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Grand Central Arena #3
Challenges of the Deeps
SEQUEL TO GRAND CENTRAL ARENA AND SPHERES OF INFLUENCE. The climax of the Arenaverse adventure SF series!
The Arena: a vast alien otherspace that all species were forced to enter when they discovered faster-than-light travel. The Arena: where the lives of entire species might hang in the balance in a single Challenge. The Arena: filled with mysteries, alliances, betrayals, opportunities, and hideous dangers for individual and empire alike. And the only thing you couldn't do . . . was refuse to play the Arena's game.
Ariane Austin and her crew had learned these lessons the hard way, and—with luck, skill, and sheer will, had managed to survive so far. But now a debt of honor to Humanity's oldest, if sometimes self-serving, ally Orphan has come due. The threat of war looms with the xenophobic Molothos, one of the five Great Factions; the dark and omnipresent legacy of the Hyperion Experiment lingers. As Leader of the Faction of Humanity, Captain Ariane Austin had to deal with all of these problems, and deal with them soon. For within her was also the alien power that the Shadeweavers and the Faith had sealed away—with a seal that would not last forever. She needed to find a way to control that power before it broke free—or more than just Humanity would pay the price.
Now Ariane must travel with Orphan into the legendary Deeps of the Arena, far from any known Spheres—to a destination only the enigmatic alien knows, leaving behind one of her most trusted friends and advisors to confront whatever new trials the Arena may throw at Humanity in her absence.
But before Ariane can depart, she must deal with a minor matter of a Challenge against one of the Great Factions—a Challenge with an entire species' citizenship in the Arena at stake!
About Spheres of Influence:
“Fast and entertaining action and a world that has the feel of Asimov’s Foundation series.”—Sarah A. Hoyt, author of the Darkship saga
About Ryk E. Spoor’s Grand Central Arena:
“…an imaginative piece of space opera that’s set on a near-future Earth where artificial intelligence is taken for granted.”—Shiny Reviews
“Grand Central Arena’ is space opera in the grand old tradition . . . but with modern sensibilities and awareness of current speculations in cutting edge physics.”—Fantasy Book Critic
About the Threshold Series by Ryk E. Spoor and Eric Flint
“. . . fast-paced sci-fi. . . light in tone and hard on science . . .” —Publishers Weekly
“. . . [the series is filled with] linguistics, biology, physics, and evolution further the story, as well as wacky humor, academic rivalries, and even some sweet romances.” —School Library Journal
About Ryk E. Spoor's Phoenix Rising:
“A winner! Great characters, and thrilling adventure. I want more!”—Ed Greenwood, best-selling author of the Forgotten Realms series
“[E]xciting adventure, scary monsters, strange gods, and wondrous magic.”—Lawrence Watt-Evans
The Arena: a vast alien otherspace that all species were forced to enter when they discovered faster-than-light travel. The Arena: where the lives of entire species might hang in the balance in a single Challenge. The Arena: filled with mysteries, alliances, betrayals, opportunities, and hideous dangers for individual and empire alike. And the only thing you couldn't do . . . was refuse to play the Arena's game.
Ariane Austin and her crew had learned these lessons the hard way, and—with luck, skill, and sheer will, had managed to survive so far. But now a debt of honor to Humanity's oldest, if sometimes self-serving, ally Orphan has come due. The threat of war looms with the xenophobic Molothos, one of the five Great Factions; the dark and omnipresent legacy of the Hyperion Experiment lingers. As Leader of the Faction of Humanity, Captain Ariane Austin had to deal with all of these problems, and deal with them soon. For within her was also the alien power that the Shadeweavers and the Faith had sealed away—with a seal that would not last forever. She needed to find a way to control that power before it broke free—or more than just Humanity would pay the price.
Now Ariane must travel with Orphan into the legendary Deeps of the Arena, far from any known Spheres—to a destination only the enigmatic alien knows, leaving behind one of her most trusted friends and advisors to confront whatever new trials the Arena may throw at Humanity in her absence.
But before Ariane can depart, she must deal with a minor matter of a Challenge against one of the Great Factions—a Challenge with an entire species' citizenship in the Arena at stake!
About Spheres of Influence:
“Fast and entertaining action and a world that has the feel of Asimov’s Foundation series.”—Sarah A. Hoyt, author of the Darkship saga
About Ryk E. Spoor’s Grand Central Arena:
“…an imaginative piece of space opera that’s set on a near-future Earth where artificial intelligence is taken for granted.”—Shiny Reviews
“Grand Central Arena’ is space opera in the grand old tradition . . . but with modern sensibilities and awareness of current speculations in cutting edge physics.”—Fantasy Book Critic
About the Threshold Series by Ryk E. Spoor and Eric Flint
“. . . fast-paced sci-fi. . . light in tone and hard on science . . .” —Publishers Weekly
“. . . [the series is filled with] linguistics, biology, physics, and evolution further the story, as well as wacky humor, academic rivalries, and even some sweet romances.” —School Library Journal
About Ryk E. Spoor's Phoenix Rising:
“A winner! Great characters, and thrilling adventure. I want more!”—Ed Greenwood, best-selling author of the Forgotten Realms series
“[E]xciting adventure, scary monsters, strange gods, and wondrous magic.”—Lawrence Watt-Evans
448 pages, Paperback
First published March 7, 2017
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
May 27, 2017
Loved it. Good 3rd entry into the Grand Central Arena series. What's not to love about a book that has a Lensmen and the Monkey King there helping the main protagonist.
January 30, 2017
I cannot recommend this book & series enough.
Set hundreds of years in our future, furnished with original characters & content, informed (literally) by the sci-fi greats of the past in an unique method. In tone -- it gives me an echo to the old tv show "Babylon 5" -- great stakes, varied populace & a committed crew trying to create a peace to live in.
Humor, drama, character development, political machinations, adventure, mad science, space battles & exploring a place no human had gone before.
I could see the possibility for at least 10 books set in this universe although I believe it will be cut short. ** Seen confirmation on the author's LiveJournal - he's writing a fourth! So glad this isn't the end yet!**
Set hundreds of years in our future, furnished with original characters & content, informed (literally) by the sci-fi greats of the past in an unique method. In tone -- it gives me an echo to the old tv show "Babylon 5" -- great stakes, varied populace & a committed crew trying to create a peace to live in.
Humor, drama, character development, political machinations, adventure, mad science, space battles & exploring a place no human had gone before.
I could see the possibility for at least 10 books set in this universe although I believe it will be cut short. ** Seen confirmation on the author's LiveJournal - he's writing a fourth! So glad this isn't the end yet!**
February 5, 2017
Another very enjoyable installment in this very good series.
April 9, 2017
The titanic battles, etc at the climax were OK, but didn't compensate for the hundreds of pages of repetitive, wordy, obvious, TEDIOUS explanations and discussions of every little thing, or the...affected use of...ellipses and italics. I get that it's all in homage to Doc Smith---but enough was way more than enough.
March 28, 2017
Romanian
Trei stele cu multa bunavointa.
Am avut senzatia ca mai urmeaza navele galbene, navele rosi si navele negru a lui Thomas DePrima si treaba era gata.
Sa vedem urmatoarea/urmatoarele cartii.
Pacat de un inceput bun.
Trei stele cu multa bunavointa.
Am avut senzatia ca mai urmeaza navele galbene, navele rosi si navele negru a lui Thomas DePrima si treaba era gata.
Sa vedem urmatoarea/urmatoarele cartii.
Pacat de un inceput bun.
March 10, 2017
This series stopped being enjoyable. The first book in the series was fun: The first star flight lands its crew in an interstellar Grand-Central-Station construct evocative of Chalker's Well World - lots of species, lots of intrigue, lots of challenges (in multiple senses). The second book in the series was clearly a setup-for-as-many-sequels-as-readers-will-read, but it was pleasant space opera. Towards the end of the second book, we note that the major characters are exhibiting super powers.
Book three is not honest writing. No threat or challenge is meaningful, because the author can and does invoke whatever super powers are needed for the good guys to win. This robs the book of plot integrity. It doesn't matter how good the good guys are and it doesn't matter what they do: At the end, if the author wants them to triumph, he can invoke whatever plot device is needed, especially since three of the characters have deus-ex-machina powers - more or less literally.
Book three is not honest writing. No threat or challenge is meaningful, because the author can and does invoke whatever super powers are needed for the good guys to win. This robs the book of plot integrity. It doesn't matter how good the good guys are and it doesn't matter what they do: At the end, if the author wants them to triumph, he can invoke whatever plot device is needed, especially since three of the characters have deus-ex-machina powers - more or less literally.
April 16, 2021
This is the third book in the Grand Central Arena series and the third one to score 5 out of 5 stars from me. This series is just great!
I think my only disappointment with this book is that it was kind of portrayed as the grand climax so I was expecting a bit of a conclusion. Well, there is certainly quite a bit of a climax at the end but equally certainly not much of a conclusion. The story is left very open ended.
Unfortunately since this book came out in 2017 and although the author spent between three and four years between each of these books we are now in 2021 I fear that there will be no further books.
Anyway, this is still a great book. The adventure continues and there seems to be no end to the discoveries and mysteries that are thrown into our heroes path.
Ariane and company finally gets to take that trip to the Deeps of the Arena and their awaits, you guessed it, new discoveries and mysteries. I really like how the author manages to create new twists and “stuff” in this universe without it feeling contrived and forced. These books are just such a great reading.
Of course first she has to deal with this challenge mentioned in the book blurb. I really liked how one of the factions thought they were clever when issuing that challenge and then their “cleverness” was just turned around against them.
While all this is taking place the Molothos are stirring up problems again. Their shenanigans lead up to a major showdown towards the end. The kind that involves large number or space ships, or maybe they should be called arena ships, throwing things that go boom at each other. We’re talking a major battle here.
The two main story arcs, Ariane’s adventures and the Molothos fight against the Human faction all blends together at the end in what indeed can be said to be a climactic ending of the book. It was all so cool.
This series is one of the best I’ve read in a long time. I really like the heroics, the characters, the fantastic universe and so on and so forth. I really hope there will be a fourth book but given the time that has passed since this one was publish I’m not holding my breath…which sucks.
I think my only disappointment with this book is that it was kind of portrayed as the grand climax so I was expecting a bit of a conclusion. Well, there is certainly quite a bit of a climax at the end but equally certainly not much of a conclusion. The story is left very open ended.
Unfortunately since this book came out in 2017 and although the author spent between three and four years between each of these books we are now in 2021 I fear that there will be no further books.
Anyway, this is still a great book. The adventure continues and there seems to be no end to the discoveries and mysteries that are thrown into our heroes path.
Ariane and company finally gets to take that trip to the Deeps of the Arena and their awaits, you guessed it, new discoveries and mysteries. I really like how the author manages to create new twists and “stuff” in this universe without it feeling contrived and forced. These books are just such a great reading.
Of course first she has to deal with this challenge mentioned in the book blurb. I really liked how one of the factions thought they were clever when issuing that challenge and then their “cleverness” was just turned around against them.
While all this is taking place the Molothos are stirring up problems again. Their shenanigans lead up to a major showdown towards the end. The kind that involves large number or space ships, or maybe they should be called arena ships, throwing things that go boom at each other. We’re talking a major battle here.
The two main story arcs, Ariane’s adventures and the Molothos fight against the Human faction all blends together at the end in what indeed can be said to be a climactic ending of the book. It was all so cool.
This series is one of the best I’ve read in a long time. I really like the heroics, the characters, the fantastic universe and so on and so forth. I really hope there will be a fourth book but given the time that has passed since this one was publish I’m not holding my breath…which sucks.
June 27, 2017
I know this is listed as the "climax" of the trilogy, but the writing doesn't speak to that...the majority of the book is buildup to great conflicts in the future.
This isn't a climax. It's a fantastic book, and I want more, but this was written as build up...and if there isn't any more, the author did things horribly, horribly badly in this novel.
This isn't a climax. It's a fantastic book, and I want more, but this was written as build up...and if there isn't any more, the author did things horribly, horribly badly in this novel.
July 26, 2017
Third great book in the series
This was another great book, losing no luster shown by the first books in the series. I am surprised by little details casually mentioned in earlier books gaining significance in later books. There are enough unresolved issues that several more books should be forthcoming
This was another great book, losing no luster shown by the first books in the series. I am surprised by little details casually mentioned in earlier books gaining significance in later books. There are enough unresolved issues that several more books should be forthcoming
August 2, 2017
Another winner.
An amazing read from start to finish. More backstory on the mysterious Hyperion project bringing more to light on the interactions between major characters. Explosive revelations, major plot developments, tremendous battles both tactical and strategic. All in all, a great continuation of the. GCA Universe.
An amazing read from start to finish. More backstory on the mysterious Hyperion project bringing more to light on the interactions between major characters. Explosive revelations, major plot developments, tremendous battles both tactical and strategic. All in all, a great continuation of the. GCA Universe.
March 13, 2017
This is an amazing book. If you liked EE Doc Smith, this is a modern, technicolor glorious series in that vein, better constructed, better written, better science, better, better, better.
I can't say how much I love the series, and this book is even better than the first two, I think.
I can't say how much I love the series, and this book is even better than the first two, I think.
September 21, 2017
Good read!
Enjoyed reading ended up buying on Amazon after reading sample still think it was a might high price to pay for kindle book would love to see a movie made of all three in the series
Enjoyed reading ended up buying on Amazon after reading sample still think it was a might high price to pay for kindle book would love to see a movie made of all three in the series
December 15, 2017
Third book in the Arenaverse,
in my eyes, even better than the first two.
Action non-stop, a solid plot,
Grand adventure in an homage to the Golden Age of Science Fiction, in particular to E.E. Doc Smith...
You liked the Lensmen, check the GCA books, you shall not be disappointed!
in my eyes, even better than the first two.
Action non-stop, a solid plot,
Grand adventure in an homage to the Golden Age of Science Fiction, in particular to E.E. Doc Smith...
You liked the Lensmen, check the GCA books, you shall not be disappointed!
April 21, 2020
3AM is a really BAD time to write a review...
But that is how long it took to finish the book and the trilogy. Very well written. Coherent, convincing, and consistent with it's greater Doc E. E. Smith back story. Sad it is done
But that is how long it took to finish the book and the trilogy. Very well written. Coherent, convincing, and consistent with it's greater Doc E. E. Smith back story. Sad it is done
June 24, 2020
The climax of the Arenaverse adventure SF series! The Arena: a vast alien otherspace that all species were forced to enter when they discovered faster-than-light travel. The Arena: where the lives of entire species might hang in the balance in a single Challenge.
May 9, 2017
More fun
June 19, 2019
Great book
While this is a fantastic conclusion to a wonderful trilogy I personally hope that there will be many more books to continue this story.
While this is a fantastic conclusion to a wonderful trilogy I personally hope that there will be many more books to continue this story.
May 2, 2023
The characters keep growing, the world keeps getting bigger and cooler, and the plot keeps up will all these changes. Loving this series!
March 15, 2017
A great conclusion to the trilogy
Just the kind of pulp I love. I'm sad to see the end of this story, for now, but I hope the author will come back and tell us more great stories in this universe and with these terrific characters.
Just the kind of pulp I love. I'm sad to see the end of this story, for now, but I hope the author will come back and tell us more great stories in this universe and with these terrific characters.
January 10, 2017
In brief, still big silly fun space opera that gives me exactly what I want when I want this type of book. Refer to reviews of previous books in series--it all stands:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
April 26, 2017
A decent ending to the trilogy, hopefully we will see more of this universe.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews