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Grand Central Arena #4
Shadows of Hyperion
The Bill is Coming Due…
… on Project Hyperion. Ariane Austin discovers she and her friends Marc, Simon, and Wu Kung are crippled after their battles in Challenges of the Deeps, unable to use their Arena-born powers. The newly-embodied Hyperion AI, Dr. Alexander Fairchild, is working with a Molothos officer to undermine the Faction of Humanity… while he also pulls deadly strings back home in the Solar System. The insane Hyperion Maria-Susanna is active at last, and someone has murdered one of the Champions of the Arena even as he was coming to meet with Marc DuQuesne. All of these events are related, and the collision of such forces will shake the entirety of the Arena, and beyond, as they find that everything, everything, is affected by the long, dark shadows of Hyperion.
… on Project Hyperion. Ariane Austin discovers she and her friends Marc, Simon, and Wu Kung are crippled after their battles in Challenges of the Deeps, unable to use their Arena-born powers. The newly-embodied Hyperion AI, Dr. Alexander Fairchild, is working with a Molothos officer to undermine the Faction of Humanity… while he also pulls deadly strings back home in the Solar System. The insane Hyperion Maria-Susanna is active at last, and someone has murdered one of the Champions of the Arena even as he was coming to meet with Marc DuQuesne. All of these events are related, and the collision of such forces will shake the entirety of the Arena, and beyond, as they find that everything, everything, is affected by the long, dark shadows of Hyperion.
- GenresScience FictionFantasy
612 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 3, 2021
11 people are currently reading
48 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
June 6, 2021
Hmm, interesting conclusion to the series.
(assuming it is the conclusion). I love the books about the arena, and while I certainly hope the author produces more, it looks like this one ties up as many loose ends as we're likely to get, and so I don't hold out too much hopefor additional titles in the series. I do however, wholeheartedly recommend the series, especially the first book, since it plunges readers into such an amazing world. I'd guess that nearly any scifi fan will enjoy the first book, and may or may not enjoy further volumes in the series, but if you're like me, and like to see storylines completed, then reading all four books is a must, but if you just want an excellent tale, and something to fire your imagination, and don't care about completing the series, then the first book is good enough, but by not reading the rest, you truly are cutting off your access to so much more in the arena universe.
It's a very exciting journey, and one I'd highly recommend.
(assuming it is the conclusion). I love the books about the arena, and while I certainly hope the author produces more, it looks like this one ties up as many loose ends as we're likely to get, and so I don't hold out too much hopefor additional titles in the series. I do however, wholeheartedly recommend the series, especially the first book, since it plunges readers into such an amazing world. I'd guess that nearly any scifi fan will enjoy the first book, and may or may not enjoy further volumes in the series, but if you're like me, and like to see storylines completed, then reading all four books is a must, but if you just want an excellent tale, and something to fire your imagination, and don't care about completing the series, then the first book is good enough, but by not reading the rest, you truly are cutting off your access to so much more in the arena universe.
It's a very exciting journey, and one I'd highly recommend.
June 23, 2021
Fun book with lots of action. I reminds me of my youth when I read comics. The anime art style cover is one I have never liked. Just ignore the off putting covert art and read the book. I read comics long before that art style came into vogue. Super heroes vs. super villains and throw in some BEMs besides. This book is better than comics and so is my imagination. Ryk Spoor writes well and it is nice to have a longer story line with more complications than short even continued comics allow. I recommend this book, but read the first three first. The book does have a lengthy summary of what went before which served as a good reminder for me since it has been a while since reading the first three books. Anyways, you don't have too read the first three books, but I still recommend reading the first three before this one.
June 16, 2021
a very well done series entry
I really liked this one. It has less dependence on the superhuman aspect of the core group’s powers and less of the dated language and tropes. I enjoy the other three books a bit in spite of the corny stuff, and here Spoor seems to be letting go of those (IMO) unnecessarily derivative markers. This book achieves a much freer re-interpretation of the heart of the old sf thrillers, making it even more of a tribute to their sense of wonder and revelation in all the possibilities imaginable when we reach beyond the constraints of here and now. I’m very glad Mr Spoor is still writing this series—I’d been wondering if he had put it aside—and I’m really looking forward to the next chapter in these Adventures. Hope it happens soon!
I really liked this one. It has less dependence on the superhuman aspect of the core group’s powers and less of the dated language and tropes. I enjoy the other three books a bit in spite of the corny stuff, and here Spoor seems to be letting go of those (IMO) unnecessarily derivative markers. This book achieves a much freer re-interpretation of the heart of the old sf thrillers, making it even more of a tribute to their sense of wonder and revelation in all the possibilities imaginable when we reach beyond the constraints of here and now. I’m very glad Mr Spoor is still writing this series—I’d been wondering if he had put it aside—and I’m really looking forward to the next chapter in these Adventures. Hope it happens soon!
June 26, 2021
Good as any yet in series
Very happy this book. Rather than making the mistake of rehashing the same story line ever more extreme this is a logical movement within the world created. More development of characters but fitting into the frame of the original just allowing for logical growth and development over time.
Very happy this book. Rather than making the mistake of rehashing the same story line ever more extreme this is a logical movement within the world created. More development of characters but fitting into the frame of the original just allowing for logical growth and development over time.
May 27, 2021
Remember grand central Arena ? well book 4 of this series is coming out!
The book came through a Kickstarter project and I am glad I was a baker for this one!
Action, laughter, drama, high stakes... the book has it all!
Now take a backseat and enjoy the journey!
The book came through a Kickstarter project and I am glad I was a baker for this one!
Action, laughter, drama, high stakes... the book has it all!
Now take a backseat and enjoy the journey!
May 14, 2023
The core cast expands in this installment in the series and they split up to pursue different missions. Some of the big adventures don't include everyone, so there's a lot more places to explore and secrets to reveal. Fun series!
June 12, 2021
Great
So good to get more background on the Hyperions. Can't wait for the next book. Good world building and consistent characters.
So good to get more background on the Hyperions. Can't wait for the next book. Good world building and consistent characters.
July 27, 2021
A worthy continuation
This was worth the wait. I found it to be enjoyable and a great tribute to E. E. "Doc" Smith and old Science Fiction in general.
This was worth the wait. I found it to be enjoyable and a great tribute to E. E. "Doc" Smith and old Science Fiction in general.
July 28, 2021
Excellent!
Another excellent installment in the Grand Central Arena series. Ryk Spoor has once again produced a book that is riveting and almost impossible to put down.
Another excellent installment in the Grand Central Arena series. Ryk Spoor has once again produced a book that is riveting and almost impossible to put down.
November 29, 2021
The Best One
Action packed, twist and turns in the story, great interaction,well written,and where is the next book as much more to the story to be told!
Action packed, twist and turns in the story, great interaction,well written,and where is the next book as much more to the story to be told!
September 13, 2025
This series is amazing, and this is the best one so far. Fun/weird characters and lots of action. I really hope it continues.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews