After the Dark (Dark Angel, Book 3) by Max Allan Collins
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Book Reviews of After the Dark (Dark Angel, Book 3)
Book Review: Badly written literature
Summary: 3 Stars
I've read Skin Game and After the Dark in hope of learning what happened after the exciting events at the end of Dark Angel's 2nd seasons, and I'm disappointed. The books suffer from several problems, including:
Certain plot lines were dropped. The runes were a dramatic & important part of the last chapters of the 2nd season. The runes are mentioned only once, toward the end of After the Dark, to acknowledge the runes' appearance on Max's body.
Some plot lines, such as finding Sandeman & Max's mother, were left open, possibly in order to leave the door open for more books depending on the success of Skin Game and After the Dark.
The text is repetitive, reiterating material from the TV series.
The books contradict the series on certain points, such as Logan being unable to walk without the exoskeleton.
Other problems are due to the attempt to close the rich and complex series with the equivalent of two episodes, where a dozen would probably be required.
One such problem is using deus ex machina like solutions to certain problems, such as to remove the siege on terminal city and removing the anti-logan virus from Max's blood.
Another is the lack of development in the characters. Combined with the repetitive use of phrases to remind the reader of the characters from the series, it gives the effect of flatness or even caricatures.
Book Review: Dark Angel - After the Dark review
Summary: 3 Stars
It was great to find a book that continued the Dark Angel saga and explained the Breeding Cult and followed-up on the relationship between Max and Logan. However, I would have liked more details on the transgenetics and Max's interesting melting pot of friends.
The story mostly focuses on Max's genetic purpose and the Breeding Cult, but lacks further explanation of Sandeman and depth into the existing world surrounding Max such as the conflicts with the transgenics. The story leads to an interesting ending that somehow left a feeling of waking up from an unfinished dream.
Although the book was entertaining, it lacked the depth of the two Dark Angel seasons. What was happening with Terminal City? acceptance of the transgenics? Joshua's story? what happened to Sandeman? Lydecker? the Jam Pony gang of friends?
The story could have involved more of the existing world and its issues.
Book Review: after the dark
Summary: 3 Stars
Again, this (the third and final) book provides yet another good chapter for what would have been another good episode. It would have made a good "movie" or even series finale if it had the chance. This book solves the Max-Logan virus issue, defeats the conclave (the snake-cult), gets rid of Ames White, and brings back Lydecker (who went missing in early season two). Just as with "Skin Game", I read the entire book in less than a week, which tells myself that I pretty much enjoyed it and was engaged in the story. It provides closure to Max & Logan's problems, past and present, and to most of the other questions that stuck around at the end of the television series. I know some people consider these books to be a glorified "fan fiction" but I'm just glad that I didn't have to make the end up on my own. The book has its flaws but I think Collins did a fine job of wrapping up the saga. It's an easy read, not too complicated, but not completely cheesy.Book Review: Do I ever miss the show...
Summary: 3 Stars
Well, I was hungry for more, the story can't just end there with the last episode, so I bought this one and read it this year. What can I say, it didn't fill the void. I felt the ending was anti-climatic, but all in all, I just can't get enough of the story. I probably wouldn't get a bar code tattoo, but if I was still in high school... Well, it was a good read but it's an episode, not a novel.Book Review: Ok book but not for hardcore fans
Summary: 2 Stars
It is my opinion that "Dark Angel: After the dark" does fill the needs of fans that just want closure. It closes most of the loose ends left by the sudden ending of the series. However, it makes some critical continuity errors that true fans won't miss. It is these errors along with some out of character actions that makes it fall short.
THE FOLLOWING CONTAINS SPOILERS! The book reads like a single episode. This is where the problems start. Dark Angel was too complex a show to be closed out with only one episode. This made all the "Answers" to the open questions very simple. For some of the answers I liked: The end to the siege & the answer to "What to do with these mutants". Without spoiling too much, the fact that having income generated by transgenic art is a direct idea from the series. Joshua had sold paintings for crate loads of cash in the past and this book runs with this idea of a way to generate income for the new town of "Terminal city". Having Max & her brood chase down one of their own builds the creditability that was need to get "Most" of the normal's out of their hair. The way they removed the virus from Max & Logan's way was inventive and unexpected. I think the whole "Logan's deep dark secret" was an unneeded distraction from the storyline only to keep them from "Getting Busy" since the virus was no longer in there way. They could have just as easily not cured them so early in the book and that whole story line could have been left out. The impending doom the Snake cult is waiting for turns out to be an end of the world plague brought on by a meteor. Since they were praying to a meteor shower in the series, I can buy this direction however; it still seems like a "Simple" answer.
Now for the problems. The biggest is Max and how they reduced her being humanity's savior to an antibody she's carrying. I don't buy this at all. There were numerous times when she had blood work done without indecent. It wasn't until Mantacore ran her DNA that they found out she was "The One". Also; during a conversation in "Freak Nation" between Max & Logan about her tattoo's, she said "Why didn't farther give me something I can use like x-ray vision" & Logan's response is "How do you know he didn't? Maybe it just hasn't manifested itself yet?" This statement alone gives insight into what Max was destine to become. There is further proof during the siege on Jam Pony. Just before Agent White's "Phalanx Warriors" attacked Max knew they were coming. Either by newly acquired advanced hearing or a sixth sense because none of the other transgenic's knew they were in danger.
In the book, Max is always annoyed when "Mole" had a firearm. The fact that Max herself didn't do guns is well known but she never voiced opposition to any of her Brothers. As a matter of fact: Zach practically had guns taped to his arms he used them so much without Max having a problem. Max also kills in this story. She broke so many people's necks I thought it was the episode of "Drawn Together" when Capt. Hero says "Maybe a little neck snapping will make you talk".
Logan's character was so wrong I don't know if the writers actually watched the show. First he had money, lots of it. Enough to buy buildings & set himself up a sweet pad in his new building next to Terminal city. Second he was crippled and needed the exoskeleton to allow him to walk. Even before Logan lost his fortune in the show, he never owned complete buildings, only his apartment. After his transfusion with Joshua to stave off the virus infection, he got use of his legs again. He only wore the exoskeleton because with it not burdened by paralyzed limbs, he had power as evident with him kicking his "Phalanx Warrior" out & saving Alex by kicking his opponent thru several walls.
Being a hardcore fan of the series, these facts made it hard to enjoy their interpretation of what would have happened. For a casual fan, the book offers closer so I give it 2 ½ stars.