Review: One of the greatest "sci-fi" epics I have ever read in my life!
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 08 31, 2012
In my view, The Lodestone Trilogy is a book that has the same epic grandeur and plotline as the Star Wars trilogies. It also slightly reminded me a little of Planet of the Apes as well. Inside each of these three books, you will find almost everything-action, adventure, a love story, intrigue, etc. Normally, this kind of thing would be a detriment to a book, but the author Mark Whiteway crafts a story that has each of these elements just right.Like the Star Wars series, this set of trilogies involves a journey of interrelated stories that lead to the destruction of a world-threatening evil. Right from the first page, you become spectator to an alien world of grayleesh, Chandara, Keltar, Kelanni among other creatures. Also, like the Star Wars series, the characters (no matter what kind of species they are) that really make the story. As you watch the characters interact with each other and develop through their challenges, you find yourself getting lost in the story. Like I believe other readers will be, I was shocked when Shann and Lyall failed the tests, shocked when Susan Glimmer seemed to have compromised the team, sad when Susan, Lyall, and Boxx (Boxx comes back) died, and impressed when Shann, Rael, and Alondo stepped to the occasion to save their comrades. I was humored with Rael's foolhardy attempts at gaining Shann's respect. I even felt a little "philosophical" when I took time to ponder Boxx's mysterious and confusing role in the story (he's kind of like Yoda) or Keris' explanation of Keltar ways.This was an incredible book that I have glad to purchased and read. It was a little lengthy, but extremely worth it. The story had a way of grabbing with just the right plot twist or just the right action sequence that I was gripped with from beginning to end.I hope the author writes more books! I want to see the series continue!Spoiler: Humans are involved in the story, but not in the way you think.ProsPlot-The plot is one of the strongest I have seen in a sci-fi book in a while. Essentially, it's a journey narrative like every other book in its genre, but the plot twists are the strongest. You will be going along one trajectory, when something happens that really makes you pay attention. I also respect the author's ability to allow the story to develop little side trips to still added complexity, but not confusion to the story's development.Unique Terms-Mark Whiteway does something interesting with the other-worldly terms in the book. A lot of sci-fi authors I have read take the time to describe words that aliens and space items in exquisite detail often to the point of boredom. Whiteway takes the opposite direction, he doesn't really put a lot of emphasis on description. Instead, the reader learns about the world that the characters live in with through the character's interaction. In other words, rather than taking a lot of time to describe what Chandara is, you learn bits and pieces about how he looks and acts by continuing the story. I consider the ability of Mark Whiteway to show rather than tell the mark of a true storyteller.ConsLength If there were any negatives that went with this book, it would have to be the length. For those used to reading long sci-fi works like Harry Potter and the Dune series, this book might be a piece of cake. For readers, like me, who have been away from long works it can be a little intimidating at first; however as I said there are so many plot twists and turn, important character moments, and action scenes that the feeling of intimidation is lost while you get wrapped up in the story.