CLOUD WARRIOR

Rating:
Summary: 5 star series, 1 star ending (No Spoilers)
Review: Having just read all 6 books for the first time, you can imagine my howls of frustration on discovering that the series is left unfinished. If it had been wrapped up (at all) this would definitely have been a contender for a 5 star rating as the story is quite amazing and imaginative but leaving his fans hanging with no conclusion to the story is unforgivable. I can only hope that Mr. Tilley plans on a book 7.

Rating:
Summary: 5 star series, 1 star ending (No Spoilers)
Review: I was engrossed in the series from the first chapter. A real page turner. I was able to picture everthing as it unfolded. The plot is good. I nice mix of action, drama, cross-cultural relations. I loved the ideas about how the races followed slightly historical paths (as with the feudal Japanese "Iron Masters"). Book six was a let down as Mr. Tilley seemed to be in a hurry to finish the story. But this is the only downside to an otherwise masterful tale. Anyone who reads this series should try and get the follow up art book based on the series, as it shows portraits of all the main characters, the different clan colorings, the Amtrak Federations vehicles. To name just a few of the images. A must-have for any sci-fi lover.

Rating:
Summary: The Best Series Yet
Review: I was in the library one day at my school trying to find a science fiction book to read for one of my subjects. I love books but i hadn't read for a long time. Suddenly a teacher came to me and suggested the Amtrak Wars. I was very curious. So I started to read, and I couldn't stop! The book was so great with so many things happening and so many great characters I really couldn't stop. Every free moment I had I read the book. The story tells a war story from two different views. One is of the mutants who live on the surface of Earth and the other the Amtrak Federation, an advanced society of Humans living underground. The setting is 10 centuires in the future after a war that has wiped off life as we know it. The story is fantastic with excellent description. I couldn't believe how good and easy I could imagine the events using the words the writer choose. I recommend this book to anyone interested in a original intresting future world epic! I'm definatly going to read the rest of the series, and so should you!

Rating:
Summary: So many layers to this story...
Review: Patrick Tilley has crafted an epic story that is part Sci-Fi, part fantasy, part Western, and ALL brilliant!!

Set 1 000 years after a nuclear war all but destroyed the earth, it tells the story of the hi-tech Amtrak Federation (the survivors from underground missile bases), and their struggle to take back the 'blue sky world' from the technologically inferior Mutes, other survivors who have adapted to their radioactive environment.

In effect it's a futuristic version of cowboys versus indians, but it has so many other levels too - technology versus spirituality, conformity versus diversity, freedom versus rule of law, and many other similar issues.

It's a wonderful take on how racism affects everything, and how people can be indoctrinated into one form of belief - while the Mutes worship a god that controls their destiny, the Federation believes in the the power of the 'First Family', who are the rulers of Amtrak - it poses the question of who is greater, man or god, and both sides of the equation are well fleshed out and both display good AND bad points...and on top of that, it's a cracking, fast-paced, well plotted action story, that is one of the best Sci-Fi/Fantasy series I have ever read!!

Do yourself a favour - GET IT, you won't be sorry!!!