Product Description

The fourth third instalment in the GAP sequence: Stephen Donaldson's fascinating universe peopled with characters of a passion and intensity only he could create. As the planetoid Thanatos Minor explodes into atoms, the Trumpet hurtles into space, just one step ahead of hostile pursures. On board the Trumpet are Nick Succorso, Morn Hyland, her force-grown son Davies and the cyborg Angus Thermopyle, old enemies now thrown together in a desperate bid for survival. The only hope for the exhausted crew is an illegal lab in a distant binary solar system and that means a journey of unpredictable dangers from which they may not return . . .

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #128356 in Books
• Published on: 2008-09-11
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 672 pages

Customer Reviews

Best in the series?
The third and fifth books of this series are the ones everyone remembers, but I greatly preferred this to 'A Dark and Hungry God Arises' (partly because I could never figure out what the title referred to, unless it's a reference to 'the Dragon'). More character development and a better chance to look around the universe that Donaldson has created. I also liked the introduction to 'Punisher' and her crew, who are possibly the only straightfoward human beings in the book- like all cops everywhere, just trying to do an impossible job in the face of chaos, manipulation and incomprehensible orders from Higher Up. Donaldson gives his struggle more of a human face in this book, shifting his focus from Morn, Angus and Nick towards the ordinary human beings stuck in the middle. Vector Shaheed is a really interesting character in this respect, since he actually volunteers of his own free will to do the right thing, unlike most of the other characters (although I think it was just a wee too bit too handy that he turned out to be the only person who could crack the magic drug's formula- what are the chances of that?). This book is really a bit of a 'calm before the storm' installment in the series, but I think it's a great read, especially since there's less violence in it.

Really Smart Science-Fiction
It is seldom that one sees Sci-Fi with as much attention to detail as the Gap cycle. More to the point, it is not often that one sees Sci-Fi, with the possible exception of writers like Larry Niven or Arthur C. Clarke, which so seamlessly integrates hard science and psychology with real people in real situations. By real, I mean that the characters are driven to, and beyond, the limits of their ability to cope, and not only do they come out shining, but they come out reacting exactly like their background and upbringing would have them react. Donaldson's grasp of the human psyche and his ability to cut away the technology and 'Civilization' we so commonly talk up to reveal the underlying nature of humanity is colossal. He paints us, and realistically, as a cut-throat, dog-eat-dog species in a person to person struggle for survival. Which, in my experience, is exactly what we are.

Some of the best science fiction you'll read
Donaldson takes the training wheels off the series with this book and all hell is unleashed. And if you're confused by Amazon's title, yes this is the third book in a series of five.

The series as a whole is very dark and if you like your science fiction fun and airy then this is not the place to look. The other reviews highlight the complexities of the book and in many ways it leaves more questions than answers. But it is beautifully written and sets up the next two books perfectly.

And I'd agree about the level of science content - having excerpts about things like the discovery of the GAP drive really add to the series and show just how well thought out the whole thing is.

I think that these books are the best thing that Donaldson has written (this from a Thomas Covenant fan). Do yourself a favour and immerse yourself in them.