Rating: 
Summary: An interesting end to a good trilogy
Review:
I just read the whole trilogy. This portion of it takes place almost entirely in Nextdoor, the alternate universe where humans from our world can achieve godhood if the natives believe in them. By the time we get to the events in this book, all the main characters are in place and it's just a matter of marching them to their destinies. Because of that, there isn't as much soul searching and internal challenge and drama as there was in the first two books, except for the characters of Julian and Dosh, one of whom is the sole discordant note among the followers, and the other who has a destiny that's not understood until the end. Both of their stories were very good.
Another aspect of the story that I found interesting was the way the plot develops into a copy of Christ's life, with some things switched about. Examining the differences and the parallels that Duncan chose was intriguing.
Spoilers below...
Regarding the ending which some have complained about, I didn't think it was vague in the least. It was obvious to me what happened (Judas became the Redeemer and vice versa). The true hero and Liberator wasn't the one who survived, but his friend whom he betrayed. I think it will take a re-read for all the implications to sink in. But it does mean the Happy Ending wasn't so happy as it appeared to be.
It was, however, satisfying.
Rating:
Summary: An interesting end to a good trilogy
Review:
I just read the whole trilogy. This portion of it takes place almost entirely in Nextdoor, the alternate universe where humans from our world can achieve godhood if the natives believe in them. By the time we get to the events in this book, all the main characters are in place and it's just a matter of marching them to their destinies. Because of that, there isn't as much soul searching and internal challenge and drama as there was in the first two books, except for the characters of Julian and Dosh, one of whom is the sole discordant note among the followers, and the other who has a destiny that's not understood until the end. Both of their stories were very good.
Another aspect of the story that I found interesting was the way the plot develops into a copy of Christ's life, with some things switched about. Examining the differences and the parallels that Duncan chose was intriguing.
Spoilers below...
Regarding the ending which some have complained about, I didn't think it was vague in the least. It was obvious to me what happened (Judas became the Redeemer and vice versa). The true hero and Liberator wasn't the one who survived, but his friend whom he betrayed. I think it will take a re-read for all the implications to sink in. But it does mean the Happy Ending wasn't so happy as it appeared to be.
It was, however, satisfying.
Rating: 
Summary: Out of gas...
Review: After a terrific first book (Past Imperative), a passable second book (Present Tense), DD phones this one in. An extremely disappointing novel, managing to make the reader become completely indifferent towards his characters. Part of this is the indifference that DD shows himself, disposing and ignoring characters he spent time building up in the previous two novels.
As for the plot itself, it's reminiscent of a classic computer game: Populous (and it's modern recasting: Populous the Beginning. Hero goes around gathering followers, performing some unethical things to gather more followers, has big battle with villain doing the same thing. Interesting, but soulless. To make it even worse, DD tires the reader's patience by taking up hundred of pages to get to a confused ending which makes you yearn for the Planet of the Apes (2001).
Rating:
Summary: A great and unpredictable ending!
Review: Dave Duncan really came up with a winner on this one. It was spellbinding and I couldn't put it down. As the story progresses, the ending seems to become quite predictable, yet the ending is better than you would have thought. I definitely recommend this book, but read the first two in the series first.
Rating: 
Summary: The Great *YAWN*
Review: Duncan has taken a very promising world and premise and bogged it down in a repetitive, cliched, and way, way, too somber a plot. He also shows an annoying habit of introducing too many characters, giving tons of background information about them, allowing readers a peek into their personalities, and then disposing of them (or ignoring them for the rest of the series). Take my advice, read the first two books (or even just the first) and skip this one. Any ending you dream up is bound to be better than this one.
Rating:
Summary: Disappointing finish to promising premise
Review: Duncan has taken a very promising world and premise and bogged it down in a repetitive, cliched, and way, way, too somber a plot. He also shows an annoying habit of introducing too many characters, giving tons of background information about them, allowing readers a peek into their personalities, and then disposing of them (or ignoring them for the rest of the series). Take my advice, read the first two books (or even just the first) and skip this one. Any ending you dream up is bound to be better than this one.
Rating:
Summary: I have rarely been so angry with an author's choice...
Review: Duncan posits a satisfying fantasy world in the first two volumes of this series, evoking quite well a past part of ours long gone as well. While there seems to be a volume missing as 'Dward transforms himself in this final go into everything he said he never would be in the prior books, the tale moves apace, perhaps too fast a pace. For Duncan means to make a point, and while pretentiously over-burdened in a oh so cynical quasi-religiostic rehash of the progress of Christ to His end, that point is hellish and as obscene as any an author could foist on his hooked audience. True, we should be prepared, for throughout the tale, Duncan discards characters and spear throwers left and right to grisly pointless sacrificial deaths. Yet I was still unbelieving, as I opened, in my mind's eye, the alternatives available to Duncan in his final march to horror to twist this from deliberately cruel gore into the redemption he so tongue in cheek parodies. That he actually choose capricious malice over redemption came as a stunner...I shall never seek out this author again...
Rating:
Summary: Great!!!!!
Review: I have absolutely loved all three of The Great Game books. As soon as I began reading the first one I fell in love. The depth of the story, the characters and their perils, and the ORIGINALITY of the whole story was beautiful. I LOVE the idea of Nextdoor and the Portals. For anyone who has the slightlest inkling of enjoyment of fantasy NEEDS to read these books. The books are marvelous but Mr. Duncan. In Future Indefinite, at the end, the very end, how could you?
Rating:
Summary: Brilliant
Review: I have long been a fan of Dave Duncan, but even so, I was astonished by this book. It has Duncan's characteristic originality in abundance, but it also has better writing and more thematic depth than his previous works. This is, quite simply, the best book Duncan's ever written, and consequently, one of the best fantasies out there.
Rating: 
Summary: What ending?
Review: I loved this book. Actually, I loved the entire series, but I read it all as if it were one book. I could not put down one book with out picking up the next... and then it stopped. A pet peeve of mine is books that don't have a happy ending. I know its childish, "proper literature" does not always have a completely happy ending, but I really couldn't care less. I read to escape from reality, and I expect my fantasy books to have a happy ending. I was absolutely furious when I got to the end of this book. How dare he end this book before she opens the door! (if you want to know who and what door - read the book) Being eternally optimistic, I will hope that this was just a cliffhanger until the next book. Realistically.... if you're like me, read at your own risk, because the ending isn't really there. Aside from that warning, I would recommend this trilogy to everyone.
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