Kaspar's Box [Hardcover]

Jack L. Chalker (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 25, 2003

For centuries, interstellar prospectors had searched for the fabled worlds of the Three Kings, the lost El Dorado of the galaxy. But if any found it, they were never heard from again. The made cyborg Prophet, Ishmael Hand, discovered the mysterious system, with artefacts indicating a superhuman technology, and he had refused to reveal its location before vanishing. Now a chance encounter between what's left of the once-mighty human military and an inexplicable alien force has brought an armed expedition to the third planet of the Three Kings, Kaspar. They will join forces with the survivors of the two earlier expeditions, who has been marooned both by alien power and by human treachery, as they at last encounter the alien minds behind the mysterious triple planetary system - and they will face a decision that may determine the fate of the entire human race!

Product Details

• Hardcover: 288 pages
• Publisher: Baen; 1St Edition edition (March 25, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 074343563X
• ISBN-13: 978-0743435635
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 6.5 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #529,422 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Best book of trilogy but weak ending, December 10, 2004

By 

Doc (Sydney, N.S.W. Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Kaspar's Box (The Three Kings) (Mass Market Paperback)

I agree with the other reviewers who have wondered where the ending is in this book. I give it 4 stars because I found it the best read of the three (Balshazzar and Melchoir were both tough hauls setting up the characters in their first halves) it really does feel like there's chapters, even a whole other book, missing at the end. I expected a 'To Be Continued' though I wouldn't really another book in this series.

I'm a huge Chalker fan from early on in his writing but this one could have been a large single rather than a trilogy, even though the Three Kings obviously lend themselves to the trilogy format.

Much as I admire Jack Chalker this trilogy is a weaker effort and probably only for fans.

2.0 out of 5 stars "Where's the rest of me", February 18, 2006

By 

Silverback (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Kaspar's Box (Hardcover)

I used to like Jack Chalker's work and on the strength of his earlier books picked up this trilogy at my local library. The first two books were OK and he did generate some interest and tension in them but this last book was a big disappointment. This book should have been where he went for it and released all the tension he tried to generate in books one and two. Instead, he ran out of steam, lost interest in this project, copped out, take your pick. The big finish just dissolved into largely incomprehensible and unsatisfying mush and was about as interesting as limp, three week old celery in the crisper drawer.

4.0 out of 5 stars Wish it were about 100 pages longer, August 23, 2004

By 

C. L. Merlen "chuckvan" (Ridgefield, Connecticut United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Kaspar's Box (Hardcover)

This is the third in a trilogy which should be read in order. As always, Chalker develops the characters well. He also enlists a couple from the previous two books. I just got the feeling that about 3/4 of the way through, he decided to abridge the remainder of the novel that could have been. Arrival at the three kings is rushed, and all of the answers are spoon fed in the last chapter. It would have been better for me if it was drawn out, but then, now I have to wait for him to write his next book, as I have read all of Chalker's books. He is still my favorite Sci-Fi author.