The Golden City
Fourth Realm #3
John Hawks
SF
4 Stars
dtb, 358 pages

the conclusion. Maya is pregnant with Gabriel’s child. Michael goes to the realm of the half-gods who have ruthlessly ruled their world and now want to take over the rest of the realms. Gabriel meets his father in the realm of the gods, who would appear to be ‘good’ angels and who have disappeared, leaving humanity on their own. In the end the Tabula is split apart from within, Gabriel rallies the world and Gabe and Michael faceoff inbetween and neither comes out of their traveler sleep by the end of the book. The only real finish possible to this series, since Hawks obviously doesn’t believe in God. He foists the ending off into the nebulous “future”. I have to say, I enjoyed this more than the second novel, even though less happened and more philosophy was spouted. The only thing I don’t get is why Michael was suddenly so afraid of Gabriel at the end. It just didn’t make any sense to me.

As good an ending as you can get for a series in which the author believes in the depravity of man without the redemptive power of God. The problems are all pushed into the nebulous “future” and the battle between Tabula and Traveler are shown for the Dualistic philosophy they truly are.

That being said, I really enjoyed this book. Not as “cool” as the first book, but tighter and more engaging than the second. As soon as it was revealed that Maya was pregnant, I knew that Gabriel had to go. The only thing I don’t understand is why Michael went so ballistic at the end. What happened to the calm, collected schemer?