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Journeys of the Catechist #3
A Triumph of Souls
The bestselling author of The Dig & the Flinx series delivers the thrilling conclusion to his popular new epic fantasy trilogy, Journeys of the Catechist.
400 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published March 1, 2000
13 people are currently reading
217 people want to read
About the author
Alan Dean Foster
498 books2,033 followersBestselling science fiction writer Alan Dean Foster was born in New York City in 1946, but raised mainly in California. He received a B.A. in Political Science from UCLA in 1968, and a M.F.A. in 1969. Foster lives in Arizona with his wife, but he enjoys traveling because it gives him opportunities to meet new people and explore new places and cultures. This interest is carried over to his writing, but with a twist: the new places encountered in his books are likely to be on another planet, and the people may belong to an alien race.
Foster began his career as an author when a letter he sent to Arkham Collection was purchased by the editor and published in the magazine in 1968. His first novel, The Tar-Aiym Krang, introduced the Humanx Commonwealth, a galactic alliance between humans and an insectlike race called Thranx. Several other novels, including the Icerigger trilogy, are also set in the world of the Commonwealth. The Tar-Aiym Krang also marked the first appearance of Flinx, a young man with paranormal abilities, who reappears in other books, including Orphan Star, For Love of Mother-Not, and Flinx in Flux.
Foster has also written The Damned series and the Spellsinger series, which includes The Hour of the Gate, The Moment of the Magician, The Paths of the Perambulator, and Son of Spellsinger, among others. Other books include novelizations of science fiction movies and television shows such as Star Trek, The Black Hole, Starman, Star Wars, and the Alien movies. Splinter of the Mind's Eye, a bestselling novel based on the Star Wars movies, received the Galaxy Award in 1979. The book Cyber Way won the Southwest Book Award for Fiction in 1990. His novel Our Lady of the Machine won him the UPC Award (Spain) in 1993. He also won the Ignotus Award (Spain) in 1994 and the Stannik Award (Russia) in 2000.
Foster began his career as an author when a letter he sent to Arkham Collection was purchased by the editor and published in the magazine in 1968. His first novel, The Tar-Aiym Krang, introduced the Humanx Commonwealth, a galactic alliance between humans and an insectlike race called Thranx. Several other novels, including the Icerigger trilogy, are also set in the world of the Commonwealth. The Tar-Aiym Krang also marked the first appearance of Flinx, a young man with paranormal abilities, who reappears in other books, including Orphan Star, For Love of Mother-Not, and Flinx in Flux.
Foster has also written The Damned series and the Spellsinger series, which includes The Hour of the Gate, The Moment of the Magician, The Paths of the Perambulator, and Son of Spellsinger, among others. Other books include novelizations of science fiction movies and television shows such as Star Trek, The Black Hole, Starman, Star Wars, and the Alien movies. Splinter of the Mind's Eye, a bestselling novel based on the Star Wars movies, received the Galaxy Award in 1979. The book Cyber Way won the Southwest Book Award for Fiction in 1990. His novel Our Lady of the Machine won him the UPC Award (Spain) in 1993. He also won the Ignotus Award (Spain) in 1994 and the Stannik Award (Russia) in 2000.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
December 31, 2014
Having found at last a way across the sea, Etjole Ehomba is not finding the journey any easier than before. Few things speed him on his way, and many things attempt to delay him. But the herdsman is still holding fast to his promise to the dying Tarin Beckwith: to rescue the Visioness Themaryl from her abductor and return her to her people. He goes with prophecy ringing in his ears announcing his quest is doomed to failure, and himself to death if he continues. Yet he has already staked honor as well as life on this venture, and a prophecy, however many times it has been repeated, is hardly going to hold him back...
Continuing the same improbable journey as before, Etjole still manages to find himself a host of new adventures. From things as seemingly mundane as a boat becalmed at sea from lack of wind to the bizarre town populated by ex-denizens of the netherworld, nothing is as it seems. Etjole's still got a pack full of surprises, but some of the items and abilities revealed previously find new and unexpected uses.
With all of the buildup, the end managed to be yet another surprise. Here, though, was where the finale may push credulity too far. Hymneth the Possessed has all along shown himself to be little better than a spoiled child at heart, with no concept of what other people really want or feel. From that vantage, it could make sense, but he's also shown to be extremely perverse in his pleasures. I accept the ending, but it does put a somewhat dubious note on an otherwise solid trilogy.
The final wrap-up is excellent, though. It moves briskly through the choices everyone makes, showcases the homecomings, and still manages to sneak in a few surprises. Simna, though he would never know it, ends up worst off---but it's his own choice to make, and there's enough of an opening to suggest that one day he might see things differently.
For those who enjoyed the first two books, this one is a must read. It works well enough alone but really ought to be read as the cap of the trilogy. I rate this book Recommended.
Continuing the same improbable journey as before, Etjole still manages to find himself a host of new adventures. From things as seemingly mundane as a boat becalmed at sea from lack of wind to the bizarre town populated by ex-denizens of the netherworld, nothing is as it seems. Etjole's still got a pack full of surprises, but some of the items and abilities revealed previously find new and unexpected uses.
With all of the buildup, the end managed to be yet another surprise. Here, though, was where the finale may push credulity too far. Hymneth the Possessed has all along shown himself to be little better than a spoiled child at heart, with no concept of what other people really want or feel. From that vantage, it could make sense, but he's also shown to be extremely perverse in his pleasures. I accept the ending, but it does put a somewhat dubious note on an otherwise solid trilogy.
The final wrap-up is excellent, though. It moves briskly through the choices everyone makes, showcases the homecomings, and still manages to sneak in a few surprises. Simna, though he would never know it, ends up worst off---but it's his own choice to make, and there's enough of an opening to suggest that one day he might see things differently.
For those who enjoyed the first two books, this one is a must read. It works well enough alone but really ought to be read as the cap of the trilogy. I rate this book Recommended.
May 19, 2022
Lots of action and surprises. Satisfying read. Recommended.
February 16, 2017
This is an amazing series. Etjole Ehomba is an interesting character; wise, gentle, strong. His compatriots all have their own personalities and bring their own talent to this quest. Each challenge and all the different people are so vast and different. What an imagination!
August 22, 2008
I don't read much of this type of book - sort of science fiction/fantasy. I enjoyed this trilogy, though don't think it'll be particularly memorable. I found the author's universe compelling and interesting and the characters cheesy, but not overly so. There were a few moments where the author's morality picture sort of overwhelmed the story (e.g., a dig at TV and its ability to inculcate too much GroupThink), but mostly the story flowed along nicely. I don't think the second two books would stand alone very well -- better to read the trilogy in order.
November 3, 2014
Once again I'm reminded of why I like this author. Some of the chapters can stand alone and the reader won't need the information presented earlier. Mr. Foster's imagination makes reading full of surprises and quite unpredictable.
January 21, 2008
The last chapter left me wanting. It seemed that much more could be written, but the author just wanted to end the trilogy.
January 6, 2010
I hated having to leave these characters.
January 5, 2011
Odd, imaginative, with an excellent protagonist. Not the kind of book I have leisure for, but hard to put down, not knowing what will happen next.
August 3, 2011
Nice little fantasy book. Kinds of disconnected, but with a happy ending. Plenty of magic and special powers.
November 22, 2020
The final book in the trilogy, the group finishes its quest with some surprise revelations that make for a satisfying ending.
January 2, 2015
The wait is finally over
I had totally forgotten the ending. Some of it was a surprise - but not all. Very glad I finally found them again.
I had totally forgotten the ending. Some of it was a surprise - but not all. Very glad I finally found them again.
March 28, 2015
I probably should have read the earlier books but I thoroughly enjoyed this one.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews