Rating: 
Summary: The best, so far, of an excellent series
Review: I really enjoy Flynn's near-future series, with its rich characters, intricate plots, and imaginative cultural-political landscape. I especially liked the asteroid trip, the ongoing Mareisa-Roberta interaction, and the intense action at the climax. Mareisa is more interesting because she "screwed up", and thus is more human. Some of the space-station construction details became a bit tedious, but it was done carefully. I don't read a lot of non-SF books, but I am pretty sure that Flynn's development of his characters is unusually good for SF writing, and is on a par with much current mainstream fiction. He even does the sex scenes rather well, including enough, but not too much, erotic detail. The interplay of the skilled workers was a nice contrast to the scenes featuring politicians, movers-shakers, scientists and astronauts. He creates a vivid, believable world and tells a great, complex tale. In my opinion Rogue Star is the best of the first three of this series, although it has been a while since I read Firestar. When I finished this book I went right out and bought Lodestar. I am pleased to see that a fourth book is now available. Flynn is probably a much better writer than good old Bob Heinlein, but of course middle-aged guys like me read Heinlein when we were young and new to SF, so he will always have a special place in our hearts and minds. Bravo, Michael Flynn!
Rating: 
Summary: Only the liberal have the answer.
Review: I really wanted to like this book. The heft and subject promised a long exciting read. The story kept me for a long time, but I eventually decided enough was enough. This is only the 4th novel I've ever decided to not finish.I found myself wondering when an opposing viewpoint would be presented. All of the elite characters blamed the preceding conservative administrations for all of the current world ills. It was a true liberal view of the world. The worker bees working to support the liberal elite of the company.
Rating:
Summary: An excellent follow-up to Firestar
Review: I thought that this book was even better than Firestar, though a little slower moving. All of the characters' subplots were fascinating, especially the new character, Flaco. Once again, Flynn has convinced me of the plausibility and necessity of reaching for the stars in the near future. Maybe some of our US congressmen should read this...
Rating:
Summary: Too wordy and boring.
Review: It is difficult to believe that the author of this book also wrote In the Country of the Blind. This book meanders around for what seems like forever and never seems to be going anywhere in particular. When I find myself reading only the first sentence of each paragraph, as I often did in this book, I know the pace of the story has fallen virtually to zero. If it was cut by one-half to two-thirds in length, it might move at a better pace. It also needs to focus on some interesting problem or conflict that a reader is interested in seeing resolved. The previous volume was somewhat better, but suffered similar problems. I gave it the benefit of the doubt in hopes that the second volume would get the story on track. Unfortunately, the trend seems to be in the opposite direction. I'll definitely pass on the third volume.
Rating: 
Summary: Michael Flynn needs to meet a black person
Review: Memo to Michael Flynn: When Tim Meadows would say "Word" in skits on Saturday Night Live, he was actually making fun of people who think that's actually part of black peoples' slang. It's not, it never has been and will not be in the year 2009. I enjoyed Firestar and thought it moved at about the right pace. I am less than halfway through this sequel and dread the thought of all the time I must put in to finish it. It is padded and dull.
Rating:
Summary: Always seems like it's about to get good, but never does
Review: One word: dull. As I read, it always seemed like something was about to happen, but nothing ever did. The Flaco character was the only good thing in this book, and his sections are the only ones I enjoyed. Everything else was too long, drawn out, and there were too many characters, many of which had very little to say. Save yourself some time and skip this one.
Rating: 
Summary: A future so real it seems destined to come true.
Review: Sequel to FIRESTAR, Flynn has pulled of one the most difficult tasks a science fiction writer can take on , the writing of a plausible near future novel. This novel furthers the story of heiress Mariessa Van Huyten and her quest to make sure the Earth is safe from asteroid strikes. Throughout most of these first two novels we see her do almost anything and use almost anybody to further this goal. Towards the end of this book however we see her come to the realization that maybe she has paid too high a price for her goals . Most of the plot revolves around the attempt to discredit her by making her place a weapons platform on her company's spacestation . Other plot threads include the discovery of possibly a past alien presence on an asteroid her company is visiting; her past student Roberta Carson coming to realize maybe Mariesa is not the monster she made her out to be,and the possibility that that someone is targeting the Earth with asteroids. I look forward to the next book in this series and fiding out what the future will be like.
Rating: 
Summary: Interesting but has all the defects of a sequel
Review: So now that Firestar has turned in to "The Firestar Saga," where are we this? It is not clear to us that Rogue Star was a necessary follow-up to Firestar which could and does stand on its own. Rogue Star on the other hand does not have the kind of strength to stand on its own merits and really only inherits what it had from Firestar. There are some items of great interest here, particularly in the political arena and the Fartrip exploration but now that the notion of a question involving space exploration has been answered there is no longer any suspense or specific interest in the sole nation of space flight. Rogue Star does not offer anything new other than an extension of the relationships involved. And as we have often said, books who create characters independently of the circumstances surrounding the store are not books that will have a great deal of influence on the genre. It will be interesting to see what happens to "The Firestar Saga" as it continues.
WHO SHOULD READ
As with many sequels, its principle interest will like in those people who read and enjoyed the first book. That is certainly the case here where readers who read and enjoyed Firestar (a remarkably good book) will move on to Rogue Star and find in it a great deal to enjoy. It's still a swift book and those readers will probably find a great deal of satisfaction within it. Additionally, there is quite a bit more detail regarding political events and interplay between opposing political positions--both on the national stage and within the office. There might be a segment of readers who are not terribly interested in the technology and test-flights leading up to space exploration but are more concerned about the politics involved after the technology is proven. For this segment, Rogue Star might even be a more satisfying read than Firestar.
WHO SHOULD AVOID
One of the most splendid thing about Firestar was the idea of a dream reified. The notions of privatized space exploration planned so far ahead that education curricula must be altered and redrawn in order to accommodate the dreams is of breathtaking scope and intense interest. All of that has faded with Rogue Star and nothing has really filled its place. For those readers who enjoyed the dream more than anything else they will find Rogue Star faintly but subtly unsatisfying. Mentor, Belinda, and Barry Fast have faded from the narrative almost entirely. There was a great deal of momentum built up in the first book and the series is now running on inertia. While some Really Big Events are revealed near the end of Rogue Star it seems almost more of a gimmick and slightly out of place. Its unclear whether "The Firestar Saga" will become a viable series or not.
READ THE ENTIRE REVIEW AT INCHOATUS.COM
Rating:
Summary: A solid near term science fiction book
Review: This book might make a good 150 pages for the beginning of a real book, but unfortunately doesn't measure up on its own. It was 200 pages before anything meaningful happened, and even when I finally battled my way to the end of the book, I found entirely too many loose ends and missed opportunities. Skip this book. I rarely have to force myself to finish a book, but unfortunately had to do so in this instance.
Rating:
Summary: 667 pages for 150 pages of plot
Review: This book might make a good 150 pages for the beginning of a real book, but unfortunately doesn't measure up on its own. It was 200 pages before anything meaningful happened, and even when I finally battled my way to the end of the book, I found entirely too many loose ends and missed opportunities. Skip this book. I rarely have to force myself to finish a book, but unfortunately had to do so in this instance.
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