Earth is dead. Infinity and Desmond, the only surviving bridgers, believe they’ve been given one final chance to find peace. Leading a small group of migrants, they bridge to a new world for the last time. Their new home appears to be perfect—pristine islands encircled by sparkling beaches and a coral sea. However, there is one catch—they’re not alone. Infinity, Desmond, and their fellow migrants knew they’d have to share their new home with another sentient species. They were told these other beings would not be a threat. Soon, however, they discover another camp like their own. Except this camp’s occupants have all been slaughtered. The human colonists have been deceived. The resident sentient beings are not so benign, and this world isn’t safe. But when the real danger becomes apparent, it’s not what anyone expected. Don’t miss this breathtaking conclusion to the Bridgers series!
This is the final episode in the wonderful Bridgers series. Desmond, Infinity et al are on yet another new world – this one chosen by Kitty. As Kitty promised, there is another sentient species already at home there, and this book charts how the two completely alien (to each other) species interact, fight and ultimately learn to get along. The new species are utterly unlike anything we have seen before – in physical structure, means of communication, philosophy and thought patterns. As could be expected there is tension between the two groups, but the speed with which it escalates into violence – and the reasons behind the violence – I found totally irrational. I guess I (thankfully) do not have the revenge gene. Apart from the trials with the new environment and the new species, the Bridger colony also has to deal with the addition of five humans from the Red Howler Monkey Plague world. They are met with suspicion (not entirely unwarranted) at every turn by the original human group, but eventually prove their worth in a completely unexpected way. I was much happier, once the matters were settled, and the new world building could begin. This is a book of two parts. I really liked the description of the new world and the new aliens, and how their civilisation worked. And I liked the ending. But I fell out of love with the human colonists, particularly Infinity, in the middle. The story is essentially about admitting and atoning for mistakes, about reconciliation and – as the title states – absolution. A fitting ending to the series. I received an Advanced Reader Copy of this book at no cost from the author in exchange for an honest review
“Revenge is a predisposition, not a rule.” A wonderful and emotive end to a fabulous series. It is an amazingly inventive, complex, and compelling story and one of the best reads I’ve encountered. It has been a fulfilling, heart breaking, dangerous, thought provoking, tension and action filled adventurous trip. A fantastic and realistic world building, with excellent characters. The quality of its intelligence, imagination, and prose raises Bridgers to the level of inspiring stories. Stan C. Smith has the ability and creativity to capture my mind and heart, to the point of being extremely drawn to a fantastic world of amazing creatures, and a profound knowledge of human sociology. An absolute gem! I’m going to miss it! “I aspire to inspire before I expire. Bide within the law I must, in untainted family trust.”
The final Installment of this excellent series was everything I’ve come to expect from Stan Smith Great character’s who are like old friends with plenty of surprises and lots of tense action Really enjoyed this story from the very first word to the last Highly recommended
Bridgers 5 did indeed leave the door open for one last (I do believe) book in this series. It definitely would not serve anyone to start here. One needs to start this series from the beginning to really understand the characters and their struggle up until this event in time. They have all been through a heck of a lot and are hopeful to have finally achieved an opportunity for a peaceful co-existence with whomever or whatever they encounter in this other version of planet Earth.
From my perspective, Stan Smith’s imagination couldn’t have gotten any stranger. Usually, the species he creates in his stories are an exaggeration of creatures we would be somewhat familiar with, but the dominate species the bridgers needed to bond with here went a bit beyond my own imagination and I would have loved to have seen a sketch included. In fact, many of his creatures could have used some delineation besides the written descriptions. However, stretching our own minds is probably a good thing and I cannot hold it against Mr. Smith.
As usual, the bridged colony of people are met with new challenges. Some violence does take place but not nearly as much as in earlier books which I am grateful for…and yet there remains the question of “how much violence is actually necessary” in their new world or in ours? We’ve come to the climax of this series when one is forced to consider controlling one’s own impulsive nature for the sake of others and the survival of mankind. Will the colony thrive given the surprising twist of unexpected knowledge? You’ll have to read the book to find out.
Technically, the book is well written and the story flows. It is an adventure into the unknown and the new discovery of biological species and other lifestyles. The only thing that was missing for me were added details regarding their daily functions without modern conveniences and specifically what did each culture learn from each other (besides the use of food and materials) that they had applied successfully that had not occurred to either group before. Yes, Stan Smith is very descriptive but I just wanted more.
I recommend this entire series to those readers with an adventurous spirit and a mindfulness as to why we exist and desire to survive.
I received an arc and this is my honest and voluntary review.
The end to the Bridger's series of six books is now here. And we readers are sorry about that. Follow Infinity, Desmond, her partner and lover, and a group of travelers as they have reached their last earth.
In the beginning, we found Earth's demise is imminent as an after-effect of humans discovering and using alien technology from those they called the Outlanders. The technology allowed earth inhabitants to bridge (i.e., transport) to alternate but parallel earths at different time frames of the past.
Stan Smith has written an outstanding series that is out of this world, pun intended. He introduces mysterious animals on these different earths that are described as something similar to those that actually exist on our planet. He intricately describes how Infinity and her fellow travelers survive on bridges to various earths after encountering these different animal species, some of which are dangerous to them, but some of them are not.
And a forewarning needs to be made: each book after the first will seem to have a lot missing to the reader. You really do need to read them in order to have a full knowledge and understanding of each.
You will find yourself enthralled with this most unusual story line. So, get started. You won't be disappointed .
Things were not as they appeared! In the final book of his Bridgers’ series, BRIDGERS 6: THE BOND OF ABSOLUTION, Stan C. Smith crafts a fast-paced science fiction story filled with interesting characters. True to his style, Smith again blends a sense of adventure with attention to detail and concepts that inspire awe. For those who have read Bridgers 5, you may remember Kitty, a highly intelligent and furry being. Kitty had offered Infinity’s and Desmond’s group of 22 migrants a final bridge to an ideal world, a place where they could thrive and be happy. One condition though required the group to peacefully coexist in the new world with another sentient species in a mutually beneficial relationship. However, upon their arrival in the new world, a sense of dread creeps over Infinity as she realizes things were not as they appeared. For fans of the Bridgers’ series, Bridgers 6: The Bond of Absolution is a must-read. For those new to the series, Bridgers 6 will inspire you to devour the whole set.
I loved this series.. as well as the author’s other books. I’ll admit I’m sad to see this series end, I enjoyed every book and all the strange, bizarre creatures and their ways of living. I especially enjoy his ideas of how creatures and intelligent beings may have evolved in other worlds under different circumstances, which is what this series is really about. The author has a great sense of character and world building, you never know what to expect on the next world. The conclusion to this series was very satisfying.. great story and new creatures, intelligent beings with which there was a surprise twist to. Part way through the book it was hard to figure out how this would all end well but it did and in a very believable way. I’ll miss the Bridgers crew and their adventures but I’m now looking forward to Stan Smith’s next series. Anyone new to Stan Smith I highly recommend following him and getting his emails.. they are full of fun and interesting real life creatures
A Memorable Ending to a Remarkable Series Stan C. Smith has brought to readers a series that immerses us in worlds that seem beyond belief and then makes these worlds totally believable. While “heart in throat” action is pervasive and had me flying through the book, every other element that you could hope for is present. There is love, conflict, violence balanced with tender empathy, crushing sorrow balanced with hope and joy, and betrayal balanced by life-affirming loyalty. You don’t read these stories, you experience them. This final installment provides closure while still encouraging us to consider the future possibilities for the characters. Bridgers was a truly extraordinary series!
Fabulous finale to a terrific series. You will be astounded at what transpires. I am sad that the series is concluded, but hopeful that Stan Smith will miss the brave Bridgers and revisit them in the future. There is certainly more to this story of the last refugees from our Earth, promised a new world with another sentient race. And what of the vengeful character Kitty?
I am always amazed by Smith's creativity and imagination to come up with such exquisitely developed characters, cultures and environments. I NEVER know where his stories will take me next. He's an entertaining writer with a brilliant imagination.
I received this book as part of the Bridgers books 4-6 boxed set. However, I am reviewing each book separately to get proper credit toward my annual Goodreads challenge 😉. This was an incredible end to awesome series which I enjoyed very, very much. The series combines all the best parts of all my favorite genres. The bridging concept is such a brilliant outlet for the author's obviously creative mind and opens up endless options for future storylines. I can only hope one day, after they get a well-deserved rest, Infinity and Desmond are revisited in future books.
I have followed the sere from book 1, and I am sad to see the end. But, having said that, it is a very good ending to the serie. What an amazing read! Stan C. Smith has outdone himself with this serie, and this book is a perfect ending to it. He makes every sentence interesting with the words he chooses. Infinity has started a new life on a new planet, with her loved ones. This planet is the final planet, and they have to make it work. And they do, but it
I have read the first and last books in the series and my curiosity is piqued. After I read the first book, I was completely fascinated. I would, however, recommend reading them in order. I have no idea how I did it backwards but I can't wait to read all of the books. Highly recommended read! - Monica L.
A new world to discover, but wait a minute, what kind of species is this? Planning to start a new colony with 22 men, women and children in a strange world. The beings are friendly, kind of. A unique story with great characters and storytelling. This continuing series has very definitely topped the scale of shops read! Loved reading this book.
Even though science fiction is not my usual genre, I enjoyed the creativity of this series. As an Advance Reader, I followed all of Infinity’s adventures. She is an interesting character who displays courage and resourcefulness throughout the series and is lucky to have Desmond to temper her occasional lapses in judgment. As usual, the alien life forms are incredible! They are described so well that you can picture them in your mind. The whole series would make a great movie!
A great series deserves a great ending and it was exactly that, loved the finale with new characters and challenges and a new life for them to look forward to.
This raises the question of whether the children should be held responsible for the “sins” of their parents. We’d all be screwed in some sense if we looked sufficiently far back in our ancestry I would imagine.
I’d like to believe that we would not immediately think of revenge and act on it, which some of the characters in this story do.
A brilliant ending to a fantastic series. There is hope for the human race. Infighting and working together both have their place in this book. Stan Smith works his magic in Bridgers 6.
Oh no! I can't believe it's all over! Alas, friends of Bridgers, we are now saying farewell to an absolutely fantastic, and totally original series of books. I did wonder how author Stan would manage to make a good ending - we all knew it would be a new and different world, once again, but this time chosen by Kitty, and humans don't always understand how her mind works. So we have scary bits, peril, twists, and danger for our colonists, with strangers in their midst and strange creatures inhabiting their world. May I quickly say that I loved the submarine, and the method of propulsion - wonderful to imagine. What I didn't know was how Stan would give our few remaining humans a reason for keeping on living, but he did that in a truly unexpected way. What a brilliant idea. I am so sad to see this series end, but you did it well. Now, about some spin-offs...?
Throughout the Bridgers series Stan C Smith has given us fascinating stories with a sci-fi element that made me wonder, what if… For me that is exactly what great storytelling is about. This is original thought provoking writing that I enjoyed from book one, The Lure Of Infinity, right through to this one. As conclusions go, it actually left me wanting to know what happened next. I’ll try, as I always do, to not give away any spoilers when I say there is a lot more the author could tell us about these characters if he wanted to. As I understand it he doesn’t wish to take it further and that’s fine because this story neatly ties up all the threads of the series. I enjoyed this story but do yourself a favour if you’re new to the series and start from the beginning as it’s not only better for the story but you’ll be missing out on some other great stories too. Highly recommended.
I got this book as part of a box set and the review below has been repeated as part of the review of that set.
The bridgers and migrants from Earth bridge to a planet that they have been promised will be friendly. They have been told, by the aliens that helped them bridge here that they will be expected to befriend other beings that already live here. This they set out to do. However, these beings have a secret that, once discovered, threatens to overturn any friendly overtures between the two races. Can these problems be overcome and can harmony be achieved? You will have to read the book to find out!
This was yet another page-turning read in the series. It would be interesting to read a further sequel as to how things progressed from where the book left matters (although the storyline was concluded satisfactorily with this book)
The last and final book of the series. I was in two minds about this review. I enjoyed closing out this series and the final book was conceptually solid. I also enjoyed the way in which the book ended in that it didn't neatly wrap everything up and didn't feel the need to conform to reader expectations.
My one big issue with this book was the complete irrationality of the character motivation in the main plot line. This was explained by reference to a revenge gene (which may actually be a thing) but made no sense and felt more like aggressive racial prejudice. This one issue was so fundamental for me that it put a dampener on my reading - albeit I did still see the book through to the end and the closing scenes provided a little redemption. This was the main reason for me rating this book lower than the others in the series.
If you are like me, you have read more series and the ending of more series than you could possibly remember, but I promise you, this is a series ending you will be very glad you read and you can't possibly forget. This thrilling, thought provoking book grabbed my attention on the first page and it kept my unbridled interest throughout. Every page is filled with heart pounding excitement and breathtaking action. It's an exciting story, interesting and well-written. Like all of Stan C. Smith's books, and the Bridger's series in particular, it's fun to read. The Bond Of Absolution is a sometimes heartbreaking, sometimes joyful, always exciting, and an all together delightful ending to a wonderful series you won't ever forget.
There's nothing I can say about this except BRILLIANT!! I'm sad to see one of my all time fave series end but this is an amazing conclusion and an absolutely satisfying read, just like the prior books. The last two Bridgers bridge to a new world, only to find all is not as it seems. This is def. not the pristine world they were told to expect. They are not alone in this beautiful place! The twists and turns kept me engrossed right to the end and I cannot rate this series conclusion highly enough. Unlike many series it does not coast. The fact every single question is not answered makes it that much better. I regret I'm not allowed to give this book the 6☆ it deserves. I received an ARC of this book
The Bond of Absolution Bridgers #6 Sci-Fi Stan C. Smith ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
• ɢᴜɪʟᴛ • ꜱᴜʀᴠɪᴠᴀʟ • ᴀʟʟɪᴀɴᴄᴇꜱ •
This is the last book in this series and I really liked it.
It was interesting to meet the new creatures and the sentient beings that lived on the alternative universe.
I felt sorry for Infinity and the rest of the group when they found out who the beings were descended from and why they were created. I understood Infinity's rage and her need for retribution.
The world building and the technology was very interesting.
I liked the time jump towards the end. I was glad that the humans and the outlanders were able to coexist and thrive
1 - 5 very enjoyable. 6? Started skipping after the "reveal". Jumped to next to last chapter. Have to say the series built up well, was a good read, then this. Actually better if I stopped after 5. Why? Reaction to the reveal seemed forced for the sake of the story but did not at all seem in character with the parties as they had been previously presented. I just could not accept this. The "Gene" excuse fell flat with me. Hugely disappointed.
Spoilers! The outlanders are gross. I see no reason why Infinity and Desmond needed to bridge to another universe when the one they were in was safe and dry. The number of people they bridge to each world is not even enough to prevent inbreeding. Which makes no biological sense. I hated the wildcards. I would've loved to hear more about a world that had developed that was advanced. Instead of ending up in a swamp for eternity. With amphibians no less. I preferred bug world. Just did not make me feel good about the final outcome.
My only disappointment with this series is that it is ending. I have thoroughly enjoyed every book and this last one is no exception. The concept was original and the adventures were exactly that, real adventures. It was very easy to feel as though you knew the characters and to develop empathy for their plight. I would have been happy to follow them into old age because I don't think they would ever stop having adventures. I spent many late nights with these stories and will miss the thrills.