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Skeen #3
Skeen's Search
A space outlaw must rescue the remnants of an ancient alien race—before her galaxy explodes—in the conclusion to an action-packed science fiction trilogy.
An unrepentant scoundrel and collector of priceless alien artifacts and treasures—like a tomb raider Lara Croft with issues and a spaceship, or a female Indiana Jones with a looser moral code—the inimitable Skeen makes her final appearance in a thrilling galaxy-hopping adventure that blends science fiction and quest fantasy in the finest Andre Norton tradition, inserting a healthy dose of Terry Pratchett Discworld wackiness for good measure.
After stumbling through a one-way dimensional gate constructed eons earlier by the enigmatic and nearly extinct Ykx, Skeen has finally found her way off Mistommerk. Despite numerous trials and great turmoil, Skeen is at long last free, with a ship and crew that includes her new friends, shapeshifter Timka and Ykx keyholder Lipitero..
But freedom always has a price, and Skeen must pay for her deliverance. She’ll have to make her way through a treacherous galaxy to locate the planet Rallen—which may or may not actually exist—gather up any remaining Ykx she happens to find there, and bring them back to Mistommerk before the gate closes permanently.
Their journey is about to take Skeen and her crewmates through some of the nastiest corners of a particularly nasty galaxy and towards an inevitable confrontation with the war vessels of a powerful and distinctly unfriendly Empire. But the biggest threat of all is the solar system itself: Its sun is about to go supernova, which could result in a very explosive finale indeed for Skeen and her space-going misadventures.
With her exciting, ingenious, and wildly entertaining Skeen’s Search, author Jo Clayton offers a fitting and supremely satisfying climax to her thrilling outer space saga, as one of the most uniquely endearing rogues in the history of speculative fiction takes her final bow with a grand flourish.
An unrepentant scoundrel and collector of priceless alien artifacts and treasures—like a tomb raider Lara Croft with issues and a spaceship, or a female Indiana Jones with a looser moral code—the inimitable Skeen makes her final appearance in a thrilling galaxy-hopping adventure that blends science fiction and quest fantasy in the finest Andre Norton tradition, inserting a healthy dose of Terry Pratchett Discworld wackiness for good measure.
After stumbling through a one-way dimensional gate constructed eons earlier by the enigmatic and nearly extinct Ykx, Skeen has finally found her way off Mistommerk. Despite numerous trials and great turmoil, Skeen is at long last free, with a ship and crew that includes her new friends, shapeshifter Timka and Ykx keyholder Lipitero..
But freedom always has a price, and Skeen must pay for her deliverance. She’ll have to make her way through a treacherous galaxy to locate the planet Rallen—which may or may not actually exist—gather up any remaining Ykx she happens to find there, and bring them back to Mistommerk before the gate closes permanently.
Their journey is about to take Skeen and her crewmates through some of the nastiest corners of a particularly nasty galaxy and towards an inevitable confrontation with the war vessels of a powerful and distinctly unfriendly Empire. But the biggest threat of all is the solar system itself: Its sun is about to go supernova, which could result in a very explosive finale indeed for Skeen and her space-going misadventures.
With her exciting, ingenious, and wildly entertaining Skeen’s Search, author Jo Clayton offers a fitting and supremely satisfying climax to her thrilling outer space saga, as one of the most uniquely endearing rogues in the history of speculative fiction takes her final bow with a grand flourish.
350 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 1, 1987
10 people are currently reading
86 people want to read
About the author
Jo Clayton
71 books66 followersJo Clayton, whose parents named her after Jo in Little Women, was born and raised in Modesto, California. She and her three sisters shared a room and took turns telling each other bedtime stories. One of her sisters noted that Jo's stories were the best, and often contained science fiction and fantasy elements.
Clayton graduated from the University of California in 1963, Summa Cum Laude, and started teaching near Los Angeles.
In 1969, after a religious experience, she moved to New Orleans, Louisiana, joining the teaching order Sisters of Mount Carmel as a novice. She left three years later, before taking final orders.
During her time in New Orleans, Clayton sold sketches and paintings in Pioneer Square to supplement her income.
After being robbed several times, Clayton moved to Portland, Oregon in 1983. She remained there for the rest of her life.
Clayton was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 1996. Jo continued to write during her year and a half in the hospital. She finished Drum Calls, the second book of the Drums of Chaos series, and was halfway through the third and final book when she lost her struggle with multiple myeloma in February, 1998.
Literary executor Katherine Kerr made arrangements with established author Kevin Andrew Murphy to finish the third book of the Drums of Chaos series. It is now completed.
Clayton graduated from the University of California in 1963, Summa Cum Laude, and started teaching near Los Angeles.
In 1969, after a religious experience, she moved to New Orleans, Louisiana, joining the teaching order Sisters of Mount Carmel as a novice. She left three years later, before taking final orders.
During her time in New Orleans, Clayton sold sketches and paintings in Pioneer Square to supplement her income.
After being robbed several times, Clayton moved to Portland, Oregon in 1983. She remained there for the rest of her life.
Clayton was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 1996. Jo continued to write during her year and a half in the hospital. She finished Drum Calls, the second book of the Drums of Chaos series, and was halfway through the third and final book when she lost her struggle with multiple myeloma in February, 1998.
Literary executor Katherine Kerr made arrangements with established author Kevin Andrew Murphy to finish the third book of the Drums of Chaos series. It is now completed.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
October 30, 2018
A fitting end to the Skeen trilogy, though it did feel rather rushed at the end. I admit to quite enjoying these books, and am somewhat sad that there won't ever be any more. Ms. Clayton clearly left hooks for future volumes, too. Having enjoyed this series, I rather think I'm going to have to read her Diadem series.
April 20, 2022
This wraps up the third in the Skeen trilogy. Not sure what I can say without spoiling, but all ends in a satisfactory manner. In order to 'fill out' this last book a sub-plot is devised that was, to my mind, maybe a bit forced, but perhaps can be regarded as a means to bring the Ykx closer to being like other beings, capable of being flawed, especially when stressed. Great series, I very much enjoyed it -- Skeen is a great character. Impressed too that it was written in the '80's and wonder how I missed it!
May 24, 2017
It was a nice finish to the trilogy. The loose ends were tied up, and there was lots of action.
As usual, the writing style was a nice bonus. I often found myself grinning at those little digressions. But, once again, there was a lot of worldbuilding without much time to digest it, so the impression of confusion remains.
If you're a fan of speculative science fiction, you'll definitely like it.
As usual, the writing style was a nice bonus. I often found myself grinning at those little digressions. But, once again, there was a lot of worldbuilding without much time to digest it, so the impression of confusion remains.
If you're a fan of speculative science fiction, you'll definitely like it.
January 31, 2021
The series wraps up nicely, with most of Skeen's eclectic group's adventures taking place in space, with some downtime on an interesting pre-spaceflight planet. Clayton does a good job interlacing different levels of tech and various aliens into more primitive worlds. More people should look up her books to read. They are always well written, with sophisticated world building, strong characters and satisfying plots.
October 20, 2022
Realistic and ugly.
Skeen has made it there and back again. Found out she shouldn't be paranoid all the time. Carries out some heroic deeds? Has a sort of happy ending?
Skeen has made it there and back again. Found out she shouldn't be paranoid all the time. Carries out some heroic deeds? Has a sort of happy ending?
September 30, 2021
So it finally became the space opera that I originally wanted. And it was good! A huge chunk of this one had Skeen and crew as secondary characters in the background, which was interesting. It ended the overarching story arch well enough but it also left me wanting more, which is sad because there won't be more. But it was a lot of fun. It occurred to me as I was finishing it up that the density of the novels with the rich world and all the subquests and side tales left me feeling like I'd been reading four or five books for a few months rather than a trilogy in a few weeks.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews