219 books
—
119 voters
Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read.
Start by marking “Conquerors' Legacy (The Conquerors Saga, #3)” as Want to Read:
Conquerors' Legacy
(The Conquerors Saga #3)
by
While humans and alien Zhirrzh prepare for galactic war, a handful of individuals from both sides learn that the reason was all a misunderstanding. Both were mistaken. To avoid extinction for both their races, this band becomes the focus of a subtle dangerous force that intends overall destruction.
Get A Copy
Paperback, 486 pages
Published
June 1st 1996
by Spectra
(first published 1996)
Friend Reviews
To see what your friends thought of this book,
please sign up.
Reader Q&A
To ask other readers questions about
Conquerors' Legacy,
please sign up.
Be the first to ask a question about Conquerors' Legacy
Community Reviews
Showing 1-30
Start your review of Conquerors' Legacy (The Conquerors Saga, #3)
Jan 02, 2018
Mel Anie
rated it
it was amazing
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
space opera fans
Shelves:
sci-fi
Rating: 5!!
Mini, spoiler-free review
Conquerors' Legacy, the 3rd book in The Conquerors Saga, is a cherry on a top of a cupcake - the best in the entire trilogy. In its final conclusion, we are finally able to learn the real reason for the war, motives of either of the sides, but also we get some answers to the most notorious questions about the trilogy.
I dare to say that I'm fairly positive about this space opera. I had a lot of fun while reading it. Some parts were hilarious, others w ...more
Mini, spoiler-free review
Conquerors' Legacy, the 3rd book in The Conquerors Saga, is a cherry on a top of a cupcake - the best in the entire trilogy. In its final conclusion, we are finally able to learn the real reason for the war, motives of either of the sides, but also we get some answers to the most notorious questions about the trilogy.
I dare to say that I'm fairly positive about this space opera. I had a lot of fun while reading it. Some parts were hilarious, others w ...more
This book shows why Timothy Zahn is such a great writer. In the first book of the series, he followed several different humans and in the second book, he followed the aliens. In this book, he follows both and creates one of the most compelling Science Fiction stories I've ever read.
To start off with, the plot of this book(and the whole trilogy really) was fantastic. I was rooting for all of the main characters, on both sides of the conflict, to find a peaceful settlement. I found myself racing, ...more
To start off with, the plot of this book(and the whole trilogy really) was fantastic. I was rooting for all of the main characters, on both sides of the conflict, to find a peaceful settlement. I found myself racing, ...more
(Update July 2013: The Conqueror's series is one of the most impressive stories I have ever read (I've read 2000). Although not all the books earned an A grade on first read because of the complexity, the overall series is a strong grade A. I suspect each story will earn a grade A on second read. The story includes more characters, situations, interactions, species, and concepts than most authors deal with in a lifetime. Yet the author manages to keep it all straight for the reader, an impressiv
...more
This series is space opera at its best. Two species have a first contact that resulted in an inability communicate and a war based on a misunderstanding. The first book mainly tells the story of the humans. The second mainly is from the alien point of view.
The finale is trying to service both sides, and so is as long as the first two combined. This isn't necisarily a negative, but perhap an illustration of why the trilogy isn't always the best format for telling an epic story.
It is so refreshing ...more
The finale is trying to service both sides, and so is as long as the first two combined. This isn't necisarily a negative, but perhap an illustration of why the trilogy isn't always the best format for telling an epic story.
It is so refreshing ...more
While the first two books of this trilogy were amazing, this book was a struggle to get through, having all of the pieces laid out and the conclusion basically in the bag by the start, but we had to wait over 400 pages to finally get around to it. Overall was a disappointing conclusion to what could have been a great trilogy.
A small handful of humans and Zhirrzh now understand that the war between their two peoples was due to a horrific misunderstanding. How many more will die before both sides can come together and talk things out? There's politics, fighting, bluffing, and lots of reasoning about what other characters are doing. Business as usual for Timothy Zahn, in other words.
There was some weirdly unnecessary sexism that took me right out. Any dude who thinks a woman isn't qualified to be an advanced space figh ...more
There was some weirdly unnecessary sexism that took me right out. Any dude who thinks a woman isn't qualified to be an advanced space figh ...more
What an incredible end to an incredible series! It made for a late night, because the pace of the ending was astounding, and the climax thoroughly satisfying. I can't believe this is not more mainstream, or a movie or something.
My only true complaint was that I wanted a few more pages of resolution, but that's because I think a lot about aftermath. He did wrap up well. ...more
My only true complaint was that I wanted a few more pages of resolution, but that's because I think a lot about aftermath. He did wrap up well. ...more
I simply read this as the obligatory last part of the trilogy and actually don't remember even an impression of this volume.
...more
Not Zahn's best work - the ending in particular felt a little rushed, and the book as a whole over-plotted and under explained - but still a pretty good read.
...more
An interesting premise, but overly long - needn't have been a trilogy. Book 3 is the strongest and brings things together satisfyingly, but it takes an awfully long time to get to that payoff.
...more
I'm being a little harsh on the scoring here. I really enjoyed the first several chapters, with the jumping perspectives and all the moving parts. It's nice to read a story where the underlying message is that people (or aliens) generally want to do the right thing, are generally good, and that giving an assumed enemy the benefit of the doubt has value. And I rather enjoyed the family parallels across the humans and Zhirrzh, even if it was a little heavy handed. It still resonated.
The problem w ...more
The problem w ...more
A great ending for this trilogy. It started a bit slow, particularly compared to book no 2 but it quickly picked up the pace. Besides, I think it was as long as the previous two volumes taken together.
I really liked the rotating POVs, having a perspective of an AI... and the ending was definitely the best part. I love how in Zahn's books all the threads are tied so neatly in the end.
I have noticed only two things that weren't THAT great.
a) as much as I liked the ending, it was a bit abrupt - I' ...more
I really liked the rotating POVs, having a perspective of an AI... and the ending was definitely the best part. I love how in Zahn's books all the threads are tied so neatly in the end.
I have noticed only two things that weren't THAT great.
a) as much as I liked the ending, it was a bit abrupt - I' ...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
The third and final book in the Conquerers' Trilogy. Over 100 pages longer than either of the other 2 books, with a smaller font size for the type. I enjoyed the story, and I had a hard time putting this book down, but it was just a bit too long. A lot of the suspense created in the first two isn't there anymore - you now know who the bad guys are, what some of the big plot twists are, etc. Because of this, there were several times during my reading of book 3 that I was ready for Zahn to tie up
...more
The final volume in the trilogy, Conquerer's Legacy brings together all the threads of the tale in a neat finale. I enjoyed the point of view of Max, the ship-board parasentient computer, as it added a new perspective to the proceedings. Zahn keeps things moving well and the characters and plot are solid. The final pages are taut with anticipation and I was very happy with the final outcome. As in most novels of this type, I found myself wishing for more "after-story", I always want to know how
...more
Jun 13, 2015
John
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
sf-fantasy,
children-ya
Maybe a bit too much back and forthing among multiple scenes of action, but still a properly dramatic close to an above average space opera. I particularly liked the way the bad guys turned out not to be the expected ones. Except that it isn't clear to me (but then I skipped the middle volume...maybe it's in there)how the Zhirrzh elders can preserve their memories without having brains--and also their names are really hard to pronounce--I think all of Zahn's aliens are human enough to comprehend
...more
Oct 21, 2013
Cathleen Ash
added it
In this third book of three, the war between the Humans and other alien races that make up the Commonwealth, and the Zhirrzh, continues. Zahn has created a believable scenario - and the reader watches the struggle unfold between the species, knowing things of which both sides are unaware. Will the Zhirzzh and Humans be able to outwit the manipulative Mrachiani? Or will war continue, based on a lie and a misunderstanding? Find out as Zahn wraps up his Conqueror's Trilogy in this wonderful conclus
...more
Book three in a trilogy. The big problem with this is that the payoffs were shown in one and two, and this book is a lot of muddling sideplots till the end of the book. The CIRCE weapon, the reason why the both sides of the war thought they were attacked first, and many of the big points have already been revealed.The overall plot of the book wasn't the strongest, and it was the wordbuilding that mattered, but this book is focused on resolving the plot threads, so it felt weak to me.
...more
A fantastic wrap up to the trilogy. Not being an extensive Zahn reader, he apparently pulls one from his typical play book relevant to the enemy within and not known to the protagonists. Who, indeed, benefits from this war the humans are engaged in? Who stands to lose in the face of peace? And can the misunderstanding be righted in time? All in all a satisfying trilogy, utterly pragmatic and believable while reading like a movie.
It was difficult to read and took a lot of time, only the last few pages made me look forward to the next book in the series.
The Story is told from the aliens perspective, and that very - too - long.
I like Timothy Zahn's Books, but this is the worst until now. Too slow, too much family and politics. ...more
The Story is told from the aliens perspective, and that very - too - long.
I like Timothy Zahn's Books, but this is the worst until now. Too slow, too much family and politics. ...more
A fantastic end to a fantastic story. Suitably longer than the preceding two books, Zahn managed to tie up every loose end nicely with such finesse that it wasn't until the last few chapters that some things from the very beginning of the series began to slot into place. Bravo. Would definitely read this series again.
...more
well the story was good overall but really it was a lot of build up and very little pay off in the end. It took a lot to get me interested in it and when it finally came time to reach the end, it wasn't satisfying enough for me. Zahn is great but it was just ok for me.
...more
This was a pretty satisfying conclusion to the trilogy. I just wish that there had been some wrap-up with the Jacy VanDiver "Obstructive Bureaucrat" character, whose interference and meddling never was really resolved.
Max, the AI, was fun. ...more
Max, the AI, was fun. ...more
Even though I found the central "mixup" that is the premise for the whole war pretty implausible, it was a decent yarn that all tied up nicely in the end. Oh yeah, there were some ridiculous coincidences to help the plot along its way which bugged me too...
...more
The conclusion to the conquerors saga, both sides the commonwealth and the Alien nation seek truth and meaning as all out war begins. :D
A fantastic read!
A fantastic read!
An incredibly satisfying conclusion to a wonderfully crafted story in a believable universe.
A good end to the trilogy. Still not equal to Zahn's later work, but it showed the promise of future development.
...more
I wish this series was available on Kindle. I have way too many books to continue shelving all the ones I may never re-read, but it's hard to part with these.
...more
Very exciting and stressful. So much intrigue going on that I didn't think they would be able to wrap it up by the end. Still very clean!
...more
Part of the excellent Conquerors Saga. See my review of the whole trilogy with the first book.
There are no discussion topics on this book yet.
Be the first to start one »
Readers also enjoyed
Timothy Zahn attended Michigan State University, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in physics in 1973. He then moved to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and achieved an M.S. degree in physics in 1975. While he was pursuing a doctorate in physics, his adviser became ill and died. Zahn never completed the doctorate. In 1975 he had begun writing science fiction as a hobby, and he bec
...more
Other books in the series
The Conquerors Saga
(3 books)
Related Articles
When it comes to learning what's new in science fiction and fantasy, we turned to the experts. These are some of the genres' biggest...
97 likes · 26 comments
No trivia or quizzes yet. Add some now »
