The Dark Planet

End to the Atherton series: House of Power and Rivers of FirePowerhouse conclusion to this series! The first two books introduced us to the world of Atherton, its inhabitants human and animal, and we discovered the reason it was created... or so we thought. The Dark Planet takes us on a journey to Earth: dark, polluted to poisonous levels, infested with violent creatures, and where only a few strongholds keep humanity alive, though they are controlled by people with problems as bad as the planet's. Edgar discovers a way to leave Atherton and travel to Earth, not knowing what he will find. His quest to complete Max Harding's ultimate plan, and to find the true purpose for which Atherton was created leads him into dangerous and frightening situations he never expected. Edgar is an amazing hero, and even with his flaws and mistakes, you'll root for him throughout this action-packed finale! Excellent science fiction, for 6th grade and up. Check out the website for the book series -- and see if you can unlock Dr. Harding's brain!http://www.hachettebookgroup.com/features/athertonseries/atherton.html ( )

Reviewed by Joan Stradling for TeensReadToo.com

Life in Atherton has changed and its people have started over. Edgar's encounter with his maker, Dr. Harding, has left questions that can only be answered by leaving the only home he has ever known.

Edgar's journey takes him to the Dark Planet; a sick and dying world filled with deadly creatures and air that fills the lungs with sickness. Edgar has come in search of information about his beginnings, but what he finds is so much more.

He's a part of Dr. Harding's plan to save the Dark Planet and its inhabitants. If only Edgar can survive the harshness of the Dark Planet and its people long enough to fulfill his destiny.

I loved Carman's LAND OF ELYON series and have enjoyed the ATHERTON series just as much, and maybe more. The characters and worlds of ATHERTON are thrilling and full of imagination and wonder. Carman has a magnificent way of unfolding a world and characters on the page that takes my breath away. Once I start reading, I can't stop until I reach the end. Even then I wish it could go on.

I enjoyed being immersed in the world and lives of the characters in ATHERTON, and THE DARK PLANET reached a satisfying end full of new beginnings. ( )

Very Focused And Precise

The Dark Planet
By Patrick Carman
Pub. Date: May 2009
3.5 out of 5 stars
PG - Violence
Recommended

Synopsis from BarnesandNoble.com:
“After journeying to an unfamiliar land where air is nearly unbreathable and light stings like shards of glass, Edgar must navigate the deadly forests--full of creatures far more frightening than anything he has seen on Atherton--and join the child workforce of Silo #7, the site where Dr. Harding (the mad maker of Atherton) was raised. In the final thrilling chapter of this epic triology, we meet an engaging new cast of characters and Dr. Harding's ultimate plan comes together in an incredibly satisfying conclusion.”

The Dark Planet had a pretty basic plot, but the world this book inhabited was cleverly built. The description of the Futuristic world in which Edgar and the other characters lived was very focused and precise. Every character, creature, storm, rock, atmosphere, food source, etc had their limitations. Like reality, people can’t do everything and anything. Even with his special abilities, Edgar was still grounded by the same natural laws as everyone else and both the futuristic government and food source were viable and oddly logical. Nothing was too crazy or out there, but had just enough oddities to validate it’s sci-fi feel.

There were several mentions of past characters and events that were in the prior books in the trilogy, but were not part of this last book. It really had me wanting to read the first two books, but I didn’t have to. The Dark Planet was so well explained that it could be fully comprehended without reading the others.

While I really enjoyed this book and zoomed through it, it’s really more for a reading level of middle schoolers. The author provided descriptions for everything, and the characters, while interesting and entertaining, weren’t filled out enough to become people I felt like I could meet. I do suggest The Dark Planet to any and all middle schoolers/ tweens out there.

Date Reviewed: August 7th, 2009

For more book reviews and book information check out my blog at www.inthecurrent.blogspot.com ( )

The Dark Planet is the third and final book in the Atherton series and there isn't a whole lot I can say without giving everything away.

So....

If you have read the first two books -- Book 1: The House of Power and Book 2: Rivers of Fire, then you will love The Dark Planet. All of our favorite characters are here plus some wonderful (and horrible!) new ones. Edgar learns more about where he came from and in true Carman style, all loose ends are tied up in time for great happy ending.

If you haven't read the first two books -- what are you waiting for? Do it now!
Carman is a great writer. He has yet to disappoint and I've read just about everything he has written so far :)

Other Patrick Carman news

* 39 Clues Book Five, which he wrote, is now available
* Ghost in the Machine, the sequel to Skeleton Creek is being released October 1st - i can't wait! ( )

Reason for Reading: The last book in the trilogy.

Comments: The third and final book in the trilogy focuses on a theme that the other books made us aware of early on, that of a post-apocalyptic Earth. Edgar follows a map left behind by Dr. Harding and finds himself on his way to The Dark Planet where he feels that everything has been set in motion for him a long time ago. Now is his time to save the children of this almost dead planet.

I really enjoyed this book the most out the three and that's saying a lot as I have heartily enjoyed this trilogy. But I am a big fan of post-apocalyptic fiction and this was a really exciting story that included a dystopian society but does not get too heavy and keeps the book suitable for the middle grade reader. Edgar is back to being our main character as we've grown to really care for him through this series. Though Isabel and Samuel do have an important part to play back on Atherton, gone are all the supplementary characters from the first two books. Instead we are met with a whole new group of characters on Earth and the book feels fresh and new. Great story, great new characters and a refreshing new plot that still keeps it's ties to the one from the previous books while going in a completely new direction. A highly enjoyable read. Recommended! P.S. Even though it's sci-fi there is a dragon. ( )