Specials

I breezed through Specials, the conclusion to the trilogy that contains Uglies and Pretties. It was still mostly a quick, thrilling read. There wasn't too much to think about or to ponder. I did have to wonder why I kept reading, knowing that the main character would come out on top. I didn't think Westerberg would give the series an unhappy ending (and I was right). However, despite the fact that Tally is almost invincible in this book, and has better fighting technique and tools than any of her opponents, Westerberg still manages to provide believable twists that keep her struggling. For example, her opponents might have gained new weapons that give them an unexpected edge. She might uncover an unknown base of operations. Frequently, she and her teammates rush into unknown situations with a little too much bravado, almost setting themselves up for a struggle. Other times, I'm not sure how she will get out of the current jam. The plot could go down several different paths, so I keep reading to see whether she will get caught and have to deal with that, or whether she will escape and travel somewhere else.
I think there's also an element of satisfaction in watching her win. One dramatic escape is almost movie-like. The machine chasing her dies just before it catches her. On reflection, I suppose that's corny and predictable (isn't there a rule that killer machines cannot run out of gas or destruct until they are inches away from the hero?), but I also get a moment of relaxation when everything turns out okay. Maybe that's why I read books, because I know everything will be okay.
I appreciated the ending. Westerberg has written these books full of twists and turns, complications and developments, all mounting to an epic battle and a moral dilemma. It could be difficult to resolve the series, but not tie everything up too neatly. The ending has to reward all the struggle the characters and the reader have been through. Often times, the last chapter of a book like this is throw-away fluff that makes everything suddenly turn out great for everybody. Once the big battle is done, once the villain is defeated, how do you keep the reader engaged without a "happily ever after" ending? I'm glad to say that Westerberg found a very clever ending. It didn't pacify Tally's strong desires. It didn't leave everything perfect. It didn't defy the logic of the book's world. It was a brilliant way to both utilize Tally without changing her character and answer the question in the reader's mind. He found a way not to throw away everything he had built in the three books.
The only question now is, what happens in the next book? There is a fourth book, Extras. I'm not sure if that's a continuation of the story or a side story or material he couldn't fit in the first three books. There's no mention of any group of people called Extras. Maybe it's just like the special features on a DVD. Maybe it will be sketches, deleted scenes, early drafts, and an interview with the author.