End of the Circle (Robotech #18) (Mass Market Paperback)

by Jack McKinney (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
A Warp In The Space-Time Continuum...

The SDF-3 has remanifested from spacefold, but no one aboard has the faintest idea where they are. The ship appears to be grounded in some glowing fog, ensnared by light itself. Lang and Rem dub the phenomenon "newspace" -- but are at a loss to explain what it really is and who, or what, is keeping them there. For Lang, it seems like old times: The ship's Protoculture drives have disappeared.

But other events are transpiring, unbeknownst to the stranded crew of the SDF-3.

In Earthspace, the Ark Angel has been spared the fate suffered by the REF main fleet after the Invid transubstantiation. Vince and Jean Grant decide that the only logical course of action is to try and locate the SDF-3...

On Haydon IV, something has awakened the Awareness -- and a mysterious change comes over the Haydonites. Exedore and the four Sterlings suddenly find themselves imprisoned beneath the surface -- as the planet leaves orbit, destination unknown...

All of the pieces of this strange cosmic puzzle are about to come together...and the ultimate conflict is imminent. The question is:

Will The Universe Survive?

From the Inside Flap
A Warp In The Space-Time Continuum...

The SDF-3 has remanifested from spacefold, but no one aboard has the faintest idea where they are. The ship appears to be grounded in some glowing fog, ensnared by light itself. Lang and Rem dub the phenomenon "newspace" -- but are at a loss to explain what it really is and who, or what, is keeping them there. For Lang, it seems like old times: The ship's Protoculture drives have disappeared.

But other events are transpiring, unbeknownst to the stranded crew of the SDF-3.

In Earthspace, the Ark Angel has been spared the fate suffered by the REF main fleet after the Invid transubstantiation. Vince and Jean Grant decide that the only logical course of action is to try and locate the SDF-3...

On Haydon IV, something has awakened the Awareness -- and a mysterious change comes over the Haydonites. Exedore and the four Sterlings suddenly find themselves imprisoned beneath the surface -- as the planet leaves orbit, destination unknown...

All of the pieces of this strange cosmic puzzle are about to come together...and the ultimate conflict is imminent. The question is:

Will The Universe Survive?

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback
• Publisher: Del Rey (December 16, 1989)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0345363116
• ISBN-13: 978-0345363114
• Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 4.3 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #522,150 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Satisfying End, November 14, 2000

By	Michael Janke "www.xanga.com/mikeknaj" (San Diego, CA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Jack McKinney's controversial THE END OF THE CIRCLE attempts the impossible: to please die-hard fans of a sci-fi series in an attempt to try and bring their beloved saga to a close. The end result is admirable and I, personally, have no real complaints.

The SDF-3, failing to appear in Earth space for the final assault on the Regis, de-folds in a mysterious void. Meanwhile, Scott Bernard on Earth begins his search for the lost ship while the remaining Sentinels on Tirol make some hard discoveries. The ensuing action brings all of the generations together, solves one of Robotech's biggest mysteries, graphically reveals the climax of Protoculture's existence, and ties up all remaining loose ends with the remarkable Intersection segment as well as a final "Recollections" chapter from Lisa Hayes-Hunter.

THE END OF THE CIRCLE brings very satisfying closure to one of the best science fiction sagas around. As a hard core fan of the entire novel series I was quite pleased with the way the story arc was brought to a close and I believe that most other fans would probably agree with me on that. The authors deserve major credit for succeeding at a very difficult task. Five solid stars.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hello everyone...I am a Robotech addict., April 4, 2004

By	Bjorn R. Buer "wolf-sigma" (Northern California) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I read my first Robotech book because I liked the picture on the cover. Since then I have quite literally memorized every book in the series, including Sentinals as well as Zentradi Uprising and Before the Invid Storm. I own every book of every series and all of them are very dog earred. So I know what I am saying when I say that End of the Circle was a world altering experience for me.

Although I may sound like a fanatic, my reasoning is this. Jack McKinney (two authors, one of whom, James Lucero went on to write some great Star Wars books and, ironically, the final wrap up of that series as well) was forced to write his books on what is basically a kids show, Robotech. He was constrained in his characters and could do little with the story. And yet his books managed to add an amazing depth to the Robotech world that was sorely lacking in the cartoons. So much so in fact that his books touched off a virtual war between the cartoon purists and the book converts. I bring this up because in this book, the gloves are off.

End of the Circle is where McKinney finally gets to write the story that he wanted to write. All the characters are much more mature than their series debute. Scott is no longer a one dimensional tragic hero and Marlene is now more human as well as being a bit grizzled. Everyone is back, if only for just a cammio. Now I have read the reviews that say this is a weakness but if this had not been in the book, these same people would probably have been angry about that too. McKinney is simply trying to include all the characters whom we have grown too like up to this point.

Yes, there is a lot that is wrapped up in this book. Yes...some may say there is too much to be wrapped up, with a few eyebrows going up about some story lines. And yet, while McKinney could have left well enough alone, it would not have been a true Science Fiction book, where eyebrows are SUPPOSED to go up occasionally. I mean come on, how exactly does a crystal in a "warp core" enable faster than light speed. Maybe not the best comparison but its all I could come up with.

When I was young, I loved this book. When I was adolecent, I loved this book and started to actually understand what was going on. As an adult, I still love this book and I think I understand much of what is going on. But you know what, I am going to read this book one more time, just to see what I might have missed. And I think all of you should too.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Don't forget funny., July 21, 2002

By	Michael Valdivielso (Alexandria, VA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

There are many reviews of these book. I really enjoyed the novel, but I also think that while trying to tie up all the loose ends that sometimes the story is hurt. When finishing a series you have to let some things go, so the reader goes away still wondering a tad.

I think the author (or authors) tried just a little to much to cover every person, event or plot line in the Robotech universe. That is why I took away one star.

On the other hand there was a lot of humor. For example, a ship named N'trpriz with a Karbarran Captain named K'rrk, a science officer with horns, a female communications officer and the guy in engineering has a thick Highlander's accent!

"The second star to the right?" - Rick Hunter.