even the late L. Ron Hubbard has written a "defeat the evil alien invaders" book, although he didn't have the heroine sleeping with the enemy. Ms. McCaffrey brought her own style to the first three books, with some new twists and a sparer, more polished style than we had seen in earlier books. But in "Freedom's Ransom," the fourth book in the series, she seems to have run out of steam and skipped one or two rewrites. Not the least of her problems is that the series really concluded emotionally in the third book; this novel feels like an afterthought... As other reviewers have noted, there is some sloppy research, and as an economics lesson, it's not going to cause Alan Greenspan any sleepless nights. And speaking of sleepless nights, there might be a few too many references to coffee in the course of the book. Rumor has it her next book returns us to Pern. I'll look forward to it, and count this as an aberration.
Rating:
Summary: Not her best, but a nice epilogue
Review: Anne McCaffrey's Freedom series is a delight, but much of the action culminated in the third book, leaving this one more of an epilogue than a whole other installment. I enjoyed visiting with Kris and Zainal again, and I was intrigued by their visit to Earth and liked seeing how "we" were doing post-Catteni--but I still liked the first three books better. It was worth the reading, though, as Ms. McCaffrey's books almost always are.
Rating: 
Summary: A Big Disappointment
Review: As a big McCaffrey fan, I had looked forward to this one. Unfortunately, it lacks the depth and character development of the earlier books in the series, and the plot is all over the place and boring at the same time. I found this the most disappointing of any book I have read by this author, and I've read all her SF.
Rating: 
Summary: Borders on boring
Review: As much as I enjoyed the previous Freedom series books (particulary the first book, Freedom's Landing), this one read like a junior high school essay of "How I Spent My Summer Vacation." Very little plot, almost no conflict or character development. Description was lacking as well-- I felt as if I were listening to a bunch of "talking heads." There wasn't even much between Zainal and Kris, which to me was one of the highlights of the previous books. And the beginning, where the characters were discussing what they were going to do-- ARRGH! It's bad enough to have to attend meetings, much less read about them! I think Ms. McCaffrey could have done with less research on coffee growing and dental procedures and spent her attention on what has made her such a great storyteller.
Rating:
Summary: Freedom's Ransom
Review: Hey folks, this is just another book in the series. It is good. It adds to the original story and does a fine job. It does get into to much detail and no real set on the edge of your reading recliner but hey a story is a story and kick back and enjoy, especially on a cold stormy wintery night.
Rating:
Summary: Strong series, mediocre book
Review: I am a huge Anne McCaffrey fan starting with the first three Dragonriders of Pern books in junior high. I have marveled at her ability to create strong characters, particularly female characters. Since I am a fast reader, I re-read the Freedom books prior to Ransom's release. I felt that the story line was weak compared to others in the series. I did not feel it furthered the series arc, characters or the evolution of the Botany colony. While admittedly not a coffee drinker, I grew tired of the continual rhapsodizing about the beverage. While I understand what it is like to regain a favorite item after times without ( I was stationed in Korea where many items are rationed or not available) it seemed the continual references to coffee served as filler for the story.
Another thing that bothered me, rocksquats. They are referred to as being like chicken or avians. I even re-read their description from the first book. They seemed to be a cross between squirrels and hamsters, just furless. They squat on rocks and don't move much. This does not seem like a bird. I called my mother and that was how she remembered them too. Maybe I'm nitpicking, but instead of the joy I normally experience when reading her works I felt dissatisfied.
Rating:
Summary: Bitterly disappointed
Review: I don't know if maybe Anne McCaffrey was on medication when she wrote this book, but it is far beneath her usual standard. The characters are paper thin, the internal and external dialogue are trivial to distraction, and the plot is practically non-exist. I had to force myself to turn the page...but kept hoping it would get better. I love Anne McCaffrey's work and usually just her name is enough to recommend a book, but frankly, if this was an amateur's manuscript, it would have never been published. I kept looking at the cover to see whether the author's name had magically changed.
Rating:
Summary: Not best effort....
Review: I enjoyed the first three books in this series too much to be impressed by this fourth installment. While the concept of looking at Botany's evolution after the Eosi downfall was interesting, I found the plot meandering, and the editorial errors distracting. Although sort of enjoyable, the book felt "cobbled together", and I expected more from my favorite author.
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