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The Apocalypse #3
Doomsday Game
The Conclusion to the alternate worlds saga.
It's the end of the world... again.
Over the years, the Pathfinders - distinguished by the fact of their each being the sole survivor of the apocalypse on different parallel Earths - have become a tight-knit team, exploring alternate Earths in the hopes of finding one to which they, and the Authority, might one day evacuate.
Now one has been an untrammeled Eden on which humanity never evolved.
But just when their job seems over, three new threats one is an old, if unexpected, enemy; another comes from within the Authority itself; while a third is so completely unexpected that the Pathfinders are quickly overwhelmed.
Can Jerry, Rozalia, Nadia, Yuichi, and the others face up to this final threat - or has their luck finally run out?
It's the end of the world... again.
Over the years, the Pathfinders - distinguished by the fact of their each being the sole survivor of the apocalypse on different parallel Earths - have become a tight-knit team, exploring alternate Earths in the hopes of finding one to which they, and the Authority, might one day evacuate.
Now one has been an untrammeled Eden on which humanity never evolved.
But just when their job seems over, three new threats one is an old, if unexpected, enemy; another comes from within the Authority itself; while a third is so completely unexpected that the Pathfinders are quickly overwhelmed.
Can Jerry, Rozalia, Nadia, Yuichi, and the others face up to this final threat - or has their luck finally run out?
306 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 1, 2019
14 people are currently reading
103 people want to read
About the author
Gary Gibson
52 books421 followersGary Gibson's first novel, Angel Stations, was published in 2004. Interzone called it "dense and involving, puzzling and perplexing. It's unabashed science fiction, with an almost "Golden Age" feel to it ..."
His second novel was Against Gravity in 2005; the Guardian described it as "building on current trends to produce a convincing picture of the world in 2096."
Stealing Light was first published in 2007, and garnered a wide range of positive reviews. The London Times called it: "A violent, inventive, relentlessly gripping adventure ... intelligently written and thought-provoking".
Stealing Light is the first volume in a four-book space opera, the final volume of which, Marauder, was published in 2013.
To date, Gary has written ten novels, most recently Extinction Game and its sequel, Survival Game.
His second novel was Against Gravity in 2005; the Guardian described it as "building on current trends to produce a convincing picture of the world in 2096."
Stealing Light was first published in 2007, and garnered a wide range of positive reviews. The London Times called it: "A violent, inventive, relentlessly gripping adventure ... intelligently written and thought-provoking".
Stealing Light is the first volume in a four-book space opera, the final volume of which, Marauder, was published in 2013.
To date, Gary has written ten novels, most recently Extinction Game and its sequel, Survival Game.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
August 17, 2019
I raced through this, wanting to know how the series ends and it doesn’t disappoint. It’s written from more than one point of you as the story weaves across many alternates, some characters die, but it all ends with a satisfying climax.
July 30, 2019
Book three of the apocalypse duology, which is now a trilogy and this is equally as excellent as the other two in the series. Alternate Earths, including one devoid of atmosphere, abound as the Pathfinders have to save their own lives as the find themselves no longer required. Excellent sci-fi from a fine author.
Ray Smillie
Ray Smillie
May 24, 2022
Good finish to the trilogy.
Enjoyed this series. No-one needs to be told the foolishness of the human race but this story sets out quite a realistic future or futures of humanity if we fail to realise the global consequences of corporate greed and militaristic narrow mindedness. At least we get to see that there are opportunities for humanity to survive. Recommended as a good sci-fi read.
Enjoyed this series. No-one needs to be told the foolishness of the human race but this story sets out quite a realistic future or futures of humanity if we fail to realise the global consequences of corporate greed and militaristic narrow mindedness. At least we get to see that there are opportunities for humanity to survive. Recommended as a good sci-fi read.
December 27, 2020
I loved this series, and this was the ending I was hoping for. Some peace for some of the Pathfinders but more mystery and discovery for the others. This book was so fast-paced and action packed, and I couldn't put it down. Will be reading more from Gary Gibson.
July 16, 2019
It is funny to review a book labelled "The Apocalypse Duology #3".
But I guess sometimes, you do get more stories coming out than you anticipated going in. That's what happens when you play with parallel universes: there's lots of them, and lots of way that we, humans, can screw up. The one where they try to recover antimatter batteries is particularly interesting, outside of some deus-ex-machina shenanigans.
The general themes of the previous book remain, and the Pathfinders adventures remain high danger, high politics. A caveat though: you probably need to reread or have fresh in mind the previous book, because there's not much of a "what has gone before" explanation before we go straight into the action.
But I guess sometimes, you do get more stories coming out than you anticipated going in. That's what happens when you play with parallel universes: there's lots of them, and lots of way that we, humans, can screw up. The one where they try to recover antimatter batteries is particularly interesting, outside of some deus-ex-machina shenanigans.
The general themes of the previous book remain, and the Pathfinders adventures remain high danger, high politics. A caveat though: you probably need to reread or have fresh in mind the previous book, because there's not much of a "what has gone before" explanation before we go straight into the action.
February 26, 2023
Not a bad ending to the series,it went out with more of a whimper than a bang, although Randell went out with a bang.
I enjoyed the books overall, interesting enough, to keep me engaged throughout. Plenty going on in the plotline.
I enjoyed the books overall, interesting enough, to keep me engaged throughout. Plenty going on in the plotline.
May 7, 2019
A good end to the series but it felt less cohesive than the previous two books.
August 1, 2019
A fast-paced sci-fi action-adventure, a worthy sequel of the other to books.
February 27, 2020
A bit short. Like an episode in a TV-series. Definitely not Gibson's best work, but entertaining enough as is. If I could, I'd give it two and a half stars.
April 22, 2022
Gary Gibson does not write bad books period!
I've got every book by him, and I have never been disappointed.
I enjoy the plot, the characters and the universe(s).
Looking forward reading Echogenesis📖
I've got every book by him, and I have never been disappointed.
I enjoy the plot, the characters and the universe(s).
Looking forward reading Echogenesis📖
December 2, 2025
A fantastic conclusion to a really excellent story. Just thinking about it now makes me want to go back and read the whole thing over from the first book.
July 15, 2020
Doomsday Game is the third entry in Gary Gibson’s Apocalypse series. The first two books, Extinction Game and Survival Game , were published through Tor UK, while Doomsday Game is the third novel of the series and one that Gibson self-published following the end of his contract with Tor UK. I really enjoyed the first two novels in the multiverse that Gibson has created, and I’ve been eager to see where he would take the story in the concluding volume of this trilogy.
The Pathfinder’s base on an alternate Easter Island is slowly becoming less hospitable, with the cause of that planet’s apocalypse now making its way there. Knowing time is nearly up, the Authority has a fresh new Earth, Nova Terra, available for rehousing its population. But politics on their world mean that they are unwilling to share information with other countries. Katya, a scientist from the Novo-Rossiyskaya Imperiya, and the only expert on the stages and their technology, does not approve of this, and she’s taken matters into her own hands by contacting other governments to supply the stage transfer technology. Amidst this the Authority are still seeking a working Hypersphere, a deadly device that can take the user to any alternate they can imagine, but brings an enemy that tracks its use and destroys all it finds. When an explosion at the Authority’s facility injures Katya and other Authority politicians and puts antimatter production back, those working for their own goals come forward to do what they feel is best regardless of cost. But that’s not the only danger, and an unexpected incursion on Easter Island puts everyone at risk. It’s down to the remaining Pathfinders to not only help the Authority, but to save its world before an apocalypse befalls another civilisation…
Where Extinction Game and Survival Game opened a rich and vast plethora of alternate Earths, each with differing extinction events, Doomsday Game brings the focus sharply back to the Pathfinders and, to an extent, the Authority. With the base on Easter Island under attack, Gibson uses familiar characters and details from previous novels to rack up the tension, letting the reader know that things are going to get messy. There’s the constant question of what will happen, will the Pathfinders and Authority succeed in driving off the imminent threat, and beyond that survive into the future. This is particularly true for the Pathfinders, as they’ve never been treated quite right by the Authority and have the constant worry of what will be done with them.
Interspersed with these events we visit and revisit some alternates, giving a glimpse into the multiverse of previous novels, but never quite dwelling on them. Gibson also drops an interesting detail in while here, and while it begs for further development, it’s something that’s seemingly forgotten for most of the novel. It’s a frustrating aspect for many reasons, yet some answers are given before the final page turns.
Ultimately Doomsday Game doesn’t quite match up to the first two novels in terms of its scope, but doubles down on the characters we know, and lets them carry us through the events. With a multiverse rich with possibilities, this is a little disappointing, especially given how well he incorporated this in Extinction Game and Survival Game. As a fan of these books and characters I did come away with a sense of completion and satisfaction, yet was left wondering just what else might be out there to discover…
The Pathfinder’s base on an alternate Easter Island is slowly becoming less hospitable, with the cause of that planet’s apocalypse now making its way there. Knowing time is nearly up, the Authority has a fresh new Earth, Nova Terra, available for rehousing its population. But politics on their world mean that they are unwilling to share information with other countries. Katya, a scientist from the Novo-Rossiyskaya Imperiya, and the only expert on the stages and their technology, does not approve of this, and she’s taken matters into her own hands by contacting other governments to supply the stage transfer technology. Amidst this the Authority are still seeking a working Hypersphere, a deadly device that can take the user to any alternate they can imagine, but brings an enemy that tracks its use and destroys all it finds. When an explosion at the Authority’s facility injures Katya and other Authority politicians and puts antimatter production back, those working for their own goals come forward to do what they feel is best regardless of cost. But that’s not the only danger, and an unexpected incursion on Easter Island puts everyone at risk. It’s down to the remaining Pathfinders to not only help the Authority, but to save its world before an apocalypse befalls another civilisation…
Where Extinction Game and Survival Game opened a rich and vast plethora of alternate Earths, each with differing extinction events, Doomsday Game brings the focus sharply back to the Pathfinders and, to an extent, the Authority. With the base on Easter Island under attack, Gibson uses familiar characters and details from previous novels to rack up the tension, letting the reader know that things are going to get messy. There’s the constant question of what will happen, will the Pathfinders and Authority succeed in driving off the imminent threat, and beyond that survive into the future. This is particularly true for the Pathfinders, as they’ve never been treated quite right by the Authority and have the constant worry of what will be done with them.
Interspersed with these events we visit and revisit some alternates, giving a glimpse into the multiverse of previous novels, but never quite dwelling on them. Gibson also drops an interesting detail in while here, and while it begs for further development, it’s something that’s seemingly forgotten for most of the novel. It’s a frustrating aspect for many reasons, yet some answers are given before the final page turns.
Ultimately Doomsday Game doesn’t quite match up to the first two novels in terms of its scope, but doubles down on the characters we know, and lets them carry us through the events. With a multiverse rich with possibilities, this is a little disappointing, especially given how well he incorporated this in Extinction Game and Survival Game. As a fan of these books and characters I did come away with a sense of completion and satisfaction, yet was left wondering just what else might be out there to discover…
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews