After the Dark (Dark Angel, Book 3)

Great book that finsihes of this literary trilogy helps answer some questions the show didn't close out. Still leaves some questions but I think it was a great way to close down the series.

As a Dark Angel fan, I'm rating "Skin Game" and "After the Dawn", at the least from the perspective that both books tie up the loose ends of the series, giving a good sense of finality that "Freak Nation" didn't. Where "Skin Game" tied up the Terminal City/anti-transgenic issue, "After the Dawn" ties up the breeding cult, Ames White, the Coming, and the question of what Max was designed to be. A fan should not pass up getting these issues resolved. On the negative side, the author is incorrect on a few minor points, but I simply overlooked them and enjoyed the story. Firstly, at the conclusion of "Freak Nation", it had been established that Logan had the use of his legs (after the transfusion from Joshua) and was using the exoskeleton for a fighting edge (as shown well during the siege at Jam Pony). The books both indicated that he was still paralysed. Secondly, that they all hated Lydecker. When Lydecker disappeared mid-season-2, they were all on good-working-together terms. But as I said, I didn't hold this against the books. I just felt like doing some creative editing on the book... In all, I am glad I finally bought these books, and have a sense of closure a sadly prematurely terminated series didn't leave me with.

This final book in the Dark Angel trilogy is very true to the characters on the show. Max Allan Collins did a GREAT job in capturing each character's personality and humor. Very impressive; like another reviewer said, you can almost see the characters doing/thinking/feeling what you're reading on the page.The "however," however, is that the conclusion is a little weak. The entire second season was building up to a season 3 all about the runes, snake cult, and Max being the "one." The book's conclusion to that plotline is VERY anticlimactic. What helps me overlook this flaw is that everything else concludes nicely (stuff that's not related to Ames White and his cult; mainly, a certain virus, among other things). If you listen to the commentary on "Freak Nation" in the second season DVD's, the writers tell you everything. Collins pretty much followed that idea, EXCEPT at the end, which was, as I already explained, anticlimactic and made me feel as though the snake cult story was a waste. That's too bad, because this whole book works around the snake cult thing. Throughout the book, though, the witty dialogue, cool fight scenes, and flashbacks kept me busy enjoying it. Weak ending, but still really fun to read. It's definitely worth it. Every DA fan has to read this book. After all, it is the last DA "episode" us die-hard fans have to hold on to. Oh, BTW I agree - very cool "twist" at the end. We'll need at least another book to address it though. So Max Allan Collins, what're you waiting for? Get working.

This book was great just like the two preceding it. It answers the rest of the questions about the series not answered in Skin Game but leaves the book quite open ended. This was slightly disappointing but could mean another book will come out which would be cool. Another book I highly recommend.

I have to admit to having high hopes for the last episode of the second series. I knew it was the last ever episode and hoped they would tie it up nicely, I was bitterly disappointed (apparently Fox can't see a good thing if it hit them between the eyes). Thankfully 'skin game' and 'after the dark' have tied things up, while leaving things open for more. Collins is an excellent writer, and captures the feel and humour of the series with ease.The author works well with Joshua, giving us a less niave more mature transgenic.