Scan barcode
abbymorris13's review against another edition
4.0
Very much enjoyed, but I agree with other reviewers that feel the ending was slightly anticlimactic (especially after the relentless build up of this big rebellion). Although I like that the loyalists choose not to engage in violence and it's the choice of humanity to join together that overcomes the rebels. It's still a great book and I look forward to reading the original series.
scheu's review against another edition
4.0
Speaking from a plot standpoint, if you've read the other Galactic Milieu / Pliocene Exile books, there are few surprises in store for you. The Rebellion arrives, characters die, and the saga of the Remillards comes to an end. I felt as if there should have been more of an emotional payoff since I was pretty invested in the first volume, but May had to spend too much time resolving Fury/Hydra to give Jack and Dorothea their due. It would be nice to talk with someone about Unity/Rebellion one day. May succeedd in making one thoughtful about the whole issue, although the characters are polarized (like American political debate today).
branch_c's review against another edition
4.0
The climactic book in the sweeping saga of the Pliocene Exile and the Galactic Milieu - I'm not sure exactly why, but this last volume was less memorable to me than most of the others. In particular I had forgotten the details of Fury's end and even some of the critical events of the final confrontation of the rebellion.
Also if it's not too harsh to say, I felt as if May's impressively polished writing might have slipped just a bit here - yes, some of the cleverness and playful salaciousness was back in evidence here, along with the well plotted machinations of the Concilium, the Rebels, the wild card factors Fury and the remaining Hydra, and Rogi's solid dependable narration. But a few episodes came across as ever so slightly slapdash, not a seamless fit within the sweeping saga.
However, in the end, these are minor complaints. The epic story comes to a conclusion as grand as can be expected from the preceding books, and the fact that May could keep things engaging in spite of the fact that the finale is basically known to the reader almost from the beginning of the series is a significant accomplishment.
So this book still deserves the four star rating I gave it on my first reading, and the entire nine book series remains one of my all time favorite works of SF/Fantasy/speculative fiction; highly recommended for its brilliant writing, creativity, and all around enjoyability.
For anyone not familiar with the series, I recommend reading them all, starting with [b:The Many-Colored Land|378413|The Many-Colored Land|Julian May|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1174312758s/378413.jpg|368245].
Also if it's not too harsh to say, I felt as if May's impressively polished writing might have slipped just a bit here - yes, some of the cleverness and playful salaciousness was back in evidence here, along with the well plotted machinations of the Concilium, the Rebels, the wild card factors Fury and the remaining Hydra, and Rogi's solid dependable narration. But a few episodes came across as ever so slightly slapdash, not a seamless fit within the sweeping saga.
However, in the end, these are minor complaints. The epic story comes to a conclusion as grand as can be expected from the preceding books, and the fact that May could keep things engaging in spite of the fact that the finale is basically known to the reader almost from the beginning of the series is a significant accomplishment.
So this book still deserves the four star rating I gave it on my first reading, and the entire nine book series remains one of my all time favorite works of SF/Fantasy/speculative fiction; highly recommended for its brilliant writing, creativity, and all around enjoyability.
For anyone not familiar with the series, I recommend reading them all, starting with [b:The Many-Colored Land|378413|The Many-Colored Land|Julian May|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1174312758s/378413.jpg|368245].
yasdnilr's review against another edition
4.0
Saying goodbye to Uncle Rogi one more time, I’m sure it won’t be the last
I was first given Intervention a thousand thousand years ago and very slowly I read the Pliocene Exiles and waited patiently for the paperbacks of the Galactic Milieu to reach my small suburban bookstore, finally culminating of a mass read of Magnificat where no one wanted to finish because we would miss Uncle Rogi so much
Reading as an aged adult rather than in the 90s…oh my how I’ve changed and how much more I understand, especially about Marc and Fury’s Mental Man project, and what ever happened to Felice
I will go on to reread the Pliocene exile soon enough
I was first given Intervention a thousand thousand years ago and very slowly I read the Pliocene Exiles and waited patiently for the paperbacks of the Galactic Milieu to reach my small suburban bookstore, finally culminating of a mass read of Magnificat where no one wanted to finish because we would miss Uncle Rogi so much
Reading as an aged adult rather than in the 90s…oh my how I’ve changed and how much more I understand, especially about Marc and Fury’s Mental Man project, and what ever happened to Felice
I will go on to reread the Pliocene exile soon enough
laileanah's review
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
2.0
Um, I didn't enjoy this as much upon rereading it as when I originally read this I the 90"s.
Many of the concepts are dated. There's a cringey amount of sexism, racism, elitism, racial slurs, colonialist modeling, and a frankly unsettling amount and interest in incest.
Still, as always, I did enjoy Uncle Rogi. Especially at the end of his tale, what a well-deserved ending for a beloved narrator.
I also enjoy the general quirky nature of the Lylmik and other alien cultures
I like the character arc with this series and the Saga of the Pliocene Exile.
Not every aspect works for me but I do enjoy a well executed narrative and this was that.
Many of the concepts are dated. There's a cringey amount of sexism, racism, elitism, racial slurs, colonialist modeling, and a frankly unsettling amount and interest in incest.
Still, as always, I did enjoy Uncle Rogi. Especially at the end of his tale, what a well-deserved ending for a beloved narrator.
I also enjoy the general quirky nature of the Lylmik and other alien cultures
I like the character arc with this series and the Saga of the Pliocene Exile.
Not every aspect works for me but I do enjoy a well executed narrative and this was that.
wyrmbergmalcolm's review against another edition
5.0
A very satisfying conclusion to the 8 book Galactic Milieu saga. I went through every emotion reading this book and enjoyed it from cover to cover. Ungle Rogie continues to be a highly likable old rogue, as does the increasingly villainous Marc.
My only issue is that the all-important Rebellion itself is over and done with over a scant couple of pages.
My only issue is that the all-important Rebellion itself is over and done with over a scant couple of pages.
majkia's review against another edition
5.0
My favorite sci fi series ever, with the most complex and wonderful bad guy.
katmarhan's review against another edition
4.0
9/10
A fitting ending to the Galactic Milieu trilogy. The author mixes Uncle Rogi’s personal memoirs and reflections with more traditional omniscient narration giving insights into the other main characters thoughts and feelings. By doing so, May gives the reader a full appreciation of the Metapsychic Rebellion, the Mental Man project, and the Fury/Hydra plot from the perspectives of the Rebels, the Loyalists, the plotters, the victims, and the exotic races. All the books (the Saga of the Pliocene Exile, Intervention, and this trilogy) are connected and now the links among them are clear.
A tiny, tiny quibble—too many words are devoted to describing the decor of rooms and the clothes of the characters. While it adds to the readers’ ability it visualize the scenes, it also takes the reader (well, this reader) out of the flow of the story.
A fitting ending to the Galactic Milieu trilogy. The author mixes Uncle Rogi’s personal memoirs and reflections with more traditional omniscient narration giving insights into the other main characters thoughts and feelings. By doing so, May gives the reader a full appreciation of the Metapsychic Rebellion, the Mental Man project, and the Fury/Hydra plot from the perspectives of the Rebels, the Loyalists, the plotters, the victims, and the exotic races. All the books (the Saga of the Pliocene Exile, Intervention, and this trilogy) are connected and now the links among them are clear.
A tiny, tiny quibble—too many words are devoted to describing the decor of rooms and the clothes of the characters. While it adds to the readers’ ability it visualize the scenes, it also takes the reader (well, this reader) out of the flow of the story.
jovvijo's review
4.0
Aw, the end of the Galactic Milieu trilogy!
This was really such a good series, and using the descriptive 'Epic' here is not just pandering the word about. It really was something amazing to read!
No one is spared in this last battle against Fury and all he stands for, and the treads from the previous books are masterfully woven together in a finale that, I think, is just absolutely unable to disappoint!
I would recommend the entire series to any serious reader, fan of Sci-fi, or fantastically weaved epic sagas!
If you haven't read them yet, do! You deserve it!
This was really such a good series, and using the descriptive 'Epic' here is not just pandering the word about. It really was something amazing to read!
No one is spared in this last battle against Fury and all he stands for, and the treads from the previous books are masterfully woven together in a finale that, I think, is just absolutely unable to disappoint!
I would recommend the entire series to any serious reader, fan of Sci-fi, or fantastically weaved epic sagas!
If you haven't read them yet, do! You deserve it!
seejennread's review
4.0
Before: I finally get to finish a series I started 20 years ago!! :) I hope it lives up to the expectation lol.
After: hmm...I think it lived up to my hopes. Pretty sure. Although now I have to read the Pliocene books dang it.
After: hmm...I think it lived up to my hopes. Pretty sure. Although now I have to read the Pliocene books dang it.