The last thirteen by James Phelan
![cover image](https://www.readplus.com.au/covers/lastthirteen.jpg)
Scholastic Australia, 2013. ISBN 9781742831848.
The last thirteen begins with Sam having a bad dream which
establishes the series premise, for yes, this is the first
instalment in a series of at least 13 books. Sam and his dream
introduce the major players and set the scene for the non-stop
thrills and spills which follow.
Phelan is masterful in providing just enough character description
to allow the reader to fill in the blanks and flesh out his/her own
characters in the guise of: the struggling yet valiant hero; the
talented sidekicks; the doomed, but maybe not, heroine; the
enigmatic Professor; and the school, not to mention the
organisations that are vying to gain control of Sam and the yet, as
unmet, remaining 12, who comprise The Last Thirteen.
I had a ball reading this. The action never stopped and Phelan kept
adding details like stealth technology, ancient legends, goodies and
baddies who mainly shoot each other with darts so most people aren't
too damaged, ancient treasures, bullet proof suits that change
colour and style at the wearer's discretion; ancient prophesies; and
of course, an evil and mysterious villain, so the reader never has a
chance to stop or critically analyse the plot or style or themes.
Who cares? It's fun, it's fast, it's clever and it never pretends to
be more than what it is.
Go on! Suspend cynicism and join Sam in saving the world. Spoiler
alert: be prepared for a cliff-hanger ending which basically
guarantees the purchase of the next book in the series.
R. Lange