Review: Starclimber by Kenneth Oppel

Starclimber by Kenneth Oppel is the third in the Airborn series.

About the Book

At the start of Starclimber, the third book in the best-selling, award-winning Airborn series, sees Matt Cruse and Kate de Vries in Paris. is studying biology at the Sorbonne, whilst Matt is spending his summer working on The Celestial Tower, France’s attempt to reach the stars.

They are enjoying a carefree time together, when events cause them once again to reassess their plans. First of all, Matt narrowly escapes death, when the fanatical Bableites – a group opposed to humans reaching the heavens – plant a bomb on his aerocrane, in an attempt to destroy The Celestial Tower.

Then, both Kate and Matt are offered the chance of a lifetime, when they are invited to join the Canadian attempt to reach space first, on board the incredible and highly secret ship, Starclimber.

First Matt, must pass a series of gruelling tests, if he is going to become one of the worlds first astralnauts. Kate’s place, as an expert on aerial zoology – after an invitation from the Canadian Minister of Air himself, is almost guaranteed, just as soon as she can convince her parents to let her go.

They are more of the opinion, that is it time for their flighty daughter to settle down and marry. With exactly the type of socially acceptable young man, young Matt is not. Is she is to be allowed to go,more than one compromise must be reached.

And reaching space is only the beginning of the adventure! What will they find when they get there? And when it becomes apparent something has gone wrong despite all their planning, will they even make it home?

My Thoughts

I loved the first two books in this series, so it was with some excitement (and trepidation) that I picked up this one. Could it be as good as the first two? Would the author do something nasty and evil to my friends I’d found in the pages of Airborn and Skybreaker? (Click on the links to read my thoughts on them.)

Well, I’m pleased to say this one is as easily good as the first two, as for how evil he is, you’ll need to read the books and decide for yourself However, I’ve felt no need to fire off any emails to Canada!

Matt’s narration of the book, and his sense of humour is as strong as ever, as his interaction with Kate, right from the first time they met in Airborn, they have flirted, teased, taunted, joked, argued, and supported each other, and they continue to do so here, even though her parents may force her to marry someone more “fitting”.

The action sequences are edge of your seat stuff, with the threat of not everyone surviving always only a paragraph or two away.

A wonderful, satisfying and complete conclusion to the trilogy. That is as easily as good as the first two, and likely to be in one of my favourite books of the year. (But this reader certainly would not complain should Matt and Kate have another adventure, at some point in the future!)

[rating:4.5/5]

Other Reviews to Consider

• Stella Matutina
• Novels Now
• Bow, James Bow
• BrianGriggs.com
• Daisy’s Book Journal
• Edward Willett
• The Inkweaver Review
• Reading Rants!