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Silver Ships #20
Conclave
The time is opportune for Alex Racine. Omnian efforts and sacrifices culminate in a singular opportunity. With good fortune, Alex will bring together the diverse races the Omnians have encountered.
Alex selects the human colonies of New Terra, Haraken, Omnia, and Méridien to solicit their attendance. Unknowingly, he sails toward a deadly encounter.
The Omnians have their supporters, but they also have their detractors. Nowhere is that truer than on Méridien. Alex, Renée de Guirnon, his partner, and Julien, the SADE leader, have continually disrupted the long-held norms of the powerful Confederation Houses.
In one instance, Alex wins the rights for SADEs to be freed from their boxes. In another, he presses the Confederation Council to construct ships and supply crews to support Omnia Ships’ fights against the dangerous Nua’ll spheres and Artifice.
However, Alex’s influence is most heavily felt when Mahima Ganesh, the tyrannical Council Leader, is deposed. Her supporters never forgive Alex for his trespass, and one House Leader decides Alex must pay for that insult.
Leader Darse Lemoyne is a clever man, who hopes to deal with Alex. Also, he desperately wants to be rid of an ambitious daughter. Daphne Lemoyne covets the House, while she pretends to be a doting daughter. If Darse succeeds in this plot, he rids himself of one problem or the other. If fortune stands by him, he will be done with both.
Alex selects the human colonies of New Terra, Haraken, Omnia, and Méridien to solicit their attendance. Unknowingly, he sails toward a deadly encounter.
The Omnians have their supporters, but they also have their detractors. Nowhere is that truer than on Méridien. Alex, Renée de Guirnon, his partner, and Julien, the SADE leader, have continually disrupted the long-held norms of the powerful Confederation Houses.
In one instance, Alex wins the rights for SADEs to be freed from their boxes. In another, he presses the Confederation Council to construct ships and supply crews to support Omnia Ships’ fights against the dangerous Nua’ll spheres and Artifice.
However, Alex’s influence is most heavily felt when Mahima Ganesh, the tyrannical Council Leader, is deposed. Her supporters never forgive Alex for his trespass, and one House Leader decides Alex must pay for that insult.
Leader Darse Lemoyne is a clever man, who hopes to deal with Alex. Also, he desperately wants to be rid of an ambitious daughter. Daphne Lemoyne covets the House, while she pretends to be a doting daughter. If Darse succeeds in this plot, he rids himself of one problem or the other. If fortune stands by him, he will be done with both.
423 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 15, 2021
161 people are currently reading
102 people want to read
About the author
S.H. Jucha
45 books472 followersFrom my early years to the present, books have been a refuge. They’ve fueled my imagination. I’ve traveled to faraway places and met aliens with Asimov, Heinlein, Clarke, Herbert, and Le Guin. I’ve explored historical events with Michener and Clavell, and I played spy with Ludlum and Fleming.
There’s no doubt that the early sci-fi masters influenced the writing of my first two series, The Silver Ships and Pyreans. I crafted my stories to give readers intimate views of my characters, who wrestle with the challenges of living in space and inhabiting alien worlds.
Life is rarely easy for these characters, who encounter aliens and calamities, but they persist and flourish. I revel in examining humankind’s will to survive. Not everyone plays fair or exhibits concern for other beings, but that’s another aspect of humans and aliens that I investigate.
My stories offer hope for humans today about what they might accomplish tomorrow far from our home world. Throughout my books, humans exhibit a will to persevere, without detriment to the vast majority of others.
Readers have been generous with their comments, which they’ve left on Amazon and Goodreads for others to review. I truly enjoy what I do, and I’m pleased to read how my stories have positively affected many readers’ lives.
If you’ve read my books, please consider posting a review on Amazon and Goodreads for every book, even a short one. Reviews attract other readers and are a great help to indie authors, such as me.
The Silver Ships novels have reached Amazon’s coveted #1 and #2 Best-Selling Sci-Fi book, multiple times, in the science fiction categories of first contact, space opera, and alien invasion.
There’s no doubt that the early sci-fi masters influenced the writing of my first two series, The Silver Ships and Pyreans. I crafted my stories to give readers intimate views of my characters, who wrestle with the challenges of living in space and inhabiting alien worlds.
Life is rarely easy for these characters, who encounter aliens and calamities, but they persist and flourish. I revel in examining humankind’s will to survive. Not everyone plays fair or exhibits concern for other beings, but that’s another aspect of humans and aliens that I investigate.
My stories offer hope for humans today about what they might accomplish tomorrow far from our home world. Throughout my books, humans exhibit a will to persevere, without detriment to the vast majority of others.
Readers have been generous with their comments, which they’ve left on Amazon and Goodreads for others to review. I truly enjoy what I do, and I’m pleased to read how my stories have positively affected many readers’ lives.
If you’ve read my books, please consider posting a review on Amazon and Goodreads for every book, even a short one. Reviews attract other readers and are a great help to indie authors, such as me.
The Silver Ships novels have reached Amazon’s coveted #1 and #2 Best-Selling Sci-Fi book, multiple times, in the science fiction categories of first contact, space opera, and alien invasion.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 67 reviews
August 31, 2023
I am so sad that this is the last book of the Silver Ship Series. I have enjoyed this series immensely. I have some books in the spin off series to read yet, and, I understand there is a new spin off series that will be coming out soon. I feel like I have lost old friends. I particularly enjoyed Julian and the SADES. If you are looking for an interesting space opera series, you cannot go wrong reading this one.
I read this as an audiobook downloaded from Audible. The book is fourteen hours and seventeen minutes. Nicole Poole does a good job narrating the series.
I read this as an audiobook downloaded from Audible. The book is fourteen hours and seventeen minutes. Nicole Poole does a good job narrating the series.
July 6, 2022
This has been a amazing series! If you haven't had the pleasure of joining this series at the very beginning, I encourage you to do so. If you are a fan of science fiction at its finest, you will definitely want to read this series in its entirety. It is very rare for an author to extend a series over twenty books, but this is one of those that did it in fantastic style. It is sad to see it go, but I think the time had come and, unfortunately, as the SADEs realized a long time ago, their human counterparts don't live forever, even though they wished they did.
This book is the culmination of an idea that Alex Racine has had for a long time. As you have read throughout all of these books, ideas and the ability to make them happen are a hallmark of Alex Racine and now his collection of various humans and aliens. Once the discovery of the Alliance was made and he found their ability to travel between worlds using domes, Alex knew that this technology had to be further developed. His own Harakens and now Omnian Ships had overtaken the entire universe with the building of silver ships.
Those first encounters with the silver ships set Alex on a road that would wind all through the know universe and then some. He recognized the unique abilities of these silver ships and then found how they were built. With a strong personal alliance with the Swei Swee, Alex found the builders of the silver ships and from that point on he was releasedd to roam the rest of the galaxy with an amazing entourage. Now he wants to use the dome constructs to allow all creatures, humans and aliens the ability to interact with each other at a moments notice. If his brilliant Senior Engineer Mickey can figure out how the domes and the platforms work, then that will be the solution to bringing peace to the galaxy as Alex Racine envisions it.
Yet, there are serious stumbling blocks that have to be overcome. It is known that the Messinants built the domes a long, long time ago and they did not leave "owner manuals"! So, by talking to the current owners and operators of the working domes, Senior Engineer Mickey and his group found out how they operated, but that's about it. He'll need to come up with some way of figuring out why the domes and transportation platforms within them work they way they do. If the Omnians can figure out how to turn a dome on or off that would be a great start. There are domes that are devoid of life and seem to be at the end of a string of domes. Why these were placed here is unknown. If they could be moved to more used full systems, then countless other civilizations would have an tremendous economical benefit right there for their use. But, the one time Mickey and his group did try messing with a dome, the almost blew up an entire moon. So, it's an understatement that they will have to be very careful.
What Alex wants is for domes to be placed on a suitable moon of a planet with a sufficiently advanced race. That will join the rest of the galaxy in peaceful commerce that will benefit everyone and maintain peace for all. And that's his dream, a peaceful galaxy where war is unknown. Realistically, he knows that there are a vast number of species that he and his Omnians know nothing about. So, peace can only come with what they know, but if all the known universe stands together, then they could defeat any threats that may arise. So, he needs Senior Engineer Mickey and his collection of very bright engineers to figure out this extremely advanced technology. He's betting that they will do just that. And to demonstrate his faith in his people, he's willing to attempt to gather all the leaders of the worlds he has visited into a single meeting or conclave to at least talk among each other. But, getting all of these different species together at a single place is going to be a tremendous task. Even the SADEs understand the logistics nightmare they are facing. Yet, they know Alex wants it done and they understand why. So, it's going to happen one way or another. Oh, and by the way, Alex and Renée will not significantly participate in the Conclave! So how's this going to work?
In my reading experience, there aren't many authors that can write a twenty book series and still retain much of an audience. Yet, S. H. Jucha has done so and magnificently. His story has stayed true to it's beginning when Alex Racine as a young man, found a derelict starship hurling through his neighborhood of space and made a miraculous rescue of the ship and its occupants. Here we find the beginning our story and a hint of how it will go. Alex Racine interacts with an artificial intelligence who is actually controlling the derelict starship and they form a relationship that changed the universe. It also set the tone for this entire series. See, Alex is a very peaceful man, he's also kind and caring and highly intelligent. He's great to be around and people, both human and otherwise, come to love him and his way of approaching the world. In a word, Alex Racine is nice and it's not often that you get to read twenty books about a nice guy that does nice things for the entire universe! Thanks, Mr. Jucha!
This book is the culmination of an idea that Alex Racine has had for a long time. As you have read throughout all of these books, ideas and the ability to make them happen are a hallmark of Alex Racine and now his collection of various humans and aliens. Once the discovery of the Alliance was made and he found their ability to travel between worlds using domes, Alex knew that this technology had to be further developed. His own Harakens and now Omnian Ships had overtaken the entire universe with the building of silver ships.
Those first encounters with the silver ships set Alex on a road that would wind all through the know universe and then some. He recognized the unique abilities of these silver ships and then found how they were built. With a strong personal alliance with the Swei Swee, Alex found the builders of the silver ships and from that point on he was releasedd to roam the rest of the galaxy with an amazing entourage. Now he wants to use the dome constructs to allow all creatures, humans and aliens the ability to interact with each other at a moments notice. If his brilliant Senior Engineer Mickey can figure out how the domes and the platforms work, then that will be the solution to bringing peace to the galaxy as Alex Racine envisions it.
Yet, there are serious stumbling blocks that have to be overcome. It is known that the Messinants built the domes a long, long time ago and they did not leave "owner manuals"! So, by talking to the current owners and operators of the working domes, Senior Engineer Mickey and his group found out how they operated, but that's about it. He'll need to come up with some way of figuring out why the domes and transportation platforms within them work they way they do. If the Omnians can figure out how to turn a dome on or off that would be a great start. There are domes that are devoid of life and seem to be at the end of a string of domes. Why these were placed here is unknown. If they could be moved to more used full systems, then countless other civilizations would have an tremendous economical benefit right there for their use. But, the one time Mickey and his group did try messing with a dome, the almost blew up an entire moon. So, it's an understatement that they will have to be very careful.
What Alex wants is for domes to be placed on a suitable moon of a planet with a sufficiently advanced race. That will join the rest of the galaxy in peaceful commerce that will benefit everyone and maintain peace for all. And that's his dream, a peaceful galaxy where war is unknown. Realistically, he knows that there are a vast number of species that he and his Omnians know nothing about. So, peace can only come with what they know, but if all the known universe stands together, then they could defeat any threats that may arise. So, he needs Senior Engineer Mickey and his collection of very bright engineers to figure out this extremely advanced technology. He's betting that they will do just that. And to demonstrate his faith in his people, he's willing to attempt to gather all the leaders of the worlds he has visited into a single meeting or conclave to at least talk among each other. But, getting all of these different species together at a single place is going to be a tremendous task. Even the SADEs understand the logistics nightmare they are facing. Yet, they know Alex wants it done and they understand why. So, it's going to happen one way or another. Oh, and by the way, Alex and Renée will not significantly participate in the Conclave! So how's this going to work?
In my reading experience, there aren't many authors that can write a twenty book series and still retain much of an audience. Yet, S. H. Jucha has done so and magnificently. His story has stayed true to it's beginning when Alex Racine as a young man, found a derelict starship hurling through his neighborhood of space and made a miraculous rescue of the ship and its occupants. Here we find the beginning our story and a hint of how it will go. Alex Racine interacts with an artificial intelligence who is actually controlling the derelict starship and they form a relationship that changed the universe. It also set the tone for this entire series. See, Alex is a very peaceful man, he's also kind and caring and highly intelligent. He's great to be around and people, both human and otherwise, come to love him and his way of approaching the world. In a word, Alex Racine is nice and it's not often that you get to read twenty books about a nice guy that does nice things for the entire universe! Thanks, Mr. Jucha!
April 25, 2021
This book marks the end of the Silver Ships & Pyreans series. There were definitely moments when I hoped for a bit more action, but it became clear that the author was really 'tidying up' storylines, but it was an excellent end to what has been a long and entertaining story.
There were some little things that didn’t quite work e.g.
Overall I would probably have given this book four stars, but in the light of the pleasure this series has provided I have upgraded this to five.
There were some little things that didn’t quite work e.g.
Overall I would probably have given this book four stars, but in the light of the pleasure this series has provided I have upgraded this to five.
May 13, 2021
A great way to wrap up the series.
I was not expecting the end of this series. The story moved on with the great challenges of politics and discovery. The relationships and challenges of mortal evenings of a different kind moved the story asking at a good pace. The ending was satisfying.
I was not expecting the end of this series. The story moved on with the great challenges of politics and discovery. The relationships and challenges of mortal evenings of a different kind moved the story asking at a good pace. The ending was satisfying.
May 11, 2021
Wonderful ending!
Great ending to a wonderful, well written series. Hopefully we can see the array of races on the screen one day, and enjoy this incredible story visually.
Great ending to a wonderful, well written series. Hopefully we can see the array of races on the screen one day, and enjoy this incredible story visually.
April 25, 2022
Superb!
May 7, 2021
THANK YOU
I am so sad to see the series end. It's like losing a family member. I thank you for the great joy you have given me through your great books.
I am so sad to see the series end. It's like losing a family member. I thank you for the great joy you have given me through your great books.
May 4, 2021
Marvelous
I couldn’t ask for a better story and it’s wonderful characters and the “Aliens” including the humans who spreed out across the stars. What a way to end a 20 plus book series! Thanks and ENJOY!
I couldn’t ask for a better story and it’s wonderful characters and the “Aliens” including the humans who spreed out across the stars. What a way to end a 20 plus book series! Thanks and ENJOY!
May 2, 2021
An awesome book to finish an amazing series.
April 29, 2021
Great closure to all the loose ends. Wish our world could learn from it.
Alex, Renee and their family of friends have now United all worlds for the betterment of each race and accepted shades as their brothers and sisters. Safe e watch over their aging biologicals to let their lives play out but always be remembered. Great end to magical adventures. Thanks
Alex, Renee and their family of friends have now United all worlds for the betterment of each race and accepted shades as their brothers and sisters. Safe e watch over their aging biologicals to let their lives play out but always be remembered. Great end to magical adventures. Thanks
April 23, 2021
Thank you for these characters
From the first to the last, these books have been about characters you come to love. I start to read the books on the day they come out. Read before work, on any break at work and at night until it’s finished. It was like catching up with the adventures of old friends. Wondrous adventures. Thanks again.
From the first to the last, these books have been about characters you come to love. I start to read the books on the day they come out. Read before work, on any break at work and at night until it’s finished. It was like catching up with the adventures of old friends. Wondrous adventures. Thanks again.
April 21, 2021
Great series!
So sorry that this is the last in the series. What a wonderful and intriguing series it was. The imaginative rendering of different worlds and peoples across the universe, all types, good and bad, civilizations so differing from each other but with some commonality in what may make a successful and time tested existence.
So sorry that this is the last in the series. What a wonderful and intriguing series it was. The imaginative rendering of different worlds and peoples across the universe, all types, good and bad, civilizations so differing from each other but with some commonality in what may make a successful and time tested existence.
April 20, 2021
Wow, what a great way to end this amazing and in-depth multi galaxy adventure and philosophical journey. Thank you very much and I look forward to your next series.
April 17, 2021
A fitting farewell tour of the Silver Ships universe
I approached reading this book with dread, knowing it was the end of the series. But the author takes us through his farewell to this work in style, letting us greet old friends and reminding us of all the adventures along the way.
I approached reading this book with dread, knowing it was the end of the series. But the author takes us through his farewell to this work in style, letting us greet old friends and reminding us of all the adventures along the way.
April 18, 2021
Great ending for an excellent series
One of my favorite series and this was a fitting end to this superb series. You get to see just about every character and the culmination of Alex's master plan!
One of my favorite series and this was a fitting end to this superb series. You get to see just about every character and the culmination of Alex's master plan!
April 18, 2021
Wow
I wasn't ready for the ending but this is one of the best series ever! I can't wait for the next series!
I wasn't ready for the ending but this is one of the best series ever! I can't wait for the next series!
July 30, 2021
This is the final book in this series. This has been a long time coming and it is ultimately not satisfying.
This book has continued this series downward trend, since Artifice's demise. There has been a antagonist vacuum since the last of Artifice's former servants have been delt with. All that has been available, for Alex's rage, have been people and races with independent thought.
This book is basically a series of events where Alex and his friends are bullying everyone and everyone who doesn't automatically think their way. There is no explaining their reasoning, no accepting other points of views. Just think like us, or else. And the perpetual "well if you don't know (what you did wrong), I'm not going to tell you", attitude of all the "heros" of the story, it's hard to relate to anyone.
The stakes are lower, then they've ever been. It has been "will the silver ships wipe out inhabited worlds" to "will a trade agreement be reached". There are fake suspense items like "will Alex be killed"? Or "can they really move a gate"? Of course there is no stakes to any of this, and it is all as predictable as it seems it would be. There are no twists and turns, a few speed bumps but no twists. Not that this is anything new for this series, but it is more blatant in this book. Or maybe I'm less willing to forgive these things at this point.
The epilog covers like a hundred years of points after the end of this book. While this is all very interesting, it all felt rushed and none of it really felt meaningful as it all sped by so fast there was no time to flesh out the details and make me care about it.
All in all, this was a disappointing end to the series. The heros behave like petulant children, the stakes are super low, and there is no one to root for. This series was at its best where there was a clear evil to be delt with. When the childish behavior of Alex's friends was directed at a++holes, it was funny and felt righteous. When it's directed at aliens with different perspectives, it feels mean spirited.
I highly recommend this series, up till Artifice's end, but that is a good time to opt out.
This book has continued this series downward trend, since Artifice's demise. There has been a antagonist vacuum since the last of Artifice's former servants have been delt with. All that has been available, for Alex's rage, have been people and races with independent thought.
This book is basically a series of events where Alex and his friends are bullying everyone and everyone who doesn't automatically think their way. There is no explaining their reasoning, no accepting other points of views. Just think like us, or else. And the perpetual "well if you don't know (what you did wrong), I'm not going to tell you", attitude of all the "heros" of the story, it's hard to relate to anyone.
The stakes are lower, then they've ever been. It has been "will the silver ships wipe out inhabited worlds" to "will a trade agreement be reached". There are fake suspense items like "will Alex be killed"? Or "can they really move a gate"? Of course there is no stakes to any of this, and it is all as predictable as it seems it would be. There are no twists and turns, a few speed bumps but no twists. Not that this is anything new for this series, but it is more blatant in this book. Or maybe I'm less willing to forgive these things at this point.
The epilog covers like a hundred years of points after the end of this book. While this is all very interesting, it all felt rushed and none of it really felt meaningful as it all sped by so fast there was no time to flesh out the details and make me care about it.
All in all, this was a disappointing end to the series. The heros behave like petulant children, the stakes are super low, and there is no one to root for. This series was at its best where there was a clear evil to be delt with. When the childish behavior of Alex's friends was directed at a++holes, it was funny and felt righteous. When it's directed at aliens with different perspectives, it feels mean spirited.
I highly recommend this series, up till Artifice's end, but that is a good time to opt out.
September 14, 2023
This book needs less Casey in it. I found her intensely annoying, and she never developed as a character either.
Jucha could have done better with the character.
That said I did enjoy the parts without Casey and the book overall. Shame it's the last in the series. I feel that there's a lot more within the galaxy Jucha has created that could be explored.
Jucha could have done better with the character.
That said I did enjoy the parts without Casey and the book overall. Shame it's the last in the series. I feel that there's a lot more within the galaxy Jucha has created that could be explored.
July 14, 2023
A fine ending with some flaws
I've enjoyed this series, so I was a bit disappointed by some narrative flaws in this closing story.
Brief summary: All the different realms Alex and his team have explored come together in this finale, as the known galaxy takes bold steps towards peace and prosperity.
Most of the flaws were from points of plot tension that didn't quite fit the broader narrative. (Warning: spoilers)
I feel Jucha was more thorough in avoiding plot holes like these in the previous books in the series.
Overall, however, it was a good tying together of all the various threads that have been developed in the series.
I've enjoyed this series, so I was a bit disappointed by some narrative flaws in this closing story.
Brief summary: All the different realms Alex and his team have explored come together in this finale, as the known galaxy takes bold steps towards peace and prosperity.
Most of the flaws were from points of plot tension that didn't quite fit the broader narrative. (Warning: spoilers)
I feel Jucha was more thorough in avoiding plot holes like these in the previous books in the series.
Overall, however, it was a good tying together of all the various threads that have been developed in the series.
May 12, 2021
Space Opera or Commentary on Social Justice?
(Spoilers ahead). This series covers a wide range of characters, races, and locations, mixed with some fun space travel engineering ideas, a bit of magical medicine and brain implants that replace modern-day smart phones.
There were some interesting tweaks regarding FTL travel and communication, and a quantum-coupled gate system to allow instant travel across the local galaxy. The SADE (AI) characters rarely have flaws, with the exception of one AI who fully embraced the “heartless evil overlord” and another who was a “gentle giant” ruled by childish masters.
Now and then it was a challenge to follow the thread of who was who and how the characters related to each other. Some of the threads in the story were wrapped up too neatly, in my view, while others just petered out with minimal resolution. (The big bad Artifice AI gets a complete hardware refresh courtesy of a batch of AI clones/fan girls and then is left to... slowly degrade in isolation? Why? ) The conflict with the Colony suggested that the insectoids were exceedingly smart and very aggressive, but we never encounter the source of their intelligence, despite the fact that they appeared to be more than a match for the alliance races, quickly changing tactics and strategies as the heroes in the story worked to stop their expansion. The heroes rarely make mistakes, always save the day, and consistently put the bad guys in their place using peer pressure, social media, or political Aikido. In the case of one of the main characters, his super-human ability to solve problems and use multiple brain implants, combined with a semi-mystical fate to meet alien species and make friends everywhere he goes. My favorite thread was about the empath vs the psychopath assassin. There are enough threads and ideas to keep the reader engaged. Not a five star read, but a solid three-four, if you like space operas.
(Spoilers ahead). This series covers a wide range of characters, races, and locations, mixed with some fun space travel engineering ideas, a bit of magical medicine and brain implants that replace modern-day smart phones.
There were some interesting tweaks regarding FTL travel and communication, and a quantum-coupled gate system to allow instant travel across the local galaxy. The SADE (AI) characters rarely have flaws, with the exception of one AI who fully embraced the “heartless evil overlord” and another who was a “gentle giant” ruled by childish masters.
Now and then it was a challenge to follow the thread of who was who and how the characters related to each other. Some of the threads in the story were wrapped up too neatly, in my view, while others just petered out with minimal resolution. (The big bad Artifice AI gets a complete hardware refresh courtesy of a batch of AI clones/fan girls and then is left to... slowly degrade in isolation? Why? ) The conflict with the Colony suggested that the insectoids were exceedingly smart and very aggressive, but we never encounter the source of their intelligence, despite the fact that they appeared to be more than a match for the alliance races, quickly changing tactics and strategies as the heroes in the story worked to stop their expansion. The heroes rarely make mistakes, always save the day, and consistently put the bad guys in their place using peer pressure, social media, or political Aikido. In the case of one of the main characters, his super-human ability to solve problems and use multiple brain implants, combined with a semi-mystical fate to meet alien species and make friends everywhere he goes. My favorite thread was about the empath vs the psychopath assassin. There are enough threads and ideas to keep the reader engaged. Not a five star read, but a solid three-four, if you like space operas.
July 25, 2021
"Wait did I finish that yet?" - Not the thoughts an author should wish to engender in their reader, yet that's exactly what I found myself contemplating.
Throughout my Jucha marathon, I have highlighted the pros and cons of the series as I've dutifully written up my reviews and contemplated a rating. In the plus column is a deep ensemble cast, a galaxy of worlds and strong relationships, yet, with each positive comes at least one negative, character-clones, worlds lacking any real diversity and unrealistically over-platonic relationships.
Jucha's politics shine through, he comes across as deeply conservative grasping unsuccessfully at being progressive. The women may hold high offices, yet they too frequently resemble a hareem around an all-powerful leader, and frequently there are strong gender roles bubbling to the surface.
There's also a universal blind spot when it comes to diversity of thought. No one in an entire galaxy seems uncomfortable with the monopoly, the dictatorial style. Hey, you don't have a democracy? Well, you should democratically elect a dictator! In such regards, this whole series is nothing short of subversively unaware at best.
There is no nuance and no real threat. I won't spoil the limited plot and action that there is, save to comment that it comes as no surprise that the jeopardy was, in reality, never really there.
Ultimately even the editing lets it down and what remains is forgettable pulp. So why 2 stars? Well anyone who gets this far is either a completionist (mea culpa!) or a fan of Utopia-porn. In the latter case, maybe you'll get a kick in this incredibly rushed finale (please let it be a finale!) which summarises the final decades in the final chapter. For anyone yet to start, maybe you should wait until you've nothing better to do?
Throughout my Jucha marathon, I have highlighted the pros and cons of the series as I've dutifully written up my reviews and contemplated a rating. In the plus column is a deep ensemble cast, a galaxy of worlds and strong relationships, yet, with each positive comes at least one negative, character-clones, worlds lacking any real diversity and unrealistically over-platonic relationships.
Jucha's politics shine through, he comes across as deeply conservative grasping unsuccessfully at being progressive. The women may hold high offices, yet they too frequently resemble a hareem around an all-powerful leader, and frequently there are strong gender roles bubbling to the surface.
There's also a universal blind spot when it comes to diversity of thought. No one in an entire galaxy seems uncomfortable with the monopoly, the dictatorial style. Hey, you don't have a democracy? Well, you should democratically elect a dictator! In such regards, this whole series is nothing short of subversively unaware at best.
There is no nuance and no real threat. I won't spoil the limited plot and action that there is, save to comment that it comes as no surprise that the jeopardy was, in reality, never really there.
Ultimately even the editing lets it down and what remains is forgettable pulp. So why 2 stars? Well anyone who gets this far is either a completionist (mea culpa!) or a fan of Utopia-porn. In the latter case, maybe you'll get a kick in this incredibly rushed finale (please let it be a finale!) which summarises the final decades in the final chapter. For anyone yet to start, maybe you should wait until you've nothing better to do?
May 20, 2021
The Silver Ships series was a great series and I enjoy most all of it. The things that I liked about it were; it had a big variety of aliens of all sizes and shapes; it had empaths who gave the stories a new twist; many people and species had implants which made communications between individuals and species easy; it had a variety of space ships; it took place over the course of more than 30 years and the characters changed as the years went by.
The things that I did not particularly like about the series was after about 5 or 6 books it was hard to keep track of who was human, an alien, or a SADE. There were a large number of SADE's and some had similar names. It was hard some time to determine whether a human, alien or SADE was speaking. The series all took place on a number of planets and systems and after a few books it was sometimes hard to remember which planet the characters were from.
The end of the book tied together all of the loose ends. Except I did not fully understand how some human women over the years developed the empath ability and how it was maintained. I was hoping that at the end of the book the Messinants would return, maybe in a big flash of blue light, and provide a means to get rid of the Colony in one fell swoop, like spray the planets that occupy with a chemical that causes them to lose their instinct to eat and thus they would shortly starve to death. I would also have had the Massinants provide the secrets for constructing domes and gates, and the ability to use antimatter energy. And it would have been great if they also provided words on the fate of the militarist SADE's who relocated to a galaxy far far away. That would have been my idea of an alternate ending for the books.
The things that I did not particularly like about the series was after about 5 or 6 books it was hard to keep track of who was human, an alien, or a SADE. There were a large number of SADE's and some had similar names. It was hard some time to determine whether a human, alien or SADE was speaking. The series all took place on a number of planets and systems and after a few books it was sometimes hard to remember which planet the characters were from.
The end of the book tied together all of the loose ends. Except I did not fully understand how some human women over the years developed the empath ability and how it was maintained. I was hoping that at the end of the book the Messinants would return, maybe in a big flash of blue light, and provide a means to get rid of the Colony in one fell swoop, like spray the planets that occupy with a chemical that causes them to lose their instinct to eat and thus they would shortly starve to death. I would also have had the Massinants provide the secrets for constructing domes and gates, and the ability to use antimatter energy. And it would have been great if they also provided words on the fate of the militarist SADE's who relocated to a galaxy far far away. That would have been my idea of an alternate ending for the books.
April 30, 2021
This is book #20, so Goodreads has it listed in correctly as #19?
I liked it, but did have difficulty remembering some of the characters from previous books. Considering the length of the series (24 books in total) and the amount of time from the first to the last, I am not suprised that I don't remember them all.
i liked the premises and the "lessons" in regards to "aliens" and AIs as equals, politics, greed and all the other responsies, both positive and negative, by the various species and Jucha definitely made up some interesting species over the series. It's not often that I see such a wide variety of non-humanoid aliens (who are not monstors). It did feel like too much story was skipped over in certain parts, although I understand why considering the length of the book.. I actually liked the inlcuded epilogue bringing it all to a conclusion. I would have liked to have more, but it did bring the series to an "end" that felt "complete".
The opening comments by the writer indicated this is the last book in both the Silver Ships and Pyreans series. (The two series interconnect.) It saddens me, but I can understand the writer wanting to go on to something else. For these being Jucha's 1st two series, he did an excellent job.
I liked it, but did have difficulty remembering some of the characters from previous books. Considering the length of the series (24 books in total) and the amount of time from the first to the last, I am not suprised that I don't remember them all.
i liked the premises and the "lessons" in regards to "aliens" and AIs as equals, politics, greed and all the other responsies, both positive and negative, by the various species and Jucha definitely made up some interesting species over the series. It's not often that I see such a wide variety of non-humanoid aliens (who are not monstors). It did feel like too much story was skipped over in certain parts, although I understand why considering the length of the book.. I actually liked the inlcuded epilogue bringing it all to a conclusion. I would have liked to have more, but it did bring the series to an "end" that felt "complete".
The opening comments by the writer indicated this is the last book in both the Silver Ships and Pyreans series. (The two series interconnect.) It saddens me, but I can understand the writer wanting to go on to something else. For these being Jucha's 1st two series, he did an excellent job.
November 19, 2022
Wow Wow Wow! Superb Ending to the series
There was enough great writing and new intrigue in the first part of this final book in the Silver Ships Series to be a great book in and of itself.
However, the wrapping up of all the various storylines from the previous 23 books (20 Silver Ships and the related 4 Pyrean books) at the end was superb. There were joyful and poignant endings to each of the major characters from the books.
I have to say that this is the best series I’ve ever read. Not to take away from Weber’s Honorverse or Brown’s Frontiers Saga both of which I’ve enjoyed but these 24 books have been a joy to read from beginning to end.
After a little break to catch up on some other reading I plan to start the new Jucha series called Gate Ghosts whose first book is: Axis Crossing.
There was enough great writing and new intrigue in the first part of this final book in the Silver Ships Series to be a great book in and of itself.
However, the wrapping up of all the various storylines from the previous 23 books (20 Silver Ships and the related 4 Pyrean books) at the end was superb. There were joyful and poignant endings to each of the major characters from the books.
I have to say that this is the best series I’ve ever read. Not to take away from Weber’s Honorverse or Brown’s Frontiers Saga both of which I’ve enjoyed but these 24 books have been a joy to read from beginning to end.
After a little break to catch up on some other reading I plan to start the new Jucha series called Gate Ghosts whose first book is: Axis Crossing.
May 19, 2021
The SILVER SHIPS have achieved their final orbit around Omnia. Alex Racine and Renee deGuirnon, are now in their late 170's. Since rescuing the Reveur and saving the Meridien colonists, Alex and Renee, and their shipmates, have faced innumerable challenges, and dealt with a wide variety of sentient beings, both biological and digital. Steven Jucha has done an wonderful job of chronicling their adventures, but as the saying goes "All good things must come to an end", and now is the time for Alex, Renee, and their compatriots to sit back and enjoy their accomplishments.
August 14, 2021
The end... 😥
I put off reading this book not knowing it would be the last of Alex Racine. I remember the first time I read/met Alex and have bought all books as soon as they come out. The author did a wonderful job on the outcome and problem solving of the Q-Gates. The conclave brought together all the wonderful people and aliens we've met through out the series. It was sad to go thru the epilogue but it closed most of the questions I had for the future.
I put off reading this book not knowing it would be the last of Alex Racine. I remember the first time I read/met Alex and have bought all books as soon as they come out. The author did a wonderful job on the outcome and problem solving of the Q-Gates. The conclave brought together all the wonderful people and aliens we've met through out the series. It was sad to go thru the epilogue but it closed most of the questions I had for the future.
August 25, 2021
Silver ships are a great read
This series of 20 books held my interest though the development of the characters. It interesting the science ,social, political,and medical intrigue. There is a fair amount of romance an family interaction. Think about how you interact with others that don't look like you. But you overcome your fear and become friends. That's what I loved about this series including the space battles.
This series of 20 books held my interest though the development of the characters. It interesting the science ,social, political,and medical intrigue. There is a fair amount of romance an family interaction. Think about how you interact with others that don't look like you. But you overcome your fear and become friends. That's what I loved about this series including the space battles.
August 31, 2021
The conclusion to a moving, epic series spanning multiple galaxies!
I’m filled with amazement at the outstanding stories full of wonderful characters in interesting, complex plots that comprise this series. I’m also feeling sad that I’ve reached the end: it’s like I’m saying goodbye to this wonderful cast of characters, that have become almost like family.
Some of the books in this series are un-put-downable, and all of them were memorable and interesting.
I’m filled with amazement at the outstanding stories full of wonderful characters in interesting, complex plots that comprise this series. I’m also feeling sad that I’ve reached the end: it’s like I’m saying goodbye to this wonderful cast of characters, that have become almost like family.
Some of the books in this series are un-put-downable, and all of them were memorable and interesting.
May 20, 2021
Great ending to a great series
The final book in the Silver Ship/ Pyrean series highlights the main characters and key episodes in the series while including the personalities of individuals and characteristics of the diverse planetary societies that enriched the story. A very entertaining series.
The final book in the Silver Ship/ Pyrean series highlights the main characters and key episodes in the series while including the personalities of individuals and characteristics of the diverse planetary societies that enriched the story. A very entertaining series.
September 16, 2021
What a finale!
I have loved the Silver Ships series from start to finish and I'm devastated it's finished now. That said what a perfect ending.if you are thinking of reading this book and haven't read the rest of the series then do yourself a massive favour and go and read the first book in the series and work from tgerer
I have loved the Silver Ships series from start to finish and I'm devastated it's finished now. That said what a perfect ending.if you are thinking of reading this book and haven't read the rest of the series then do yourself a massive favour and go and read the first book in the series and work from tgerer
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