The Fifth Quadrant

Gloria VanDeen #3

by C.J. Ryan

In the 33rd century, unbridled pleasure and unparalleled peace make the world go round—under the watch of a vast corporate order that includes living goddess Gloria VanDeen, a powerful player as gutsy as she is gorgeous.

More popular and more ambitious than ever, Gloria is entertaining two tempting to become Empress, or to rise through the ranks of the Department of Extraterrestrial Affairs and take out some bad guys along the way—if they don’t get her first. . . . 

When someone takes a potshot at Gloria with a weapon unseen since the Empire’s last great war, it’s clear that success won’t come without a price. For among power brokers, warriors,and rebels lies a dirty secret that could crack the Empire wide open. And Gloria is determined to get to the bottom of it—even if it means going to the top.

Genres: Science Fiction, Space Opera

416 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 2006

Reviews

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

Been a while since I read books 1 and 2 (and I read them backwards no less) so a few of the details didn't carry over as well, but it was still a good book that left me wanting more. Definitely not for everybody though as it's almost a satire/parody of the genre with some pretty relaxed morals.

[Graham Carter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable read until you figure it all out before the big reveal. Either given away too fast or rushed to write.

[David Leemon · Rating 2 out of 5]

Okay, so this is the third book in the series. Gloria has to decide whether to marry the emperor, who will let her do whatever she wants, or whether she should keep her government job in an era where they have decided not only to repeal all rules against sexual harassment, but they've decided to actually encourage it.

And the book covers are innacurate because she never wears that much clothing in the book. So if they ever make this into a movie, I guess I'll buy the DVD.

[Craig · Rating 3 out of 5]

This will sound repetitive, but it falls in with the first 2 books of this series. I like the Empire and how it is depicted, I liked most of the story in this book, but still don't really get into the main character.

[Ralph McEwen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Power, poltics, scandals, sex, subversives and syies everywhere.

[Stanley · Rating 4 out of 5]

the sexploits continue