Perry Rhodan faces a dire ultimatum from the Shrell, leading to a mission to save Earth and confront a dark threat. The journey of the PHOENIX unfolds with unexpected twists, new alliances, and mysterious powers emerging among the crew.

Reader Review Summary

"Der Conduit" is an absolutely gripping and thrilling installment in the long-running Perry Rhodan science fiction series. Set in the 23rd century, this novel kicks the epic "Phoenix Cycle" into high gear with non-stop action, cunning plot twists, and rich character development.

One of the biggest strengths is how deftly author Christian Montillon juggles the various storylines and narrative threads. We follow the harrowing attempts to rescue the young Conduit Cameron Rioz from the clutches of the sinister alien Shrell. This leads to tense confrontations between the Terran heroes like Perry Rhodan, Atlan, and Gucky and Shrell's overwhelming mental powers. The mind control and manipulation make for a deliciously devious cat-and-mouse game.

Montillon also executes a shocking pivot when Rioz and his Conduit partner Bonnifer make the selfless decision to hurl themselves into the deadly "Burning Nothingness" phenomenon. This jaw-dropping sacrifice immediately elevates the stakes and ratchets up the dramatic tension exponentially. The image of the two characters vanishing into the cosmic abyss is simply awe-inspiring.

From there, the plot shifts focus to the launch of the Phoenix starship as it begins its voyage to the distant Agolei galaxy on a collision course with Shrell's nefarious endgame schemes. The witty banter and wonderful chemistry between the eclectic Phoenix crew like Rhodan, Atlan, Meg Ontares, and others makes for such an engaging and entertaining dynamic. You can feel the strong bonds of friendship and camaraderie building already.

Montillon has a funstrich knack for balancing propulsive action with welcome moments of levity and humor. The conversations between wisecracking characters like Gucky and Sichu Dorksteiger provide a great contrast to the high stakes drama. The author also skilfully lays the groundwork for future plot threads with the shocking return of Rioz and Bonnifer at the very end, leaving readers desperate for more answers.

Overall, "Der Conduit" is an absolute home run of pulse-pounding sci-fi adventure. Montillon juggles his multitude of plot arcs and characters with seamless skill while still delivering a tightly-paced, thrilling narrative. The Phoenix Cycle is off to a phenomenal start that has left fans buzzing with excitement for what lies ahead in this bold new era of the Perry Rhodan cosmos. Highly recommended!