Deathstalker Destiny [Paperback]

Things certainly aren't going too well as the book opens. The Empire is still mightily struggling internally to develop an effective form of government after the end of the rebellion; seemingly all of humanity's enemies are attacking almost everywhere in force- the rogue AI of Shub, the self-augmented Hadenmen, and some kind of souped-up giant insects; a far greater enemy called the Recreated is now on its way; and the worst plague in history is decimating one planet after another. Owen Deathstalker doesn't have time to think of these things, though. Hazel D'Ark, the former clonelegger and pirate who became Owen's best friend as well as the woman he loved, has been taken by the Blood Runners (who will torture her in order to learn the secrets of the powers she acquired in the alien Madness Maze on the Wolfing World), and Owen sits helplessly on the leper planet Lachrymae Christi - without a ship and without the Maze-given powers he had come to depend on.

Of course, Owen's attention eventually shifts back to the Empire's losing struggle against unstoppable alien forces. Owen has always understood duty, and he really has little choice in the matter. He does truly become humanity's last and only hope for survival. Everything comes full circle by the end, but at least Owen finally does get to hear the story behind this awful destiny he has never been able to elude. A lot of big issues are resolved over the course of this book, including some surprisingly important ones involving some of the most fascinating and unique secondary characters I've ever encountered in science fiction.

I have to say that Simon R. Green floored me several times over the course of this novel. After well over 2000 pages with this series' heroes, I thought I knew these characters pretty well. I was nothing less than shocked by a few of the events in Deathstalker Destiny. I can accept everything that happened, but I surely didn't see some of it coming. Green truly closes this series out with one bang after another, and that goes a long way toward making this the most exhilarating novel in an already exhilarating series. There is, however, one weakness that takes a little something away from the reader's enjoyment - some crucial plot points are resolved much too easily. Up until now, nothing has come easy for Owen Deathstalker and his friends, and the new challenges now facing our heroes are even more daunting and formidable than ever before. As a reader, you can't see how the characters can possibly get themselves out of all the troubles now facing them - and then, in the matter of a page or two, all is said and done and you're heading off toward the next impossible challenge on the list. When all is said and done, though, this novel (and this whole series) is just way too much fun to miss. Green sometimes goes way out on a limb in terms of the rules of his universe, but the Deathstalker series makes for amazingly entertaining reading. And I guarantee you won't forget the unique cast of characters who call this universe home.

Character is a different matter, as he gives his characters realistic flaws, and realistic relationships. They joke, mourn and complain. They do tend to shy away from the fat that they have killed seemingly thousands of people, ut other than that, they are well developed and interesting.

The same goes for the plot, which is very neatly tied up; perhaps a little too neatly, but nonetheless, it has some very good moments.

Overall, I enjoyed this book. The plot and the characters are well developed, the blood flows freely, and the politcal asect well defined.