Book 3 of the series.

Well, I was hoping for something as quirky and smoothly written as the first two books. It was good, and it is an ending to a series I enjoyed, but it's not as good as the begining. Maybe it's just that it reveals too much at the end, sometimes a little mystery is more satisfying than a full disclosure. With that in mind, I'll shut up now.

This is the concluding book of the JOURNEYS OF THE CATECHIST trilogy, the first two being CARNIVORES OF LIGHT AND DARKNESS and INTO THE THINKING KINGDOMS. As with the first two books, this was a light, enjoyable read that provided a satisfying conclusion to the series. There isn't much difference in the storytelling between the previous books and this one. The characters still run into one obstacle after another and always miraculously overcome it uitlizing some gift from Etjole's backpack. Still, it is a fun journey and I enjoyed the climax of the story. It was definitely unexpected.

Again, though, I have to voice my complaint of the dearth of character development. I have never seen four more static characters in all the fantasy I have read. I wouldn't expect for Etjole or Alitah to change much, but I had high expectations for Simna. He could have developed into a more interesting character than the treasure seeking person that he is. Not that he's a bad person, but, rather, he seems to have only a one track mind. Unfortunately, this never changes throughout the three books, despite the fact that Mr. Foster put him in several situations that should have had a serious impact on his character. Unfortunately, the author chose not to take advantage of these opportunities.

One thing I thoroughly enjoyed were the chapters on Hymneth, the antagonist of the story. Mr. Foster completely redeems himself from the cliched first chapter of INTO THE THINKING KINGDOMS in which we got our first glimpse of our villain. Hymneth is revealed to be a rather interesting character with different motivations than most fantasy villains. We get the quick version of the story of his life and we...well, I'll leave it to you to read the book. I don't want to ruin anything. Suffice it to say, the ending of the book is a unique twist on fantasy story resolution.

All in all, I truly enjoyed reading this series. Etjole is a very intersting character and his journeys through distant lands and the characters he meets there are truly fascinating. The storytelling is a bit repetetive at times and the characters can be infuriatingly static, but it is a romping adventure that is different than most epic fantasy out there today.

A brilliant series by Mr. Foster. The first book of the series was lovely masterpiece, the second did not quite fullfill the hopes the first had promised, this last one was, in my opinion, again better than the second. Maybe not achieving quite the free floating feeling of the first book, but a great story all the same. The whole series a lovely story, recommendated.

Long after coming to learn that they have more in common than outward appearances would hint at, as well as having joined together to fight a common foe (the Pitar), the Human/Thranx now must fight the most dangerous of enemy. Themselves.

Xenophobe Isolationist Extremists, both Thranx and Human, join together (the irony is not overlooked) to try and destroy the tightening bonds of the growing Commonwealth movement. Meanwhile, on a recently settled planet, unwitting humans are under attack from the devious AAnn. The Terrorist threats eventually dovetail, but sadly to do not come together as well as might have.

ADF's final book in his Founding Trilogy is funny and entertaining, but lacks an energetic spark. His fans should enjoy it, but the tale could have been more.

Diuturnity's Dawn contains many familiar elements found in ADF's previous commonwealth books. Never figured out what Diuturnity meant. Fringe fanatic groups bent on death and destruction, ancient alien archaeology hinting at an approaching great evil force, heroic female diplomat committed to bringing humanity and thranx together. All of that stuff was sorta boring actually. But the book was saved by ADF's introduction of the United Church... I love those guys! ADF didn't devote enough of the book to the Church and its founding, but he does include a couple of chapters that follow two of the first padres of the United Church, Briann and his thranx brother, as they spread the gospel of the Church and deal with the terrorists. I think the best part of the Flinx books were when Flinx traveled w/ Bran Tse Mallory and his thranx buddy, the two United Church Peace Enforcers. One especially memorable part in, I think it was Orphan Star? or maybe Tar Aiym Krang, dealt w/ Bran Tse Mallory's flashback to when he and his thranx bro were paired up in a Stingership fighter.

anyways, if for nothing else, Diuturnity's Dawn is well worth grabbing for the few chapters that it deals with the beginnings of the United Church.

Amazon says that I'll be the first person to review this book! How can I pass on an opportunity like that? How is it possible to review a book you have never read? I don't know but I'll give it a try.
I gave this book 4 stars based on his many other books set in the "Commonwealth", mainly the Flinx series and the first 2 books in this particular series, all of which I have read. I like Alan Dean Fosters' writing. His work is consistent with strong character development and good plot pacing.
The "Commonwealth " series concentrates on the early days of Human / Thranx contact and those events which shaped the formation of the "Commonwealth".
I have found this author to be entertaining regardless of the genre he is writing in and have yet to be disappointed with one of his books. Allthough his books written in series can stand alone, my recommendation is to check out books 1 and 2 of this series.
I am buying this book as soon as I finish this review.

SKM

When I was young I read every Alan Dean Foster book that I could find. I devoured his Commonwealth stories and constantly searched for books that I had not read. It has been about twenty years since I last read one of his books, so I was quite excited when I saw Drowning World on new books shelf in my local library.
Sadly the excitement did not last past the first few chapters. The book felt stilted and lacked the sense of adventure that Foster's
books have had in the past. The story was well written, and the situation was plausible and clearly thought out, but I never found myself caring about the people in the book. Perhaps my expecteations were too high, or perhaps this is simply not one of Alan Dean foster's better works. Either way I will still eagerly
read his next book, but I doubt that I will ever reread this one.

It rains all the time on the dismal world of Fluvan, and fast-evolving parasite forms make survival an always dubious proposition. But that doesn't stop the natives from wishing to get rid of the fast-breeding Deyzara. Generations before, the Commonwealth, imported the elephant-trunked Deyzara to handle the work that the proud Sakuntala natives refused to undertake. Now the Deyzara run the shops, own the businesses, and enjoy closer relations with the human overlords than do the Sakuntala themselves. Genocide will bring down horrible consequences, yet simply ignoring the threat will lead to improverishment and eventual elimination of the Sakuntala from their own world.

Human Administrator Lauren Matthias has her hands full. Not only is the decades-old animosity between Sakuntala and Deyzara threatening to break into genocidal warfare, a human bio-prospector has been lost and his ship, impossibly, isn't sending signals. Finally, her hormones are being stirred to a tizzy by hunk prospector Sethwyn Case. Of course, the Commonwealth's enemies, the Aann, are always willing to take advantage of any problems, and problems Matthias, and the entire planet, have in plenty.

Author Alan Dean Foster creates an interesting world with Fluvan and its ultra-competitive life forms. By switching back and forth from the political (in the person of Matthias) and personal (in the person of the lost prospector and the Deyzara/Sakuntala rescue team sent to find him), Foster lets the reader see the world's problems at multiple levels.

In many ways, the political scenerio being played out is reminiscent of several earth-conflicts (the plight of the Indians brought to the African continent and abandoned by the Imperialists who brought them there comes to mind), raising the power of DROWNING WORLD, but also increasing Foster's responsibility in dealing with the problems in a convincing way. Instead, the Deyzara refugee camps become minor annoyances with bad smells, the issue of Deyzara population growth is never dealt with, and a timely discovery manages to defuse much of the tension.

DROWNING WORLD starts out strongly, delivers an interesting world with emotionally compelling parallels to our own recent history, but finally shortchanges the resolution.

Because it seems to never stop raining, the planet Fluva has been nicknamed THE DROWNING WORLD from members of the Commonwealth. On Fluva, the wettest spot is probably Viisiiviisii Jungle where the combination of constant torrents with extreme humidity has led to one of the Commonwealth's greatest natural treasures. Exotic flora and strange animal life abound here and not anywhere else.

When bioprospector Shadrach Hasselemoga disappears while on a biological expedition on Fluva, an irritated Commonwealth Chief Administrator Lauren Mathias puts together a team to rescue the missing fool lost somewhere in the jungle. Though the right species make up the squad to include an ape-like native and a Deyzara, the rescuers vanish too. At about the same time of the second disappearance, the Sakuntala make a play for power with one goal being the genocide of the Deyzara leadership. As Deyzara refugees flee in terror, Lauren wonders whether the Sakuntala are involved in the vanishing or is her paranoia justified that the enemy reptilian empire is causing the disturbances?

Move the 1950s and 60s confrontations through third world nations between the US and the USSR into outer space and one will understand the premise of the Commonwealth series. The alien races appear real and fully developed. Few writers make other species seem so authentic as Alan Dean Foster does. The exciting story line will delight fans of the series that will enjoy the latest strife between empires through surrogates.

Harriet Klausner

Having read all the others in the series - and others associated to it in the Humanx universe - I too need to know if this is a new title, following on from Mid-Flinx. It's about time the threads started pulling together - Flinx and his associates, the metamorph from the 'city of the dead' and the guys from 'the howling stones' - and where the hell's Skua got to lately?

Does anyone know anything at all about this book? I'm just curious if it's one of the other Flinx series books under a different title or if it's some forgotten volume. Any ideas, send me an email at in_sadding@hotmail.com.

Thanks

For the authors of the other two reviews and all others thatare interested, here is the answer ...................This is a boxed set of three of the 'Flinx and Pip' books that Alan Dean Foster has already written. They are "The Kar-Aiym Krang", "Orphan Star" and "The End of The Matter".

I had finished the other 2 books several yrs back...never finished the trilogy. I have been searching for this book in used book stores for awhile, finally found it...finally finished the series.

It was a very interesting series. Yes, the basic premise is sorta silly. A thousand yr war has been going on...basically by 'civilized' species that abhore war. Then, Earth is discovered, and humans, being insanely warlike and aggressive...are enlisted into this war and we turn the tide. If you can get over the silly notion that thousands of yrs of war has been perpetuated by species too civilized for it...and that humans are really the uncontrollable aggressive species in the universe...it's a very enjoyable read.

The way FOSTER delivers the series, you can suspend your beleif's about the obvious inconsistency in my first paragraph...and just enjoy the story and great characters.

Each book can basically be a stand alone story. Tho, I really wanted to get to the next one in the series...each book has a unique storeyline. If I remember correctly, even the first 2 books portrayed differing timelines. The first book was all about the initial encounter between humans and the "Weave". The weave being a consortium of races bound together to battle the "Amplitur" and their all encompassing expansion of a religious type of doctrine called "The Purpose".

The Second book had different characters and was further along the timeline of this war. This last book, the war (since first contact with humans) had been going on for hundreds of yrs...so again, you have a different cast of characters and a different storyline. The basic premise of the "Weave vs Amplitur" war is still going on...but, now, the war is coming to a conclusion.

This book is all about how the war ends, and...more importantly to this book...what to do about the overtly aggressive humans once the war is over.

Yes, humans are portrayed as primatively aggressive. But, we realize it, we understand this in ourselves. At the same time we are trying to come to grips with our aggressiveness, we are a little dismayed that the "weave" consortium is both afraid of us, and unwilling to accept us into their little club at the end of the war. After all the sacrifices we made to end it. We are portrayed as both thinking and intelligent...but also aggressive and primative. We scare the hell out of our allies, they want no part of us at the end of the war.

A unique "Wais" scholar...small, fragile and birdlike species...has been studying humans. She puts herself in battle situations with humans (completely unheard of from any other wais)... to study how we interract with other species. She forms a bond with a colonel, Nevan...and they both try to come to grips with who humans are, and how we can deal with life after the war. She is both an admirer of humans, and a critic...

Book has some unique twists...you really care about the characters and what happens to them. This is what saved me from putting the book down. I was able to overcome the implausabilty of the storeyline, by just enjoying the story and the people.

I still think the first 2 books were much better. Both of them being very good. This book tended to want to make a statement and talk more about social and evolutionary changes in human nature. Much of it I couldn't really agree with...but some of it I couldn't disagree with. Being the book it was...it just wasn't as fun as the first 2.

Still, I enjoyed it...had a good time reading it (2 days)...and it concluded the series in good fashion. I would recommend it for those who want to finish the series.

SF

This is quite readable. You do find yourself caring what happens next, you do find the characters stay in character - even if alien. There is a flaw in the whole series, I believe. The galaxy is dominated by beings too timid to pick up a gun, yet alone shoot it. This seems contrary to any selection pressures in any environment. Also humans are blood thirsty and enjoy war - all of them. Compared to the suspension of disbelief needed for the Spell Singer series I guess we can't complain

...yet it kept me reading for nearly 24 hours straight, complete with minimum of sleep and skipping the day at school.

I finished the whole trilogy with one go. Yes, as I already mentioned, it does not belong to the best series in SF, but it has an expansive world, well defined characters and rather interesting - even if sometimes too simplistic - storyline.

Great to spend some time with.

I've read a great many of the works of Alan Dean Foster, and this particular novel is a major disappointment. The book is clumsily structured and annoyingly cuts back and forth to multiple viewpoints for little benefit. The authorial voice itself, with its omniscient point of view and knowledge of future events, is also irritating and serves only to dispel whatever minimal suspense exists.

There's very much a sense that Mr. Foster is not even too terribly interested in his own story here. It ends very abruptly and the conclusion lacks any satisfying emotional payoff of any kind.

The Thranx character, Desvandepur, is vividly depicted and could have easily carried a better book. The human protagonist, Cheelo, is just another indistinguishable grifter, and his own tales adds nothing to the action.

Mr. Foster is quite talented and has written many novels, set in his Humanx Commonwealth and elsewhere, that offer rich and involving stories. This is definitely not one of them. It adds nothing to his own Commonwealth setting and generally is just quite poor. I'm at a loss to explain why he even bothered to write this.

I'd been hoping ADF would one day continue the early days of the Commonwealth. Nor Crystal Tears is still my favorite first contact novel and my favorite Humanx universe book besides Tar-Aiym Krang and The End of the Matter. Sadly, Phylogenesis was only so-so. The plot meandered along and somehow I couldn't care as much about either Montoya or Desvendapur as I did about Ryozenzuzex from NCT or the early, young Flinx. Phylogenesis was very obviously intended as "part one" of a series, trilogy, whatever. If so, it was a strange set-up, without wanting to give too much away.

Alan Dean Foster has been knocking his varied future narratives around the Humanx (Human/Thranx) Commonwealth for decades, so it should come as no surprise that the prolific pulp writer would eventually roll up his sleeves and dig out the dark and dirty tale of just how the Commonwealth was formed...

Phylogenesis is predominantly the tale of the slightly mad and very driven Thranx poet Desvendapur, who aspires to create beautiful art that will surpass all around him. His ferocious drive to contact and glean inspiration from the recently discovered humans leads Desvendapur to commit several transgressions, including an accidental murder. What Desvendapur does not know is that his almost ruthless drive to acheive something more than what he is is mirrored by the Human Cheelo Montoya, who likewise commits a crime and accidently kills someone to further his own goals.

With a sure hand, ADF crafts two very different and yet quite similar characters that are destined to meet and, in an even more unlikely yet completely logical twist, become friends of a sort. That this unlikely and illegal meeting and befriending of two iconoclastic criminals of different species should mark an important step in a larger scheme shows that the Human and Thranx have a lot more in common than they like to think.

Several reviews of this book point out its weak story (and sometimes it does read like a travelogue), so potential readers should understand that Phylogenesis is the first part of a trilogy. Plot points and schemes are introduced but not completely resolved for they play integral parts in the remaining two chapters. Taken as a part of a much bigger whole, Phylogenesis is a satisfying opening chapter. Recommended.

I hesitated a long time before buying this book, doubting that it could add anything to the great short story by Eric Frank Russel it was based on. Eventually I decided to buy it anyway because I loved the short story so very much and in years of searching had not been able to get a copy of the original which I had borrowed from a friend.

Though all elements of the orginal story where there, what I feared was proven right, the extension from short story to novel became boring. The lengthening of the story without really adding anything to it made it awkward rather than captivating and in the end I paged to the latter fourth of the book, no longer able to finish it.

The sad thing about it all is that it's not a bad story, just one that does not manage to capture the grandeur of the original. My advice: If you read the orginal story, don't read this one, try to get hold of one of the `flinx' books instead which are far more worthwhile.

Classic Russell material, fun and witty, using social and political avenues to defeat bad guys who could almost be government but portrayed as aliens instead!! If you dislike big government and being controlled by it, you will really enjoy this book!

The story covers what sorts of things might happen when different cultures, er "species", encounter each other. War, obviously, is one possible result. The really interesting aspect that Foster delves into is fanatical narrow-mindedness. The antags in this story can't really see how to make use of their resources to prosper. The protags very much can, and do. Also, the protags are very open-minded - in more ways than one. Plus they are quite intelligent and quite well-equiped to deal with intergalactic relations. Prosperity in this book, doesn't come from power or wealth but in a state of mind, a noble pursuit, and the willingness and ability to communicate and cogitate.

The plot is very upbeat and yet at the same time not without its share of suspense. The characters are interesting and likeable.

"the Approaching Storm" wasn't at all what I was expecting it to be when I first picked it up. Unlike most star wars books, it focuses more on character development and political intrigue then on space battles and lightsaber duels, and unlike most star wars books it is rather well written. The story itself revolves around two jedi knights, Obi-Wan Kenobi and Luminara Unduli, and their respective padawans, Anakin Skywalker and Barriss Offee, as they set off to prevent a backward but strategically allied planet called Ansion from leaving the Republic. While the political talk and plotting was sort of hard to follow, I found myself swept away by Foster's descriptions of the planet and by the characters, especially Obi-Wan and Anakin. Obi-Wan is everything a powerful yet wise Jedi Knight should be, and Anakin is characterized as both willful and well-meaning, arrogant and vulnerable. Both characters are easily recognizable as the grown up versions of the characters that were introduced in Episode one, but at the same time both can be related to the characters they will become for "A New Hope." Luminara and Barriss were also well written and likable, although I can't help but think Foster could have come up with a better name then 'Barriss,' although that may not have been at his discretion.
My one problem with Foster's writing style is the formality of his language. I have a good vocabulary, but I still had to keep a dictionary handy while reading this book. The language is perfectly suited for description, and maybe the Jedi can get away with talking like that because they do seem like a formal crowd, but I just can't picture a hutt saying "Given that, I'm not surprised at the lack of enthusiasm on the part of your peurile hirelings." or Anakin responding to a statement with "Interminably." Even the two nut cases turned native guides talk like college proffesors. Beyond that and a couple of badly worded phrases, I was impressed with Foster's writing, which is almost never the case with a star wars novel.
I know from reading the reviews here at Amazon.com that a lot of people don't like the lack of action or the slow pace of this book. It's true that this book is not fast paced, and doesn't have any space battles, but it does have it's fair share of action, and the descriptions of the planet and the various animals and plants that the protagonists encounter on their journey more then make up for the lack of x-wings in this book. I would deffinately recommend it for older readers, but I think anyone belowe the age of fifteen might not enjoy it as much.

"The Approaching Storm" is a great novel by Alan Dean Foster. Foster, it should be noted, is one of the biggest names in modern sci-fi as well as the ghostwriter of the original 'Star Wars' novelization. He also wrote the first ever Expanded Universe novel.

Still, if you're looking for action, this isn't the book for you. There is literally no fighting save for a battle at the very beginning and a battle at the very end. This book takes place directly before Episode II, and as such devotes itself to setting up the political background for the film. It also gives some much needed fleshing out to key prequel characters.

Obi-Wan and his apprentice, Anakin, are sent to the remote planet of Ansion to convince them to avoid secceding from the Republic. While the planet itself is insignificant, it is at the center of a huge and complex web of treaties and alliances.

They meet the city dwellers, who agree to remain within the Republic if the Jedi will settle their disagreements with the rural nomads. They set out of a journey into the barren, uncivilized deserts to seek out the nomads.

This book is set at a slower and relaxing pace than most Star Wars books. However, unlike 'Dark Journey' it still manages to move key character and plot points further. In regards to character development, I really enjoyed the entertainment for the first nomad group. It's not what you'd expect of a Jedi group, and it told something unique about each character. The highlight of the book for me.

If you don't mind the slower pace, and enjoy political thrillers of any sort, then be sure to find a copy of 'The Approaching Storm.'

The events of this book take place right before Episode II of the continuing Star Wars saga. The Jedi Council has sent two Jedi Knights, Obi-Wan Kenobi and Luminara Unduli, to resolve the conflict on Ansion between the city dwellers and the fierce independent nomads of the planet. Ansion is a strategic planet in the growing secessionist movement. If the conflict is not resolved and secessionists win then a long list of alliances with join the movement. Obi-Wan and Luminara, along with their Padawans Anakin Skywalker and Barriss Offee, set out across the wilderness filled with many perils, natural and otherwise. Darker forces are behind a number of enemies bent on seeing the mission fail. This is a great book to understanding the events in Episode II that soon follows. Keep in mind we see here the beginning of young Anakin's growing awareness of the Force and his role with it. Alan Dean Foster's book will not disappoint the avid Star Wars fan.

The first sci-fi book I read as a kid was Foster's "The End of the Matter", probably because of the facinating blue pear shaped alien on the cover. I think I could hardly have picked a better sci-fi book to start off with. The Flinx novels have been consistently creative, extremely well written, and a lot of fun to read. The alien worlds are inventive and vividly detailed, the characters are typically believable and interesting, and Foster's Commonwealth is a remarkably optimistic universe which is thankfully free of modern sci-fi literature's cliche's.. (governments that aren't entirely corrupt, religions that aren't singlemindedly dedicated to ignorance and superstition, corporations that aren't just out to rape and pillage??)

Unfortunately, this particular novel seems more like a filler. It reads more like the first couple of chapters of one of the better books in the series. You are waiting for the real focus of the story to emerge, then suddenly find yourself with only twenty pages left in the book to read. Worse yet, you discover that instead of the characteristic inventiveness of other books in the series, you are treated to some particularly non-inventive (though larger in scale) elements in this storyline.

At the end you are left wondering what happened to the rest of the book, and why Foster seemed to have cut short the story and constructed a rather quick ending that left it feeling unresolved. Perhaps he had another more interesting project on the line and had to wrap this one up right away.

In any case, the book is fun and readable, and taken as an interim transition to a more interesting forthcoming story sometime in the future (hopefully), it's not bad. If you're a fan of the series you're sure to like it, though you'll definitely be left a little unsatisfied.

Why have I aged from a twelve year old kid when I first read Tar-Aiym Krang to thirty-seven while Flinx is only six years older? It doesn't seem fair... But anyhow, this continuing adventure of Pip and Flinx is typical old school sci-fi page turner stuff. The inside cover sites a Locus review that states that this book "make(s) for a good read". That's not exactly earth-shattering high praise, but it's fair and accurate. If Alan Dean Foster's writing didn't have a special nostalgic place in my heart, I would probably trash this book, but come on, it's Pip and Flinx - what's not to love?

After an interminable wait, Alan Dean Foster gives us another Flinx and Pip novel. There are quite a lot of firsts: our first visit to an actual AAnn world (and our first meeting with AAnn who are *not* actively engaged in the attempted subjugation of the human race), our first glimpse into the complexities of the Commonwealth computer system, and the first time Flinx actively defies Commonwealth authority instead of merely being elusive. Not to mention properly immense alien artifacts and the long-fated return of a tormented girl with immense powers and even more reason than Flinx to hate the universe. For all these reasons, and more, this book easily earns a four-star rating from me.

But as much as I enjoyed reading it, I can't help but think that it is just what it says it is, "another Flinx novel." I have to wonder, after all the soul-shattering revelations and grim destinies that ADF keeps subjecting his hero to, if he actually intends to resolve the series! If we have to keep waiting five years between Flinx books, it may be several decades before, as it is stated so succinctly on the author's web site, "Flinx turns fifty, the reality and ultimate threat emerging from the Great Emptiness makes itself known to the civilizations of the galaxy, and the Final Confrontation commences." To put it bluntly, the tone of Reunion falls flat for me. Maybe it's partly the fact that Flinx persists in being so obstinate about retaining his independence from authority, so adamant about being independent. In his persistent mission of self-discovery, he is so obsessed with the plain facts of his life that he completely ignores the subtler but more profound clues that the universe keeps throwing into his life. After a while, it becomes hard for me to empathize. Maybe it's perfect characterization, but in a series as long as this, I am starting to get a little bored with Flinx's stubbornness. Reunion lacks that special, undefinable *something* that was present in earlier Flinx books, leading me to wonder if Alan Dean Foster is losing enthusiasm for his work. I desperately hope not, but this is the main reason that I give the book a four, not a five.

I also wonder if the long wait between books is at least partly to blame for some of the odd stutters of continuity between the various novels. For example: in Flinx in Flux, the Teacher (Flinx's marvelous ship) is filled with a garden of exotic plants and Ulru-Ujurrian artifacts. In Midworld, it suddenly becomes spare and utilitarian. In Reunion, it suddenly becomes able to shift itself to any of a variety of exotic displays. In Flinx in Flux, Flinx's ability to *project* emotions--as opposed to merely receiving--suddenly develops by several orders of magnitude. In Midworld, this ability is strangely unmentioned. In Reunion, it is suddenly back, except Flinx seems to have had it (and known about it) for most of his life. Other loose ends in the series remain agonizingly unresolved. When is Foster going to let us know whether Mother Mastiff is still alive? What have the delightful Bran Tse-Mallory and Truzenzuzex been up to, and will we ever see them again? Are the Qwarm (who put in an unexpected and somewhat understated appearance in Reunion) still trying to kill Flinx? Does Clarity come back? What about the redoubtable Maxim Malaika? Skua September? The Xunca? Will they all come together in some ridiculously improbable climax, or will they just dangle loosely for all eternity? Lastly, I cannot help but wonder how, given the immense trouble he is now in with Commonwealth authorities after the events of this novel, our dear Flinx manages to be so nondescript and unruffled eight years later, where he puts in his appearance on Repler to deal with the Vom (Bloodhype, written in 1973).

Don't get me wrong - I love this book! But I really wonder how Alan Dean Foster intends to wrap up all his series' loose ends and provide us with a climax worthy of nearly thirty years of thrilling buildup... and if, at his current pace, he will be alive long enough to write it!