Starclimber [Hardcover]

 

 

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I found the that the book concentrated on the romance of Matt and Kate too much. The subject of marriage didn't seemed to fit very nicely into the suspenseful adventures. It only got in the way and acted more as an annoyance in action scenes. I felt it distorted the reader's focus.

I still thought it was certainly worth buying and reading as an Airborn fan. I was just wanting a little more of the suspense packed chapters I had read in the book Skybreaker.

This, in my opinion, is one of the best books in the world. It isn't anything too big or fancy, but Kenneth Oppel has written this book so well that it practically allures the reader. It may not seem good at first, but the excitement accumulates over time. I'd give it 10 stars if there was 10 stars.

Having explored the far reaches of the skies, Matt Cruse is about to fly beyond them -- into the unknown expanse of space.

Yup. Space. Kenneth Oppel's airship trilogy takes a distinctly sci-fi turn in the final volume, "Starclimber" -- it's focused on the wondrous expanses outside Earth's, and the dangers that go with its first pioneers. It's a little top-heavy with Matt's romantic woes, but Oppel does a truly brilliant job mingling sci-fi, adventure and a sense of lyrical wonder.

Matt Cruise has been working as a tug captain at the Celestial Tower, but he's offered a wildly different job: to become one of the first astralnauts on a space mission.

Unfortunately as he undergoes the grueling training, Matt is distracted -- Kate (who is heavily involved in the suffragette movement) is being pressured to make a "good match" with a rich man. And while both of them are included on the cable-climbing "Starclimber," Matt is horrified when he discovers that Kate's parents have forced her to make a choice -- get engaged or give up outer space.

The specially selected team succeeds in leaving the Earth behind, only to find that space has its own variety of dangers -- including mysterious glowing objects, monstrous space creatures, asteroids, and the threat of a bombing from the fanatical Babelites. But the worst is yet to come, when Matt finds that he must repair a delicate piece of equipment... or the entire expedition will be destroyed.

Just as Oppel's "Airborn" and "Skybreaker" asked what if airships had dominated the skies, "Starclimber" explores the idea of a more technologically advanced Victorian age where space travel is a realistic possibility. He even touches on some timeless topics, such as prejudice against women's abilities (and Kate's rebuttals) and fanaticism (the Babelites, believing it angers God to venture into space).

And despite the slow unfolding of the story, Oppel keeps it interesting with his a lovely prose style (the darting lights and haunting space "music"), and the detailed descriptions of space training and technology. About halfway through it suddenly tightens into a taut action story, with lots of space rescues and bizarre alien life forms.

And though a bunch of bickering strangers in space sounds boring, he injects little moments of comedy into the story ("There is no energy in Paris, no dynamism. An artist like myself must move on. Also, I set fire to the French president"). If there's a flaw, it's that the subplot about Matt and Kate's fragmenting relationship weighs a little too heavily during life-threatening crises.

Matt and Kate have grown up a great deal, but are still very much the same -- she's a impetuous, strong-willed and determined scientist, while he's a lovable, humble pilot who just wants the skies and Kate (although he suffers from some thorny jealousy and doubts about her). The supporting cast is a pretty fun bunch as well, particularly the prickly Miss Karr, pompous windbag Sir Hugh, and the paternal Captain Walken.

"Starclimber" takes everything that was good about Oppel's steampunky fantasy books, and launches them into orbit. A solid finale for a brilliant trilogy, and definitely a good ending for Matt and Kate.

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4.0 out of 5 stars StarClimber 8/10
Its easily the best book in the series so far. Starclimber moves at a breakneck pace and goes beyond its Zepplin world to establish itself as a sci fi narrative. Read more

Published 14 months ago by FinalH0ur

3.0 out of 5 stars Starclimber
As a fan of Kenneth Oppel, I was somewhat disappointed when I read Starclimber. I promptly purchased it when it was published (I wanted the hard-cover for my collection of his... Read more

Published on Mar 7 2010 by Kerrie Sinclair

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Adventure
This is the third book in an alternate reality created by world-renowned Kenneth Oppel. In this book, the airplane has not been developed but flying machines, gliders, blimps and... Read more

Published on Mar 13 2009 by Steven R. McEvoy

5.0 out of 5 stars Best Kenneth Oppel book I've read so far
This is everything I would want in a good book! It's filled with action, suspense, romance and a bit of comedy. Read more

Published on Mar 7 2009 by Bob Harvey

5.0 out of 5 stars Courtesy of Teens Read Too
STARCLIMBER is the sequel to Oppel's AIRBORN and SKYBREAKER. This was a fantastic science fiction book for young adults, and will follow in their path of award-winning... Read more

Published on Dec 30 2008 by TeensReadToo

5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect Balance
After finishing this third Matt and Kate adventure, I was struck by the perfect balance that Mr. Oppel wields with his words. Read more

Published on Sep 20 2008 by Randall Richmond

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