Deathstalker War – Simon R. Green (Deathstalker, Book 3)

Title: Deathstalker War

Series: Deathstalker, Book 3

Author: Simon R. Green

Genre: Science Fiction

Well, he started it, and now it has come time to finish it. Owen Deathstalker, on what seemed a mere whim of the empress, was stripped of his titles and sentenced to death. But he is not one to die easily. So he ends up starting a rebellion, and now time has come to reap the seeds he has sown.

Like all the novels in this series, the narrative seems almost more operatic than epic, though it’s scale is definitely more on the epic side. Green keeps the action moving along, and the climactic battle confronting Lionstone does not disappoint.

In the course of the series Green has developed so many characters and varying plotlines that one has to wonder how he can tie up all his “loose ends”. Well, he doesn’t tie them all up – most of them, but not all of them. Note that though this book does end the initial trilogy of the series, there are actually eight books in the full run of it.

I do tentatively recommend this book. It’s kind of like Star Wars meets Rambo, with a bit of aliens and Blade Runner mixed in for good measure. Incredibly – almost comically – violent, but written at a very strong, driving pace.

I also highly recommend trying to start the series from the beginning, just so you can enjoy the depth of vision Green had for this series.

Worldview: Secular, slightly evolutionary in places

Age Recommendation: Definitely late High School, early college age, due mainly to the over-the-top violence (which is quite garish in places) as well as some of the more mature sexual situations and/or themes.