FOR THE FIRST TIME, AGAIN is the final entry in Sylvain Neuvel’s science fiction trilogy, following A HISTORY OF WHAT COMES NEXT and UNTIL THE LAST OF ME.

In a nutshell, the central figures in this series are members of an alien race known as the Kibsu. Neuvel excels at retelling moments in the history of mankind and how the Kibsu have impacted it. A group calling themselves the Trackers have been hunting the Kibsu and seeking to eliminate them.

"Aster ends up receiving assistance in her plight from a highly unlikely source, which I will not reveal here.... I welcome anything additional [Neuvel] may create using this great storyline and commend him on such an imaginative effort."

Now, in this concluding volume, young Aster learns from the results of a recent drug test that she is the last surviving ancestor of the Kibsu tribe. The descendants of the Trackers are interested in eliminating Aster and essentially destroying the bloodline to the Kibsu race. Furthermore, the U.S. government would like to use Aster for reasons that also will not be in her best interest.

Aster grows up in the ’90s, and Neuvel does a fine job of bringing this decade to life as the backdrop for this tale. Also referred to by her people as the Hundred and Two, Aster has immersed herself in the pop culture of this era and does not have the wisdom or ancient mantras of her ancestors to guide her through the perilous journey that is to come.

On the run and constantly seeking a place to hide, Aster must attempt to tap into a hidden potential that she is completely unaware of to stay out of the clutches of the parties that seek to bring her harm. This makes the narrative the most interesting in the trilogy; there are no constant references to Kibsu ancestry based on the fact that Aster is the last of this race and knows of no such things.

Aster ends up receiving assistance in her plight from a highly unlikely source, which I will not reveal here. As a music lover, I appreciate that each chapter title is the name of a ’90s song, such as “Run,” “Bittersweet Symphony” and “Girl, You’ll Be a Woman Soon.” The latter is a Neil Diamond tune covered by the group Urge Overkill and made even more famous in Pulp Fiction.

Although this may be the last novel in the trilogy, there is some suggestion in the book’s epilogues that Neuvel may not be done with tales of the Kibsu. I welcome anything additional he may create using this great storyline and commend him on such an imaginative effort.