Teaser

The end of the galaxy is nigh, and with it the destruction of all life. Unless, that is, the disparate factions can put aside their differences in time for one final fight . . .

Review

It seems like so long ago that I was a judge for the Self Published Science Fiction Competition (SPSFC), but in reality it’s only been a year since I stopped. It’s no secret that I had a rough time with a lot of those books, but in that rough were diamonds like N. C. Scrimgeour’s Those Left Behind. A book I enjoyed so much I’ve continued with the series, which this year saw the final volume reach the audio format.

The good news is that everything good about the first two books is still here. As someone who grew up playing BioWare RPGs on the computer, this is a series I can visualise very easily. There are points where I can imagine the dialogue trees popping up during conversation. There’s a warmth and enthusiasm running through the book that is undeniable. Scrimgeour writes with the passion of someone who truly loves space opera. That enthusiasm is infectious, and I was having a good time with the book even as things too a bleak turn.

Like I say, all the good stuff is here. The various character groups have finally and fully synced up, and there are some great pairings in this final instalment. The action comes thick and furious, and the lingering moral dilemmas rear their heads for one final time. The tone of the book is such that a happy ending is a foregone conclusion but, as with all the best stories, that victory comes at a price. Not everyone makes it out of this one alive. This isn’t a grimdark life lottery, however, for every death brings victory a step closer. Every sacrifice is rewarded.

The bad news is that the formula has worn a little thin by the end of the third volume. The characters are great, but they haven’t changed much over the course of three books. Some of the romantic pairings feel rather perfunctory, though that could just be my general antipathy towards fictional romance. The biggest issue, however, is one of repetition. ‘We are Idran-Var,’ is a phrase that crops up almost every chapter, and it’s indicative of a large problem. The motifs and themes are driven home like nails under a hammer. It’s not so much the lack of subtlety that bothers me, it’s more the sheer volume of the hammering. This book could be cut significantly shorter and lose none of the impact for the brevity.

The Waystations Trilogy might end on a weak note, but it’s still an incredibly fun series. Charmingly nostalgic in all the right ways, it’s a great introduction to space opera, and stands as some of the best self-published science fiction on the market right now.

Audio Stats

• Narrated by Jared Kedzia
• The Waystations Trilogy #3
• Audio Edition Released 2024
• Runtime 13hrs 31mins