What do you think?
Rate this book
The Continuing Time #3
The Last Dancer
The Manhattan-based Unification government controls the earth, but rebellion brews in Occupied America as the American Revolution's tricentennial approaches. Denice Castanaveras, one of only two genetically engineered telepaths to escape destruction by Unification forces (the other is her missing twin brother, David) enters political life by becoming a bodyguard of Unification Councilor Douglass Ripper, whose agenda involves preventing U.N. Secretary General Charles Eddore from grabbing long-term power in this unstable period. However, the Unification rulers do not suspect that a high-ranking rebel called Obodi is actually Gi'Suei'Obodi'Sedon, an alien religious heretic who was banished from his own world thousands of years ago.
594 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published October 1, 1993
24 people are currently reading
222 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
September 16, 2023
Pretty massive disappointment after the stellar The Long Run, and I can see why Moran ended the series here (although he recently penned another installment). The Last Dancer takes place several years after The Long Run, but this time, features Denice Castanaveras rather than her brother Trent 'the Uncatchable', although he does make a cameo appearance toward the end of the novel. Denice is now 23 and for various reasons, starts working as in aide to Douglass Ripper, a former US senator who is now running for the top Unification slot.
The UN's Unification took place roughly 50 years ago and the USA was the last holdout, coming at last to a bloody defeat. Anti UN/Unification sentiments still roil in the US, and each July 4th sees at minimum a few riots. The "Johnny Rebs" constitute the primary 'resistance' movement in the US and the UN treats them as a terrorist organization. The Last Dancer is largely set in 2076, which happens to be the tricentennial anniversary of US independence and also the election year for the UN leader. So, we have lots of politics here for sure, especially as the 'Rebs', along with some other subversive groups, seem to be planning a major uprising on the 4th of July.
Not only is this volume more than twice the size of previous installments (about 600 pages of small font text), it lacks the excellent pacing and excitement of The Long Run. Further, it is full of massive digressions. For example, we learn more about the 'Fire People' and their adventures on Earth 50,000 years ago. It seems some galactic race 'uplifted' humanity more than 50,000 years ago and basically made them their servants. Then, during the 'great departure', they left; one day they all went into temples and disappeared. For over 12,000 years, humans continued on the same path, but now are threatened by another alien race, the sleen. Sedon lead a rebellion against the status quo on World and after it was quashed, he, along with about 3000 members of his following, were exiled (somewhat ironically) back to Earth. So, for about 100 pages or so, Moran tells us of the trials and tribulations of the exiles, which in time, came to include their guardians.
While this plays a key role in the story, way overblown. Moran, trapped in a 'stasis bubble' for more than 30,000 years, is found by some Alpine hiker and eventually released; he escapes and in 2076, four years later, assumes command of the upcoming US rebellion. One of the guards, known as Shields, has lived on Earth all this time and becomes embroiled in the plot via Denice (long story!).
Moran gives us then a long build up to the ill fated rebellion, which in the end was not very exciting either. I almost stopped reading this, but I really liked Denice as a character and that was enough to pull me through. Still, what a let down after the first two installments. 2 meager stars.
The UN's Unification took place roughly 50 years ago and the USA was the last holdout, coming at last to a bloody defeat. Anti UN/Unification sentiments still roil in the US, and each July 4th sees at minimum a few riots. The "Johnny Rebs" constitute the primary 'resistance' movement in the US and the UN treats them as a terrorist organization. The Last Dancer is largely set in 2076, which happens to be the tricentennial anniversary of US independence and also the election year for the UN leader. So, we have lots of politics here for sure, especially as the 'Rebs', along with some other subversive groups, seem to be planning a major uprising on the 4th of July.
Not only is this volume more than twice the size of previous installments (about 600 pages of small font text), it lacks the excellent pacing and excitement of The Long Run. Further, it is full of massive digressions. For example, we learn more about the 'Fire People' and their adventures on Earth 50,000 years ago. It seems some galactic race 'uplifted' humanity more than 50,000 years ago and basically made them their servants. Then, during the 'great departure', they left; one day they all went into temples and disappeared. For over 12,000 years, humans continued on the same path, but now are threatened by another alien race, the sleen. Sedon lead a rebellion against the status quo on World and after it was quashed, he, along with about 3000 members of his following, were exiled (somewhat ironically) back to Earth. So, for about 100 pages or so, Moran tells us of the trials and tribulations of the exiles, which in time, came to include their guardians.
While this plays a key role in the story, way overblown. Moran, trapped in a 'stasis bubble' for more than 30,000 years, is found by some Alpine hiker and eventually released; he escapes and in 2076, four years later, assumes command of the upcoming US rebellion. One of the guards, known as Shields, has lived on Earth all this time and becomes embroiled in the plot via Denice (long story!).
Moran gives us then a long build up to the ill fated rebellion, which in the end was not very exciting either. I almost stopped reading this, but I really liked Denice as a character and that was enough to pull me through. Still, what a let down after the first two installments. 2 meager stars.
July 27, 2023
awesome classic
July 31, 2013
This is a hard enough book to understand without at least some idea of what the previous books in the series are about. Here is quick summary:
Book 1 - Emerald Eyes, pub. 1988. 5 stars. Introduces the genegineered humans, or genies, characterized by green eyes. They win emancipation from the government but are subsequently nuked by the Peacekeepers, or PKF. Several manage to escape.
Book 2 - The Long Run, pub. 1989. 5 stars. Features the genie, Trent. The PKF continue their search for the survivors and get on the track of Trent. But Trent takes them on a long, perhaps unlikely chase through Occupied America, the Lagrangians and Luna.
Book 3 - (this review), pub. 1993.
Book 4 - The A.I. War: The Big Boost, pub. 2010. About a big boost, perhaps?
Book 5 - Lord November, only the first 2 chapters are published and available on the author's blog page.
In total the supposed plan was for a 30-book series.
DKM became a little more ambitious with Book 3, broadening his canvas with more focal characters and expanding the Continuing Time universe back by about 50,000 years. Also, there's quite a few obscure segments which appear to be setups for some future aspect of the story but do not have direct bearing on what takes place in this book.
The first part of the book centered on Denice Castanaveras, one of the surviving genies. Her back story is engaging and filled with quirky turns that recalls the story of Trent from Book 2. Next, book 3 introduces Sedon/Obodi, and his hunter Dvan. Both are imbued with some special abilities that allow them to survive through the prehistoric period. There are several other focal characters, and if you are familiar with DKM's style, he constantly switches POV throughout the narrative, making it tough to follow the individual threads. But he does conclude with a monster mash-up similar to that of Book 1, where various forces come into play at the same time and place.
While I enjoyed following the experiences of Denice, none of the other characters were interesting or sympathetic enough to engage. This much I can say about DKM's style, he seldom telegraphs his punches and the story can turn dynamic and consequential at unexpected points. That's probably the most enjoyable part of the reading experience for Book 3, the surprise twists. I think if this book had stayed more on Denice that it may have worked a lot better for me. As it is, it is still a good 4 star read.
Book 1 - Emerald Eyes, pub. 1988. 5 stars. Introduces the genegineered humans, or genies, characterized by green eyes. They win emancipation from the government but are subsequently nuked by the Peacekeepers, or PKF. Several manage to escape.
Book 2 - The Long Run, pub. 1989. 5 stars. Features the genie, Trent. The PKF continue their search for the survivors and get on the track of Trent. But Trent takes them on a long, perhaps unlikely chase through Occupied America, the Lagrangians and Luna.
Book 3 - (this review), pub. 1993.
Book 4 - The A.I. War: The Big Boost, pub. 2010. About a big boost, perhaps?
Book 5 - Lord November, only the first 2 chapters are published and available on the author's blog page.
In total the supposed plan was for a 30-book series.
DKM became a little more ambitious with Book 3, broadening his canvas with more focal characters and expanding the Continuing Time universe back by about 50,000 years. Also, there's quite a few obscure segments which appear to be setups for some future aspect of the story but do not have direct bearing on what takes place in this book.
The first part of the book centered on Denice Castanaveras, one of the surviving genies. Her back story is engaging and filled with quirky turns that recalls the story of Trent from Book 2. Next, book 3 introduces Sedon/Obodi, and his hunter Dvan. Both are imbued with some special abilities that allow them to survive through the prehistoric period. There are several other focal characters, and if you are familiar with DKM's style, he constantly switches POV throughout the narrative, making it tough to follow the individual threads. But he does conclude with a monster mash-up similar to that of Book 1, where various forces come into play at the same time and place.
While I enjoyed following the experiences of Denice, none of the other characters were interesting or sympathetic enough to engage. This much I can say about DKM's style, he seldom telegraphs his punches and the story can turn dynamic and consequential at unexpected points. That's probably the most enjoyable part of the reading experience for Book 3, the surprise twists. I think if this book had stayed more on Denice that it may have worked a lot better for me. As it is, it is still a good 4 star read.
December 12, 2014
This book makes me reluctant to read any forthcoming Continuing Time books.
After devouring Emerald Eyes, The Long Run, and The Last Dancer in the course of a week or so, I found myself at the end of the series, wondering what on earth I had just read. So I restarted it. Emerald Eyes was good, of course, and The Long Run is a delightful romp. The Last Dancer is unparalleled. If you're willing to take the time and think about the metaphysics that are hinted at in the story, and consider the implications of what's going on you'll suddenly see a massive vista questioning the nature of good and evil, truth, and how we define ourselves in a universe that doesn't seem to care.
Okay, perhaps I have a tendency to wax rhapsodic about this series, but it certainly deserves higher accolades than it has ever received. For one thing, given the time it was written, it's one of the more original stories out there. For another, it manages to tell a complete story without feeling like it ties every thread off (it doesn't).
After reading these three books, you have a fairly complete picture of the story of the Castanaveras family, and that can be enough. I almost want the story to be over, because to tell more would feel like an add-on. DKM has often claimed that he has the entire story arc of the Continuing Time roughed out in his head (and I rather believe him), but the arc of these three books is so well crafted, so finely balanced between telling enough and telling too much, that I'm quite satisfied. I will read The AI War eventually, I'm sure, but for now, I'm happy imagining that the series consists of these three books.
After devouring Emerald Eyes, The Long Run, and The Last Dancer in the course of a week or so, I found myself at the end of the series, wondering what on earth I had just read. So I restarted it. Emerald Eyes was good, of course, and The Long Run is a delightful romp. The Last Dancer is unparalleled. If you're willing to take the time and think about the metaphysics that are hinted at in the story, and consider the implications of what's going on you'll suddenly see a massive vista questioning the nature of good and evil, truth, and how we define ourselves in a universe that doesn't seem to care.
Okay, perhaps I have a tendency to wax rhapsodic about this series, but it certainly deserves higher accolades than it has ever received. For one thing, given the time it was written, it's one of the more original stories out there. For another, it manages to tell a complete story without feeling like it ties every thread off (it doesn't).
After reading these three books, you have a fairly complete picture of the story of the Castanaveras family, and that can be enough. I almost want the story to be over, because to tell more would feel like an add-on. DKM has often claimed that he has the entire story arc of the Continuing Time roughed out in his head (and I rather believe him), but the arc of these three books is so well crafted, so finely balanced between telling enough and telling too much, that I'm quite satisfied. I will read The AI War eventually, I'm sure, but for now, I'm happy imagining that the series consists of these three books.
November 20, 2018
This has been on my "want to reread" list for a long while. But I was always aware it was a long book and I kept putting it off. Clearly that wasn't necessary as I read it in about 3 days. I was kind of surprised at just how much I loved it and ended up giving it a 10/10 because the reading experience was so good.
There are some things about it that had dated a little, but as a whole the story is surprisingly good in 2018.
There's one more after this, written much more recently. I'm not sure if I'm going to go on to that, or if I'll wait and see if any further books are forthcoming.
There are some things about it that had dated a little, but as a whole the story is surprisingly good in 2018.
There's one more after this, written much more recently. I'm not sure if I'm going to go on to that, or if I'll wait and see if any further books are forthcoming.
April 6, 2021
Not a 5 star read like "The Long Run" but a solid four. DKM expands the story quite a bit, pulls in 50,000 years of history, hints at a broader conflict (or two) across space and time and introduces us to an array of characters and depth of his universe that is awesome.
I re-read it this year because I am working my way up to book 4 (which I have not yet read).
Seriously though, if you are a Science Fiction fan and have not read the Tales of Continuing Time series, you have a big hole in your library.
I re-read it this year because I am working my way up to book 4 (which I have not yet read).
Seriously though, if you are a Science Fiction fan and have not read the Tales of Continuing Time series, you have a big hole in your library.
February 7, 2011
I picked this up because it was a staff recommendation at an indie bookstore in Portland, despite the caveat that the other books in the series were out of print. It's a ripping good read, and that was fifteen years ago, when you had to make the rounds of used book stores and dig for things. Brilliantly encompasses everything the far future was supposed to hold back then, it's pretty perfect.
June 8, 2022
This was a re-read, this time with my partner, and I enjoyed sharing the experience with him as much as reliving Denice's story. I could go on for days about why I love this book, but perhaps the thing that struck me the most this time around was how eerily prescient Moran's work was. This was written before mobiles were ever really a thing, yet he foresaw the use of handheld devices that people would carry with them everywhere, using them to contact others and access the internet. About the only part of that vision that didn't pan out in reality is that he apparently didn't foresee phone cameras, nor any of the cultural and social shifts and pressures that came along with services like Instagram and Snapchat. (And, tangentially, that he saw networked surveillance being a thing -- but he pinned it on payphones. I can't even remember the last time I saw a payphone.) He also predicted digital assistants like Alexa in the form of AIs -- both "replicant" and ordinary -- with whom humans use natural speech to interface with the web.
I'm by no means well-versed in sci-fi, but even if you're not an aficionado of the genre, The Last Dancer is a striking portrait of what humanity is and could have been ... and could still become.
I'm by no means well-versed in sci-fi, but even if you're not an aficionado of the genre, The Last Dancer is a striking portrait of what humanity is and could have been ... and could still become.
December 10, 2023
This was the first book I read by Daniel Keys Moran and it was gripping, inspired writing all the way through. This book sent me on a quest to seek out anything else this author had produced. Intelligent, creative sci-fi with characters you build an understanding and empathy for. Since reading his novels some of the concepts have become more ‘known’, internet and device addiction is a great example - this author saw it decades in advance. A visionary, a great story teller and wonderful character builder.
Read
July 14, 2023In anticipation of reading his newest book (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...) I decided to start at the beginning first with Emerald Eyes, then The Long Run, and now The Last Dancer. As other reviews noted, there is a lot going on in these books and I’m interested to see where it all goes. It holds up well for SF books written before the Internet existed for most people. Recommend.
April 10, 2020
Fantastic continuation of a wonderful story
This book was written long ago, about a future that's yet to come. Morgan's prose is masterful, and sweeps you up j to that world with effortless grace.
I could go on, but there are more books in this series on my kindle, and I have got to k kw how the story ends.
This book was written long ago, about a future that's yet to come. Morgan's prose is masterful, and sweeps you up j to that world with effortless grace.
I could go on, but there are more books in this series on my kindle, and I have got to k kw how the story ends.
April 11, 2023
For those wondering why this book is so thick, really this should have been two, maybe three books - we certainly get a LOT of history here.
I suspect, as a consequence, not my favourite continuing time story. But, essential reading for the development of the universe...
I suspect, as a consequence, not my favourite continuing time story. But, essential reading for the development of the universe...
August 25, 2019
Great characters, interesting ideas, but it jumps around a lot with unclear writing at times.
January 10, 2021
Not quite as good as the previous 2 entries in Moran's Continuing Time - this book suffers from poor pacing due to a very long interlude seeking the explain the origin of humans on earth
August 6, 2012
In the 80's, everyone and their brother seemed to recommend that I should read Daniel Moran's "Continuing Time" series. It took me over 20 years to find all the books (yes, they were THAT rare for a long time), but Amazon finally published The Last Dancer in ebook format and I was able to read one more book - I read Emerald Eyes about 10 years ago, and The Long Run a few years after that, but haven't been able to find The Last Dancer until now. While I freely admit that DKM was relatively good at predicting some technological trends (esp. regarding the internet (still in its infancy compared to what DKM imagines it becoming) - he was certainly very accurate about his prediction that governments would end up being very heavy-handed and draconian in their attempts to control the internet and that it would be a large controversial issue in society!), his ability to write convincing characters is a bit lacking, I think. This book was especially bad in that respect - the main heroine, Denice Castanaveras, is...well, the best way to describe her, imo, is "chaotic". For most of the book, I had a pretty clear idea of WHAT she was doing, but no idea WHY. Some of this is certainly attributable to her young age, and part of the theme of the book is about her finding herself - I get that. Her actions, even given that premise, seemed contradictory and inconsistent and her motivations were always inscrutable. Even after she supposedly "finds" herself near the end of the book and chooses a path that seems to be the life-affirming goody-two-shoes, the last line of the book has her doing an action that just seemed VERY contradictory to that path and, from my viewpoint, seemed to come out of left field. Most of the other characters in the book are the same way - inconsistent and unpredictable. Maybe DKM is trying to make a point that people are unpredictable and he's being more subtle than I'm giving him credit for, but .. I don't think so. In any case, I'm glad I finally read the book because it's been a LONG quest to find it, but I have to admit to feeling somewhat let down. For all the hype, I expected better. Oh well - it was certainly far from the WORST book I've read, and there were parts of the book that I genuinely enjoyed (the Dvan/Sedon background subplot and Dvan's telling of his history, for example), so looking at it objectively, it's worth reading. I just don't think it was worth waiting 20 years for.
September 7, 2008
I like Denice Castanaveras so much, that I'd gladly be her. Robert Dazai Yo is the teacher I always wished I had. Trent is the lover/best friend that makes me wish someone wrote me letters like that. And then there are the rest of the people whose stories are told in this book...they too are remarkable, well-crafted, seem real.
One gets the sense that DKMoran is truly one of the most inventive, wise, startlingly likeable thinkers of our time.
Bloody good.
One gets the sense that DKMoran is truly one of the most inventive, wise, startlingly likeable thinkers of our time.
Bloody good.
October 17, 2010
wow!! lei wang recommended this book to me, and it took me awhile to get down to finding it (not in libraries, not available on kindle, i ended up buying it second-hand on amazon), but really glad i did. an epic sci-fi story that spans tens of thousands of years and isn't totally philosophically depressing... i think i may have started from the end of this series, but i'll be checking out the rest of them. =)
December 27, 2012
Re-reading this book after many years. Moving, repacking, trying to decide what books stay and what books go. This one will stay.
The Last Dancer is well written and presents some interesting moral and philosophical questions. It ties physicality to spirituality and questions how physical attainment (perfection?) is tied to morality. It examines the quality of selfishness and contrasts it to duty and service.
The Last Dancer is well written and presents some interesting moral and philosophical questions. It ties physicality to spirituality and questions how physical attainment (perfection?) is tied to morality. It examines the quality of selfishness and contrasts it to duty and service.
August 16, 2013
A fantastic book in many ways, though frustrating in some. In particular, I didn't feel like the ending worked here. It was a bit too Star Trek, where everything wraps up in a neat little bow quickly at the end. Even so, this book finally digs into the weird future-bending narratives that the first two books only alluded to. Keys-Moran manages to create a rich cast of harassers and explore lots of interesting ideas. Another great read in the Continuing Time series.
June 29, 2008
Just reread this book by once promising and now little known author. "Hard" science fiction, near future, well executed preview of the emerging new web from a late 'eighties vantage point. All that with strong of off-beat anti-authoritarian anarchist politics.
September 15, 2009
A far reaching drama of the somewhat near future with a large array of memorable characters and a thick plot. Great action scenes and practical philosophy. The story is told from all sides. Stands alone in the series as far as I'm concerned.
September 15, 2011
I picked up this book a few years ago at a second hand store just by chance and was immediately hooked. Upon finding out it was the third in a series I quickly went in search of the other two. My only complaint is that there are only 3 books in the series. I wasn't ready for the story to end.
May 5, 2012
Awesome book, Denise and Trent and all the others. This was science fiction in the most literal sense back when I first read it. I wanted to be in this world! It was scary as hell but seemed worth it.
October 5, 2012
this was a great book, it really influenced the way I looked at things. The whole thing with dancing and killing, it made a lot of sense. If you are going to be good at something give it all kinds of rituals and meanings.
July 20, 2013
I liked it. Not quite Weber or Ringo quality but worth a read. After buying the first three books from Amazon i realized you can download them for free in DKM mirror website. Go to the wiki for him for a link.
April 14, 2017
It is important to read the first two books in this series before tackling this one. The plot is teasingly, pleasingly tangled, and your thought process is just as important as the written words. Over all, a rewarding read, albeit difficult.
August 5, 2008
Free from ManyBooks.net
Read
August 22, 2008The Last Dancer (Limited Edition) by Daniel Keys Moran (2002)
October 14, 2012
One of the best science fiction book I have every read and I've been reading for 40 years.
January 3, 2015
Frustrating - I love what the author is trying to do, but just can't help but think he bit off more than he could chew. Still, a fun read.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews