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Evan Gabriel Trilogy #3
Gabriel's Revenge
GABRIEL'S REVENGE
Book 3 of the Evan Gabriel Trilogy
A missile has no conscience. It is an inanimate steel cold, emotionless. But once ignited, it burns white hot inside, and cannot be shut off. Fired in combat, it has but one the total destruction of its intended target. And it will only stop when its objective has been achieved, or it runs out of fuel.
Not all missiles are made of steel.
North American Federation Navy Commander Evan Gabriel thought it was over. Returning from a mission on the far-off world of Eden, he finds that Mars is in a state of political upheaval. Two major dome cities are now under the control of ambitious and ruthless men backed by the scheming South American Republic. Friends are in trouble, Renay Gesselli is missing, and the future of a world is in flux while rival governments bicker behind closed doors.
From the ice-bound planet of Poliahu, to the dangerous jungle world of Eden, and back to his adopted home of Mars, Evan Gabriel has witnessed death follow him. Now, he's turning the tables, and no force would stand in his way.
Approximately 80,000 words
Book 3 of the Evan Gabriel Trilogy
A missile has no conscience. It is an inanimate steel cold, emotionless. But once ignited, it burns white hot inside, and cannot be shut off. Fired in combat, it has but one the total destruction of its intended target. And it will only stop when its objective has been achieved, or it runs out of fuel.
Not all missiles are made of steel.
North American Federation Navy Commander Evan Gabriel thought it was over. Returning from a mission on the far-off world of Eden, he finds that Mars is in a state of political upheaval. Two major dome cities are now under the control of ambitious and ruthless men backed by the scheming South American Republic. Friends are in trouble, Renay Gesselli is missing, and the future of a world is in flux while rival governments bicker behind closed doors.
From the ice-bound planet of Poliahu, to the dangerous jungle world of Eden, and back to his adopted home of Mars, Evan Gabriel has witnessed death follow him. Now, he's turning the tables, and no force would stand in his way.
Approximately 80,000 words
300 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 21, 2011
5 people are currently reading
122 people want to read
About the author
Steve Umstead
13 books1,012 followersSteve Umstead has been the owner of a Caribbean & Mexico travel company for the past ten years, but never forgot his lifelong dream of becoming an author. After a successful stab at National Novel Writing Month, he decided to pursue his dream more vigorously…but hasn't given up the traveling.
Steve lives in scenic (tongue-in-cheek) New Jersey with his wife, two kids, and several bookshelves full of other authors' science fiction novels. Gabriel's Redemption is his debut novel.
Steve lives in scenic (tongue-in-cheek) New Jersey with his wife, two kids, and several bookshelves full of other authors' science fiction novels. Gabriel's Redemption is his debut novel.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
December 26, 2011
A fitting capstone to the Evan Gabriel story. Could not put down my Kindle. Stayed up past midnight finishing Gabriel's Revenge. The action pulled me in and wouldn't let me go until I'd finished.
December 25, 2019
Military space opera with good character development. It was good trilogy.
October 3, 2025
this whole series is so good!
January 10, 2012
The Evan Gabriel Trilogy is complete with Steve Umstead’s action-packed final installment, Gabriel’s Revenge. The transition is seamless as the third book picks up only moments after Evan Gabriel realizes he must return to Mars and finish his business with the South American Republic (SAR) once and for all.
The stakes are higher than ever as Gabriel and his team will have to fight their way to the red planet and locate Renay Gesselli, who has been captured, along with the governments of two of the planet’s largest dome cities, by SAR henchmen. But it wouldn’t be a proper mission without nearly impossible odds so the SAR has employed a fleet of Chinese space-fighters and a group of elite mercenaries to take out Gabriel and his team.
The pace never slows as Umstead’s plot drives his characters through successes and setbacks – building to a crescendo for a final climactic showdown between hero and villain. Umstead reveals new technology and uncovers new bits of history that adds even more excitement and intrigue to his sci-fi action finale. Characters will be tested and loyalties will be questioned, adding elements of suspense to keep the reader turning the pages.
There is no question that Umstead can write an action-packed adventure story better than most. He is an artist in designing a high-tech battlefield and weaving in the human element with his character’s depth and color. While some may feel the dialogue is a little too efficient, it’s important to remember that a military unit like this tends to be manned with “quiet professionals”, speaking with actions rather than words. Umstead is true to that principle and develops his characters accordingly.
There is no drop-off in quality or consistency between any of these books and Gabriel’s Revenge will bring it all to a close without slowing a step. The only hitch for me came in the climax where I felt one portion was a bit of a stretch compared to every other scene in this series. I chalk that up to personal preference and how I would have liked that scene to play out.
Nevertheless the entire body of work is a five-star effort with the finale being a 4.75 star read on its own. If you like action in a science fiction setting then you really need to pick this up from book one and give it a shot.
Tom Clementson (Kindle Book Review)
The stakes are higher than ever as Gabriel and his team will have to fight their way to the red planet and locate Renay Gesselli, who has been captured, along with the governments of two of the planet’s largest dome cities, by SAR henchmen. But it wouldn’t be a proper mission without nearly impossible odds so the SAR has employed a fleet of Chinese space-fighters and a group of elite mercenaries to take out Gabriel and his team.
The pace never slows as Umstead’s plot drives his characters through successes and setbacks – building to a crescendo for a final climactic showdown between hero and villain. Umstead reveals new technology and uncovers new bits of history that adds even more excitement and intrigue to his sci-fi action finale. Characters will be tested and loyalties will be questioned, adding elements of suspense to keep the reader turning the pages.
There is no question that Umstead can write an action-packed adventure story better than most. He is an artist in designing a high-tech battlefield and weaving in the human element with his character’s depth and color. While some may feel the dialogue is a little too efficient, it’s important to remember that a military unit like this tends to be manned with “quiet professionals”, speaking with actions rather than words. Umstead is true to that principle and develops his characters accordingly.
There is no drop-off in quality or consistency between any of these books and Gabriel’s Revenge will bring it all to a close without slowing a step. The only hitch for me came in the climax where I felt one portion was a bit of a stretch compared to every other scene in this series. I chalk that up to personal preference and how I would have liked that scene to play out.
Nevertheless the entire body of work is a five-star effort with the finale being a 4.75 star read on its own. If you like action in a science fiction setting then you really need to pick this up from book one and give it a shot.
Tom Clementson (Kindle Book Review)
August 10, 2012
Book Review of Gabriel's Revenge, by Steve Umstead
(Note: No spoilers).
Right away, I will confess that I loved the first two installments of this story. Now, with this third novel of the Evan Gabriel trilogy, author Steve Umstead closes his masterful science fiction epic. Or maybe "odyssey" would be a better word, since we finally get to see the culmination of a journey through the protagonist's personal hells as well as through political and military machinations.
Picking up where Gabriel's Return left off, Gabriel's Revenge again sets Commander Gabriel in the midst of intrigue that is the product of interstellar power plays and personal vendettas. Set primarily in and around Mars, Umstead delivers, once more, an immensely satisfying scifi world that demonstrates a rich blend of research and imagination. From the strategic posturing of political powers, to intense firefights on the surface of the Red Planet, Revenge delivers a lot.
This trilogy is definitely a triumph of scifi world making. The action remains fast paced and enthralling. Having read the first two books in the trilogy, I found myself, at certain key points in the story, thinking such thoughts as "I'm pretty sure the Otero suits can survive that." Why does that matter? It's evidence that Umstead has created a solid science fiction world, with rules that the reader has come to understand and rely upon. This has made the reading experience more real, and more intense when Gabriel and his team are thrown into the thick of combat. This is another strength that once more plays out in Gabriel's Revenge: there is layer upon layer of intrigue, personal and political, that drives the story forward, but the military action keeps the story moving at an exciting pace.
If there is a flaw, it's that there is almost too much resolution at the end. This is a completely subjective observation, but the hallmark of the Gabriel trilogy is the grittiness, and I would have expected more of a lingering tone of the aftershocks of the conclusion of this epic story. But considering the ambitious scope covered by these three novels, I can easily look past this. This book, and the series as a whole, deserves the attention of any lover of science fiction.
(Note: No spoilers).
Right away, I will confess that I loved the first two installments of this story. Now, with this third novel of the Evan Gabriel trilogy, author Steve Umstead closes his masterful science fiction epic. Or maybe "odyssey" would be a better word, since we finally get to see the culmination of a journey through the protagonist's personal hells as well as through political and military machinations.
Picking up where Gabriel's Return left off, Gabriel's Revenge again sets Commander Gabriel in the midst of intrigue that is the product of interstellar power plays and personal vendettas. Set primarily in and around Mars, Umstead delivers, once more, an immensely satisfying scifi world that demonstrates a rich blend of research and imagination. From the strategic posturing of political powers, to intense firefights on the surface of the Red Planet, Revenge delivers a lot.
This trilogy is definitely a triumph of scifi world making. The action remains fast paced and enthralling. Having read the first two books in the trilogy, I found myself, at certain key points in the story, thinking such thoughts as "I'm pretty sure the Otero suits can survive that." Why does that matter? It's evidence that Umstead has created a solid science fiction world, with rules that the reader has come to understand and rely upon. This has made the reading experience more real, and more intense when Gabriel and his team are thrown into the thick of combat. This is another strength that once more plays out in Gabriel's Revenge: there is layer upon layer of intrigue, personal and political, that drives the story forward, but the military action keeps the story moving at an exciting pace.
If there is a flaw, it's that there is almost too much resolution at the end. This is a completely subjective observation, but the hallmark of the Gabriel trilogy is the grittiness, and I would have expected more of a lingering tone of the aftershocks of the conclusion of this epic story. But considering the ambitious scope covered by these three novels, I can easily look past this. This book, and the series as a whole, deserves the attention of any lover of science fiction.
April 23, 2013
!!!WARNING: THIS REVIEW MAY CONTAIN OR IMPLY REFERENCE TO POTENTIAL SPOILERS!!!
My review entails picking at elements of the plot that span the trilogy.
From the get-go, you're being told of a veteran who lives in a near-future period who appears to be troubled as he is haunted from a past that, when fleshed out, you start to realise he was victimised the whole time.
This trilogy essentially takes you through each phase of his payback to those who committed injustice on him, dealing with people who have a grudge against him to whatever degree, and those who betrayed him.
Aside from the main plot arc, the author has fleshed out the story in such a way that goes into some very fine detail that's both easy to read and easy to imagine what the scene would look like as a movie, and in my opinion, I'm confident it'd be something definitely worth watching.
Because the story is based on a near-future time in a not-so-fictional universe, Steve Umstead appears to stand ground to make some rather bold (but realistic) predictions of what life and technology could be like in a few hundred years time (this includes some aspects being named after people who would be perceived as pioneers of the particular field of technology they had influenced, with at least 1 such person being alive today and is factually involved in the area of technology he/she is referenced to).
In addition to the predictions set throughout the series, Steve also manages to fit in reference to present-day pop cultural references (I'll leave it to you to find out), some of which you would happen to come by in the story, and not realised you had just passed by it until you do a double-take and think to yourself "wha-... wait a minute... that sounds familiar!...".
Overall, it's a brilliant read. To be honest, I wish there was a little more to the epilogue than what is provided, however it finishes up nicely and offers good closure.
I would also like to pass kudos and appreciate people like Steve for committing to independent outreach to any potential fan-base via social media with self-promotion and not having to rely purely on publishers, marketing companies and distributors for everything as far as exposure and acknowledgement of his work's existence is concerned.
My review entails picking at elements of the plot that span the trilogy.
From the get-go, you're being told of a veteran who lives in a near-future period who appears to be troubled as he is haunted from a past that, when fleshed out, you start to realise he was victimised the whole time.
This trilogy essentially takes you through each phase of his payback to those who committed injustice on him, dealing with people who have a grudge against him to whatever degree, and those who betrayed him.
Aside from the main plot arc, the author has fleshed out the story in such a way that goes into some very fine detail that's both easy to read and easy to imagine what the scene would look like as a movie, and in my opinion, I'm confident it'd be something definitely worth watching.
Because the story is based on a near-future time in a not-so-fictional universe, Steve Umstead appears to stand ground to make some rather bold (but realistic) predictions of what life and technology could be like in a few hundred years time (this includes some aspects being named after people who would be perceived as pioneers of the particular field of technology they had influenced, with at least 1 such person being alive today and is factually involved in the area of technology he/she is referenced to).
In addition to the predictions set throughout the series, Steve also manages to fit in reference to present-day pop cultural references (I'll leave it to you to find out), some of which you would happen to come by in the story, and not realised you had just passed by it until you do a double-take and think to yourself "wha-... wait a minute... that sounds familiar!...".
Overall, it's a brilliant read. To be honest, I wish there was a little more to the epilogue than what is provided, however it finishes up nicely and offers good closure.
I would also like to pass kudos and appreciate people like Steve for committing to independent outreach to any potential fan-base via social media with self-promotion and not having to rely purely on publishers, marketing companies and distributors for everything as far as exposure and acknowledgement of his work's existence is concerned.
December 29, 2011
The Triumphant Conclusion…
The largest domes on Mars have been captured. The North American Federation is bogged down in red tape…
And Renay is missing.
While Evan Gabriel has been a minor thorn in the side of well laid-out plans for the future, steps have been taken to neutralize the insignificant threat he represents and to proceed.
The problem is that Commander Gabriel’s interference previously was all training and skill. Now, he's pissed. He, his team and the crew of the NAFS Marcinko are making a full burn back to Mars…even a minor thorn can be deadly when it slices an artery.
Gabriel’s Revenge is the final chapter in the Evan Gabriel trilogy, and author Steve Umstead delivers his best action packed SciFi thriller yet. Tightly written and beautifully plotted, Umstead’s concluding story is the type of page-turner that keeps the reader engaged from start to finish.
You will cheer at the victories and cry with the failures. An absolute joy to read. Bravo, Mr. Umstead. Bravo.
The largest domes on Mars have been captured. The North American Federation is bogged down in red tape…
And Renay is missing.
While Evan Gabriel has been a minor thorn in the side of well laid-out plans for the future, steps have been taken to neutralize the insignificant threat he represents and to proceed.
The problem is that Commander Gabriel’s interference previously was all training and skill. Now, he's pissed. He, his team and the crew of the NAFS Marcinko are making a full burn back to Mars…even a minor thorn can be deadly when it slices an artery.
Gabriel’s Revenge is the final chapter in the Evan Gabriel trilogy, and author Steve Umstead delivers his best action packed SciFi thriller yet. Tightly written and beautifully plotted, Umstead’s concluding story is the type of page-turner that keeps the reader engaged from start to finish.
You will cheer at the victories and cry with the failures. An absolute joy to read. Bravo, Mr. Umstead. Bravo.
February 10, 2012
After finally exorcising his demons from the failed Eden mission five years earlier, Even Gabriel is returning to Mars when he discovers fate and the SAR aren't finished with him. While mourning the loss of team members, he learns of the kidnapping of someone close to him. Knowing he'll do anything to get Renay back, the SAR representatives on Mars set a trap for him and his crew. Having survived so much loss will Gabriel complete his final mission and enjoy life or forever be a punching bag?
As he did with the previous novels, Steve Umstead brings the world of Evan Gabriel to life with stunning clarity in the final addition to the Evan Gabriel trilogy. Being a sci-fi nut myself, I look forward to enjoying more of this author's works in the future.
As he did with the previous novels, Steve Umstead brings the world of Evan Gabriel to life with stunning clarity in the final addition to the Evan Gabriel trilogy. Being a sci-fi nut myself, I look forward to enjoying more of this author's works in the future.
June 27, 2013
This was the third and final book of the Gabriel trilogy. At the end of the second book Evan Gabriel and his team from the North American Federation Navy had learned that members of the South American Republic had staged a bloodless coup on Mars and had kidnapped Gabriel's girlfriend, Renay. With a squadron of Chinese flghters guarding the wormhole exit and another squadron patroling around Mars, with the assistance of the spaceship Marcinko, Gabriel must find a way to get back and save Renay and learn who is really behind the takeover. As with the other books, the author did a superb job of worldbuilding.
October 4, 2013
I have enjoyed every book in this series. The action is well paced, the insight into the characters is developed slowly throughout the book and immersion into the mission is both easy and complete. I highly recommend the entire series as each book is built upon the previous ones. I would be pleased to read of further adventures of Gabriel and his team.
April 29, 2015
A decent, well-written story, but it is definately the weakest of the trilogy. The surprises are too obvious and the ending was unsatisfying. Regardless, I wouldn't mind hearing from Evan Gabriel again.
September 22, 2012
Fun series.
January 31, 2013
I enjoyed the funny parts if this one.
August 8, 2013
Total action from start to finish!
June 5, 2013
Mejor que la tercera parte, es un buen final de la saga de Evan Gabriel. Continua donde lo dejó el episodio 2, y Gabriel viaja a Marte para arreglar el desaguisado de la RDS y rescatar a Renay.
September 25, 2014
very enjoyable series.
February 21, 2015
Solid military sci-fi
You have to wade through a lot of independent authors but finding a series like this is what makes it worthwhile
You have to wade through a lot of independent authors but finding a series like this is what makes it worthwhile
May 13, 2015
An entertaining wrap up to the series.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews