Freedom's Choice

Rating:
Summary: Great story, but read all 3 books one right after the other.
Review: My title says it all. The author is brilliant at creating alien worlds that are believable and coherent. She then sprinkles that world with interesting characters and sets up a confict situation or two or more. She creates as many heroes as she needs and they all behave heroically leading us to a satisfying resolution. I have enjoyed everything of hers that I have read. I devoured the Pern books. Thank you Anne, Lou

Rating:
Summary: Good Trilogy
Review: My title says it all. The author is brilliant at creating alien worlds that are believable and coherent. She then sprinkles that world with interesting characters and sets up a confict situation or two or more. She creates as many heroes as she needs and they all behave heroically leading us to a satisfying resolution. I have enjoyed everything of hers that I have read. I devoured the Pern books. Thank you Anne, Lou

Rating:
Summary: All RIght!!
Review: Thank you Ms. McCaffrey!! I just got my copy of Freedom's Choice and I just loved it. While some of the main characters from the other books made no more that token apperances, other new ones took their place. And the colonists managed all on their own to help and rescue many others found on the other colony worlds. I think that ms. McCaffrey did a wonderful job of showing just how everyone can work together, irreguardless of the species line. And in the time this book was set the species line was drawn not by what you looked like, but by what you could do. I like that, it says a lot about the potential for humanity. Lets hope that each of us can live a little of that ourselves. I'm trying to, how about you?

Rating:
Summary: A very enjoyable book
Review: This book is a very good read. Not as good as some of her books, but not bad, either. I enjoyed it. A fine sequel.

Rating:
Summary: An interesting middle book.
Review: Though I am not quite sure where everyone is coming from, I can agree with some of the thoughts on this book. It may not have been quite as good as the first book, but I feel that is because this is a book that sets the stage for a better one. I have read all three books and for the last one to be written there had to be a book of this type, kind of a gathering of all the props to be used later(the ships and such). Without this book you would be completely dissatisfied with the next. While some parts could have been better, I still think it was a great book. Maybe some of the people who dogged on this book so much ought to take a little time out and re-read some of the book. I think some of these people lost sight of what they were reading entierly. You shouldn't compare each book you read to some of the authors earlier works, they are probably going for a differnt point entierly and you are going to end up expecting something other than what you read. This definetely is an awsome series to read.

Rating:
Summary: A fairly average book.
Review: When I first read Freedom's Landing, I instantly fell in love with the book, comepletely hooked. I was overjoyed when McCaffrey finally wrote a sequal to it. I was in for a disappointment. The book lacks the originality of the first. It's a good book to read when one has some time and patience. I know I would have enjoyed this book more if I had never read the first book, so I can't really say there was anything wrong with it. The point is that it's a shame McCaffrey settled for mediocre when we all know she can reach excellance.

Rating:
Summary: A good addition to the story.
Review: While I didn't enjoy this book as much as the first in the series, I still found myself staying up too late reading because I just couldn't help getting drawn into the plight of the unwilling colonists. Zanail and company really start taking control and affecting their own destiny in this instalment of the story. Although some of the book seems a bit like old news and I couldn't help feeling bored with parts, the overall story continued on strongly and the stage was set for an exciting conclusion to the story in which the people of Botany may play a crucial role in events that could change not only their own new world, but Earth and the rest of the Universe. Hopefully (as seems likely) the Eosi/Catteni and the Farmers will come head to head in a conflict that would be entertaining to say the least. I look forward to reading the other books in this series.

Rating:
Summary: Simple? Yes..but growing..
Review: Wow! Poor Ms. McCaffrey has gotten flamed for this series. Whether you love or hate her, it has to be acknowledged that she is a talented writer and has turned out some real gems in the past. This series is, I'll admit, simpler than the others told. But what kept me reading, and what makes me admire and appreciate this new series, is the differences it has from her other work. While all the charm that McCaffrey puts into her worlds and characters is still there, the story-telling of a world is different. Another reviewer made a comment about how this series didn't leave any "holes" in the history of the colony as Pern and all McCaffrey's other "pet worlds" do. It is truly starting from the ground up...from the moment they entered the world. While the first book was a simply told tale of meeting the necessities of life, I found that appropriate! Here are slaves who were torn from their families on other worlds, faced torture and oppression, only to be left on an unknown planet. I don't know about the rest of you who wondered where the problems were, but if I was dropped on Planet X someday, with a bunch of complete strangers from the world over, a knife, a cup, and some granola bars? I think my main concern would be listening to my instinctual cave-woman concience. I want a good shelter, I want food, and I want to live day to day. So I think that the first book was simplistic in it's tale...but then again, Botany was still making babysteps of progress. Problems abounded, but these were overshadowed by the real tale..which was not individual by individual, but the progress of the society as a whole. This second book was exciting because more and more layers were added, bringing up the complexity of the novel and society as the "Botanicals" became better adapted to life on their not-so-new planet. I see great possibilities for this series. It is gearing up to tell the entire tale of a new "species" that mixed bag dropped on Botany and starting a new life. I don't doubt that as their immediate needs are taken care of, that the more superficial problems that run rampant in our society will also plague this ideal little world. This series spells neverending layers and textures ...but don't write the first books off as simplistic, because simple forms a solid foundation for all complexity to grow. :o) As for the argument of "how unbelievable that everyone got pregnant, yada yada yada"...I think that it isn't so unbelievable. We as readers have not and will not ever be put into a situation like that. Even remotely like that. When the survival of a species is at stake, it is amazing the lengths that people go to protect that continued existance. Just look at some of the bloodiest wars in our history...surely the inconvenience of children is nothing in comparison to the thousands and thousands of men and women who gave their lives for freedom? I think Ms. McCaffrey is right on..it may seem unrealistic and unthinkable to us, but that is because we are living in the 90's, on planet Earth, comfortable in our day to day life, provided for and not likely to die out soon. Oh...btw. <grins> I recommend this book highly. ;oD

Rating:
Summary: I loved it!
Review: You must read the first book before this one or you won't understand a thing. It's worth it! I love Anne McCaffrey's books. Lot's of interesting characters too! I can't wait for the next one. PLEASE write another!