Ascending

Ascending, the fifth novel in James Alan Gardner's League of Peoples series, continues the story of Admiral Festina Ramos and Oar, a woman made of transparent glass. The narrative follows their new challenges within the complex political landscape of interstellar civilization. The story expands the series' universe by revealing more about the League of Peoples, a powerful galactic organization that offers advanced technology to species who reject fatal violence. The plot connects to humanity's first contact with the mysterious Shaddill beings and their offer to transport humans to a terraformed New Earth. At its core, the book explores relationships between different species and civilizations while following Festina and Oar's personal journeys. Their paths intersect with larger questions about humanity's place in the cosmos and the true nature of advancement. The novel examines themes of evolution, both technological and spiritual, while questioning what it means to ascend to a higher state of existence. Gardner's work presents a unique perspective on first contact scenarios and the price of progress in interstellar society.

Readers describe Ascending as a fast-paced space adventure with humor and philosophical elements. Many found protagonist Oar's unique narrative voice compelling and enjoyed seeing her character growth continue from the previous book Vigilant. Readers liked: - Oar's distinct personality and perspective - The balance of action, humor and deeper themes - The expansion of the League of Peoples universe - The exploration of consciousness and identity Readers disliked: - Slow pacing in the middle sections - Less action than previous books in the series - Some found Oar's voice grating or inconsistent - Plot threads left unresolved Ratings: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (436 ratings) Amazon: 4.2/5 (21 ratings) "Oar's innocent yet insightful observations make this story work" - Amazon reviewer "Gets bogged down in philosophical discussions at times" - Goodreads reviewer "Not as engaging as Vigilant but still enjoyable" - LibraryThing reviewer

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🌟 The League of Peoples series was partly inspired by Gardner's background in mathematics, which he studied at the University of Waterloo before becoming a writer. 🌟 The character Oar first appeared in the novel "Expendable" (1997) and became so popular with readers that Gardner wrote this follow-up specifically to continue her story. 🌟 Gardner's concept of the League of Peoples draws from real-world international organizations but adds a unique twist: species must completely eliminate violent behavior to join, or face immediate consequences. 🌟 The novel's exploration of genetic engineering and evolution reflects growing scientific discussions in the late 1990s about the Human Genome Project and its implications. 🌟 "Ascending" won Canada's Aurora Award in 2002 for Best Long-Form Work in English, highlighting its significance in Canadian science fiction literature.