Aurora Quest

Earthblood #3

by James Axler (Pseudonym)

LAW OF THE JUNGLE

The crew of the U.S space vessel Aquila returns from a deep-space mission to find that a devastating plant blight has stripped away all civilization, its legacy a nightmarish wasteland. In what's left of the world, the only law is tooth and claw, kill or be killed.

AURORA POINT

Traveling through the savaged countryside to wrest from death surviving kin and friends, the astronauts grimly cling to a glimmer of promise for a new start.

Far to the northwest is Aurora, a secret base offering a way out of the decline into darkness. But even as they draw closer to their destination, old faces reappear from the past, and something deadly, something ultimately threatening is unveiled.

Genres: Post Apocalyptic, Science Fiction, Fiction, Action, Adventure

352 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published July 1, 1994

About the author

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Reviews

[Akshay · Rating 2 out of 5]

Title: Aurora Quest (Earthblood, #3) by James Axler

Rating: ⭐⭐ (2/5)

Review:

"Aurora Quest" by James Axler is the third installment in the Earthblood series, but unfortunately, it falls short of expectations. While it continues the post-apocalyptic saga with action-packed sequences and futuristic landscapes, the execution lacks the depth and complexity needed to truly engage readers.

Lackluster Plot:
One of the major drawbacks of "Aurora Quest" is its lackluster plot. The storyline feels formulaic and predictable, with little in the way of surprises or twists to keep readers on the edge of their seats. The characters' motivations are often unclear, and their actions seem driven more by plot convenience than genuine development.

Shallow Characters:
Another weakness of the book is its shallow characterization. The protagonists lack depth and complexity, making it difficult for readers to invest in their journey or empathize with their struggles. While there are attempts to explore the emotional turmoil of living in a post-apocalyptic world, these moments feel forced and contrived, lacking the authenticity needed to resonate with readers.

Comparative Analysis:
In comparison to its contemporaries in the post-apocalyptic genre, such as Cormac McCarthy's "The Road" and Margaret Atwood's "The Handmaid's Tale," "Aurora Quest" falls short in terms of both narrative depth and thematic richness. While McCarthy and Atwood's works offer nuanced explorations of human nature and society in the aftermath of catastrophe, "Aurora Quest" feels like a pale imitation, relying too heavily on tired tropes and clichés.

Conclusion:
Overall, "Aurora Quest" by James Axler is a disappointing entry in the Earthblood series. While it may appeal to fans of action-packed dystopian fiction, it fails to deliver the depth and complexity needed to truly stand out in a crowded genre. Readers seeking a more thought-provoking exploration of post-apocalyptic themes would be better served looking elsewhere.

[Wayne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Third and final book in the Earthblood trilogy is a nice wrap up to the series. More blasts of mayhem when you least expect it. More trials and tribulations for the survivors of Earthblood. The camera shop scene is a rare case of being shocked by the unexpected that don't come around to often. See what happens in the end. Will evil win? Will the just and right triumph? Read the books and find out.

[Jordan Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

And so the other Axler series comes to a close. For a 3 story arc, I’ll admit that I throughly enjoyed all 3 books in the Earthblood trilogy. Like Deathlands, the series is simple, full of testosterone fueled plot elements, and, overall, a better than average tale of post apocalyptic America.

Aurora Quest closes out the trilogy, and though it’s the weakest of the bunch, it’s still hard not to find a lot to like about it. There’s a fair amount of over the top violence and gore, main characters getting killed off in heartless fashions and an antagonist that, despite screaming cliches like a GI Joe cartoon or Bond villain, is actually just evil enough that you can’t wait to see them loose at the hands of the good guys. Plus, the book is a super easy, fast, and hard to put down read.

As a whole, the entire Earthblood series was entertaining. Original? No. But at least each book was fun couple of hours away from reality.

[Spiff · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good enough final book. They made it to the place they'd been searching for the entire time.

But...there's a lot of stuff left on the table. Like WHO THE HECK IS NANCY, REALLY? I can't believe that didn't make it. Is Margaret actually dead (implied she dies but it's just implied)? What about the rest of the sun? Why was it so important they all get together at their secret spot and what are they gonna do now?

I don't know if there was ever supposed to be more, but I've gotta think so. There's A LOT of story left to be told that we will never get.

[Tom · Rating 2 out of 5]

The trilogy whimpers to a close. All along the way, the prospect of meeting back up with General Zelig has been dangled as the solution to all our heroes' problems, and as it looms closer it only becomes more and more apparent how unreasonable this idea is. The earth lies in ruins. What conclusion were we ever going to get beyond those who remain squabbling over the scraps?

[Fen4etoYNWA · Rating 5 out of 5]

A classic old-school post-apocalyptic series.
A crew of a space shuttle comes back to a "new" Earth, poisoned by a plant cancer called "Earthblood" which basically leaves the population to scavenging or death.
Not the "wow" kind of a new idea, but told in a great way. I give it a 5 out of 5, because it kept me on the edge till the very end.

[Michael Barnette · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the third book of the series--I never got the first two unfortunately--but this book is still an action packed read typical of the 'men's fiction' genre. I really enjoyed the heck out of it. Unfortunately it's out of print, though the audio book version seems to still be available.

[Mike · Rating 3 out of 5]

I listened to it on Graphic Audio so that may have tainted my perception of the book. Not the most intelligent of series'. But had an interesting twist on life after the Apocalypse. A struggle between those looking to take control after the Apocalypse.

[Little Timmy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Set in the same world as the Deathlands series. These books follow another set of adventures in the post holocaust world. Good men's adventive series. Recommended