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Matt Cruse #3
Starclimber
See below for English description. Matt Cruse, futur pilote, est invité à bord du Starclimber en compagnie de la femme qu'il aime, Kate de Vries, experte en faune et flore de haute altitude. Le Starclimber est un vaisseau qui gravit littéralement l'atmosphère jusqu'au cosmos. Matt compte secrètement demander Kate en mariage, mais avant même qu'ils aient embarqué, elle lui annonce ses fiançailles avec un autre. Malgré cette terrible nouvelle et la peine de Matt, ils entament leur voyage dans l'espace. Soudain, le vaisseau est assailli de créatures étranges et dérangeantes, et l'équipe doit faire face à un grave problème mécanique. Pour Matt, Kate, et tous les membres du Starclimber, cette fantastique course aux étoiles s'est transformée en lutte pour leur survie. Pilot-in-training Matt Cruse and his love interest, Kate de Vries, an expert on high-altitude life-forms, are invited aboard the Starclimber , a vessel that literally climbs its way into the cosmos. Matt secretly plans on asking Kate to marry him, but before they even set foot aboard the ship, Kate announces her engagement -- to someone else. Despite this bombshell, and Matt's anguish, they embark on their journey into space, but soon the ship is surrounded by strange and unsettling life-forms, and the crew is forced to combat devastating mechanical failure. For Matt, Kate, and the entire crew of the Starclimber , what began as an exciting race to the stars has now turned into a battle to save their lives. Original Starclimber
490 pages, Hardcover
First published August 26, 2008
About the author
Kenneth Oppel
80 books2,630 followersI was born in 1967 in Port Alberni, a mill town on Vancouver Island, British Columbia but spent the bulk of my childhood in Victoria, B.C. and on the opposite coast, in Halifax, Nova Scotia...At around twelve I decided I wanted to be a writer (this came after deciding I wanted to be a scientist, and then an architect). I started out writing sci-fi epics (my Star Wars phase) then went on to swords and sorcery tales (my Dungeons and Dragons phase) and then, during the summer holiday when I was fourteen, started on a humorous story about a boy addicted to video games (written, of course, during my video game phase). It turned out to be quite a long story, really a short novel, and I rewrote it the next summer. We had a family friend who knew Roald Dahl - one of my favourite authors - and this friend offered to show Dahl my story. I was paralysed with excitement. I never heard back from Roald Dahl directly, but he read my story, and liked it enough to pass on to his own literary agent. I got a letter from them, saying they wanted to take me on, and try to sell my story. And they did.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 640 reviews
August 30, 2008
Dear Ken Oppel,
You never disappoint. Thanks for that.
Love,
Me
August 16, 2010
One reason I love this series is because it's good clean fun and a traditional adventure. It's nonstop thrilling action. It doesn't fall prey to modern fantasy trends such as all-consuming romance, vampires, werewolves, and fictional boarding schools. This series finds its roots in Jules Verne, but is still really fun and accessible for people of any age or gender.
Each book is its own little adventure and doesn't rely on cliffhangers to guarantee readers will pick up the next one. Oppel has faith that his fun characters will draw readers into the next one. I would be lying if I said this book had any more substance than a good summer blockbuster. Nothing about it is deep, but it doesn't need to be.
This series can appeal to anyone. It has humor (a monkey peeing in a stuffy guy's soup is pretty funny no matter how mature you are), edge-of-your-seat action and adventure, breath-taking scenery and fantastical creatures, and even some romance.
I really just wish more people knew about this series, because it really is an unassuming gem.
Each book is its own little adventure and doesn't rely on cliffhangers to guarantee readers will pick up the next one. Oppel has faith that his fun characters will draw readers into the next one. I would be lying if I said this book had any more substance than a good summer blockbuster. Nothing about it is deep, but it doesn't need to be.
This series can appeal to anyone. It has humor (a monkey peeing in a stuffy guy's soup is pretty funny no matter how mature you are), edge-of-your-seat action and adventure, breath-taking scenery and fantastical creatures, and even some romance.
I really just wish more people knew about this series, because it really is an unassuming gem.
August 27, 2008
Fantastic. This book lives up to the others in the series. I really enjoyed the thought of their Starclimber.
Though the marriage stuff between Matt and Kate was like, "Ah! What's gonna happen? WILL SHE REALLY DO IT?" I still was able to keep my vitals mostly normal. I found myself wanting to kick Kate in the pants a few times.
Still one of the best fantasy books I've read.
Though the marriage stuff between Matt and Kate was like, "Ah! What's gonna happen? WILL SHE REALLY DO IT?" I still was able to keep my vitals mostly normal. I found myself wanting to kick Kate in the pants a few times.
Still one of the best fantasy books I've read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 15, 2010
This book is amazing--it has everything a bookworm could want. Romance, adventure, spaceships...and monkeys.
Matt Cruse and Kate de Vries are about to set off on the ultimate quest...in outer space!
Matt Cruse, after weeks of going through grueling outer-space training, desparatly hopes to be the one picked to go into outer space--along with many other young men. Will he be chosen?
With a dash of luck, he and Kate clamor aboard the Starclimber, the first space ship.
At first he feels very miserable--Kate announces she is engaged, but not to him! ( I was fuming when I read that!)
But this is not the time to feel melancholy--for soon huge disaster strikes, and his survival skills are put to the test.
This book was an absolutely sensational finish to the Matt Cruse series. I devoured it within three short days. All other events of the day flew by, I was very eager to read this book and find out what happened next!
I really liked Matt, as always, and my new favorite character was Tobias. The words with which the author described everything were all rightfully placed. Bravo, Kenneth Oppel for writing this outstanding book!
And, thank you Mimi, for giving this to me for my birthday.
And, thanks a bunch, Ari, for recommending it so highly! It was a phenomenal read. Five stars!
Matt Cruse and Kate de Vries are about to set off on the ultimate quest...in outer space!
Matt Cruse, after weeks of going through grueling outer-space training, desparatly hopes to be the one picked to go into outer space--along with many other young men. Will he be chosen?
With a dash of luck, he and Kate clamor aboard the Starclimber, the first space ship.
At first he feels very miserable--Kate announces she is engaged, but not to him! ( I was fuming when I read that!)
But this is not the time to feel melancholy--for soon huge disaster strikes, and his survival skills are put to the test.
This book was an absolutely sensational finish to the Matt Cruse series. I devoured it within three short days. All other events of the day flew by, I was very eager to read this book and find out what happened next!
I really liked Matt, as always, and my new favorite character was Tobias. The words with which the author described everything were all rightfully placed. Bravo, Kenneth Oppel for writing this outstanding book!
And, thank you Mimi, for giving this to me for my birthday.
And, thanks a bunch, Ari, for recommending it so highly! It was a phenomenal read. Five stars!
March 19, 2016
A celestial tower is being built to the heavens in Paris, when a pioneer (Lunardi) decides to launch is own space effort. He recruits 100 candidates from all walks of life to become the first "astralnauts," to man the Starclimber: a spaceship tethered to a 25,000 mile cable. Kate DeVries and another pompous zoologist are chosen to observe, while young Matt Cruse has to undertake a grueling competition to join. Lunardi recruits Matt's mentor, Captain Walken, to lead the expedition. Like the previous two novels, things go badly wrong, there are threats from a religious cult opposed to space exploration, and heroism is needed in order for the crew to make its discoveries and try to return safely back to Earth. As always, Oppel introduces a series of interesting characters, including Shephard, photographer Miss Karr and her per monkey. And, Matt and Kate's relationship is threatened by an engagement proposal from a wealthy suitor. Since I happen to enjoy steampunk fantasy, my biggest disappointment was discovering there are no more books in this series.
April 22, 2015
There is a space race! Did you think it was between the Americans and Russians? Then you'd be mistaken, it’s really between the Canadians and the French. Starclimber starts out a few months after the last one ended. Matt is in Paris with Kate doing what he loves, flying. It seems like it's going pretty well for a not even 18 year old young man. That is until trouble finds Mr. Cruse, which it always does.
Matt Cruse has a chance to go into space but first he must prove himself. As he goes into training and testing and so forth. Things with Kate are not at all well. The whole ‘I'm not good enough for her thing’ is still kind of there which annoyed me. It partly has to do with Kate's parents' accepting a poor boy but also Kate herself.
Now for the stuff I liked, Matt for starters. A good protagonist is always an excellent sign. He has a little (really minuscule) fault here or there but really an all-around good guy who is trying to follow his dream. Who wouldn't love that? Next is the fact that it all seemed believable. The science that Oppel presents is understandable and well described without being exceedingly boring or completely unbelievable because almost everything that is mentioned we know about. These books have always had a great sense of atmosphere to them and this one was no exception. The whole time I pictured them floating around in space.
It’s been so long since I read the last books but the story picks up on what happened fairly well. I forgot about quite a few things like how the books could actually be funny. The professor was definitely the funniest character. It's not a comedy book—it’s not meant to be—but there were a few times that I laughed.
It was a thrilling ride through space because, as you can guess, things don't always go according to the plan but if something goes wrong it's always a good idea to have Matt on your side. Lastly, I enjoyed space immensely but I think Matt said it best "I missed my sky."
Matt Cruse has a chance to go into space but first he must prove himself. As he goes into training and testing and so forth. Things with Kate are not at all well. The whole ‘I'm not good enough for her thing’ is still kind of there which annoyed me. It partly has to do with Kate's parents' accepting a poor boy but also Kate herself.
Now for the stuff I liked, Matt for starters. A good protagonist is always an excellent sign. He has a little (really minuscule) fault here or there but really an all-around good guy who is trying to follow his dream. Who wouldn't love that? Next is the fact that it all seemed believable. The science that Oppel presents is understandable and well described without being exceedingly boring or completely unbelievable because almost everything that is mentioned we know about. These books have always had a great sense of atmosphere to them and this one was no exception. The whole time I pictured them floating around in space.
It’s been so long since I read the last books but the story picks up on what happened fairly well. I forgot about quite a few things like how the books could actually be funny. The professor was definitely the funniest character. It's not a comedy book—it’s not meant to be—but there were a few times that I laughed.
It was a thrilling ride through space because, as you can guess, things don't always go according to the plan but if something goes wrong it's always a good idea to have Matt on your side. Lastly, I enjoyed space immensely but I think Matt said it best "I missed my sky."
December 2, 2017
First off, I'm a big fan of the Matt Cruse trilogy which includes Airborn, Skybreaker, and Starclimber. After reading the first two books, I was extremely excited to finish the series with Starclimber. However at the end, it felt like the book excluded something that made me as a reader to become a little confused and disappointed. For that, I only rated it 3 stars. If you're interested in adventure and romance, this trilogy is definitely something I recommend. Goodreads.
November 9, 2009
4.5 STARS I loved the latest adventure with Matt and Kate and their voyage to the stars! Truly, I considered giving this only four stars but I think the only reason for that is not due to anything wrong with the book but simply because I wanted MORE! It seemed there could have been even MORE exploration, of both characters and of space... but everything that was done was done very well and Oppel remains a master of the "action/suspense scenes" while also crafting remarkably "real" characters of merit and flaws and triumphs and heartaches. I LOVE that Captain Walken was back for this adventure, and the new characters were all a delight to travel with in one way or another--though I admit Tyler was quite annoyed about there being a monkey, haha! While I have had no word on the series continuing, I think there is definitely room for more adventures and I will eagerly snap up a copy when the next Airborn book comes off the presses! :-)
February 12, 2017
Starclimber by Kenneth Oppel
****4****
"Honestly," she sighed. "I don't know what kind of life we'll have together, with me always flying off in one direction and you in the other."
I smiled. "It's a good thing the world's round," I said.
What do you do when you've flown a ship higher than anyone has before? Go higher of course!
Matt Cruse and Kate de Vries are both recruited for a mission to outer space. About half of the book takes place on Earth, in preparation for the flight, so if you're only interested in the space part of the book be forewarned. I did not feel that this took away from the story at all, in fact it allowed for us to be introduced to some new characters and time to learn a bit about them before we are sent into space with them for the second half of the book.
The final book in the Matt Cruse trilogy was possibly my least favourite of the books (though thats' not saying much as I enjoyed them all). I actually began to find Kate a little bit annoying in this book, not because of her scientific endeavours or her striving for equality. What annoyed me was the way she treated Matt and had to "keep up appearances" for other people. I feel like Kate still has growing up to do and that she is one lucky girl that Matt keeps sticking around.
I was so happy to have Captain Walken back in the story as he is one of my favourite characters and I missed him in the second book.
In some ways Starclimber felt like it went backwards a step in maturity, mostly thanks to a monkey aboard the space craft who peed in someone's soup and propelled himself through zero gravity by farting. That flaw aside, Mr. Oppel continued with his same writing style and his characters felt stronger than ever. I'm not 100% sure that all of the science is accurate, but as this is an alternate version of Earth it doesn't really matter, nor does it take away too much from the story. It did feel a little bit at times like if something could go wrong it would and they always seem to get out of it, but the authour makes sure you don't feel completely safe as there were accidents and deaths just like the other two books.
It was a very good end to the series and I highly recommend reading them all.
****4****
"Honestly," she sighed. "I don't know what kind of life we'll have together, with me always flying off in one direction and you in the other."
I smiled. "It's a good thing the world's round," I said.
What do you do when you've flown a ship higher than anyone has before? Go higher of course!
Matt Cruse and Kate de Vries are both recruited for a mission to outer space. About half of the book takes place on Earth, in preparation for the flight, so if you're only interested in the space part of the book be forewarned. I did not feel that this took away from the story at all, in fact it allowed for us to be introduced to some new characters and time to learn a bit about them before we are sent into space with them for the second half of the book.
The final book in the Matt Cruse trilogy was possibly my least favourite of the books (though thats' not saying much as I enjoyed them all). I actually began to find Kate a little bit annoying in this book, not because of her scientific endeavours or her striving for equality. What annoyed me was the way she treated Matt and had to "keep up appearances" for other people. I feel like Kate still has growing up to do and that she is one lucky girl that Matt keeps sticking around.
I was so happy to have Captain Walken back in the story as he is one of my favourite characters and I missed him in the second book.
In some ways Starclimber felt like it went backwards a step in maturity, mostly thanks to a monkey aboard the space craft who peed in someone's soup and propelled himself through zero gravity by farting. That flaw aside, Mr. Oppel continued with his same writing style and his characters felt stronger than ever. I'm not 100% sure that all of the science is accurate, but as this is an alternate version of Earth it doesn't really matter, nor does it take away too much from the story. It did feel a little bit at times like if something could go wrong it would and they always seem to get out of it, but the authour makes sure you don't feel completely safe as there were accidents and deaths just like the other two books.
It was a very good end to the series and I highly recommend reading them all.
February 17, 2009
Starclimber is one of the best books that i have ever read. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who likes suspense, a good laugh, and a romance.
Matt, is one of my favorite characters because his personality is very much like mine, and I like how he keeps a cool head in a suspenseful situation. Kate is my second favorite character, because i like how she always gets what she wants, and she doesn't care who's feelings she hurts in the process. I also like her a lot because of the imagery Matt uses to describe her, from the way her perfume smells, to the way her auburn hair shines when its hit by light.
My least favorite character is Sir Hugh, for being such a jerk at times, for always giving all of the credit to himself, and being such a pessimist all of the time.
My favorite lines in the book were:
"Marry me," I said.
She lowered her teacup, shaking slightly, to the saucer. "Aren't you going to get down on one knee?"
i got down on one knee and took her hand.
"Will you marry me Kate?"
"You can't propose properly without a ring," she said.
I reached into my pocket and took out James Sanderson's ring, which I'd picked up off the floor of the Starclimber after we'd crash-landed.
"That's a nice-looking ring." said Kate with a grin.
"Cost a fortune," I said. "And now, for the third time. Kate de Vries, will you marry me?"
She leaned forward and took my face in her hands and kissed me.
"Yes," she said. "Yes, and yes, and yes. But it will be terrible."
"Probably." i agreed.
"Honestly," she sighed, "I don't know what kind of life we'll have together, with me always flying off in one direction and you in the other."
I smiled. "It's a good thing the world's round," I said.
The Starclimber never got boring for me, the romantic aspect of the book, mixed with the constant imagery that focused on every detail that helped understand the authors point of view.
I was really not able to predict the ending of the book, i thought Kate was going to end up marrying James Sanderson, and Mat was going to end up heartbroken.
The emotions this book brought out in me made me want to keep reading. It feels weird to say this, but i fell in love with Kate's character right from the beginning. I also felt very sad in the book when the main character would feel betrayed by Kate.
If this book was made into a movie, I would definitely want Tom Cruise to be the main character, Matt. I think i would choose Kate Mara to be Kate. Throughout the whole book, i imagined them as the characters.
Matt, is one of my favorite characters because his personality is very much like mine, and I like how he keeps a cool head in a suspenseful situation. Kate is my second favorite character, because i like how she always gets what she wants, and she doesn't care who's feelings she hurts in the process. I also like her a lot because of the imagery Matt uses to describe her, from the way her perfume smells, to the way her auburn hair shines when its hit by light.
My least favorite character is Sir Hugh, for being such a jerk at times, for always giving all of the credit to himself, and being such a pessimist all of the time.
My favorite lines in the book were:
"Marry me," I said.
She lowered her teacup, shaking slightly, to the saucer. "Aren't you going to get down on one knee?"
i got down on one knee and took her hand.
"Will you marry me Kate?"
"You can't propose properly without a ring," she said.
I reached into my pocket and took out James Sanderson's ring, which I'd picked up off the floor of the Starclimber after we'd crash-landed.
"That's a nice-looking ring." said Kate with a grin.
"Cost a fortune," I said. "And now, for the third time. Kate de Vries, will you marry me?"
She leaned forward and took my face in her hands and kissed me.
"Yes," she said. "Yes, and yes, and yes. But it will be terrible."
"Probably." i agreed.
"Honestly," she sighed, "I don't know what kind of life we'll have together, with me always flying off in one direction and you in the other."
I smiled. "It's a good thing the world's round," I said.
The Starclimber never got boring for me, the romantic aspect of the book, mixed with the constant imagery that focused on every detail that helped understand the authors point of view.
I was really not able to predict the ending of the book, i thought Kate was going to end up marrying James Sanderson, and Mat was going to end up heartbroken.
The emotions this book brought out in me made me want to keep reading. It feels weird to say this, but i fell in love with Kate's character right from the beginning. I also felt very sad in the book when the main character would feel betrayed by Kate.
If this book was made into a movie, I would definitely want Tom Cruise to be the main character, Matt. I think i would choose Kate Mara to be Kate. Throughout the whole book, i imagined them as the characters.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 2, 2010
STARCLIMBER is the third book in the Airborn Series. If you have not yet read books 1 & 2, please be warned that the following review contains spoilers for those two books.
So, yet again, Oppel has managed pull me into the tales of Matt Cruise with the first chapter - and I'm hooked from that point on; not wanting to set the book down, but rather anxious to read the next chapter, and the next, and the next...
After Matt has taken on two airborn adventures in books 1&2, the next obvious trek must be to outer space! The main plot, therefore, feels twofold: 1) which country will reach outer space first and will Matt pass the rigorous training to be selected as one of the astralnauts, and 2) what happens after that selection is made.
STARCLIMBER is to be filled to the brim with subplots and character development; everything from Matt and Kate's relationship and their families' dynamics, to the characters Matt meets during training, even Kate's involvement in the women's right movement.
My *only* complaint is that I wanted more - I wanted a few subplots explored a tad more, and I wasn't ever sure what THE main climax was. That said, I still completely enjoyed the book!
I don't think this review does the book justice, but all I can say is that the Airborn series is definitely one of my favorites. I'm happy just reading about the daily life of the characters included therein, but Oppel incorporates adventures so effortlessly and without it seeming contrived at all, that there is a very good blend. Even in what seems a purely "action" chapter, character development is woven in, so the chapters become rich and addicting.
It's so wonderful to find a book where you love the characters *and* the adventures they embark on *and* where the writing is enjoyable.
Highly, HIGHLY, recommended!!!
***
12/2/2009:
Yay! I've missed these adventures and am thrilled to be back in the midst so soon. It is odd to be reading this as opposed to listening to the audio books as I did for the first two, but so far the flow and all feels just right and like I can hear the narrator in my head (which, since I so enjoyed the audio books, is a good thing ;-> )
So, yet again, Oppel has managed pull me into the tales of Matt Cruise with the first chapter - and I'm hooked from that point on; not wanting to set the book down, but rather anxious to read the next chapter, and the next, and the next...
After Matt has taken on two airborn adventures in books 1&2, the next obvious trek must be to outer space! The main plot, therefore, feels twofold: 1) which country will reach outer space first and will Matt pass the rigorous training to be selected as one of the astralnauts, and 2) what happens after that selection is made.
STARCLIMBER is to be filled to the brim with subplots and character development; everything from Matt and Kate's relationship and their families' dynamics, to the characters Matt meets during training, even Kate's involvement in the women's right movement.
My *only* complaint is that I wanted more - I wanted a few subplots explored a tad more, and I wasn't ever sure what THE main climax was. That said, I still completely enjoyed the book!
I don't think this review does the book justice, but all I can say is that the Airborn series is definitely one of my favorites. I'm happy just reading about the daily life of the characters included therein, but Oppel incorporates adventures so effortlessly and without it seeming contrived at all, that there is a very good blend. Even in what seems a purely "action" chapter, character development is woven in, so the chapters become rich and addicting.
It's so wonderful to find a book where you love the characters *and* the adventures they embark on *and* where the writing is enjoyable.
Highly, HIGHLY, recommended!!!
***
12/2/2009:
Yay! I've missed these adventures and am thrilled to be back in the midst so soon. It is odd to be reading this as opposed to listening to the audio books as I did for the first two, but so far the flow and all feels just right and like I can hear the narrator in my head (which, since I so enjoyed the audio books, is a good thing ;-> )
November 26, 2012
Reviewed by LaLeesha Haynes for TeensReadToo.com
STARCLIMBER is the sequel to Oppel's AIRBORN and SKYBREAKER. This was a fantastic science fiction book for young adults, and will follow in their path of award-winning writing.
Matt is an accomplished young man who has many incredible opportunities to prove himself as he climbs out of his childhood. Kate is a feisty young woman with her sights set on a future filled with women's liberation and scientific research.
Together, they meet their newest challenge of being the first to ride the Starclimber into space. They are headed to a world of life-threatening new discoveries about space, and new discoveries about themselves as they soar into adulthood.
With new creatures and an "elevator" into space, our main characters seek to meet their new expectations and out-of-this-world challenges.
The book was packed with nail-biting adventures that are bound to keep readers' interest. It was a fabulous story, and I would suggest it to any young man or woman who likes to read about worlds, not too unlike their own, and young people who are accomplishing what seems like the impossible.
STARCLIMBER is the sequel to Oppel's AIRBORN and SKYBREAKER. This was a fantastic science fiction book for young adults, and will follow in their path of award-winning writing.
Matt is an accomplished young man who has many incredible opportunities to prove himself as he climbs out of his childhood. Kate is a feisty young woman with her sights set on a future filled with women's liberation and scientific research.
Together, they meet their newest challenge of being the first to ride the Starclimber into space. They are headed to a world of life-threatening new discoveries about space, and new discoveries about themselves as they soar into adulthood.
With new creatures and an "elevator" into space, our main characters seek to meet their new expectations and out-of-this-world challenges.
The book was packed with nail-biting adventures that are bound to keep readers' interest. It was a fabulous story, and I would suggest it to any young man or woman who likes to read about worlds, not too unlike their own, and young people who are accomplishing what seems like the impossible.
June 24, 2016
Hope there are more stories to come of Matt and Kate and their adventures.
September 28, 2019
I love Matt Cruse and his high flying stories.
To space and beyond in this one! Matt gets recruited into the space program for dear old Canada and goes through astralnaut training. And all goes well and he’s a hero. Not so fast...
Poor Matt can’t catch a break. He has to beat out hundreds for a spot, and his best girl is engaged to who now? This poor guy. Nice guys finish last. Except Matt keeps pressing forward, doing what is right, what is needed.
The adventure is full of Jules Verne science fiction and daring rescue and excitement. And Kate is ridiculous and heroic and in an impossible situation. But I wanted to tell her to hurry up and tell him how she feels. It’s classic will they/won’t they stuff and it pays off.
They new characters work so well and of course, the Captain makes a triumphant return to the story. I want to know what’s next for them all.
I want more Matt Cruse steampunk stories!
To space and beyond in this one! Matt gets recruited into the space program for dear old Canada and goes through astralnaut training. And all goes well and he’s a hero. Not so fast...
Poor Matt can’t catch a break. He has to beat out hundreds for a spot, and his best girl is engaged to who now? This poor guy. Nice guys finish last. Except Matt keeps pressing forward, doing what is right, what is needed.
The adventure is full of Jules Verne science fiction and daring rescue and excitement. And Kate is ridiculous and heroic and in an impossible situation. But I wanted to tell her to hurry up and tell him how she feels. It’s classic will they/won’t they stuff and it pays off.
They new characters work so well and of course, the Captain makes a triumphant return to the story. I want to know what’s next for them all.
I want more Matt Cruse steampunk stories!
July 30, 2018
A little far fetched but still good. The first two books were better
December 26, 2020
A riveting tale of an outlandish extraordinary journey with huge consequences and a heartwarming ending. Had me on the edge of my chair the whole time!
July 2, 2024
This series should be the blueprint for all YA adventure novels. Thanks Kenny 👍🏼
March 10, 2024
Re-read: March 2024
I love this series, but omg are Matt and Kate immature. I hope they have a long engagement (though they are still cute as a couple!).
Re-Read: April 2022
The last book that I'll finish at the beach (at least for a while), unfortunately :(
This book doesn't scream 'beach read' to me, but I still had a great time with this. Kate still annoys the hell out of me sometimes but I appreciate how consistent her character is. And I understand why she made the decisions that she did even if I agree with some of them.
I'm so upset that this series is so short but at least all the books in it were great. Now I need to go find a new book to read...since I have a 6 hour bus ride to look forward to **cries**
Re-read: January 2020
I still love this.
Re-read: May 2019
The Matt Cruse trilogy is one of my favorite series of all time. There's something about it that's so charming and lovable. I've read it so many times and I love it just as much each time I pick it up. I love revisiting the characters and seeing what crazy adventures they're up to now.
This is the last book of the series, and you can tell. I'm not saying that in a negative sense, but this novel has a sense of finality in it. Everyone's story comes to a close in this.
On a happier note, I loved seeing Matt and Kate just doing couple things. Despite their differences, they make each other so happy! Obviously they work well together during their adventures, but it was nice to see that they are still compatible even when no one is trying to kill them. I got very annoyed at Kate in this book, but I can see why she did everything that she did, and I get why Matt forgave her. Both Kate and Matt are realistically imperfect and they fully accept each other. This is what great ships are made of!
Another great thing about this series is its semi-realism. I say semi-realism because, well, in this book they essentially travel to space and they are constantly discovering new species, but within the rules set in the world, it's very realistic. The characters' personalities are consistent but you still see their growth, characters reference past events, and everything always seems plausible given what we know about the world. The least plausible thing is that the entirety of this series happened before either Kate or Matt turned 18. To add even more realism, Kate even has a consistent chaperone! Miss Simpkins has grown on me throughout the series.
This was a very satisfying conclusion to the series but I wish there was another book, if only because I don't want to say goodbye to these characters. I love absolutely everything about this series and I'm already dying to re-read it.
Original Review
Why does this have to be the last book!? :(
I love this series, but omg are Matt and Kate immature. I hope they have a long engagement (though they are still cute as a couple!).
Re-Read: April 2022
The last book that I'll finish at the beach (at least for a while), unfortunately :(
This book doesn't scream 'beach read' to me, but I still had a great time with this. Kate still annoys the hell out of me sometimes but I appreciate how consistent her character is. And I understand why she made the decisions that she did even if I agree with some of them.
I'm so upset that this series is so short but at least all the books in it were great. Now I need to go find a new book to read...since I have a 6 hour bus ride to look forward to **cries**
Re-read: January 2020
I still love this.
Re-read: May 2019
The Matt Cruse trilogy is one of my favorite series of all time. There's something about it that's so charming and lovable. I've read it so many times and I love it just as much each time I pick it up. I love revisiting the characters and seeing what crazy adventures they're up to now.
This is the last book of the series, and you can tell. I'm not saying that in a negative sense, but this novel has a sense of finality in it. Everyone's story comes to a close in this.
On a happier note, I loved seeing Matt and Kate just doing couple things. Despite their differences, they make each other so happy! Obviously they work well together during their adventures, but it was nice to see that they are still compatible even when no one is trying to kill them. I got very annoyed at Kate in this book, but I can see why she did everything that she did, and I get why Matt forgave her. Both Kate and Matt are realistically imperfect and they fully accept each other. This is what great ships are made of!
Another great thing about this series is its semi-realism. I say semi-realism because, well, in this book they essentially travel to space and they are constantly discovering new species, but within the rules set in the world, it's very realistic. The characters' personalities are consistent but you still see their growth, characters reference past events, and everything always seems plausible given what we know about the world. The least plausible thing is that the entirety of this series happened before either Kate or Matt turned 18. To add even more realism, Kate even has a consistent chaperone! Miss Simpkins has grown on me throughout the series.
This was a very satisfying conclusion to the series but I wish there was another book, if only because I don't want to say goodbye to these characters. I love absolutely everything about this series and I'm already dying to re-read it.
Original Review
Why does this have to be the last book!? :(
June 29, 2009
This is the third book in Oppel's "Airborn" series. This book was a fun read, but I thought the first two were superior. Fans of the fast-paced, near non-stop action of the first two might find the pacing slow. Personally, I thought the pacing was fine; it was slower and more deliberate, and got more into the relationships and interactions, especially between Matt and Kate. I also liked how some things which seemed inconsequential in the beginning turned out to be important at the end.
In this third installment, both Matt and Kate are invited to become astralnauts on the Starclimber, which will be the first vessel in space. Much of the first half of the book covers the training Matt goes through with the other potential candidates.
There are some good, laugh-out-loud moments, such as Sir Hugh's trying to upstage Kate during her lecture. The second half of the book has more action than the first half. The ending and resolution between Matt and Kate was a bit surprising. I guess the biggest stretch was the civilian crew. Some members (well, one in particular) should not have been on there, and it felt a bit contrived. But if you are willing to check that at the door, this story is a fun ride.
In this third installment, both Matt and Kate are invited to become astralnauts on the Starclimber, which will be the first vessel in space. Much of the first half of the book covers the training Matt goes through with the other potential candidates.
There are some good, laugh-out-loud moments, such as Sir Hugh's trying to upstage Kate during her lecture. The second half of the book has more action than the first half. The ending and resolution between Matt and Kate was a bit surprising. I guess the biggest stretch was the civilian crew. Some members (well, one in particular) should not have been on there, and it felt a bit contrived. But if you are willing to check that at the door, this story is a fun ride.
January 27, 2010
I began this book with great anticipation. I LOVED Oppel's previous two books in this series. They were fun, exciting, and interesting. They were books I wished I had written. It isn't that these adjectives don't apply to Starclimber, just not with the depth of sincerity and passion that his previous books inspired. Perhaps it was the action didn't have enough drama or the characters were petty and frustrating. I'm not sure but what I'd come to expect from Oppel, I just didn't find. It was a good book and I hate to disparage it but when I compare it with Airborn and Skybreaker. If there is another book in this series I will eagerly look to read it and see if our characters might grow out of this awkward phase. I would encourage anyone to read Airborn and Skybreaker - Oppel does an amazing job of recreating our world that isn't quite our world. Airborn is especially fun because its all about pirates. So 5 stars to Oppel as a writer and the Airborn series, 3 stars for Starclimber. Let's see what comes up next...
August 2, 2016
It finally happened. I've hit a reading slump. This is the only book I've finished in the past five days, and thank goodness I really liked it!
Earlier in July I read the second book in this series, Skybreaker, and was pleasantly surprised by it, and when I saw this final book at the library it called to me.
This is such a fun steampunk/alternate early 20th century story, and in this installment, Canada is at the front of the space race! I'm a sucker for books set in Canada, or featuring Canadians, because, well, I am one. And this one is even by a Canadian who isn't from Ontario! WHAT!? Other places exist?
Kenneth Oppel is a wonderful writer, and because I finished this book and still felt like I didn't want to read anything else ever, I picked up another book by him, The Boundless, to help me push through this slump!
Earlier in July I read the second book in this series, Skybreaker, and was pleasantly surprised by it, and when I saw this final book at the library it called to me.
This is such a fun steampunk/alternate early 20th century story, and in this installment, Canada is at the front of the space race! I'm a sucker for books set in Canada, or featuring Canadians, because, well, I am one. And this one is even by a Canadian who isn't from Ontario! WHAT!? Other places exist?
Kenneth Oppel is a wonderful writer, and because I finished this book and still felt like I didn't want to read anything else ever, I picked up another book by him, The Boundless, to help me push through this slump!
June 24, 2015
A terrific conclusion to the Matt Cruse series. This one features Matt and Kate de Vries on a mission to outer space. Believe it or not (and some of it surely is unrealistic but fun), the StarClimber is a space ship that can travel 25,000 miles from the Earth. This is an exciting adventure with clever characters, minor mishaps, major screwups and all around good fun. I loved that Matt finally got his HEA with Ms. de Vries (who I honestly wasn't sure about all the way up until the final chapter). I look forward to investigating Mr. Oppel's other books.
December 3, 2017
I think this series would have been a cult classic had it been written decades ago. Really enjoyed it.
October 21, 2018
2/5. A meh end to the trilogy. It has some fun parts, but is nowhere near as good as the first two books.
This book played out like a too-typical, under-researched adventure story. I get that that's all I should have expected, but Airborn set a pretty clear precedent that you're supposed to get more than what you bargained for with this series. Skybreaker is a bit shallower than Airborn, and Starclimber just about scrapes the bottom of the barrel. The story is thin and rushed, and the tech behind the Starclimber ship doesn't make sense half the time. Where Airborn, for example, is marked by meticulous thought and detail that's wound into the plot so that you remember it all and can use the knowledge to think through the story, Starclimber is flat-out ridiculous. Broken physics everywhere, a strangely humungous misunderstanding of how basic math works (like, you know, Algebra), blatantly impossible discoveries and space travel that barely contribute anything to the already painfully thin plot.
The space-dwelling creatures may as well have not been in the story at all, and it would have been the same story. Contrast this with Airborn, where the creature Matt and Kate discover IS the plot, and you feel wonder and excitement right alongside the characters. In Starclimber, the zoological stuff is mostly played for a laugh, a bit of a scare, and then nothing, as though Oppel realized he HAD to include A creature, and so he threw it into the plot grudgingly.
All the wit and charm is gone from this book, except for a liiiittle bit of the banter between Matt and Kate. Most of the humor is stupid and slapsticky instead of wry and clever. And the Matt and Kate relationship is dead to me. Matt behaves like a clingy, whiny baby for most of the story, a veeeeeeeeery different Matt from the first book, and he frankly doesn't deserve Kate. She spends the book defying societal expectations and forging her way toward what she wants, and Matt spends the whole time willfully misunderstanding and complaining about those efforts. He has absolutely zero trust in her, having developed NO spine from Skybreaker to now, assuming she's going to leave him at the drop of every hat, getting lowkey angry at her at every turn, even when she makes out with his face and nearly pins him against a WALL to help prove her feelings, among other things. He asks her to marry him at the exact worst moment and gets mad at her when she doesn't immediately say yes. Matt is kind of turning into the worst, and when Kate does accept his proposal at the end of the book, I was like nnnnnooooopppeee.
Matt is actually still pretty cool when he's with the crewmembers. He and Tobias have waayyyy more chemistry than he and Kate do tbh. I loved Tobias, he is super precious and a solid reason as to why I was able to make it through the first 60% of the book. Because the first 60% is nothing but buildup for the very, very underwhelming flight/climb/voyage. The training stuff was interesting, especially when it looks like someone close to Matt is trying to kill him and Tobias, but all of that goes nowhere.
Like, there is no plot? None? This is an adventure novel, and there's? No plot? Not only are the reasons for launching the Starclimber super vague, especially compared to the hyper-focused quests of the last two books, the whole subplot where there's people trying to wreck the tower in Paris and sabotage the voyage was actually really tense and interesting! And there's setup for twists and deeper looks into all of that cool subplot, setup EVERYWHERE, and literally zero payoff. It legit feels like a completely different author wrote this book. That entire subplot disappears into thin air, going nowhere.
Worse yet, stuff happens for no good reason. All the development feels so completely contrived. Things happen because of contrived stuff in the previous books for sure, but it never FEELS contrived because it's written elegantly, and ties into character and theme nicely. But Oppel shamelessly pulls stuff out of his butt every other chapter in this book, especially during the climb. EVEN WORSE, it's not just convenient saves - it's convenient PROBLEMS, and even greater sin imo, because in this book the problems keep happening over... and over... and over... and over, on all the beats exactly where you expect them. Not because there's any setup or payoff for stuff, but because you're like aahhh yes, I can feel Oppel about to make stuff up again for no reason. And it is this exact story structure that stretches this book out for not even 400 pages.
Like, you couldn't even fill 400 large-print pages with a steady plot? You HAD to string and stretch it out with meaningless problem after meaningless problem again and again? And when there's no problem for just one second, Matt has to get angry at Kate and jealous at everyone (INCLUDING AN OLD SCIENTIST SHE IS HAVING AN ARGUMENT WITH, WHYYY) who comes near Kate to fake more tension? UUGGHHH.
I'm mad because Skybreaker was good and Airborn was fantastic. We deserved a better ending to the series. But it feels like this was a one-off idea Oppel had, and was pressured by the publishers to stick on a third and final book, so he ran with the idea anyway and threw together whatever he could think of at the last second. Like, Miss Karr is funny-ish, but utterly pointless to the story. The monkey is even more pointless. Hugh is half-pointless. And then there's all the shamelessly snipped-off series-wide plotlines. Skybreaker committed this sin as well, but there's hardly anymore mentions of Matt's father? He was SO IMPORTANT in Airborn and aroused so many poignant emotions in Matt and in us, but then he disappeared. We're introduced to the rest of the fam because I think Oppel just felt like he needed to stretch the book out longer. The entire garden party was pointless as well. What about Matt graduating from the Academy? Becoming an actual captain? Going back to the Aurora? Kate being an actual legit pilot now? You know - all the stuff we've actually been caring about this entire time.
Wow I am salty. But it is seriously because this series can do better, and it had to end like this. I get the feeling that Oppel just wanted to be free of this series, which is fine, but now I have to try and pretend that this book doesn't exist, and that's gonna take a lot of effort. There are spelling and grammar mistakes in the book as well. This whole thing reads like a shaky beginning draft that just got rushed through the publisher. Sad.
Anyway, you can catch me clinging to Airborn and hesitantly poking at Skybreaker. Third book what? Who? I can't read suddenly.
This book played out like a too-typical, under-researched adventure story. I get that that's all I should have expected, but Airborn set a pretty clear precedent that you're supposed to get more than what you bargained for with this series. Skybreaker is a bit shallower than Airborn, and Starclimber just about scrapes the bottom of the barrel. The story is thin and rushed, and the tech behind the Starclimber ship doesn't make sense half the time. Where Airborn, for example, is marked by meticulous thought and detail that's wound into the plot so that you remember it all and can use the knowledge to think through the story, Starclimber is flat-out ridiculous. Broken physics everywhere, a strangely humungous misunderstanding of how basic math works (like, you know, Algebra), blatantly impossible discoveries and space travel that barely contribute anything to the already painfully thin plot.
The space-dwelling creatures may as well have not been in the story at all, and it would have been the same story. Contrast this with Airborn, where the creature Matt and Kate discover IS the plot, and you feel wonder and excitement right alongside the characters. In Starclimber, the zoological stuff is mostly played for a laugh, a bit of a scare, and then nothing, as though Oppel realized he HAD to include A creature, and so he threw it into the plot grudgingly.
All the wit and charm is gone from this book, except for a liiiittle bit of the banter between Matt and Kate. Most of the humor is stupid and slapsticky instead of wry and clever. And the Matt and Kate relationship is dead to me. Matt behaves like a clingy, whiny baby for most of the story, a veeeeeeeeery different Matt from the first book, and he frankly doesn't deserve Kate. She spends the book defying societal expectations and forging her way toward what she wants, and Matt spends the whole time willfully misunderstanding and complaining about those efforts. He has absolutely zero trust in her, having developed NO spine from Skybreaker to now, assuming she's going to leave him at the drop of every hat, getting lowkey angry at her at every turn, even when she makes out with his face and nearly pins him against a WALL to help prove her feelings, among other things. He asks her to marry him at the exact worst moment and gets mad at her when she doesn't immediately say yes. Matt is kind of turning into the worst, and when Kate does accept his proposal at the end of the book, I was like nnnnnooooopppeee.
Matt is actually still pretty cool when he's with the crewmembers. He and Tobias have waayyyy more chemistry than he and Kate do tbh. I loved Tobias, he is super precious and a solid reason as to why I was able to make it through the first 60% of the book. Because the first 60% is nothing but buildup for the very, very underwhelming flight/climb/voyage. The training stuff was interesting, especially when it looks like someone close to Matt is trying to kill him and Tobias, but all of that goes nowhere.
Like, there is no plot? None? This is an adventure novel, and there's? No plot? Not only are the reasons for launching the Starclimber super vague, especially compared to the hyper-focused quests of the last two books, the whole subplot where there's people trying to wreck the tower in Paris and sabotage the voyage was actually really tense and interesting! And there's setup for twists and deeper looks into all of that cool subplot, setup EVERYWHERE, and literally zero payoff. It legit feels like a completely different author wrote this book. That entire subplot disappears into thin air, going nowhere.
Worse yet, stuff happens for no good reason. All the development feels so completely contrived. Things happen because of contrived stuff in the previous books for sure, but it never FEELS contrived because it's written elegantly, and ties into character and theme nicely. But Oppel shamelessly pulls stuff out of his butt every other chapter in this book, especially during the climb. EVEN WORSE, it's not just convenient saves - it's convenient PROBLEMS, and even greater sin imo, because in this book the problems keep happening over... and over... and over... and over, on all the beats exactly where you expect them. Not because there's any setup or payoff for stuff, but because you're like aahhh yes, I can feel Oppel about to make stuff up again for no reason. And it is this exact story structure that stretches this book out for not even 400 pages.
Like, you couldn't even fill 400 large-print pages with a steady plot? You HAD to string and stretch it out with meaningless problem after meaningless problem again and again? And when there's no problem for just one second, Matt has to get angry at Kate and jealous at everyone (INCLUDING AN OLD SCIENTIST SHE IS HAVING AN ARGUMENT WITH, WHYYY) who comes near Kate to fake more tension? UUGGHHH.
I'm mad because Skybreaker was good and Airborn was fantastic. We deserved a better ending to the series. But it feels like this was a one-off idea Oppel had, and was pressured by the publishers to stick on a third and final book, so he ran with the idea anyway and threw together whatever he could think of at the last second. Like, Miss Karr is funny-ish, but utterly pointless to the story. The monkey is even more pointless. Hugh is half-pointless. And then there's all the shamelessly snipped-off series-wide plotlines. Skybreaker committed this sin as well, but there's hardly anymore mentions of Matt's father? He was SO IMPORTANT in Airborn and aroused so many poignant emotions in Matt and in us, but then he disappeared. We're introduced to the rest of the fam because I think Oppel just felt like he needed to stretch the book out longer. The entire garden party was pointless as well. What about Matt graduating from the Academy? Becoming an actual captain? Going back to the Aurora? Kate being an actual legit pilot now? You know - all the stuff we've actually been caring about this entire time.
Wow I am salty. But it is seriously because this series can do better, and it had to end like this. I get the feeling that Oppel just wanted to be free of this series, which is fine, but now I have to try and pretend that this book doesn't exist, and that's gonna take a lot of effort. There are spelling and grammar mistakes in the book as well. This whole thing reads like a shaky beginning draft that just got rushed through the publisher. Sad.
Anyway, you can catch me clinging to Airborn and hesitantly poking at Skybreaker. Third book what? Who? I can't read suddenly.
March 27, 2024
*Exasperated sigh* I think someone else wrote this book. The characters were unrecognizable, there was no plot, and there were almost no praiseworthy values. At 34% I gave up, which is shocking to me considering how much I loved the first two! There is almost too much I found unsatisfactory to describe here. But the worst problem is Kate. She is unbearable. In the previous books, we know that she is spoiled, selfish, and stubborn, but she also has good qualities - she's resourceful, kind, and sees human beings for their intrinsic value, not socioeconomic standing. I was hoping that as the series progressed and she came out more and more from under her parent's thumb that she would grow in humility and grace. No. She is a monster in this book and wholly unworthy of Matt (who, by the way, becomes a whiny hanger-on - not the Matt we knew in the first two books). At one point, she joins with other foolish suffragettes in smashing store owners' windows in order to "make their voices heard in favor of giving women the vote". Not once is the glaring moral issue with this ever addressed, by Matt or anyone else: she engaged in criminal activity. I don't care what your reasons are, a wrong NEVER makes a right. But, like I said, she's never confronted with how her actions affected the truly hardworking and law-abiding citizens. She's hailed as a hero. What kind of message does this send to the more impressionable of readers?
July 29, 2022
I really enjoyed this trilogy, and it came to a satisfying ending. I like how Oppel made some areas of space travel similar to how it is in real life, but put his own spin on things and definitely made it unique. As with the last two books, this one was definitely exciting and a page turner as well.
One complaint I have is that at times some aspects of the plot seem a little too coincidental to be believable. Another complaint I have is it can be frustrating to read about how Matt and Kate handle their relationship, but that may just be me haha.
Overall I definitely enjoyed reading Starclimber, it was an exciting and fun end to the trilogy.
One complaint I have is that at times some aspects of the plot seem a little too coincidental to be believable. Another complaint I have is it can be frustrating to read about how Matt and Kate handle their relationship, but that may just be me haha.
Overall I definitely enjoyed reading Starclimber, it was an exciting and fun end to the trilogy.
July 5, 2018
Yet another awesome adventure mixed with romantic drama has come to a close. Kenneth Oppel is a great story-teller. This particular series is one that you can read over and over again and get swept up into the story.
January 6, 2019
it’s annoying when ppl r like wow i’m so feminist look at me writing abt the suffragette movement ! feminism!! when their book is set an au set in in a modern time where we act like it’s 1700s england BUT there’s advanced science. thanks !
July 8, 2023
This book. This series.
The Matt Cruse series is up there in my favorite trilogies and re-reading it has reminded me why.
In this installment, Matt and Kate go even higher than before, to outer space.
I love that the Steampunk Edwardian feel of the earlier books carries over into this and love the inclusion of space travel! I especially love seeing the characters and how they have grown, though they do still have some of their old faults.
I especially love the ending of this!
The Matt Cruse series is up there in my favorite trilogies and re-reading it has reminded me why.
In this installment, Matt and Kate go even higher than before, to outer space.
I love that the Steampunk Edwardian feel of the earlier books carries over into this and love the inclusion of space travel! I especially love seeing the characters and how they have grown, though they do still have some of their old faults.
I especially love the ending of this!
March 25, 2018
3.5. Solid ending to a fun trilogy.
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