The Price of Ransom

Highroad #3

by Kate Elliott, Alis A. Rasmussen

In the epic conclusion to Kate Elliott’s Highroad trilogy, Lily Ransome and the members of the Forlorn Hope are driven through the cosmos on a mission to find the fabled highroad—the place where humanity was born

Lily Ransome forsook her conventional fate on the planet of Unruli for swashbuckling adventure among the stars. She has been embroiled in a cosmic rebellion and—with a lively band of outcasts and pirates—gone to war against a vicious empire. But in the wake of that battle, Lily and her crew are abandoned by the very force they fought to support. With nowhere else to go, they head toward the farthest reaches of space to find the worlds where humankind first began. But what awaits them when they get there? In this breathtaking finale, the value of liberty has no limit.

The Price of Ransom is the final book of the Highroad trilogy, which begins with A Passage of Stars and Revolution’s Shore. 

Genres: Science Fiction, Space Opera, Fiction, Science Fiction Fantasy, Romance, Fantasy, Space

289 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published October 1, 1990

About the author

As a child in rural Oregon, Kate Elliott made up stories because she longed to escape to a world of lurid adventure fiction. She now writes fantasy, steampunk, and science fiction, often with a romantic edge. She currently lives in Hawaii, where she paddles outrigger canoes and spoils her schnauzer.

Reviews

[Phil · Rating 3 out of 5]

I do not recall the last time I read a trilogy where the middle book was by far the strongest, but The Price of Ransom ended the series with a whimper, and the intro installment barely made me want to read the next. We left the last book with our (rather Mary Sue) protagonist Lily taking off with her crew on the legendary ghost ship Forlorn Hope and heading for the almost mythical human League after her showdown with the newly assumed leader of Reft space. Remember that Reft space was colonized by humans on cyroships hundreds of years ago, but they lost contact with the rest of humanity and have been going their own way since.

So, great set up! Rasmussen dropped numerous hints about the League; after all, that is where Lily's partner Hawk is from, as well as her 'spiritual' father and mentor. We know it is much more technically advanced than Reft space, and that they had a war with some aliens, but not much more. While we do get a little on this, most of The Price of Ransom concerns Hawk, Lily's halfbreed lover. Hawk is half human, half alien (never sure how that could happen...) and the alien half has some rather odd needs/customs. It seems these aliens bond for life, and have a unstoppable compulsion to kill all the old lovers of their assumed mate. Now we know why Hawk is so obsessive, but after his 'freak out' in 'window space' resulted in many deaths (albeit to people trying to kill Lily), he goes catatonic; worse, when they finally reach League space, he escapes. So, half the book is trying to find him while Lily and co are being chased by bounty hunters and such.

While the ending was a bit of a nice touch, this could have been so much more. I know this was an early series for Rasmussen/aka Kate Elliott, and one that badly needed a better editor, and I might try some of her other works out. As it is, a decent space pulp adventure that hails from the late 80s/early 90s and really feels like it. 3 stars.

[Li · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good ending to a trilogy that got progressively better as it went on - I’m glad I stuck with it. I liked the connection with the Jaran universe, but then I would really…

[David Grierson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well I think book 2 ‘Revolution’s Shore’ was the pick of them. The mysterious ‘League’ that many a hint was dropped about it (and finally found) was a bit of disappointment for me. Not much of galactic empire building at all. What’s been happening in the Core Worlds all these centuries since the good ship ‘Forlorn Hope’ was left drifting in Reft space and manned by ghosts? To be fair Rasmussen does a lot of tidying up from books one and two to close loops and plots.

Our heroine gets out of many a scrape again and was close to a ‘Mary Sue Award’ from me. The League characters are for the most part underwhelming though a bounty hunter has some style. Disappointing too was the rare and not overly interesting appearance of her robot. I didn’t really get a feel of 'sentience' about her pet bot. Perhaps I was a bit focused n that happening.

Highs and lows in the Highroads Trilogy. Book one good. Book two very good. Book three back to good. Point to note though that this trilogy is an early effort by Kate Elliott/Alis Rasmussen and it it is to be expected if it does not have the polish I admired in The Crossroads and Spiritwalker trilogies.

A very tidy conclusion, though the plot became a bit predictable. In particular the sudden appearance of one specific character was in a way expected. It was perhaps as obvious as it was unnecessary. Given this is an SF trilogy, then strands of code might have been enough.

This is a good book to finish off a good series and I would bump it it up to 3.5 strs id I could.

[Ken Richards · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kate Elliott (as Alis Rasmussen) ties up the Highroad trilogy in satisfactory style, though the plot becomes a touch contrived at times. The events of Rahane's revolution are left behind in Reft space as Lily Ransome and the crew of the Forlorn Hope search for the lost way back to the legendary League Space. As can be expected, their path does not avoid trouble and unexpected meetings.

Elliott has continues to much better work, but the talent is apparent in the exuberant worldbuilding and engaging characters.

[James]

She crossed an ocean of stars in her search for freedomThough the revolution is won, Lily Ransome and the crew of the Forlorn Hope are renegades, pursued by the forces of the liberator they gave their blood to proclaim.Now their only hope lies across the void of space, on the fabled highroad to the old worlds that spawned humanity. There, in the heart of an age-old empire, they must battle treachery, madness, and death in their struggle for liberty.

[Edana McKenzie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good conclusion to a fun trilogy.

Good conclusion to a fun trilogy. Elliott does an excellent job of creating mesmerizing characters and interesting places. It’s a grand adventure.

[Tia · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not my favourite ending, but I did like how not everything was a happily ever after with Hawk's lack of recovery

[Angela]

13 April 2020: $1.99 on Kindle

[Kristina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very satisfying ending! Still, as usual, she left me wanting more! I'm now cursed to walk around in a half daze thinking about the characters for the next few days at least!

[Brendan Billingsley]

Glad I stuck with the series, this was my favorite of the three and a big improvement over the middle book.

[Maureen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once again, Kate Elliott has caught me in the middle of a book, taking time to think about her brilliance as a writer. This time, my thoughts were focused on her ability to build believable worlds, and in this case, galaxies.

The first two books featured the Reft planets and life took shape as we read the books, each new planet was unveiled and we had a chance to explore it at the same time our MC. In this last book, we’re looking at Concord, the central hub of the old worlds that include Terra. We know Terra, but Elliott has given us a new look at it from a spacefarer’s eyes. Concord is the best of what we could be, even with the bureaucracy with which we love to surround ourselves.

In addition to that, we learn just how outdated the Forlorn Hope is, although she’s an absolute beast in comparison to Reft Ships. Comparing the technologies is another level to the story. When we first flew with Captain Ransom, the ship had skeleton staff, just enough to keep the ship going, and someone always pulling double duty. The last chapter sees the ship with a full complement, a busy bridge even without the captain, people moving in and out of various sections down corridors that have long been home to just the ghosts that travel within the walls. It is a fitting end for our last visit aboard the Hope, as she detaches dock to head out on a mission of her choosing.

Whether focusing on people, plot or world-building, Elliot delivers a story that is full, rich, entertaining and remarkable.

[Adobe · Rating 3 out of 5]

After commandeering a legendary spaceship, Lily Ransome and her crew of misfits set off to leave the Reft and to find the legendary planet Terra along the forgotten space routes. Once they get there, they will have to deal with a human culture considerably more pacific and rigid than their own.

The Price of Ransom, the last novel in The Highroad Trilogy, benefits from the splintered POVs allotted among the crew: while Lily and her precious Kyosti are still an uninspiring pair of protagonists, they wear considerably better when other characters share narrative duty. The Price of Ransom also benefits from a trio of bounty hunters who appear as supporting characters: Windsor and his "boys" are truly excellent. I would happily read a novel exclusively about them.

[Cheryl Brandt · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the third book of the HighRoad Trilogy. I finished book two, bought book three last night and finished it this morning.

This whole trilogy has been a lot of fun. The writing was good, the editing done well enough so I was never pulled out of the book, and the story itself has been a lot of fun.

This book ends the story on an ambivalent note - there is an ending, but leaves open the possibility of more in the future.

Lily has followed the HighRoads back to Terran (League) space, and found that while the rules are different, and seeming much more fair, people are people, and they can ruin your whole day.

[Sarahz · Rating 3 out of 5]

This series has some neat world building and work with developing alien races. The material about the former saboteurs and how they've been treated since their war ended is fascinating, although it gets a little repetitive in this installment of the series.

This last book ends on a nice note, although it almost seems like it's setting up a fourth book, what with the exploratory expedition, Hawk's still incomplete recovery, and all the hints about Gregori's possible alien ancestry.

[Denise Mullarkey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Said to see this series end.

I would love more adventures, but I can understand you left us with completed struggles. But I Lily, Kyosti, Tahliesen, and more to see the me move on in New directions as events make them grow. Of course I don't have to be the one who plots the stroryline. And form a conclusion.

[Amy (Sun) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Setting/World Building: 5/5
Main Character: 4/5
Other Characters: 4/5
Plot: 3/5
Writing: 5/5
Triggering/Issues: 2/5 (Unhealthy relationship, excused sexist values.)

AVERAGED TOTAL: 3.8/5. Rounded to 4.

[Pancha · Rating 4 out of 5]

This does not feel like the end of a series. Not to say that the problems of the volume aren't wrapped up, but there are other plot points left hanging, including one about Gregori that was introduced in the last chapter! There is definitely more to be told.

[Dayna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn't want this book to end. It was an amazing way to end the series. My only wish is that there was one more book following this one.

[Alysia · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a good serious of books. A little hard to read and understand at first, but once you get into it, it's a nice read.

[LOL_BOOKS]

IAWTC. I ALSO ENJOYED KATE ELLIOTT'S OLD HIGHROAD TRILOGY, THOUGH THE LOVE INTEREST WAS VERY LOL KATE ELLIOTT.

[Virginia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gah!! So good! Must find out if Elliott ever continued this universe. It began to remind me of Stat Trek near the end, but so good, nonetheless.

[Marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

So - no joke - this is a 'book three' that I haven't read book one and two of, but it did a good enough job that I didn't mind.
It's good space opera, but I don't like the romance aspect.

[Katharine Harding · Rating 4 out of 5]

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