F.T.L.: 6

In the third book we are back to the Galaxy Exploration Team, now on Mars, and their efforts to create faster than light (FTL) travel. It had long thought to be impossible, but contact with the aliens showed it could be done. The project is important to humanity but may cause trouble for individual humans. Some may even want to see the project fail. But even without outside interference, there are still problems that need to be overcome, both technical and human. Unmanned ships are tested and eventually a crew containing the GET is sent on a mission to Alpha Centauri. The Generation ships are still very close to the Solar system and will be passed by if the tests are successful. There is plenty of scheming and politicking, but from fewer parties than the first book (no Senate races or reporters this time). Like with the second book, many of the chapter sections end with foreshadowing statements that drive the reader to want to continue reading. Unfortunately the book did not get proofed well and typos abound. Usually it is easy to tell what was meant at the time so it is not a real problem. My one beef was that one of the villains had one motive at the beginning of the book but a different one later with no explanation. Since we got into his head the first time we tend to believe it but there was nothing to refute the second. The series is called The Exploration Chronicles and there is plenty of room for more books to be written in the series. After enjoying the first three I hope that we will, indeed, see more.

It was just about eighteen months ago when I picked up volume 1 of Randle's series "The Exploration Chronicles". Now, having finished book three, I can say the series was worth my time. Book Three is not a direct sequel to book two, which was (IMO) the weakest of the three books. Book three picks up with Hackett and company on Mars, in charge of the Galactic Exploration Command, and ends in a manner that even I didn't see coming until nearly the end. Hints and thoughts are laid out for us all over the book as to how the story ends, but in the end the obvious answer isn't the right one. This book had some seriously odd editorial blunders- misspelled words and names, and even the inclusion of some non-words, but it doesn't take away from Randle's excellent novel that much. The ending seems to be begging for another book, so we shall see what Randle has in store. Even if you didn't like book two, have a look at book three. I think you'll find it more to your liking.