What do you think?
Rate this book
League of Peoples #5
Ascending
Left to languish on the planet of no return, an alien teams up with a professional smuggler to save her people in this sci-fi adventure. Four years after Festina Ramos left Melaquin, the “planet of no return,” Uclodda Unorr arrives. Unorr is a hired smuggler tasked with gathering evidence of misconduct of the Technocracy’s Outward Fleet. Much to his surprise he discovers that Oar, a resident of the planet and last of her kind, is still alive. Though Oar’s glass-like body is indestructible, her mind grows weak and will soon fall victim to “apathetic hibernation.” Along with her old friend Admiral Festina Ramos, Oar must reveal the true history of Melaquin and expose the ugly deeds of the Outward Fleet before her weary mind surrenders.
388 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 1, 2001
About the author
James Alan Gardner
62 books275 followersRaised in Simcoe and Bradford, Ontario, James Alan Gardner earned Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Applied Mathematics from the University of Waterloo.
A graduate of the Clarion West Fiction Writers Workshop, Gardner has published science fiction short stories in a range of periodicals, including The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction and Amazing Stories. In 1989, his short story "Children of the Creche" was awarded the Grand Prize in the Writers of the Future contest. Two years later his story "Muffin Explains Teleology to the World at Large" won an Aurora Award; another story, "Three Hearings on the Existence of Snakes in the Human Bloodstream," won an Aurora and was nominated for both the Nebula and Hugo Awards.
He has written a number of novels in a "League of Peoples" universe in which murderers are defined as "dangerous non-sentients" and are killed if they try to leave their solar system by aliens who are so advanced that they think of humans like humans think of bacteria. This precludes the possibility of interstellar wars.
He has also explored themes of gender in his novels, including Commitment Hour in which people change sex every year, and Vigilant in which group marriages are traditional.
Gardner is also an educator and technical writer. His book Learning UNIX is used as a textbook in some Canadian universities.
A Grand Prize winner of the Writers of the Future contest, he lives with his family in Waterloo, Ontario.
A graduate of the Clarion West Fiction Writers Workshop, Gardner has published science fiction short stories in a range of periodicals, including The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction and Amazing Stories. In 1989, his short story "Children of the Creche" was awarded the Grand Prize in the Writers of the Future contest. Two years later his story "Muffin Explains Teleology to the World at Large" won an Aurora Award; another story, "Three Hearings on the Existence of Snakes in the Human Bloodstream," won an Aurora and was nominated for both the Nebula and Hugo Awards.
He has written a number of novels in a "League of Peoples" universe in which murderers are defined as "dangerous non-sentients" and are killed if they try to leave their solar system by aliens who are so advanced that they think of humans like humans think of bacteria. This precludes the possibility of interstellar wars.
He has also explored themes of gender in his novels, including Commitment Hour in which people change sex every year, and Vigilant in which group marriages are traditional.
Gardner is also an educator and technical writer. His book Learning UNIX is used as a textbook in some Canadian universities.
A Grand Prize winner of the Writers of the Future contest, he lives with his family in Waterloo, Ontario.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
January 1, 2012
I am such a one as would like to see more of Oar.
November 14, 2018
"Wacky space opera, with a rather enjoyably pulpish feel, narrated in an exagerratedly adolescent and quite engaging voice. What's it about? Oar Saves the Universe, of course -- plus weird aliens and stuff." -- Rich Horton, from an old Usenet post
Rich's capsule is fair and accurate. I enjoyed the book -- an engagingly-silly diversion. "B", maybe even "B+." Or maybe not -- the ending was a bit much. As is the Pollisand, the headless, clairvoyant, pedantic magical Superthing.
Review written circa 2005. I have absolutely no memory of the book, here in 2018.
Rich's capsule is fair and accurate. I enjoyed the book -- an engagingly-silly diversion. "B", maybe even "B+." Or maybe not -- the ending was a bit much. As is the Pollisand, the headless, clairvoyant, pedantic magical Superthing.
Review written circa 2005. I have absolutely no memory of the book, here in 2018.
March 24, 2022
A humpback whale, a honeybee, and Pando walk into a bar....
Ok, not really, but the experience of reading this sure makes me feel as if that's a real joke, and that I'm going to get a punchline at the end. Several diverse truly alien beings, plus Festina Ramos, are having an adventure. More Sense of Wonder than either thrills or even What If, and I'm enjoying the heck out of it.
---
Done.
I'm so glad that I have the series and can reread them at some point.
This does have something like a punchline; a nice efficiently told satisfactory ending, that also leaves me wanting to read 'what next' because there surely is going to be some more adventures!
"Having a perilous adventure is always better than comatose safety. Always."
"... other races are following them into the darkness. On their best days, they long to be truly alive... But they are physically incapable of pushing themselves past the emptiness."
"We are all built in ways we would change if we could--we are flawed or damaged or broken by forces beyond our control. In the end we are limited creatures who cannot exceed our boundaries... but here is the other half of the truth: our boundaries are never where we think they are... prove you are more than you think."
Ok, not really, but the experience of reading this sure makes me feel as if that's a real joke, and that I'm going to get a punchline at the end. Several diverse truly alien beings, plus Festina Ramos, are having an adventure. More Sense of Wonder than either thrills or even What If, and I'm enjoying the heck out of it.
---
Done.
I'm so glad that I have the series and can reread them at some point.
This does have something like a punchline; a nice efficiently told satisfactory ending, that also leaves me wanting to read 'what next' because there surely is going to be some more adventures!
"Having a perilous adventure is always better than comatose safety. Always."
"... other races are following them into the darkness. On their best days, they long to be truly alive... But they are physically incapable of pushing themselves past the emptiness."
"We are all built in ways we would change if we could--we are flawed or damaged or broken by forces beyond our control. In the end we are limited creatures who cannot exceed our boundaries... but here is the other half of the truth: our boundaries are never where we think they are... prove you are more than you think."
September 4, 2019
At first I wasn't sure if I liked Oar's perspective, with her constant bragging about her own greatness combined with her childlike attitude, but ultimately I found the approach entertaining when contrasted with the behavior of the characters, and the story was engaging enough to let me overlook the flaws. I continue to like Gardner's creativity when it comes to aliens, and the fact that they don't behave in ways that humans might be expected to behave.
April 14, 2012
This book was completely addictive. If you like organismal biology and anatomy, this is the book for you. I fell in love with Expendable but my favorite character in this book was the male Zarrett, Nimbus. This book is narrated by Oar and I thoroughly loved Oar in Expendable. Her narration and childish mind constantly makes you laugh. The suspense keeps you turning the pages. I'd recommend this book to anyone. I'm not a huge reader of sci-fi but James Alan Gardner is an amazing author.
September 3, 2020
This held up well. Oar is hilarious
April 7, 2010
Basic test [yes/no:]: Would I recommend you read this book or not. Was it worth the few hours spent reading it? Am I pleased that I spent the time reading it? --- Yes ---
September 25, 2011
Always enjoy a League of Peoples/Festina Ramos story. This one broadens the scope of things. Only two more to go.
June 9, 2010
Gardner was a new author for me, with this book. To me, this novel suffered a lot due to the fact that it seemed like the author couldn't decided whether he wanted to write a tongue-in-cheek, funny farce or a serious sf adventure. The result was something that can't really be taken seriously, but isn't really funny, either.
The narrator is Oar, the last (conscious) woman of her kind - a woman made of transparent glass, who looks, we are told "llike a digital effect." She is also incredibly self-absorbed, naive, and childlike. It turns out that there is a plot-related reason for her character flaws, but reading a story narrated by this incredibly tiresome character gets, well, tiresome.
Oar is worried bout succumbing to the problem all her people have succumbed to 'Tired Brain Syndrome'. Around the age of 50, they get tired, confused, and just go to sleep. People though Oar was dead, but she is not, and now an interplanetary team including her friend Festina Ramos has showed up - but another group wants to kidnap her as well - and a mysterious alien who is always associated with terrible disasters has appeared to her as well, offering her a cure in return for her cooperation with an unspecified plan.... the story is rather unmemorable.
The narrator is Oar, the last (conscious) woman of her kind - a woman made of transparent glass, who looks, we are told "llike a digital effect." She is also incredibly self-absorbed, naive, and childlike. It turns out that there is a plot-related reason for her character flaws, but reading a story narrated by this incredibly tiresome character gets, well, tiresome.
Oar is worried bout succumbing to the problem all her people have succumbed to 'Tired Brain Syndrome'. Around the age of 50, they get tired, confused, and just go to sleep. People though Oar was dead, but she is not, and now an interplanetary team including her friend Festina Ramos has showed up - but another group wants to kidnap her as well - and a mysterious alien who is always associated with terrible disasters has appeared to her as well, offering her a cure in return for her cooperation with an unspecified plan.... the story is rather unmemorable.
October 4, 2013
This book has probably one of the most unique coming of age stories I have EVER read. The main character acts like a twelve year old girl. Fortunately a funny character who starts off selfish but adorable and grows into a good strong hero.
For a full review of this book check out my video.
For a look at the series as a whole check out this video.
For a full review of this book check out my video.
For a look at the series as a whole check out this video.
August 27, 2008
My favorite book in Gardner's "Expendable" universe. It's absolutely hilarious. Even the chapter titles are funny. It's about a transparent girl (literally). Her people has flesh that's transparent and she thinks opaque people are terribly ugly. She's not very smart but she thinks she is. She somehow gets pulled into events far greater than her.
October 14, 2010
I mistakenly (in my earlier reading years) read this book from the League of Peoples series out of order. This one is book 4. I am going to backtrack and read the rest though because this book was fantastic.
Science Fiction at its' best. ♥
October 21, 2012
Loved the character Oar! She appears in several of Gardner's books, all in the excellent League of Peoples series.
September 3, 2014
Best. Sci fi. Ever.
It is told from the point of view of Oar from Expendables. If that doesn't convince you I don't even know what to say.
It is told from the point of view of Oar from Expendables. If that doesn't convince you I don't even know what to say.
September 26, 2019
Ok, for the record I read all of these books way back in the day and am going through them for the second or third time. I love the whole concept of the League or Peoples, and Gardner does a great job of making the universe both plausible and entertaining.
This story is the bees-knees. You're basically getting the whole story through Oar (If you don't know who she is, go read book 1 before you read this!). The story is a relatively serious one with classic, big scifi kind of implications, but it's all through the eyes of a creature with the mental maturity of a... hmmm... I'd say a 12 or 13 year old spoiled girl. Does that sound like it would get old? It really doesn't. It's a rip-roaring good read, from start to finish.
This story is the bees-knees. You're basically getting the whole story through Oar (If you don't know who she is, go read book 1 before you read this!). The story is a relatively serious one with classic, big scifi kind of implications, but it's all through the eyes of a creature with the mental maturity of a... hmmm... I'd say a 12 or 13 year old spoiled girl. Does that sound like it would get old? It really doesn't. It's a rip-roaring good read, from start to finish.
January 7, 2020
Astonishingly well-written and I appreciate the challenge Gardner set for himself in writing a whole novel for this character.
But I don't like Oar. Gardner has the childlike attitude perfect, unfortunately that means Oar has the ego of a child and maybe it's me but I found it very annoying after a while. The new characters and the new races were interesting, but if I read the phrase "Faithful Sidekick" one more time, I was going to scream.
But I don't like Oar. Gardner has the childlike attitude perfect, unfortunately that means Oar has the ego of a child and maybe it's me but I found it very annoying after a while. The new characters and the new races were interesting, but if I read the phrase "Faithful Sidekick" one more time, I was going to scream.
May 6, 2022
I only rate it 4 stars because the writing at the end seems rushed and not as polished as the first 300+ pages.
The story is unique and interesting, however, and makes me think I should read the rest of this series. James Alan Gardner's style of writing is such an easy read and the chapters even have subchapters that make you want to keep going, especially in this book where Oar (who is always fun) is the POV.
The story is unique and interesting, however, and makes me think I should read the rest of this series. James Alan Gardner's style of writing is such an easy read and the chapters even have subchapters that make you want to keep going, especially in this book where Oar (who is always fun) is the POV.
August 14, 2023
This review may be unfair... I've loved previous volumes of this series... I just couldn't take the prospect of an entire novel written in the perspective of the SUPREME Archetype Of Conceited Ditz that is apparently where this is going.
Yes the character made for some fun dialogue in one previous volume, but there's only so much of her I can take
Yes the character made for some fun dialogue in one previous volume, but there's only so much of her I can take
September 21, 2019
The first 120 pages were a bit slow / hard to get into (too much Oar), and then the next 240 were a joy (Festina finally showed up). Some very funny (laugh out loud) bits, and in some ways hard to believe it wasn’t written today.
January 26, 2019
Very odd book. This is the only one I have read of this series. Overall it was a good read, but I found the main character to be irritating at times. The story was interesting though.
February 3, 2019
This a very good series by Gardner and this is a strong book in the series.
July 19, 2019
Great novel
February 2, 2022
It's pretty cool to have a book written from the point of view of an alien life form named "Oar." She's witty and fun to read.
Shelved as 'could-not-finish'
December 12, 2022I got to page 35 and when they were talking about being swallowed and splashing in saliva, I said enough is enough. I just ate lunch. Did not finish, no rating.
August 26, 2020
_Ascending_ is another outstanding installment in Gardner's increasingly excellent League of Peoples science fiction novel series, books ultimately featuring the recurring heroine Festina Ramos but starting with the second volume in the series, _Vigilant_, told from the point of view of another character. Though a follow-up to both _Vigilant_ and the previous installment in the series, _Hunted_, _Ascending_ is most clearly a sequel to the original volume, _Expendable_.
In _Expendable_, the reader was introduced to a Technocracy-wide conspiracy of corrupt and criminal admirals, the "Planet of No Return" known as Melaquin, the transparent glass-like human-form sentient beings that inhabit it, and most of all the irrepressible Oar, the self-style superb and gorgeous (but also endearingly child-like and arrogant) heroine of the first book (in her mind Ramos is her sidekick). Thought dead at the end of _Expendable_ to the grief of Ramos, we find that she is not dead after all when agents of one of the corrupt admirals, in an attempt to deal with the fallout of Ramos' investigations of the Navy, comes across her on a "clean-up trip" to Melaquin. What follows is a grand adventure starring (and told from the point of view) of Oar, one that involves vast conspiracies (or as Oar would right it, Vast Conspiracies), Powerful Enemies, and a Gorgeous Heroine with Her Faithful if Not Particularly Attractive Sidekicks.
A very enjoyable book, Gardner answers many of the questions raised by _Expendable_, such as who created the obviously artificial glass-like transparent race on Melaquin, why they live underground, and why despite being basically immortal they generally retire to tomb-like structures at around age fifty due to "Tired Brains." We also get some nice follow-up to events in _Hunted_ and are introduced to new alien races, notably the Zarett (sentient living ships, ultimately lovable despite being Gross and Excessively Gooey), the Cashlings (once powerful race in decline, self-absorbed and immature to a breathtaking degree, in what was probably a comment on today's culture, a race that embraced "[i]dle entertainment...[a] deadened inner emptiness, reinforced by a self-righteous conviction that there was no more worthwhile way to live"), the Shaddill (a mysterious elder race that has shaped the universe of this setting to a surprising degree), and the Pollisand (is he one individual or an entire race?). Oar take on things was frequently hilarious and I loved her little footnotes describing what things really meant, at least in her opinion. If you liked the previous installment in the series you will love this one.
In _Expendable_, the reader was introduced to a Technocracy-wide conspiracy of corrupt and criminal admirals, the "Planet of No Return" known as Melaquin, the transparent glass-like human-form sentient beings that inhabit it, and most of all the irrepressible Oar, the self-style superb and gorgeous (but also endearingly child-like and arrogant) heroine of the first book (in her mind Ramos is her sidekick). Thought dead at the end of _Expendable_ to the grief of Ramos, we find that she is not dead after all when agents of one of the corrupt admirals, in an attempt to deal with the fallout of Ramos' investigations of the Navy, comes across her on a "clean-up trip" to Melaquin. What follows is a grand adventure starring (and told from the point of view) of Oar, one that involves vast conspiracies (or as Oar would right it, Vast Conspiracies), Powerful Enemies, and a Gorgeous Heroine with Her Faithful if Not Particularly Attractive Sidekicks.
A very enjoyable book, Gardner answers many of the questions raised by _Expendable_, such as who created the obviously artificial glass-like transparent race on Melaquin, why they live underground, and why despite being basically immortal they generally retire to tomb-like structures at around age fifty due to "Tired Brains." We also get some nice follow-up to events in _Hunted_ and are introduced to new alien races, notably the Zarett (sentient living ships, ultimately lovable despite being Gross and Excessively Gooey), the Cashlings (once powerful race in decline, self-absorbed and immature to a breathtaking degree, in what was probably a comment on today's culture, a race that embraced "[i]dle entertainment...[a] deadened inner emptiness, reinforced by a self-righteous conviction that there was no more worthwhile way to live"), the Shaddill (a mysterious elder race that has shaped the universe of this setting to a surprising degree), and the Pollisand (is he one individual or an entire race?). Oar take on things was frequently hilarious and I loved her little footnotes describing what things really meant, at least in her opinion. If you liked the previous installment in the series you will love this one.
February 5, 2017
I'm conflicted about Ascending. On the one hand, the story started in Expendable continues directly, with more space action and investigations into the deepest sins of the League of People, on the other hand I Am Not Such As One Who Thinks Oar Is Cute.
Four years after Expendable, Oar wakes up on Melaquin, healed by ridiculously advanced technology, just in time to be picked up by a biological spaceship named Starbiter crewed by Uclod, a semi-criminal information broker trying to get some advantage out of the shambles left the death of Admiral York in the previous book. Oak and Starbiter run from the Shadhill (sp? something like that), an even more ridiculously powerful race. They meet up with Festina Ramos, and over the course of the story it turns out the the Shadhill are responsible for uplifting most of the local races, and also responsible for ensuring their slow but inevitable degeneracy through concealed flaws in their technology, and a campaign of distracting scientific research into the problems.
It turns out that the Shadhill used to rule the local area about 5000 years ago, until most of their race uplifted. Now there are only two left, and they're afraid to abandon the project. Oar saves the day, fulfilling a mission given to her by an even more ridiculously advanced alien.
The setting moves along quite a bit, and there are some cool ideas, but at the end of the day, I don't like Oar at all as a narrator, and that knocked it down a star.
Four years after Expendable, Oar wakes up on Melaquin, healed by ridiculously advanced technology, just in time to be picked up by a biological spaceship named Starbiter crewed by Uclod, a semi-criminal information broker trying to get some advantage out of the shambles left the death of Admiral York in the previous book. Oak and Starbiter run from the Shadhill (sp? something like that), an even more ridiculously powerful race. They meet up with Festina Ramos, and over the course of the story it turns out the the Shadhill are responsible for uplifting most of the local races, and also responsible for ensuring their slow but inevitable degeneracy through concealed flaws in their technology, and a campaign of distracting scientific research into the problems.
It turns out that the Shadhill used to rule the local area about 5000 years ago, until most of their race uplifted. Now there are only two left, and they're afraid to abandon the project. Oar saves the day, fulfilling a mission given to her by an even more ridiculously advanced alien.
The setting moves along quite a bit, and there are some cool ideas, but at the end of the day, I don't like Oar at all as a narrator, and that knocked it down a star.
April 28, 2021
James Alan Gardner's "Ascending" is the fifth in his "League of Peoples" series. Just like the previous books, this one is well-written, easy to read, and interesting. Most interesting of all for this book is that Gardner uses Oar from Expendable (League of Peoples) as the narrator. As readers of the series know, Oar isn't exactly subtle, nuanced, or empathic and her narration reads exactly that way. On one hand, this is very good since the story becomes much more humorous than the rest of the series. On the other hand, the story we live through is lacking in those very same qualities. That's not exactly bad. It just feels a bit shallow. Again, the book is very well-written, very easy to read, and very interesting. Thus, I rate it at a Very Good 4 stars out of 5. Also, the Kindle formatting errors that have been present throughout the rest of the series are mostly absent in this book.
The seven books currently in Gardner's League of Peoples series are:
1. Expendable (League of Peoples)
2. Commitment Hour (League of Peoples)
3. Vigilant (League of Peoples)
4. Hunted (League of Peoples)
5. Ascending (League of Peoples)
6. Trapped (League of Peoples)
7. Radiant (League of Peoples)
The seven books currently in Gardner's League of Peoples series are:
1. Expendable (League of Peoples)
2. Commitment Hour (League of Peoples)
3. Vigilant (League of Peoples)
4. Hunted (League of Peoples)
5. Ascending (League of Peoples)
6. Trapped (League of Peoples)
7. Radiant (League of Peoples)
November 1, 2016
Oar, the Glass Girl from Expendable returns from the dead (literally). She is immediately chased by evil aliens, chased by the human Navy, meets Festina Ramos again, and makes a deal with Satan. The book is told from Oar's point of view, so that means the pov of someone with the intellectual maturity of an eight year old girl. It's entertaining when she acts like a petulant child, becomes a bit grating when everyone else does the same. I'm going to give Gardner the benefit of the doubt and believe he wrote it that way on purpose and the since the story is being told through the lens of someone immature then everyone else would appear illogical and moody to her so that's how she tells it. Still, with the exception of Festina, who is the only one Oar respects, everyone talks and acts like children, especially the all powerful aliens.
We meet several new alien species, more intrigue from the Admiralty, and many questions about the League of Peoples are answered. Specifically, why are all the aliens we meet half crazy and why do Oar's people get Tired Brains. Also, the origin of Oar's race. If you sit back and enjoy the humor then this is a book well worth your time.
We meet several new alien species, more intrigue from the Admiralty, and many questions about the League of Peoples are answered. Specifically, why are all the aliens we meet half crazy and why do Oar's people get Tired Brains. Also, the origin of Oar's race. If you sit back and enjoy the humor then this is a book well worth your time.
June 5, 2021
In the first novel, we are introduced to the premise that an extra-dimensional council watches over the universe, applying capital punishment to violent/non-sentient creatures that venture inter-stellar space, but welcoming emerging civilizations with advanced technology and gifts of longevity. This book takes a look at the (seemingly) altruistic motives and the consequences of this largesse. It is told primarily from the point of view of Oar, who recognizes that some people need a solid punch in the nose, and is willing to step up and administer it. There were some flaws with the pacing and tone, but I am a sucker for the "unlikely hero" story with a happy ending.
August 21, 2014
This is the fourth Festina Ramos book. Its told from the point of view of Oar who was a character in the first book, Expendable. Once you get used to the style she uses to tell her story, I found it perfectly fine, but it did take me a few pages.
I enjoyed it as a read, but it was may be a slight step down from the first three books. It won't stop me reading number 5.
I enjoyed it as a read, but it was may be a slight step down from the first three books. It won't stop me reading number 5.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews