Geosynchron


Having loved both Infoquake (Canada, USA, Europe) and MultiReal (Canada, USA, Europe), I couldn't wait to see how David Louis Edelman would close the show in the third and final volume of this series. Especially considering that MultiReal ended with a cliffhanger, I was eager to discover what would occur next.

Here's the blurb:

The Defense and Wellness Council is enmeshed in full-scale civil war between Len Borda and the mysterious Magan Kai Lee. Quell has escaped from prison and is stirring up rebellion in the Islands with the aid of a brash young leader named Josiah. Jara and the apprentices of the Surina/Natch MultiReal Fiefcorp still find themselves fighting off legal attacks from their competitors and from Margaret Surina's unscrupulous heirs -- even though MultiReal has completely vanished.

The quest for the truth will lead to the edges of civilization, from the tumultuous society of the Pacific Islands to the lawless orbital colony of 49th Heaven; and through the deeps of time, from the hidden agenda of the Surina family to the real truth behind the Autonomous Revolt that devastated humanity hundreds of years ago.

Meanwhile, Natch has awakened in a windowless prison with nothing but a haze of memory to clue him in as to how he got there. He's still receiving strange hallucinatory messages from Margaret Surina and the nature of reality is buckling all around him. When the smoke clears, Natch must make the ultimate decision - whether to save a world that has scorned and discarded him, or to save the only person he has ever loved: himself.

As was the case in the second volume, in Geosynchron Edelman wastes no time revisiting the events of the previous installment. Geosynchron picks up exactly where MultiReal left off. For those, like me, who need a little reminder, you can find a synopsis for both Infoquake and MultiReal at the end of the book.

In order to avoid info dumps, David Louis Edelman has never dwelt too much on worldbuilding as part of the narrative. Relying on appendixes, the author has always managed to keep the pace moving rather swiftly. Though this has worked well in the past, I would have liked to learn more about the Autonomous Revolt, the Pharisees, and the Islanders. All three are fascinating concepts, but unfortunately Edelman never truly gets the opportunity to elaborate on them in a way that I found satisfactory. It doesn't take anything away from the story, mind you. Yet I feel it would have added another dimension to a work that already resounds with depth.

I've said in the past that my favorite facet about this series would be its flawed protagonists. No larger than life characters in this trilogy, they all have shortcomings like regular people, and that makes them more genuine. They remain true to themselves, giving each character more life and credibility as the story unfolds. Enduring all the hardships fate has thrown his way, Natch has grown and becomes an even more interesting character in this one. The same can be said of Jara, for that matter. Although Horvil, Vigal, and Benyamin have roles to play in the end game, other characters such as Quell, Brone, the Patel Brothers, and Magan Kai Lee take center stage from time to time. Even though this remains to be Natch's story, as was the case in MultiReal Edelman focuses on several secondary characters in this sequel, which again elevates the characterization to another level.

The politicking plays an important role in this final volume. The power struggle between Len Borda and Magan Kai Lee will have great repercussions, as will the Islanders' unexpected involvement.

The surprising ending makes Geosynchron a terrific and fitting finale for a series that found a way to get better with each new installment. The Jump 225 trilogy could well be the best science fiction series of the new millennium. David Louis Edelman deserves his place among the most talented scifi authors in the field today.

Highly recommended.

The final verdict: 8.5/10

For more info about this title: Canada, USA, Europe

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