Series: Deathstalker, Book 8

Author: Simon R. Green

Genre: Science Fiction

Well, this is it, the end of the Deathstalker epic, which has spanned over seven other books, which you really must read to fully appreciate the conclusion to this novel. I would go the length of saying that if you haven’t read any of the others, you really are wasting your time and, in fact, doing yourself a disfavor by reading this one.

Green brings it all together here. Owen Deathstalker has discovered that his love, Hazel d’Ark is actually the Terror which has destroyed an entire other galaxy in her grief at the (obviously immature) news of his death and is now devouring humanity’s galaxy one system at a time. Lewis finally has an army he can return home to Logres to defeat Finn and put his best friend Douglas back on the throne.

And that barely touches all that really goes on in this brilliant conclusion to such an exciting series. I must say that I was more than pleased with the way Green tied up all the loose ends – with the exception of the final conclusion for Owen and Hazel. In retrospect, I can see how he (Green) had been moving towards this from the end of the first series, but the whole idea of a circular connection between all that happened is quite illogical – it bears no initiating action. The concept of as the end is being reached the beginning is made possible, and then the conclusion of that end being the beginning of everything…well, it really was quite anti-climatic for me. Though I will admit that Green handled it much more maturely than many other authors have. Time travel and its consequences are very hard to handle logically.

That said I still greatly enjoyed the book, and if the latter statements of that last paragraph made no sense to you, don’t sweat it, if you read the series and then this final book you’ll understand what I was trying to describe without giving anything away. Enjoy!

Worldview: Secular

Recommended Age: Definitely late High School or college age.

Series: Deathstalker, book 6

Author: Simon R. Green

Genre: Science Fiction

The Deathstalker line and tradition continues in a distant relative of Owen Deathstalker (the hero of the original five volume Deathstalker saga), a paragon named Lewis Deathstalker. This is the first volume in a trilogy which serves as a sequel as well as a conclusion to the original Deathstalker saga.

You could actually start reading this second Deathstalker trilogy with this book, without having read the other series of books, but you would lose so much background and character development. But you could manage without having read them if you had to.

That said, this is a great book, very high on the action and (as is usually with this series of books) a violence which is garish and, more often than, not over-the-top. The first saga (centered around Owen) being an exploration of what it would take to jumpstart a “good” rebellion against a corrupted government, this trilogy turns that concept on its head, looking at how a villain might go about starting and effecting a rather vile rebellion against an overall “decent” government. Actually a nice little circle of circumstances.

I felt like there was actually a little bit more humor sparkled throughout this book, and the characters are very intriguing – or in some cases weird. But the key is that you keep turning the pages to see what’s going to happen next. In my mind, that’s the truest sign of a well-written book.

Overall, I highly recommend this book to fans of the genre. It has been constructed as an epic, and if there’s any way to get your hands on the other books I would highly recommend trying to read them in order.

Worldview: Secular, with theistic moments

Recommended Age: due to violence and a few sexual themes/situations, I’d suggest no younger than juniors or seniors in High School.

Series: Deathstalker, Book 5

Author: Simon R. Green

Genre: Science Fiction

Well, it seems it’s the end of the line for Owen Deathstalker. He has been stranded on a planet, striving to help the neglected leper colony (basically) abandoned there recover from an invasion by both the Hadenmen (cyborgs) and the Shub (a tripartite AI bent on the destruction of humanity). And his love has been kidnapped by the mysterious and elusive Blood Runners (as freaky and screwed up as their name suggests).

Though these may seem extraordinary situations and odds, Owen Deathstalker is no ordinary human. And Green writes with an intense pace. This is definitely a book on an epic scale, and by this point in the series, Green has introduced so many diverse characters he barely wraps up many of the story lines introduced in the first four books of this series (Deathstalker, Deathstalker Rebellion, Deathstalker War, and Deathstalker Honor).

And though you could very much enjoy this book by itself, you’re just doing yourself a disfavor if you don’t attempt to get your hands on the first books of the series and read them first. In fact, it would be most wise to try and acquire all of them (including the trilogy which follows this book: Deathstalker Legacy, Deathstalker Return, and Deathstalker Coda) before starting the first book – that way you don’t have to wait between books.  Because, though there is a sense of conclusion at then end of each novel in the series, and especially in this one, most all the loose ends are not completely tied up and concluded/finalized until the last book (Deathstalker Coda).

Once again, the violence is garish and over-the-top – definitely not for the weak of heart. And surprisingly, though there are allusions to sexual matters, there really is hardly any sexual material in the book.

So, if you’re in the mood for an over-the-top, galaxy spanning science fiction epic, this is the book for you. I found it very well-paced and had a hard time putting it down.

Worldview: secular, though in places theistic

Age Recommendation: Due to the more descriptive and bloody violence, High School age children at the youngest.

Series: Deathstalker, Book 4

Author: Simon R. Green

Genre: Science Fiction

For everyone who could not get enough of Owen Deathstalker and his friends, Green has continued their saga beyond the original trilogy. What do heroes do after conquering their foes? Get assigned more foes to defeat by the new government they just helped establish. So off they run into impossible situations to try and work their supernatural heroics.

With Lionstone overthrown and the Rebellion a success, one might think Owen Deathstalker might be able to take a hard-earned break. But now he and the other Maze-changed (or enhanced, depending on your perspective) individuals who survived the rebellion no longer have a place in their world – they are too different and too powerful.

Yet, though they are supernatural, in a sense, they are not immortal. Green continues to draw the reader in through his ever evolving characters and an unencumbered bloodfest of action. Please note that last part, because Green is not squeamish at all about describing the violence happening in the fighting and/or killing in his books.

If you enjoyed the original trilogy, you’ll definitely enjoy this book, though you might want to pick up Destalker Destiny when you grab this one because there is only slight resolution at the end of this book. Green also utilizes these two books to bring resolution to other story arcs which can be traced all the way back to the original trilogy.

Deathstalker Honor is a solid addition to the Deathstalker series, and it continues Green’s established method of preposterous plots, fantastical and gory action, and almost heroic heroes. It is not for the weak of heart, nor for those unwilling to accept some more fantastical and preposterous elements in their stories. But if you are, strap yourself in for a ride!

Worldview: Secular

Age Recommendation: Due to very graphic/descriptive violence and some more mature sexual themes, mid to late high school age.

Title:

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.

Title:

Series: Deathstalker, Book 2

Author: Simon R. Green

Genre: Science Fiction

This sequel to Green’s Deathstalker picks up right where the previous one left off. The first book details more the events which lead to Owen Deathstalker’s decision to start a rebellion – this book covers what he does to get it off the ground.

There is an interesting tension in the primary characters, because you have Owen, Hazel d’Arc and Jack Random who are focused on overthrowing the Empress, Giles Deathstalker (Owen’s ancient ancestor awoken from a stasis field) who seems to have the same motivation, and Ruby Journey, who is more there for the killing and fighting all weighed against an Empire with many intrigues going on within its various factions, as well as Captain John Silence and Investigator Frost, the latter of which actually went partially through the Maze and are manifesting their own mysterious powers. Silence and Frost I found to be very interesting mainly because they are the only ones who really even stand a chance against the other Maze survivors.

All in all I found this to be quite an exciting read. It is quite fascinating to watch Owen and his companions begin to exercise their new powers and explore the limits of what they can do. I have not found any inconsistencies within the characters, as some have claimed. These are pretty decently developed characters which, as you’re getting to know them, have been through something (the Madness Maze) which changed them on the inside, so even as you’re becoming aware of who they are, their personhood is slightly evolving or transitioning.

Just don’t over-analyze it. This is supposed to be a grand swashbuckling epic  of galactic proportions, and Green does an incredible job with that. Make sure you’ve read Deathstalker first, as much of the story will seem a little weird without that foundation. The violence is both explicitly described and rather ghastly at that – so don’t say I didn’t warn you!

So just toss out your expectations for a “realistic” tale, and set yourself to be swept away by a incredibly creative and innovative tale of galactic rebellion!

Worldview: secular, though theism of a sort sneaks in here and there

Age recommendation: solidly late High School age.

Title:

Series: Deathstalker, Book 1

Author: Simon R. Green

Genre: Science Fiction

What if someone had to start a rebellion rebellion against an interstellar empire from the ground up? That is supposedly the original question Simon R. Green posed to himself as the inspiration for this book (as well as the continuing series). Of course, having a Madness Maze to pass through to speed up your evolution might give you an edge.

There have been charges of inconsistent characters leveled against this series, but none emerge here. The action is over the top, and the violence sometimes more garish than real, but there is no questioning the pace of the book – wide open! Of course, if you’re expecting realism, this isn’t really the book for you, or the genre…

Green writes at a break-neck pace, weaving combat and political intrigue together. Though, by the end of the book, he has introduced so many characters and conflicts, that he really doesn’t resolve any of them at the end. In finishing the final pages of the book, you feel like you’ve just finished the first act in a play. So you might want to at least get your hands on Deathstalker Rebellion and Deathstalker War before starting this book.

If you’re one to enjoy science fiction of an epic scale, this is definitely for you. I do recommend it to all science fiction fans. This isn’t military science fiction or the type that explores the depths of human (or alien) nature – this is more just fun. But it is for mature readers. That said, grab yourself a copy and curl up to enjoy an epic space opera on a grand scale!

Worldview: secular

Age: highschool age, due to violence and some more mature sexual themes.

Series: Deathstalker, Book 7

Genre: Science Fiction

Author: Simon R. Green

Green has done an excellent job with Deathstalker Returns. My only real regret is that I started the Deathstalker series with the second to last book… Oh well – what a way to start! This book has it all, political intrigue, action, adventure, amazing science fiction, a love triangle – and weaving it all together with vivid and intriguing characters struggling through a plot which is as intriguing and entertaining as it is outrageous and outlandish at times.

I definitely would not call this hard science fiction, it’s more like fun science fiction. Its been placed in the “space opera” category by some, and I think rightly so. It definitely concerns itself with grand themes and a plot concerning the existence of the human race and the known universe.

I truly did enjoy Green’s characters, which were reminiscent of the bands put together in many a fantasy adventure. But they are vivid and fun, and he does an excellent job of revealing the intricacies of who they are, as well as exploring how being banded together and adventuring together changes them.

My only true complaint is the suddenness of the end. There really is not much of a conclusion at all. There is a slight climax, but throughout the book Green has been setting up conflict coming from so many different varied angles that there is no way he could wrap all the strings up in one book – so he settles for about four. Not bad – but the last line is a cliff-hanger. Completely frustrating if you don’t have the last book!

I do recommend this book, but I strongly advise anyone interested in reading it to try and start at the beginning of the series and not with this book.

Worldview: Atheistic.

Recommended Age: High School age and up; the book is very violent – though not overly graphic,
and it does have a nominal amount of sexuality in it, though there is nothing explicit.

Additional links:
Deathstalker Series Wikipedia page