Conrad's Quest for Rubber (Adventures of Conrad Stargard)

This series is a real favorite of mine. Great story line, great characters, and unique ideas. Now (as of Summer 2005) the latest Conrad book, "Conrad's Crusade" is now available from [...], on line! It is solid action on par with the best in the series. [...], and I recommend it highly.

Another great book in the Adventures of Conrad Stargard. Don't miss the new prequel! Maybe when the last Star Wars comes out they'll make Conrad into a movie franchise? A must read for engineers and computer nerds while waiting for the next Harry Potter.

I have been a fan of this series for over a decade and have read the series at least 7 times. This latest issue continues the FUN with the saga and the characters. The ideas and concepts presented are at once thought provoking and creative. Leo has taken the story line in an unexpected but enjoyable direction. The new characters introduced are both sypatetic and fun. This series is is a must read for any SF fan or anyone who likes a GOOD saga. I look forward to more from this story line and from Leo. Just don't take sooo.. long.

I had just about given up on a sixth Conrad book so I was very suprised when my friend came running up to me in the bookstore with two copies in his hands. The book is very different from the first five but just as enjoyable. There is much less emphasis on technical details (we were glad for that) and much more emphasis on social, moral, and legal issues. Without giving away important details I can relate some of the issues as being: 1) Who is really "King" of Poland? 2) How does a race of "not quite human" animals fit into society? 3) How far should Conrad's Christian federation go in expanding it's borders...and how much "right" do they have to do so? 4) How much should Conrad's cousin Tom "help" Conrad? One of the more interesting issues Frankowski brings up in the first five novels concerns man's natural preferences for reproductive purposes. One of the strongest assets of the book is the humanitarian manner in which Conrad attempts to "spread the faith"...he's trying VERY hard not to repeat the mistakes of our timeline's explorers and settlers. I think that all of Frankowski's books bear a striking similarity to Robert Heinlein's Starship Troopers (they even use several of the same phrases and sayings!!)....an entertaining story that makes us take a closer look at our beliefs and attitudes about the world and society around us.

Book 6 marks a change in story presentation. The main story is told through the diaries of Josep, the son of a baker who lives and works at Okoitz. This book gives us the perspective of the next generation. A story from a young peasant child growing into manhood during the arrival of our primary hero, Conrad Stargard. Here we see the divergence from 13th century life in medieval Poland through Conrad's sweeping "modernizations".The "exploration" of the rest of the world is a logical "next-step" for the Christian Army.I found Conrad's naming of various "newly discovered" land-masses and territories to be entertaining, and somehow right. Leo shows us a wonderful era in a time that wasn't but should have been!And if this story isn't enough for all of Leo's fans...Wait til you see what book 7 is like...BTW: If enough people were to contact the publisher, it's possible that Leo might finish Book zero, the prequel to the Adventure's of Conrad Stargard...And if enough people clamored at the publisher, perhaps Leo might be persuaded to take this story beyond book 7...There's a LOT of potential story material waiting!