The cover to Shades of the Earth fits in its own way back exactly to its predecessors. I like the hint of green and grass on the cover, which you somehow immediately connects to ground and so reconciles well with the title of the book. Although it seems simple and straightforward, it radiates a portion of SFI and that's more than suitable for the genre and thus I personally like the design of the book cover very well.
Short content description
Amys and Elders decision to fly to the ground and thus to allow the Godspeed behind for sure. Despite warnings Orions they want to find on the new planet a home. They are absolutely determined and full of anticipation but complications occur already on the way to New Earth. After some difficulties landing Amy and the others and to the maudlin Reunification with the frozen scientists and military begins work to build a new home. But Orion's warnings were not lies. Something is on the new planet. To kill a dangerous thing, which is not of this world and it begins
Writing style and story history
The final volume of the series has been phenomenal Godspeed exciting. The SFI novel had almost (for me) thriller elements and I frequently commuted between concern for the beloved characters and the fear of the unknown fine back and forth. I could put down the book in any case hardly. The SFI covers here no longer be found in the idea of Godspeed again, but so in the alien planet, the alien nature, the strange animals I felt a bit as if SG1 went through the Stargate and a new planet visited. Fascinating, scary and totally awesome.
It was especially nice that the Godspeed still plays an important role in their own way and the author manages to weave the threads together so that it looks convincing. The resolution was exciting and even if foreseeable, but derived super thoughtful and class. A very interesting idea and the good and convincing implemented. Although the end itself was again very emotional, but I personally went a little too fast. Here the author would have liked to have let a few pages more time.
The characters and their development
Amy was indeed in the volumes previously a figure that has slowly crept into my reader's heart. I had to think to me their nature and deal with their feelings, get used. In this volume, I have noticed that I have succeeded and I could sympathize from beginning to end with the figure and was close to her. Amy seemed too emotional and there was a deeper insight into their feelings and thoughts, which I liked very well.
Elder is still one of my favorite characters in the book. I found him here again great. So how to deal with the new situation, how he sees and tackle things that I liked just fine and it was fun to accompany him on his journey from the Godspeed to Earth. The author is very well managed, to describe how he feels when he leaves the Gospeed, how he is when he got the first time to see the right, clear sky above them, however, he is still at the Goodspeed thinks back and because she was his home. Just great.
Conclusion
The final volume of the Godspeed series was in my eyes the greatest volume of the series. Extremely exciting, action-packed story, emotional and touching moments and a magnificent resolution of a great idea. A recommended range for all SFI fans and Dystopieleser.