Note: In Sweden, The Helliconia Trilogy was published as six books. This is book number six, consisting of roughly the second half of Helliconia Winter.

As Aldiss brings this massive saga to a halt, he surprisingly chooses to focus the story rather than expanding it. This, the last part of his trilogy, is almost a sinlge story line, set in a corner of the planet far from the centre of events, as we follow Luterin on his escape home to his chilly homeland. It's a good move from Aldiss, and helps making this last part the strongest as a novel. I like, for instance, how we see the rebellion of the phagores not as masses coming down the mountain sides, but as eight riders invading a province town. Too bad though, that I'm (yet again) not too interested in the characters themselves or their dilemmas.

A big bonus in this part are a few of the most striking and imaginative bits in this whole intricately constructed world: The weird Wheel, and the description of the sleighride.

I will remember lots from these rich books, but much more of it will be detail and background than will be character and story. Which I must say is a bit of a shame. Such a rich backdrop could have been used better. ( )