Rolling Thunder ($7.99 @ Amazon) by John Varley is the third book in the series. I previously reviewed Red Thunder and Red Lightening, having really enjoyed them both. In this third book the prime character is now the 3rd generation (or 4th depending on how you count I guess!) and is told from the perspective of Podkayne (Elizabeth), a singer and musician in the Martian Navy. She ends up on Europa (Jupiter moon) when an interesting and major event occurs with severe repercussions on Earth, and which makes her the most famous person in the universe.
I didn’t enjoy the book as much as the first two. Maybe part of that was that at times the story/character is pretty shallow – she’s 19/20 at the time the story starts and that’s not meant as sexist (though maybe it is), just that few 20 year olds think really deep thoughts. Parts of it just come together in a way that feels forced in an effort to arrive at the ending.
Though I didn’t enjoy it as much, I still like the series being told from different generational perspectives. Think that is a nice device and a nice change of pace.
I tend to agree, that the third book isn't as good as the first two. It goes stretch the idea of science fiction and alien encounters nicely, but it's a really light read, not a thinking one.
