Product Description
From the celebrated imagination of Dean Koontz comes a powerful reworking of one of the classic stories of all time. If you think you know the legend, you know only half the truth. Here is the mystery, the myth, the terror, and the magic of . . .

Every city has its secrets. But none as terrible as this. He is Deucalion, a tattooed man of mysterious origin, a sleight-of-reality artist who has traveled the centuries with a secret worse than death. He arrives in New Orleans as a serial killer stalks the streets, a killer who carefully selects his victims for the humanity that is missing in himself. Deucalion’s path will lead him to cool, tough police detective Carson O’Connor and her devoted partner, Michael Maddison, who are tracking the slayer but will soon discover signs of something far more terrifying: an entire race of killers who are much more–and less–than human and, deadliest of all, their deranged, near-immortal maker: Victor Helios–once known as Frankenstein. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (153)

Not scary. Not believable. Not interesting.
Dean Koontz's Frankenstein series supposedly updates Mary Shelley's story for the twenty-first century. However, Koontz's version contains so many unbelievable factors that it was impossible to cast aside skepticism and just go with the story. Koontz's Frankenstein not only created a patch quilt, long-lived monster two centuries ago (somehow overcoming tissue decomposition, infections, organ and tissue rejections, brain death, and severed cranial nerves and spinal cord), he also did the following: prevented aging; perfected human cloning; built artificial wombs that promote rapid growth from fetus to adult; redesigned humans with replicate hearts and livers, superhuman strength, superhuman speed, and telekinetic control of severed body parts; invented an electronic interface to the human brain allowing decades of knowledge to be instilled in only four months; and inserted programmed nanomolecules into the brains of his creations that prevent them from harming him. Koontz's Frankenstein must have an IQ of 400. I might have been able to get past Frankenstein's incredibility if the story were more interesting. Unfortunately, most of the novel is a cliched police procedural about tracking down a serial killer and a copycat killer.

It's hard to believe that "Prodigal Son" was by the same author who wrote "Intensity," a great suspense novel and movie.

Frankenstein is Back, Better than Ever
This story builds on the story of Frankenstein that we all know and love. This story takes place 200 years after the events portrayed in Mary Shelley's novel and we find that Dr. Frankenstein is still alive and living in New Orleans. His original monster is also still alive and surprising growing more and more human as the years go by.

Dr. Frankenstein is busy creating a new race - people he ferments in pods and whose personalities he programs - to replace mankind as we know it. He envisions creating a class system with himself on the top of it all.

Dr. Frankenstein's original monster is living in Tibet and he learns that the doctor is still alive, he heads to New Orleans to finally face - and kill - his maker.

This is an incredibly thrilling book that builds on the fantastic characters created by Mary Shelley (and also introduces a plethora of new and interesting characters). This might just be the most interesting book I've come across in years. In my opinion, there is something for everyone - plenty of suspense for the thriller fan and lots of gore and terror for the horror fan!

Freaking twisted.....
I have not read Dean Koontz work in sometime...at least 15 years...and man have I been missing out....this is the first book in the Frankenstein series and this was really decent....twisted fun!!! Koontz knows how to make the reader get into the mind of the character, and allows you to delve into each one separatley, while keeping the story together and very interesting....you actually felt for the characters....at least the semi sane ones...lol Great book...looking forward to the next one!!!

D Koontzs books
Was looking for the Frankenstein series. I found the first three books. they were brand new and arrived in good time.

Solid Opening to a Series, Weaker than Part 2
This book is worth reading just to get to the next book, if nothing else, but is solid in its own right as well. The book is an original take on the Frankenstein story, meshing it with good old creepy horror as Koontz loves to deliver.You'll come to love the two main characters as the trilogy progresses, and they're introduced well here.

However, it's not as strong as part 2, for a couple of reasons.

First, much of the dialogue early in the novel is forced and awkward.This may have been a result of Koontz trying to introduce relationships and character traits too quickly.One example occurs early in the book when Koontz is trying to show how "hard" the main character is by the fact that she speaks the lingo of the tough guys on the street. It's so forced, it's just embarrassing and awkward.Another example is when the relationship between two of the main characters is first introduced.Koontz describes it with something along the lines of "She knew from the yearning in his eyes that he wanted more than just the doughnut." I couldn't decide what that line reminded me of more: a teenage writer who doesn't know how to subtly introduce a tense/unrequited love story, or a comedy writer making fun of grocery store romance novels.I appreciate that Koontz is using "show don't tell" and trying to introduce a relationship with something more than just "He liked her a lot," but this wasn't a winning solution.

Second, the end of the book didn't resolve much of the story, mainly serving as a lead-in to Book 2. Even in a pre-planned series, I prefer some resolution, at least to subplots, in order to make each individual book feel less like a chapter and more like, well, a book. The "to be continued" ending here is just weak. ... Read more

Product Description
The planet Hellhole was devastated by a large asteroid impact centuries ago and most of its native species - including a sophisticated alien civilisation - were utterly wiped out.Now Hellhole has been opened up as part of a colonization initiative by the sprawling and decadent Galactic Monarchy, but only the hardiest, or most desperate, pioneers and misfits would dare to settle there.This is their story of trying to tame a shattered world, and of uncovering secrets left behind by a devastated civilization. ... Read more

Product Description
Renowned science fiction novelist Kevin J. Anderson (THE SAGA OF SEVEN SUNS: VEILED ALLIANCES) comes to the DCU for this epic starring the World's First Super-Team!
Set during the Golden Age, STRANGE ADVENTURES begins when fumbling Johnny Thunder decides to become a big-time writer by chronicling the adventures of the JSA. Taken under the writing wing of legendary, real-life science-fiction Grand Master Jack Williamson, Johnny tries his best -- and when a deadly new villain called Lord Dynamo appears on the scene, flying a deadly zeppelin crewed by robot zombies, it's up to Johnny and Jack to help Hawkman, the Flash, Green Lantern, Starman, Dr. Mid-Nite, The Sandman and the rest of the JSA save the day! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Great Fun and a Nod to Pulp SF
Gardner F. Fox, the man most responsible for the adventures of the Justice Society of America, was a prominent science fiction writer as well as a comics scribe.In fact, if pressed, I wouldn't know which area of his writing influenced the other more.He wrote some of the best Atom stories I read while growing up, mixing in history and science in equal doses.

I digress only because Justice Society Strange Adventures is such a hybrid of backgrounds.The author, Kevin J. Anderson, is a well-known science fiction and pop culture writer himself, and one of the "characters" in the graphic novel is Jack Williamson, one of the most prominent science fiction pulp writers ever.

Furthermore, the story is set during World War II, involves Hitler's control of the Spear of Destiny that kept the powerful members of the Justice Society from taking the battle to the German and Japanese armies, and has retro science-based tech as weapons.Anderson even weaves in Hugo Gernsback, noted editor of Amazing Stories science fiction magazine, as a bit player.

This graphic novel is chockfull of history, pulp wonder, and the JSA during World War II, and it was a delight to read.I enjoyed the mix of characters, especially seeing Wildcat and Atom in the thick of things because they are a couple of my favorites since they have no powers.There was an annoying habit of constantly referring to each other as "big guy" and "little guy."

I also liked that two of the most powerful members, Green Lantern and Starman, were paired up and defeated rather handily.Finding out that Starman (Ted Knight) was a reader of pulp magazines and a fan of Jack Williamson's was a blast and felt exactly right.

I missed seeing Rex Tyler (Hourman), Jay Garrick (Flash), and Terry Sloane (Mr. Terrific) jumping in on the science investigation that runs through the story, but I know you can't have everyone involved.However, they were some of the heavy hitters - especially up against an enemy that has cutting-edge tech and reanimates the dead.

Barry Kitson and Gary Erskine's art is an absolute eye feast.There are a lot of splash pages, double pages, and detailed panels that just explode.I stopped even during the frantic moments of the story's pacing just to go back and admire everything they did on so many levels.I loved the aerial battle scenes, and the resurrected cyborg soldiers were deliciously creepy.

I also enjoyed the special "origin" story of Johnny Thunder and the Thunderbolt, as well as the background of the villain.All of it played into the legacy left by the JSA as well as the science at the time.

I don't know if this was a one-time gig for Anderson and company to feature the JSA at this time, but I'd definitely love to see another science flavored tale from out of the past.Especially if they again feature those retro pulp-inspired covers!
... Read more

Product Description
Though the activities of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), and the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) were unified in their common idea of resistance to oppression, these groups fought their battles on multiple fronts. The NAACP filed lawsuits and

aggressively lobbied Congress and state legislatures, while Martin Luther King Jr. and SCLC challenged the racial status quo through nonviolent mass action, and the SNCC focused on community empowerment activities. In Agitations, Kevin Anderson studies these various activities in order to trace the ideological foundations of these groups and to understand how diversity among African Americans created multiple political strategies.

Agitations goes beyond the traditionally acknowledged divide between integrationist and accommodationist wings of African American politics to explore the diverse fundamental ideologies and strategic outcomes among African American activists that still define, influence, and complicate political life today. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (103)

A good conclusion to an epic science fiction trilogy.
"The Battle of Corrin" is the last of the Butlerian Jihad trilogy, preceded by "The Butlerian Jihad" and "The Machine Crusade." Like the first two, it tells part of the history leading to Frank Herbert's Dune novels. The main theme is the struggle of humanity versus an empire of thinking machines.

Despite getting only four stars from me, this trilogy is a good example of space opera. It demonstrates how written words can serve as a portal to interesting events and worlds that would be inaccessible without written words. Characteristic of space opera, your spirit will be immersed in science-fiction action, but it will also be immersed in political intrigue, drama, passion, and some of the male-female stuff that most authors refer to as "romance." (Yet these books have almost no sex.) The ending for "The Battle of Corrin" wraps up the story neatly, and though you should read the first two volumes, I suppose you could be satisfied with only this last one.

As I did for the first two volumes, I feel obliged to subtract a star from my rating for the third volume, because of some elements of implausibility. Sure, some characters use paranormal powers, starships make hyper-spatial jumps, and the planet Arrakis has incredibly huge sandworms, but those are acceptable givens for science fiction. I do not consider them implausible. The implausibilities I am referring to are moments when characters behave unrealistically and when events do not proceed logically. They make the story unconvincing.

Fiction writers often come to a crossroad where they must answer a question: What do I value more, story elements that are plausible or story elements that will impress the reader? More often than not, Herbert and Anderson try to choose elements that are both plausible and impressive. Too often, however, they are lured down a path that is low on plausibility but high on impression. They have an agenda. Maybe they want the plot to go a certain way. Maybe they want a character to appear heroic. Maybe they want a space battle to be exciting. If, in order to achieve items on their agenda, they must fudge a little in regard to plausibility, they do so.

Maybe all writers of fiction do so. Certainly some do so more than others. Maybe Herbert and Anderson felt at liberty to fudge because they were writing space opera, not hardcore science fiction. But space opera does not require moments of implausibility. With more honest thinking, their story could have been told with fewer such moments.

Though Herbert and Anderson are not the most skillful authors, they tuned me into a science fiction epic that has soulful power. So I recommend this trilogy. But if you try it, I advise that you avoid bogging yourself down by ranting and raving about the moments of implausibility. Ignore them. Just bear down and forge ahead. The portal will open.


Note: Sometimes the worth of a book can at least partially be measured by the fondness with which it is remembered. It has been over a month since I completed my reading of the Legends of Dune trilogy ("The Butlerian Jihad," "The Machine Crusade," and "The Battle of Corrin"), and my memories of it are quite positive. Though this trilogy forms a different kind of story from that of Frank Herbert's classic "Dune," the quality of the story is as good. For this reason I have decided to give each book in the trilogy a five-star rating. I believe the weaknesses in the books do not merit a lowering of rating.

Hard to put down
It has been fifty-six hard years since the events of "The Machine Crusade," Following the death of Serena Butler, the bloodiest decades of the Jihad take place. Synchronized Worlds and Unallied Planets are liberated one by one, and at long last, after years of victory, the human worlds begin to hope that the end of the centuries-long conflict with the thinking machines is finally in sight.Unfortunately, Omnius has one last, deadly card to play. In a last-ditch effort to destroy humankind, virulent plagues are let loose throughout the galaxy, decimating the populations of whole planets . . . and once again, the tide of the titanic struggle shifts against the warriors of the human race. At last, the war that has lasted many lifetimes will be decided in the apocalyptic Battle of Corrin.In the greatest battle in science fiction history, human and machine face off one last time. . . . And on the desert planet of Arrakis, the legendary Fremen of Dune become the feared fighting force to be discovered by Paul Maud'Dib

Good Read
This book isn't the best in this 3-book window that is reserved for House Harkkonen, but this is a good informative and interesting addition to the tale of Dune.Worth reading for background and character understanding.

good book
i am assuming it is a good book since my husband wouldn't put it down until he was finished.

The Trilogy Comes to an End
The final book in the trilogy ties up all the loose ends. In this one, we see how the Bene Gesserit started their breeding programs, how mentats came about, and the beginnings of the Spacing Guild. Unlike the previous books in the trilogy, this one picks up speed at about half way through the book. There are a number of stories which must be brought to their conclusion. The ending of this book leaves open the possibility of continuing the story surrounding Omnius and Erasmus. I believe they will make an appearance in Dune 7 and 8. Like the previous books in the series, this one lacks the "feel" of the original Dune novels, but it still makes for good sci-fi reading ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (1)

Interesting work at the margins
Kevin Anderson does a wonderful job exploring Marx's work on the "Margins" of the industrial world. So often times pondered by students of the twentieth century as to why the Bolshevik revolution, a revolution Marxist in character, took place in the most backward of European countries finds traction within Anderson's insight. His treatment of Marx's writing on india also prove interesting. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (65)

Good solid read after the first 96 pages.
Before saying anything else, I want to warn new Dune readers of an injustice inflicted on the Dune books written by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson.

Since 9-6-10 I have read ten of the sixteen Dune books (excluding "The Road to Dune," which has non-mainstream Dune material and some nonfiction material). I am reading the sixteen books in chronological succession according to time in the Dune universe, not according to date of publication, and I have just finished reading "The Winds of Dune." The injustice is that here at amazon.com, each of the Dune books by BH & KJA has an average review rating lower than any of the Dune books by Frank Herbert, not because the books by BH & KJA are inferior, but because they were not written by Frank Herbert.

The lowest average rating of any of the books by FH is 4.0. The highest average rating of any of the books by BH & KJA is 3.5. Even so, the two best books by BH & KJA--"The Butlerian Jihad" and "House Atreides"--are at least as good as FH's classic "Dune," and they are better than FH's "Dune Messiah" (I have not finished FH's "Children of Dune" and FH's books that follow it). But some readers worship FH's Dune books as a fetish. These holy books are elevated to a divine shelf unworthy of the abominations written by BH & KJA.

This fetish-worship at least partly explains the overall imbalance of ratings between the two sets of Dune books, and it explains the unremarkable 3.1 rating for "The Winds of Dune." But "The Winds of Dune" really does have a significant flaw, which is that the first ninety-six pages are uneventful and dull. For that I would lower its rating by one star, if it were not for the injustice I have described. To help balance the injustice, I give this book a full five stars. (For the ninety-six pages, I am referring to Tor's 2009 hardcover edition.)

When "The Winds of Dune" takes readers back to Paul's life as a twelve-year old, the tale accelerates. From then on it is a good science fiction adventure. The characters are affectionately portrayed, and readers see what was probably Paul's most heroic act before he moved with his family to Dune. "Vermillion Hells! Fine work, young man!" Some of the tale's events are extraordinary, as impressive as just about any event you will find in any novel. The events materialize logically, following interesting plot developments. (See my note below about inconsistencies regarding characters.)

I don't know about any paperback editions, but my hardcover edition has a dust jacket with a sharp, outstanding piece of Dune art. I think it is Alia who is following Paul's footsteps across the dunes. But maybe it is Jessica, searching for her valiant son.

Thank goodness only a tiny fraction of the literary market has been infected by the Frank-Herbert fetish. (Thou shalt have no other Dunes before Frank Herbert's.) In addition to the other Dune books that I've read by BH & KJA, the publication of "The Winds of Dune" is further testament that FH was not the only person capable of imagining the Dune universe, and imagining it with crystal clarity.

NOTE: Unless you are picky about consistencies between FH and BH & KJA, you need not read any further. While reading FH's "The Children of Dune," I have noticed inconsistencies with BH & KJA regarding two characters:

1) In "The Winds of Dune," BH & KJA portray Jessica as hostile toward the Bene Gesserit, at least toward the end of their story. For example on page 398 of my hardcover edition, they say, "Jessica weighed the risks, the consequences. She had come to loathe the Sisterhood and its unrelenting schemes, the way they sent tentacles everywhere."
Conversely, in "The Children of Dune," FH portrays Jessica as cooperative toward the Bene Gesserit (also referred to as "the Sisterhood"). On pages 103-104 of my 1976 Book Club Edition, Jessica says, "...I've already sent word to the Sisterhood that Alia practices the unthinkable...," and then a few paragraphs later FH writes, "And she [Jessica] thought: They warned me I might have to use it." By "they" she is, I believe, referring to the Bene Gesserit and by "it" she is referring to the gom jabbar, a poisonous needle she may have to use on nine-year-old Leto if he turns out to be possessed.
Regarding this inconsistency, I should point out a caveat. Nine years have passed between the events of "The Winds of Dune" and the events of "The Children of Dune." During that time Jessica may have changed her mind about the Bene Gesserit, or the Bene Gesserit might have changed her mind for her. They CAN do that kind of thing.

2) I cannot rationalize my way around the second inconsistency. It involves Jessica's mother. In the House Trilogy by BH & KJA, Jessica is introduced as the daughter of Reverend Mother Mohiam and Baron Harkonnen. Mohiam is also Jessica's mother in "Paul of Dune" and "The Winds of Dune." In "The Children of Dune," however, on page 103 of my Book Club Edition, FH writes, "It'll be in their [the Bene Geserrit's] breeding records: Jessica out of Tanidia Nerus by the Baron Vladimir Harkonnen." So the three writers are consistent about the father but not about the mother.
I advise readers to accept Mohiam as Jessica's mother. In the House Trilogy, BH & KJA have told an excellent story about the birth of Jessica. Indeed this story is one of the high points in the sixteen Dune books. If, as a responsible reader of fiction, you have a flexible imagination and you imagine just one Dune universe, revising it as necessary as you read the Dune books, I think your universe will be best if it includes this story.

"Dune" Done
This seems to be the last of the prequels, which is simultaneously a bit of a relief and a pang of disappointment. Perhaps because it is the last, the narrative is the most linear of the "Dune" books without the suspense-building cross-cutting that characterizes the other novels in the series. The hendecalogy of prequels was a cut below the literary quality of the original hexalogy, but just a cut, and it was a comforting way to revisit the Dune cosmos and to have one's memories of the original revivified and fleshed out. This brings that comfort to a close. However, now one can go back and reread the originals in an enriched way thanks to these supplemental narratives.

Pointless and meandering
"Winds of Dune" is set just after Paul Atreides' death in "Dune Messiah."Frankly, "Dune Messiah" by Frank Herbert was not one of my favorite Dune novels, and this one by Anderson and Herbert Jr. is not nearly as good as "Dune Messiah."There are some flashbacks to Paul's youth in this one, and I found the storyline there, where Paul and Bronso of Ix (son of Rhombur and Tessia) run away from home to be irritating and implausible.Not at all like Paul, despite the justification that he was carrying out his pledge to guard Bronso.

Overall, this is a slow-moving novel that really has no place to go.

Kevin Anderson and Herbert Jr.'s "House Atreides," "House Harkonnen," and "House Corrino" prequels are all better than this one, as is "Paul of Dune."

This novel fails to work at many levels.I rate this one a clean miss.RJB.

New Dune Saga
Another page turning thriller of the Dune legacy.a real page turner, cant wait 5 the mect

BREAKING WIND ON DUNE
If history teaches as anything is that heirs usually inherit only a fraction of their predecessors' talent and abilities. In the case of the Herberts, make that a tiny fraction. Trying to build onto the legend of a classic series of novels is only forgivable if one brings new life to the story and does so with fresh skill. Neither of which are achieved here.

Anderson's writing (I doubt that Brian Herbert contributed anything besides his last name and claims of finding yet more of his father's..."lost notes") is immature and trivial. Case in point: the word "panoply" means suit of armor. Frank used ancient words to spice up his prose and give it a patina of retro futurism - but he knew what he was doing. In these McDune novels, words such as panoply are used in a wrong way (p.223:"Alia scattered the cards on the table, a panoply of ancient icons modified..." simply makes no sense) and because the rest of the prose is so poor they stick out like sore thumbs.
On top of that, Anderson's dialogue seems forced and limited to a very small number of pre-rendered cliche phrases. His character development is not only inadequate but also does great injustice to the original works.
Alia seems to be stuck in a fugue state coupled with sadistic hysteria. The idea of the Duke's son (without any serious motivation whatsoever) accepting "jobs no one wants" and then running off to join a circus is absurd. And the notion that Paul is later liked only because he picked up how to use... Master Jongleur hypnosis on everyone is a direct insult to the character of the man that would later become the Kwisatz Haderach! Forget about the greedy writer(s), whoever edited and proofread this never bothered to even browse through any of the original DUNE books!!?

Adding details and expanding on the background of a classic story hardly ever improves it - not anymore than adding fluorescent highlights to Mona Lisa or electric guitar riffs to Beethoven's Fifth. These DUNE prequels/sequels are a disgrace to Frank Herbert's oeuvre and memory. And this one may be the worst to be put to print ever.

I made the mistake of picking this one at an airport stand; "how bad can it be?", I though. Well, I soon found out it was more disgusting than the airline food served.
You want a writing carrier Brian? For Shai-Hulud's shake, get some ideas of your own!

AVOID. At all costs. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (184)

Predictable and transparent
I have enjoyed the Dune series but this was a disappointing read.I'm not sure why the authors felt the need to tie everything up in a neat little package. Since when did Science Fiction stories have to end "happily ever after?" Frank Herbert may have left notes in a safe deposit box for a reason ...maybe he never intended them to see the light of day.
Read this if you've read all the other Dune books, but don't set your expectations too high.

At the End of the DUNE Saga
Hunters of Dune is the sixteenth Dune book I have read, and I continue to be fascinated. This book takes place at the very end of the eons of the Dune story, and answers the question posed in earlier novels: after the peoples of the Scattering had fled the Old Empire, they began returning, fleeing an enemy of terrifying power. Without spelling it out, you'll recognize an ancient challenge from the earliest novels of the chronology, demonstrating that even over thousands of years of history and change, certain things remain the same and certain threatening potentials remain. The writing of Brian Herbert and Kevin Anderson fits well with Frank Herbert's own, and these novels are well worth reading even for those who, unlike me, have read all the others multiple times.

Great book
I felt all the first 6 books in the Dune series and Sandworms of Dune were great. Of course I loved some more than the others. While this book was definitely a great read, I felt too much happened in this series. While I have to admit it may be partially due to the fact that I didn't want the series to end, I feel the storyline in the book would have been better written into two or three books. Nonetheless, I will still highly recommend it. I also think that after reading this book it will kindle your interest in some of the prequels to Dune.

ignores the principles of "Dune"
I am sorry but this and the book before are horrible. I am a huge fan of the original six Dune novels. I have not read the son's Dune novels as I have never been a fan of sequels or prequels written by someone else. I saw both "Hunters of Dune" and "Sandworms of Dune" were supposedly based on as 30 page outline that Frank Herbert had left regarding the end of the Dune series. I bought the book in the hopes that I could see some of the deep and intricate thinking from the original six books. I did not. These two books seemingly have nothing in common with what came before. I must assume that the outline was a work in progress as I cannot seem to find the emotional nor logical conclusion to Frank Herbert's work. I advise one not to read this....

Hunters of Dune: Spicy
Title: Hunters of Dune by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson

Pages: 520.

Time spent on the "to read" shelf: 6 months.

Days spent reading it: 3 days.

Why I read it: Nearly 10 years ago now, I started and finished the original Dune series by Frank Herbert. I have long considered Dune (the original novel that kicked off the franchise) and Chapterhouse: Dune (Book 6 of the series) two of my favorite novels. I loved the complex story telling, inter-weaved with innovative (and strange) ideas about science, religion, politics and technology. But most of all, one of the last chapters in Chapterhouse is one of my favorite chapters in a book of all time. It was not expected and simply blew my mind away. The possibilities were endless. Frank Herbert had left a door so wide open my mind raced with the different scenarios of what happened after the book ended.

Frank Herbert was supposed to write a final 7th Dune novel, but sadly he died before this could happen. Then his son, Brian Herbert, and Kevin J. Anderson found some outlines for the last novel and started writing. The result has been 2 trilogies of prequels to the Dune series and now the final 7th novel (which became 2 novels). I waited patiently for the 2nd of the two novels to be released and then preceeded to read books 7 and 8 in the Dune saga.

Brief review: I enjoy the Dune universe. I think Frank Herbert had a very creative mind that was both full of intrigue and subtlety. He was nuanced in his writing. It is truly sad that he could not be the one to complete his grand epic. Instead his son Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson have picked up the mantle.

There are pros and cons to this situation.

Con--Brian and Kevin are no Frank Herbert. Frank's thoughts were dense and his overall vision broad. He was a visionary and a creative genius. Brian and Kevin, not so much.

Pro--Brian and Kevin are MUCH MUCH easier to read. I cruised through these two rather large books (each over 500 pages) in a little under 3 days each. It would have taken me a few weeks to manage reading 1,000 of Frank Herbert. Really its the difference between pop fiction and literature. Frank Herbert wrote literature, it just happened to be sci-fi. Brian and Kevin write pop fiction. Not bad, just not of the same caliber.

I know I did not get much into the plot here. And I won't really because it would reveal too much from the previous books and the next book. What I will say is that I did enjoy reading Hunters of Dune. It was cheesy at points, it was action filled adventure at others. But it was a fun read. This book is definitely defined by the "Hunters" that exist in many forms through the book. It is a constant game of hide and seek, of hunting and being hunted. There is a real sense of danger for the main characters through the whole book.

Did it live up to my expectations for book 7 in the Dune epic? No, but I think with the way my brain was rolling after Chapterhouse:Dune, perhaps nothing ever could. Not even if it was written by a Frank Herbert ghola himself (gholas are people who have been cloned from dead cells in the Dune universe...often they can get their old memories back, for those who have never read the series).

I think anyone who has read the entirety of the Dune series would read Hunters of Dune and its sequel Sandworms of Dune simply for closure. Its not bad, its just not as great as it might have been.

Favorite quote: "As human beings, we have trouble functioning in environments in which we feel threatened. The threat becomes the focus of our existence. But 'safety' is one of the great illusions of the universe. Nowhere is truly safe."

Stars: 4 out of 5.

Final Word: Spicy. ... Read more

Product Description
Frank Herbert’s Dune series is one of the great creations of imaginative literature, science fiction’s answer to The Lord of the Rings.

Decades after Herbert’s original novels, the Dune saga was continued by Frank Herbert’s son, Brian Herbert, in collaboration with Kevin J. Anderson. Working from Frank Herbert’s own notes, the acclaimed authors reveal the chapter of the Dune saga most eagerly anticipated by readers: the Butlerian Jihad.

Throughout the Dune novels, Frank Herbert frequently referred to the war in which humans wrested their freedom from “thinking machines.” In Dune: The Butlerian Jihad, Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson bring to life the story of that war, a tale previously seen only in tantalizing hints and clues. Finally, we see how Serena Butler’s passionate grief ignites the struggle that will liberate humans from their machine masters; here is the amazing tale of the Zensunni Wanderers, who escape bondage to flee to the desert world where they will declare themselves the Free Men of Dune. And here is the backward, nearly forgotten planet of Arrakis, where traders have discovered the remarkable properties of the spice melange....
... Read more

Customer Reviews (270)

Great book, Horrible Kindle Edition
I enjoyed the book a lot.I've read some of the other reviews and I can't agree with their appraisal of the writing or story.I was a fan before reading this book and I'm still just as much of a fan.

However, my review really should focus on the Kindle version of this.To put it simply, it's horrible.I've read quite a few books now that were done by major publishers that didn't have any errors.This had TONS.There were random hyphenations, strange italics, odd characters appearing in places and dozens of other little issues.

For the price that we're paying for this and the fact that it's such a large publishing house putting it out, we should not see so many flaws.

Amazing ... for hardcore fans
Look, I'll make it short.This series isn't a "classic" but it is as good, or better, than most of the stuff out there.However, it is very satisfying for hardcore fans like me who always wanted answers to questions like, "Where did the Bene Gesserit come from?", "How did the Guild start?" and even little things like the invention of the personal shield.The authors do fans like me a great service by providing these, and many many more, answers.You may not like them.You may think that his Old Man would have done it better.But I am thankful that he gave them to us.

Does Anyone Proof Read Kindle Versions?
This is a review solely of the quality of the Kindle version of the book.I am still reading it so this review does not touch on the story, but rather the lack of quality of proof-reading the Kindle version.

It certainly seems to me that the publisher did not re-format the printed version, especially where individual words were hyphenated because of line spacing issues on the printed pages, so there are needless and distracting hyphenations throughout the book.Also, just today I ran across the words "for ward" when they really were intended to be "forward".This Kindle version of the book is full of errors and I certainly think that the publisher should subject the text to a word processor for formatting and possible grammar errors, but mostly for the bad hyphenation issues.

I may come back and either amend this review or write a new review concerning the content of the book.But first I need to com-plete it.

Exciting science fiction with good story and excellent characters.
This thick, but easily read novel has the pace and spirit of a Star Wars adventure. The blurb on the cover says it is "An exciting prequel to the novels that made science fiction history" (a reference to Frank Herbert's "Dune" series). I agree with this hype. Though it's the first of a trilogy, it stands well alone. You may need to tolerate some weaknesses, but I recommend it.

1. Story, Characters, and Plot: Human-controlled planets must struggle to avoid enslavement or annihilation by planets ruled by intelligent machines. This main plot connects with a number of sub-plots, one of which takes place on the famous planet Dune. Plot and sub-plots are all interesting. All of the characters are interesting too, and some of them are extraordinary, for example Norma Cenva and Erasmus.

2. Logic and Plausibility: Needle guns, faster-than-light space travel, and telekinesis exist. And we get a good taste of Frank Herbert's imaginative psychotropic drug, called melange, commonly known as "spice." All of these are cool, acceptable as generic science-fiction devices. But other points are unconvincing: an unconvincing action sequence here, an unconvincing point about technology there. This is one reason why I give the book only four stars.

3. Writing Style: The style is contemporary--streamlined with only a little background detail. But maybe it was too streamlined, leaving me a little hungry. Sometimes I felt like I was drinking water when what I wanted was a bite of a sandwich. This is the second reason I give the book only four stars. I would have welcomed more substance--more background detail here and there, and deeper looks at some of the characters.


Note: Sometimes the worth of a book can at least partially be measured by the fondness with which it is remembered. It has been over a month since I completed my reading of the Legends of Dune trilogy ("The Butlerian Jihad," "The Machine Crusade," and "The Battle of Corrin"), and my memories of it are quite positive. Though this trilogy forms a different kind of story from that of Frank Herbert's classic "Dune," the quality of the story is as good. For this reason I have decided to give each book in the trilogy a five-star rating. I believe the weaknesses in the books do not merit a lowering of rating.

Well, it's not terrible.
The Butlerian Jihad is exactly the sort of book that justifies every stereotype about prequels. I'll try to keep this short, so:

-Big, dumb action scenes. The evil machines are coming from space, and they need to destoy a specific structure to win. They come down by crashing dropships directly into various population centers, because their machine-forms can walk away unharmed from the blast zones. But, uh, remind me why didn't they just crash into the target? Actually, the machines do crash ships into a target later in the book, but for plot conveniences, humans are suddenly able to swat away these attacks with minimal effort.

-Detail? Whoops! Ships move in-between star systems commonly and with no description of what drive system they're using. If you've read Herbert's Dune books, you might find a big problem there. The method used for interstellar locomotion in the Dune series is a massive plot point. Here, it's just glossed right over. There aren't even tangential descriptions of what the effect looks like, or how it's obtained, just skipped right over through the text.

-"Is that what he said?" Yes, that's what he said. The book shifts between planets and scenes chapter-by-chapter, without any real tension or rising action. Even within chapters, the authors regularly break between dialogue and explanatory text. One character will say, "This is me speaking, bla bla." Then the character will continue talking, but wihout quotes, as the silent narrator text freely shifts between first-person thoughts and second-person over-the-shoulder narration, and then all of a sudden you're in god's-eye-view narration again and not centered on a character. That's just inconsistent writing. I'll get those humans, I swear it. The computer Omnius laughed to himself. The brush was put back on the dresser, and the girl looked at herself in the mirror. Where am I now? I don't even know. Do you know? Oh, this next sentence says Arrakis, so I guess I'm there. The morning on Arrakis came too soon.

So the book is pretty poorly written, and it's hard to care about the plot since everything is a mess. If you're a big Dune fan, I might still recommend this book as a library check-out since you will get some good background that does much to explain the world of Dune, but that's about as far as my recommendation stands. It's not wholly terrible, but it's also not very good.

As another Dune fan I know once put it (paraphrased), once you get into the world of the sequels/prequels, you lose a lot of the magic of Dune. Just read Frank Herbert's original, and try to stay away from the rest. You think it'll be great to return to that universe, but it's not, it just sullies the joy you had reading the original. ... Read more

Product Description
The Prize: Unlimited Power

Six adrenalin junkies who call themselves the Daredevils Club hold the fate of the world in their hands. In an ancient undersea cavern, one of them, oil man Frik van Alman, discovers a set of stones that are unlike anything else on Earth. Fitted together, the stones form an object that promises limitless free energy for the world.

After a terrified scientist scatters the pieces, the club members race to retrieve them.Each knows that whoever reassembles the unique device will have unlimited power at his or her fingertips. Can anyone be trusted?

In a thrilling adventure that stretches from deep beneath the Caribbean to the penthouses of Las Vegas, friend battles friend for control of the Artifact.
... Read more

Customer Reviews (18)

Daredevils Club
The Artifact , by Kevin J Anderson (and others) just affirmed why he is one of my favorite authors. Every book of his that I have read has been action-packed and fast-paced. It feels like you're watching a movie. The Artifact was no exception. A group of men, calling themselves the Daredevils Club meet every year to brag about their adventures. When one of the men discover several mysterious artifacts, seemingly not of this world, he enlists the aid of the Daredevils Club to help find the missing pieces.

The cast of characters was a group of people, so none of them were explored too deeply. But this was a short book, with only a back-story at the beginning, explaining how the Daredevils got together.

With plenty of twists and a surprise ending, The Artifact will keep you on the edge of your seat. I read through it in two days, because it was so hard to put down.

In a single word - uninspired
I'm not sure where to start with this one!Artifact read more like a television pilot then a novel by a couple of the better authors out there.The characters seemed shallow. The action was flat. And the story tried very hard to stay out of its own way.Don't get me wrong, I like a book that leaves something to the imagination, but this one was too unresolved and too wide open.

I could have done without reading this book.

Thank You!
In a world where we are constantly told to lower our expectations and accept the "vanilla" that our world is trying to become, it is an absolutely OUTSTANDING moment when well crafted, brilliantly executed adventure returns to our lives.ARTIFACT is that rare book, written by WRITERS (as opposed to creative typists) that engages, challenges, and entertains us at the maximum level possible.Consistently interesting, it is a novel you want to keep reading, and will become your constant companion at lunch, on trains, planes, and in every spare moment!REALLY FIRST RATE!!!

Disappointing
Picked up this book the other day.The story description looked interesting, and I noticed that one of my favorite writers, F. Paul Wilson, was one of the authors.I have to say that I was disappointed in this book.The "good guy" characters weren't particularly likeable, which is crucial to a good story.They were bland and kind of boring. The ending was unfulfilling.After forcing myself to read the entire book, hoping it would get a little better, I felt let down and cheated.Seems like the authors took the easy way out and left things unexplained. Wouldn't recommend this book.

Probably one of the worst books I have ever read...
I love F. Paul Wilson. His Repairman Jack novels are some of my favorite. I have read his collaboration works with Mathew J. Costello and enjoyed those. Kevin J. Anderson is another author I enjoy. And while I have never read Janet Berliner, this should have been a "can't miss" book, right? Wrong. It is absolutely terrible. I have been buying books from Amazon since it first had a web presence and have never returned a book because I didn't like it. But I was very tempted to return this one.

Usually in a collaborative work, the authors take pains to write such that you cannot tell where one author ends and another begins. Not so here. It is painfully obvious that different chapters are written by different authors. It even appears that when a change in author takes place that the new author often takes a drastic turn in the book by changing how you view a character or the entire direction the book appears to be headed. You develop empathy for someone and next chapter his/her personality changes. It is a book full of split-personality characters with passages that seem like they were written in haste by a junior high student.

The story had great potential, but the delivery and readability is just not there to pull you through the book. Don't waste your money here. ... Read more

Product Description
With a new generation of Dark Jedi being trained at the Shadow Academy, Luke Skywalker decides that it is time for the young Jedi Knights of the New Republic to build their lightsabers, a task that brings both a growth in the power of the Force and deadly peril. Original. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (61)

Full of character growth
One of the early books of the Young Jedi Knights series, this book establishes important facts and events in the character's lives, which will have repercussions for decades to come and are still playing an important role in the new Star Wars books of 2009.

Recommended for all Star Wars fans.

Relationship Relay...
There are a couple of really strong relationships going on in this book. Tenel Ka and Jacen (Naw Durr.) and, even if they don't know it, Zekk and Jaina. Tenel Ka starts to relize that she likes Jacen after he cut off her arm, and Jacen has already felt that way towards her. And Jacen is really scared that Tenel Ka will hate him for the accident he thinks he caused, when they both had equal measures of blame. And Jaina and Zekk's thoughts continually swirl around each other, moreso Zekk than little ms independent. Jaina and I are a lot alike, so I have an easier time seeing things in the story from her point of view. Which is probably why I liked 'Dark Journey' in the NJO series so much. Anyway, READ THIS BOOK!

Great Installment
Luke has decided its time for Jaina, Jacen, Tenel Ka, and Lowie to be trained with a lightsabre. Jacen and Jaina are a little cautious about taking up taking up a lightsabre after their experiences at Shadow Academy. Tenel Ka staying true to her charactor still prefers to rely on her phyiscal strength instead of the Force and ends up putting together her lightsabre too fast and rather recklessly.During a dueling practice with Jacen it comes back to haunt her and she's seriously injured. Uncertain if she wants to contiune her Jedi lessons Tenel Ka returns home to Hapes. Jacen, Jaina and Lowie go to Hapes to try and cheer her up and there's an assisination attempted on her grandmother. The Jedi must find out who is out to kill her grandmother. Once again another great story. Full of adventure, charactors that well fleshed out and each of them uniquely and wonderful.

Awesome
This is definatly my favorite book in the series. Its awesome to see how they build their lightsabers. It also is the most interesting! I loved it!!!!!

Good, but not the best of the series.
This was a good book, but I enjoyed the first three in the series more. I have liked reading this series now instead of when they first came out. I enjoy reading the early stories of the new generation of Jedi Knights. If you can find this book it is worth your time, especially if you enjoyed The New Jedi Order series. ... Read more

Product Description
It has been five years since humanity's heady expansion among the stars came to an abrupt, and violent, halt.The emergence of the Hydrogues, an immensely powerful alien race dwelling within gas-giant planets, has placed the scattered colonies of the Terran Hanseatic League in jeopardy.With space travel heavily curtailed, and supplies of fuel dwindling, young King Peter and Chairman Basil Wenceslas, the harsh power behind the throne, have no choice but to impose strict rationing.But the Hydrogues are not the only enemies of humanity.The scheming Mage-Imperator, leader of the ancient Ildiran Empire, attempts to forge tangled alliances among all combatants in order to protect his failing civilization.The mysterious Klikiss robots, only remnants of an extinct race, continue to work their sinister plans while pretending to be friends and advisors to the Hanseatic League. And archaeologists Margaret and Louis Colicos -- whose discovery of an ancient alien weapon accidentally triggered the Hydrogue conflict -- have vanished on the abandoned world of Rheindic Co.Rlinda Kett and Davlin Lotze, sent to investigate the disappearance, soon realise that the Colicos' discoveries may lead to an incredible new way to travel between worlds...or to the awakening of enemies even more fearsome than the Hydrogues.Something of inestimable power must have been required to destroy the Klikiss race.Will humanity be next? ... Read more

Customer Reviews (24)

Hacked off, Hackneyed poo.
I'm not a writer so maybe this is wrong, but. This series of books are the bastard child of Stargate, Startrek, Dune and Starwars all wrapped up in predictability, gushy dewy eyed Americanisms and a level of simplicity that grates on the nerves like the indistinct sounds from a walkman being played too loud by the person next to you on the tube. It's patronising, condescending, Mills and Boonesque claptrap. I'm only reading through the second book because I need to find out where "Margaret Colicos" went after she stepped through the Stargate. That's it, 422 pages I've endured and still she hasn't shown up. I think the author knows it's the only thing in the book worth looking for, which is why it's not happened yet. Once she's found if things don't improve immediately then the book is going in the bin unfinished.

It's got some great bits in terms of the Klikiss robots, Mrs Colicos mentioned above, even the Planet Theroc is quite clever as it plays the "Quantum Tunnelling" idea of photosynthesis, but.

Basil is a nob and just not ruthless enough, he reminds me of a poncy little jobsworth, the sort of person that looks over his glasses at you with a pinched look when you get to work late and tut tut tuts. As opposed to the leader of the greatest human empire in history so far.

Jora'H is an overly handsome dumbass, who is so nice he's made of treacle. His Brother is of course as ruthless and unkind in equal measure. King Peter... why? His wife to be ... again why? Rlinda Khett... yo this big ass mama gon cook up some chickun n rice for you honky ass. Nira ... raped five times by different lldirans kithmen.... but still dippy in love with the thought that Dumbass (oops Jora'h) is gonna, rescue her and their daughter from evil brother and sail off back to hippy tree hug land and live happily ever after (I'm betting he will too, that's the way this book is written).

Starbuck (oops Taisa Tamblyn) the spunky tomboy, with a heart of gold and the ability to spit a fly off a fence post from fifty yards, and C3P0 (oops I meant Compy OX) is getting suspicious about the new range of Klikiss designed war compies/battle droids.

Jess Tamblyn the love lorn water minor who has gone off on a solo deepspace mission to collect the most abundant element in the universe "Stupidity" (oops Hydrogen, get those two mixed up all the time). And is currently communicating with deepspace water molecules he's been collecting as a by product of Hydrogen collecting.... I rather suspect that this water stuff will turn out to be the Wentals, characters written in the Saga of the Seven Suns, but not yet fully fledged. I could find out by reading reviews, but to be fair to myself, I'd rather put it all behind me.

This isn't a space opera, it's a soap opera. It's science fiction for people not into science fiction, and it's such a crying shame because there are nuggets of pure gold in there. The repetition, the grinding into your id that the good guys are good, the bad guys are bad, and that "Wuv Sweet Wuv" will save your sanity, and that even in the whatever century it is we will revert back to arranged marriages for federation and business purposes... and fortunately some of those marriages will be between couples who are so dippily compatible it's almost uncanny... whilst others... er aren't.

Not sure who would read this, and enjoy it from a science fiction perspective. I had more fun reading the first seven pages of Neal Asher's "Orbus" one Sunday morning in January, than the previous two weeks trawling through the saga. I almost gave it up but with only 225 pages to go I should at least find out if "Token Black Two" Basils spy catches up with Margaret Colicos somewhere on a Klikiss world where maybe the Hansa has a colony. What's the betting?

The story continues to unfold.
The characters are pretty much the same, Five years have passed.
The story continues to unfold and am looking forward to see what
Jess has discovered and how this plays into the overall story.

Worth the read
Another promising entry in the series, you won't be disappointed if you pick this book up and read it from cover to cover.

The Brilliance Continues
It's been five years since hydrogue warships destroyed the first gas giant skymines. The major governments in the Spiral Arm are desperate for ekti, the only known fuel for stardrive engines. With skymines out of operation and few other ways to obtain ekti, trade has ground to a near halt and distant colonies are starving.

The Ildiran Empire has suffered, as well. Hydrogues don't distinguish between the humans who accidentally annihilated billions of their people, and the alien species that only resembles them. Forced to desperate ends, the Mage-Imperator must convince his successor of the need for a reprehensible program--the one that tore his lover away.

For the past five years, the hydrogues have been content to limit the destruction to trespassers. Now they've been seen throughout the Spiral Arm, raising tensions in already-fracturing societies.

In this, the second installment to "The Saga of Seven Suns," Anderson pens an epic tale worthy in its own right. While he continues to use multiple subplots to weave the story, each thread is easily distinguishable, and they succeed in creating an overall tapestry of overwhelming depth. More impressive is his ability to do so while providing enough unknowns to keep the reader engaged.

For those who don't like metaphors: It's good. Darn good. If you forget who a character is, you can look it up in an appendix.

Although brilliant, this novel possesses a few issues, albeit nothing devastating. The first is the fuzzy timeline. Events occur in a linear order, but there are few indicators as to the passage of time. The reader is left wondering has much time has passed until one of the rare mentions of "in the past __ months. . ." A simple date stamp for each chapter, or a more concise timeline appendix would be great.

The other issue worthy of mention is that some readers may grow annoyed with the numerous subplots. This is a point than can go either way. As mentioned before, it is this reviewer's opinion that each subplot is clearly drawn and, while not always vital, certainly helpful in allowing the reader an overall view.

Highly recommended to sci-fi fans.

Reviewed by Christina Wantz Fixemer
5/31/2006

Getting better
Really impressed with this series to date.The first book was pretty good, Forest of Stars got even better.I've adjusted to the short chapters and rapid plot development that was a little disconcerting in book 1, and am really starting to enjoy it.It's nice to see an author who doesn't spend 5 pages describing a building or hole in the ground, but rather moves the pace along quickly and had great action sequences.Some may criticize this series as a cheap thrill because of the brevity of chapters and such, and maybe they're right.But who cares?It's extremely well written, the plot and characters are intriguing, and it leaves you hungry for more.I only hope Anderson continues his high quality work in books 3 and 4.But up to this point I'm very pleased with the Saga of the Seven Suns.A great scifi series that is not to be missed. ... Read more

Product Description
As the war between the Republic and the scattered remnants of the Empire continues, two children--Princess Leia's Jedi twins--come into their powers in a universe on the brink of vast changes. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (159)

I liked it
It was a good book I think. I do think because it come after the Thrawn trilogy it is not look at as being good by some people but I did dint this Trilogy of books a good read.

Bad prose, bad plot, bad characters, bad book.
I returned this book and the two that followed it after the first 100 pages.
The prose is mediocre, certainly not what I've come to expect from even the average professional author. This is worse than even most bad professional authors.The sentence structures lack variety, the grammar is fine, the book just sounds monotone.

The plot is the worst part of this (these) book/s.The macro-plot, the overall story, is outstanding.Luke finds recruits to restore the jedi order, this had to be done, it's the only logical course of action for Luke.Great! good concept.
It's the little things that suck.Digging through some random wreckage, somebody finds a paddle that can identify potential jedi.Well isn't this timely?No mention of this in 100 previous books or 6 movies, but just now, as soon as it's time to find some new Jedi candidates, now it appears.
"Gosh, I wish i had a lightsabre to defeat this monster who can only be defeated with a lightsabre which i don't have"-Said luke
"hey, Luke, here is that lightsabre you wanted"-said a boy
Everything in this book is like that.

Other comments describe the woeful character personalities in these books, I won't delve there.

I just want to say that these books really did need to be written.Someone had to write them.They're necessary to the story of the galaxy, but it should have been someone else that wrote them.
It would have been great it Timothy Zahn had written them, but anyone would do.Any 6th grade classroom has at least one child that could have written a better version of this story, given the time.

Not as bad as it's made out to be
Han and Chewie are out to Kessell to win its support for the New Republic after the events of Dark Empire I (I haven't actually read that comic, but I've heard a lot about it).Unfortunately, Moruth Doole has no intentions of joining and sends Han and Chewie into the spice mines, where they meet the Force sensitive, Kyp Durron.Meanwhile, Leia holds things together on Coruscant, worrying for her husband, and Luke begins his Jedi Search, finding two candidates, Gantoris and Streen.

I Liked:
Kevin J. Anderson is often castigated for his Star Wars entries, but I honestly don't see why.No, his books aren't like Zahn's, but they are still "Star Wars".Unlike my experience with The Truce at Bakura, I felt Anderson really got the feel of Star Wars down.The settings feel right, the characters are pretty good, and the events as well.
While the mission is kinda goofy, it is interesting to see Kessell and its place in the universe.Also, I enjoyed seeing Luke go out to find new Jedi candidates.It's really cool to see the rise of the new Jedi (especially with the knowledge of the prequels, something I didn't have when I read the book many years ago).And I can sorta stretch my imagination to believe that a Maw Installation would have been created for the super-secret construction that occurs.
The main characters are done well enough that I don't question them.Han and Chewie play a large role, and they are done well.Luke is, likewise, well done.As for minor characters, Kyp Durron is really interesting.I can see how he is almost a Luke/Han clone.It's neat, particularly knowing where he ends up in the New Jedi Order.Admiral Daala is also interesting.

I Didn't Like:
I am not sure why Kessell is such a big deal.It almost seems like a place that the New Republic would want to break down, like a drug lab, instead of ally with.And the sleazy alien who runs it...and the "scarecrow" (not a big Batman fan, but all I could think of was Crane!).Uh huh, let's ally with seedy characters.Really gives the New Republic legitimacy, eh?
The Maw Installation was interesting, but I still have no idea WHY they had to keep so quiet for so long.Weren't they wondering after a year or two why Tarkin hadn't called?Would it have been so hard to peek out and transmit a "Hey, what's up?"And the Maw Installation being so secretive that even Palpatine didn't know?Ha, got me laughing in stitches over that one.
Leia doesn't do much of anything other than wangst at home about Han being gone.She vacillates between worry and being mad (that he is "off" gambling).Then, she is shy about asking Lando and Luke to look into it.Out.Of.Character.Leia from the trilogy or from the Thrawn Trilogy would have no problem with it.In fact, she'd probably be leading the expedition.Since her kids are dumped off with Winter on the "hidden planet" and she can conveniently leave her job when the plot requires it...
Luke Skywalker is too powerful.There is a difference between a Jedi who can hold his own and a Jedi that can do everything.Look at Yoda.The guy walked around with a cane (or on a hoverchair).He wasn't perfect.He didn't smash everyone to bits.But if Luke were him, he would be using the Force to walk upside down or something crazy.
And then, his complete ignorance of Gantoris' Dark Side.For someone as powerful as Luke, he should be like, "Uh, warning!Warning!"But no, that would get rid of the story before it had even begun.
Qui Xux is the.Worst.Character.Ever.I despise her.I can't believe she exists.She is too stupid to live.Every single myth about scientists or doctors or people with intelligence is exploited in her.She is gorgeous, but also naive beyond belief.The Death Star was a mining tool?Uh, take a look at the name, girlfriend.That should be a clue.The World Devastators a roving mining colony?Girl, you need to get out more.I hadn't really liked her the first time I read, and time has definitely NOT made me more sympathetic to her.Lock her up and throw away the key.
Stereotypes like "sleazy" Twi'Leks that are only involved in crime crop up.That really torques me.
Lando's mission with the blob races is completely irrelevant and tossed in to make sure all the big guys from the movie appear.Yawn.
As for the audiobook, large chunks of Daala's history disappear (such as her affair with Tarkin) and Leia's contribution disappear (I believe there were more parts with her on Coruscant besides whining about Han).Also, the reader pronounces words incorrectly."Bes-pin" not "Bee-spin" and "Cor-u-sant" not "Cor-u-skant".It was grating after a while.

Dialog/Sexual Situations/Violence:
A few stray d*** and h***.
Qui Xux is goregous.Of.Course.
Han, Chewie, and Kyp fight their way out of the spice mines of Kessell.The people of Eol Sha have to be moved because their planet is destroying itself.

Overall:
I know I complained a lot, but the story actually isn't too bad.It's a nice Star Wars romp.I liked Han and Chewie in the spice mines (well, not being there, but their adventure there) and Luke's "Jedi Search" was pretty darn cool.No, it's not brilliant, but it was enjoyable.Read it if you are bored or have to complete the whole series.

Brought to you by:
*C.S. Light*

Outstanding!
I'm glad I decided to go ahead and read this Novel rather than listen to some of the negative comments.What was stopping me was the 'super weapon' storyline arch that has been so overdone.However, the author sets up the story beautifully.

Admiral Daala, with a compliment of 4 star destroyers, has been defending the Maw base obscured by two black holes.They have been there for a decade with no contact to the outside Galaxy.The whole purpose of the base is to develop super weapons.The hidden base is a must for plausibility.At the base is a prototype of the Death Star which doesn't play into this novel at all.It's merely mentioned.What does come into play is the new 'Sun Crusher' ship, but only at the end of the novel.
Han, Chewy, Kyp first escape from the Kessel Spice mines and then with the help of from the Scientist responsible for the weapons, Qwi Xux, escape from one of the Star Destroyers.This time aboard the 'Sun Crusher'.They blow out a whole in the roof and zoom out within theimpenetrable armor of the `Sun Crusher'.While the Sun Crusher is escaping from the Maw, Luke and Lando are trying to escape into the Maw from the Millennium Falcon.They are being pursued by the rag tag, but formidable, naval fleet defending Kessel.Luke and Lando escape in the ensuing confusion of the space battle between Admiral Daala's and the Kessel ships.

Other story arches is Luke looking for possible candidates for his Jedi Academy.Han and Chewy get trapped in the spice mines of Kessel; which happens to be very close to the Maw.Leia is depicted as women with no time for her kids and too proud to worry about her husband; who might be in trouble.Thankfully, the chapters about Leia are brief.Han & Chewy meet Kyp at Kessel.

The Super Weapon story did not ruin this Novel at all.Given humanities own destructive nuclear arsenal of thousands of weapons, I don't see the super weapon arch as unrealistic at all.Star Wars has 'far, far' superior technology than we have now.So the weapons are simply more powerful.

I thought this was an outstanding book.You won't be disappointed.

Amazing
The story of Luke Skywalker founding the Jedi Academy is extremely well written.Exar Kun, seen in the ancient Sith Wars and Tales of the Jedi comic series, returns to menace a new generation of Jedi as Luke begins their training.

Elsewhere, Admiral Daala returns to the Empire and begins to rally support.

As with all three books in this trilogy, this is HIGHLY recommended to ALL Star Wars fans. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (119)

Solid SF, but you should read the 4 preceding novels.
"Paul of Dune" takes place after Frank Herbert's "Dune." Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson give us stories of the galactic jihad conducted by Emperor Paul Atreides, known as Muad'Dib. In this we see a dark side of Paul that was absent in preceding volume. I don't like this dark side, but I believe Paul when he tells himself that it is necessary to avert a worse catastrophe. After all, he is the one who is prescient, not me. Also, a sizable portion of the text takes us back in Paul's life for adventures when he was twelve years old. These were agreeable backflashes.

Though all the characters in this novel were interesting, I thought two of them were extraordinary: Marie Fenring and Paul's little sister Alia. I would have welcomed more space devoted to them.

According to time in the Dune universe, "Paul of Dune" is the eighth of the sixteen Dune books. For it, there's no need to read the first three--"The Butlerian Jihad," "The Machine Crusade," "The Battle of Corrin"--but you will benefit by a fresh reading of the preceding four books. These are the three volumes of Brian and Kevin's House Trilogy ("House Atreides," "House Harkonnen," "House Corrino") and the single volume of Frank Herbert's "Dune." Most of the characters in "Paul of Dune" are introduced in those four books, and knowledge of these characters and the events in the four books will make "Paul of Dune" more interesting.

The writing style of Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson is superior to that of Frank Herbert. This is as it should be since Brian and Kevin are of the next generation. Technology improves, and so does the art of writing. Brian and Kevin avoid boring philosophical asides, and their style is straightforward, standard, and easy to read, not tediously florid. And if an action sequence of theirs is implausible--as such things often are in fiction--it is not intolerably implausible. (Frank's books have some good action sequences, however; so his writing is not inferior in that respect.) Though some fans of Frank's Dune books assert that Brian and Kevin's characterizations are inconsistent with Frank's and therefore wrong and inferior, Brian and Kevin have, rather, expanded upon and enhanced Frank's characterizations.

For the seven Dune books by Brian and Kevin that I have read, the authors have done excellent jobs. The stories are good, and they are rooted well in the firmament of the Dune universe. I see two reasons for this: 1) Frank Herbert's Dune universe offers a sumptuous tapestry for interesting places, events, and characters, and 2) Brian and Kevin have a liking for the Dune universe. When authors have a liking for their subject, they are more likely to do a good job than if they are compelled to write only to earn money.

Bird Cage Lining
I've already made a review of this book - it was intertwinded with its equally horrible companion [break] Wind of Dune; however, I just cannot state enough that this book is the bottom of the cesspool due to the fact that the authors attempt to classify the original work as "in-universe" texts.This construct has a two pronged affect: 1. It is [a poor] excuse to explain away every inconcistency between the original work and the prequels, and 2. It allows the writers to add (with reckless abandon) whatever childish whim strikes their fancy.

Look, at first I was entertained by these books because, in my mind, I could differentiate the orginal work against these summer trash reads. I even gave some decent reviews to some of the prequals because I read the stories for what they were and not in comparison to the originals. However, over time, the work had gone from mediocre-at-best, to lame, to bad, to worse, to worser, to worstest. Now we have the writers attempting to revise the orignal timeline and add useless action adventure stories only to pad their work all while lining their pockets. That, combined with the bad writting within, makes this book worthy of being classified as a low intelect grade school level adventure story.

I recall sitting in at one of their stops on the Sandworms book tour - Both Brian and Keith said that they were not interested in writing a "continuing adventures of" series of stories when asked by one of thier fanboys. With that, I have to ask: What is this book then?

There are some serious low lights in this book, the most standout is the wedding where there are POTTED PLANTS THAT TURN INTO THROWING STAR ASSASIN BOTS!!!!!!- (I am sorry, but that idea is just flat stupid.)

More Jongleurs! (A small mention, but don't wory, the next book is so riddled with Jongleurs, it is almost comical.)

There are more inconsitancies introduced in this book, i.e. Paul leaves Caladan to go of and fight some un-heard of, un-mentioned in the original series battle with his father. (But don't worry, the inconsistancy is sufficiently explained away with all the revisionism.

There is also a scene featuring "a swarm of hunter seakers!" - (one hunter seaker was a compelling idea in the orignal Dune, but Keith J. Anderson has to try to one up Frank by introducing "a swarm!" Oh boy!! What is our hero Paul going to do now? - just wait and see, right after this quick commercial break.)

It is almost as if they are writting this series to be an afterschool cartoon special.

All I can say is thank you, Thank You, THANK YOU to the publishing company for cancelling the rest of this go-nowhere series. I only wish you would have cancelled this series from the start.

If you want some real action and suspence, read Dune, Children of Dune, or Heretics of Dune.
If you want deep contemplative work, read Dune Messiah, God Emperor of Dune, or Chapterhouse Dune.
Actually, all of the originals have a bit of both, but I tend to group them loosely in the above categories.

If you have read the originals already and thurst for some more, read them again. I guarantee you will find something that you did not read the first time.

To be fair, I will say that if these writers can come up with something original and thought proviking to add to Dune, then I will award more stars as I have done before. However, if they continue to offer tripe, then I will read it, and rate it accordingly.

The Person versus the Story.
I loved Frank Herbert's Dune series.I am somewhat grateful that his son answered some of the pre-Dune questions that intrigued me.However, what captivated me about Frank Hebert's Dune series, at least through the God Emperor of Dune, is that he focused on developing the characters; through this character menagerie, the story developed around them.The Dune series of today must follow the story and the characters must fit into them.It's just not the same.

Skip it, weak.
This book lacked pretty much everything compared to Frank Herbert's writings. The storyline did not draw you in and you never felt immersed in its surroundings as do F. Herbert's original series or additions. 'Paul of Dune' had no flow or feeling. It's pure filler to try to establish something that is not there. I've finished all of F. Herberts Dune novels and needed a fix more or less. I was hesitant to buy this in the first place, ya got me Brian. This book just has zero of the ambiance that his father's writing do. Critics 'loved it' because they know nothing about the entire saga...lame.

Have they no shame?
A shameful attempt to cash in on a legendary IP. The lack of quality combined with the disrespect to the core material is unconscionable. Revolting. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

The Ashes of Worlds
The book was in perfect shape and received within a week of purchase.I'm very pleased with all aspects of this purchase. ... Read more

Product Description
As the New Republic takes devastating losses in the ongoingwar with the scattered remnants of the Empire, the galaxy's future depends on three small children -- among them the Jedi twins -- born to incredible powers and perils, as an extraordinary new saga unfolds...

while the New Republic struggles to decide what to do with the deadly Sun Crusher -- a new doomsday weapon stolen from the Empire by Han Solo -- the renegade Imperial Admiral Daala uses her fleet of Star Destroyers to conduct guerrilla warfare on peaceful planets. And now she threatens the watery homeworld of Admiral Ackbar. But as the battle for a planet rages, an even greater danger emerges at Luke Skywalker's Jedi academy. A brilliant student delves dangerously into the dark side of the Force and unleashes the spirit of an ancient master of the evil order that warped Darth Vader himself. Working together, they may become an enemy greater than the New Republic has ever fought... more powerful than even a Jedi Master can face. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (72)

a books but
it is a nice 2ed book. it keeps up with the first book and leads nicely into the 3rd.

Someone gave the characters an idiot ball and they wouldn't let go
Luke Skywalker has gathered up his troops and headed to Yavin 4 to begin training.Only problem is that his most promising student, Gantoris, is now burned to a crisp and no one is sure why.Meanwhile, a mission fails, causing Ackbar to leave his command in shame, and Daala decides to wreak havoc on the New Republic.
NOTE: I listened to the audio book, and it was abridged so some scenes I may have A) forgotten since I last read the book and B) have not heard because they omitted it from the audiobook.

I Liked:
The last book was called Jedi Search, but honestly, it mostly focused on Han Solo and Kyp Durron.Kinda missed the mark to me, even if it were exciting in its own way.This book however gets into the actual training, which is particularly interesting.I enjoy seeing the new characters, particularly Kam Solusar, and wonder how he in particular fits into the new continuity with the prequels.
Kyp Durron is a fair character.I actually enjoyed seeing how he turned to the Dark Side.It was surprisingly reminiscent of Anakin Skywalker in the prequels and pretty well done in general.

I Didn't Like:
Like my title says, it seems every character in this novel was given an idiot ball and refused to let it go.Ackbar gets all huffy about crashing on Vortex and leaves.One incident, one mistake and he leaves in shame.I know we don't see him much in the movies, but the Ackbar there, I'm sure, wouldn't leave after one incident.Heck, the Ackbar in Zahn's books wouldn't leave after one mistake.And then, Ackbar's stupidity forces Leia to spend more time away from her family to coax him back into the military.In my opinion, if he's gonna be that huffy, I say we don't need him!
Han goes on a yelling spree with Lando like he's a PMSing woman and loses the Falcon in the most ludicrous game of sabacc ever.I was ashamed to read this part.Even if Leia were in danger (and she was), Han wouldn't jump on the Falcon, start a yelling match with Lando, and lose the Falcon.He'd go on the Falcon, yell that Leia was in trouble and everyone would be off to rescue her.
While Leia is on a mission, Han dumps his twins on Chewie, after not seeing them for months, and decides to go skiing with Kyp Durron, a kid he just met.Uh, yeah.So much for that father that Zahn set him up to be.If my dad did that...well...yeah.
Luke sees Gantoris (and later Kyp) has problems with the Dark Side and just decides to ignore it.I don't mind Luke always thinking someone can come back to the Dark Side, but I don't think Luke would ignore the clear signs of Dark Side usage and not try to swerve them off the path.Plus, Luke, as always, vacillates between too powerful and too stupid to live.
Absolute worst romantic couple of the year goes to Qui Xux and Wedge.Wedge must have forgotten all his wingmates he lost while piloting against BOTH Death Stars in order to fall in love with this air head.These sections made me cringe.A general protecting some nobody scientist?Going to Ithor, the lover's getaway?Cue eyeroll!
Lastly, Daala is said to be a military genius.So she attacks an unarmed planet (Dantooine) with refugees?Brilliant military work.It's the only engagement she ever wins, as she can't help but win against a world that has no army!Her attack against Mon Calamari was too reliant on old tactics (doesn't she realize that her tactics are TEN years old) and then when she said she was going to attack Coruscant?Uh, girlfriend, if you couldn't beat Mon Calamari, there is NO WAY you will beat Coruscant, the most heavily guarded and populated world in the galaxy.Even Thrawn waited until he had the Katana fleet and even then, he never took the world, only confused it.Plus, who says "Let's go hunting" and is met with resounding cheers?Lamest.Dialogue.Ever.

Dialogue/Sexual Situations/Violence:
Some h*** and d*** (I think, I listened to the audiobook and can't remember).
Daala slept with Tarkin.Qui Xux and Wedge are basically a lame attempt at a love story.
Many die on the crash on Vortex.Daala attacks Dantooine.

Overall:
I had problems with Star Wars: Jedi Search, but there were some aspects that were cool enough to garner a three star review.
Not so here.I can't believe how out of character all these guys are.And the new original characters are so pathetic and lame.Cringeworthy.I don't recommend you read, but if you do, please follow up with a good dose of I, Jedi, where Stackpole calls Anderson out on a few of these stupidities.

Brought to you by:
*C.S. Light*

yawnnnn!!!!!!!!!! i went to sleep.
after reading the thrawn trilogy by timothy zahn i was inspired to pick up this series what a disconnected effort , how many super weapons are there in the starwars universe what a copeout another apprentice turns or flirts with the darkside are there no original stories left maybe kevin j anderson and richard hatch could compare notes on how to write really bad prose because the effort here is substandard to say the least dont waste your time get a life and enjoy the sun

Great entry in a great trilogy
I absolutely love the Jedi Academy Trilogy, and recommend it to everyone.There isn't a Star Wars that shouldn't read this - so long as they read them in order.

You won't be disappointed if you buy it.

Kevin Anderson Makes a Mess of Star Wars
SPOILER FREE

It's no secret that the Star Wars novels are a mixed bag.The recent ones, written after the prequel trilogy, are generally of higher quality than the novels written in the 1990's (Timothy Zahn's work and some others excepted), perhaps because there's more to work with and because, regardless of how one feels about the prequels (I liked them, albeit with the common caveats about Jar Jar and such), they expanded the scope of the Star Wars mythos, and better defined what could and could not work within it.

Unfortunately, while "Dark Apprentice" (and by extension the whole Jedi Academy trilogy) gets some things right, it misses more often than it hits.

In Anderson's defense, the complaints I have about his work can be applied equally to almost every other novel from the same era.That doesn't change the fact that this is one more failed attempt to capture the magic that is Star Wars.

Specifically (but still mostly spoiler-free), the problems with the book include:

- an obsession with what some have dubbed the "Death Star of the Month" mentality.Like many Star Wars novels from the 1990's, the plot in some way revolves around a piece of technology that threatens the galaxy (a theme ham-handedly repeated in the Corellian Trilogy, "The New Rebellion", Anderson's own "Darksaber", and others), and once again Luke, Leia, Han, Chewie, Lando, and others have to destroy it.The effect of this sort of plot on anyone who liked the original trilogy is that it completely guts the impact of the Death Star by making it "one of many" (or two of many, if you count the second Death Star).

- A silly bad guy who's supposed to be kind of like Vader, but isn't.Exar Kun has been rehabilitated in recent years, and also stars in several graphic novel adventures, but in this series, even in spirit form, he's as laughably portrayed as Dr. Evil in Austin Powers, except he's not supposed to be funny (the "stupid enemy Darth Vader rip-off" theme si also repeated in other novels, but most egregiously in "New Rebellion").

- Screwing with the Force.Before the prequel trilogy, Star Wars authors had a pretty wide-open field regarding the Jedi, how they worked, what they did, etc.Anderson doesn't get the Force totally wrong, but neither does he capture the mystery and wonder of it all.This wouldn't be a problem, except for the fact that the entire trilogy is focused on Luke attempting to reestablish the Jedi Academy.Particularly weak is a scene later in the trilogy involving certain children and Luke Skywalker . . .

In general, Anderson's writing is juvenile (that shouldn't be a given just because it's a Star Wars novel) and obvious, and he doesn't appear to have been interested in really continuing a saga so much as cashing in on a throw-away episode, that for some reason the powers-that-be haven't thrown away -- this novel, and basically all the others, are considered part of Star Wars continuity, regardless of quality.

Anderson's one valuable contribution to the world of Star Wars is in his portrayal of the new characters (with a couple of exceptions).The new academy prospects are at least inoffensive, and some are interesting.New enemies and allies, while at times a bit too much like 4-color comic characters, are generally readable and knowable.

If you absolutely must read everything Star Wars (like I'm doing), this review won't change your mind about reading "Dark Apprentice".But if all you want is to satisfy your curiosity about what happens to our heroes, instead I recommend Timothy Zahn's Thrawn Trilogy (starting with "Heir to the Empire"),or even "The Courtship of Princess Leia".And if you're just looking for a good, familiar space yarn to take on vacation, try any of the X-Wing novels by Aaron Allston, or any Star Wars novel that has the words "Tales from" in the title. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (14)

A Worthy Sequel To The Original Slan!
While I would rate it a fraction below five stars, since Kevin Anderson couldn't replicate van Vogt's economy of language and marvelous "turn-of phrase", I found this sequel to be as fast-paced and compelling -- with many twists and surprises -- as the original. I reread "Slan" first (after 41 years), and I was pleased that this book picked up right after that and the roller-coaster-ride resumed almost immediately.

I didn't realize when I discovered science fiction in 1954 that I was tapping into what is known as the "Golden Age of Science Fiction", which is considered to have started around the time when van Vogt's "Black Destroyer" was published in "Astounding Science Fiction" magazine in 1939. "Slan" followed in 1940, and through to the end of the 1950's many great authors (including my other favorites, Robert A. Heinlein and Isaac Asimov) created wondrous stories. (While those and some others continued the tradition for several decades, more recent SF authors have gone different directions, and the genre is not quite the same.) "Slan Hunter" has really helped to recapture the feel of that "Golden Age". I was riveted throughout.

My recommendation to potential readers is to first read "Slan" and follow it with this sequel. And you should take it for what it is -- a marvelous extension of the story. (Then if you have been captured by A. E. van Vogt's unique style, consider reading some of his other classics. I strongly recommend "The Voyage of the Space Beagle" -- the first van Vogt book that I read -- which starts out with his "Black Destroyer" story as a basis. That has always been one of my favorites, and I plan on rereading it soon.)

Trite sequel
This sequel was an attempt to write in the 1940's style and science environment. It ends up being worse than the original book ("Slan"), which was very dated, and the plot is lame.

Kevin Anderson should have updated the science and complicated, rather than simplified, the plot. The object should have been to capture Van Vogt's intricacies, not the outdated science of the period.

Van Vogt has always been one of my favorite SF authors (Weapon Shops, Null-A, etc.), but this book and even its original predecessor (Slan) are not worth the read.

As if Van Vogt came back and wrote this himself
I think the negative reviews come from people who are expecting 2008 level sci-fi from this book.IT IS NOT.

What it is, is a continuation of the Slan story, almost from the instant of the ending of Slan, in EXACTLY the same style.

Van Vogt has always been noted for leaving holes and gaps, this book maintains this.

I was suprised at some differences from the original canon, but reading this book brought me back to the world of Slan I have missed dearly since childhood, when I first read it.

The Human Reaction
Slan Hunter (2007) is the sequel to Slan.In the previous volume, Jommy Cross learned that the tendrilless slans were preparing to invade the Earth.Returning from Mars, he attempted to warn the human government.He entered the palace by a hidden way and was met by Kier Gray, the President of Earth.

Gray released him from the trap -- which Jommy had already neutralized -- and received the news of the invasion.Then Jommy learned that Kathleen -- whom he had thought dead -- was alive and cured of the terrible wound inflicted by John Petty.

In this novel, Davis Stewart is driving his very pregnant wife to the hospital.Anthea is in labor and Davis is in a hurry.When he reaches the emergency room, he runs into the hospital to get help and comes out pushing a wheelchair and leading an orderly.

The orderly wheels Anthea toward the delivery room while calling out to the nurses.A nurse stops Davis at the door, but Anthea is quickly moved into position.The doctor speaks calmly to Anthea and tells her to push.

The baby comes quickly and the doctor holds him up for his mother to see.A nurse cries out and the doctor shows a horrified expression.The baby has golden tendrils growing out of the back of his head.He is a slan.

Neither Anthea nor Davis show any sign of being slans.They certainly are not aware of any such possibility.However, the doctor fills a hypodermic syringe with a poisonous substance and reaches for the baby.

Davis comes into the delivery room, responding to a feeling of danger.Nurses and orderlies try to block his passage, but he fights his way through.Anthea tells him of the doctor's intention and Davis throws aside everyone between him and the doctor.

After removing Anthea and their baby from the room, Davis immediately recognized the danger of three security men and a secret policeman coming toward them.He tells Anthea to take the baby and run, then he runs toward the security men.As Anthea goes the other way, she hears the shots that signal the death of her husband.

In this story, Petty had the president's quarters bugged by his secret police and learns that Gray is really a tendrilless slan.He has the president arrested and then captures Jommy and Kathleen.They are all secured in cells under the palace.Jommy and Kathleen are detained in adjacent cells and soon free themselves from their captors.

Gray was imprisoned elsewhere in the underground facility.Jommy and Kathleen soon learn the location of his cell and manage to break him free.But Petty has set up an ambush nearby and recaptures all three.

Meanwhile, the tendrilless slans attack the planet, including Centropolis, the capital.They are bombing the palace while Petty is securing his captives.Petty quickly agrees to join forces against the tendrilless slans.

This story concludes the storyline established in Slan.Very little is new other than the plot.Most of the characters, the locales and the technology are taken from the earlier story.This trend is unlike Van Vogt, who usually tried to introduce new ideas into each sequel within a series.Across series, however, he often reused older ideas.The best innovation in this tale is indicated by the concluding paragraph.

The Foreword describes how this book came to be published.This provides a fascinating -- and dismaying -- glimpse into the Van Vogt life story.The senior author tried to produce this book, but was overcome by Alzheimer's.Eventually, the novel was put into the hands of the junior author.

Recommended for Van Vogt & Anderson fans and for anyone else who enjoys tales of viable mutations, reactionary social elements, and human relationships.

-Arthur W. Jordin

As good as the original. No more.
Read through both novels in one stride and, like others reported, Anderson's sequel is a cleaner and clearer read.

The themes explored, the plot, the motivations, the repsect of the overhaul way the characters were acting in Slan and now act in Slan Hunter, are all there and intact.
I did not find the harsh discrepancies other reviewers have remarked upon. Thus, in my opinion, such remarks must stem from something else...perhaps in a sacred cow feeling on the reviewer's part.

The only problem I could find were the last two paragraphs, about 6 lines of text, in which a character physically does some ridiculous thing (and here I use the term apporpriately) instead of thinking it. Anderson prefers to _show_ us, through that phsycial act, what happens in that scene instead of having another slan read it off the character's mind and say it outloud for us the readers.
Still, those last few lines don't mare the story, albeit they're definitely clumsy. The idea they convey is sound and matches well with the story, but is badly delivered to the reader. ... Read more

Product Description
Journey to the Final Frontier of Sci-Fi Zombie Horror!

Jim Pike was the world's biggest Star Trek fan—until two tours of duty in Afghanistan destroyed his faith in the human race. Now he sleepwalks through life as the assistant manager of a small hotel in downtown Houston.

But when hundreds of Trekkies arrive in his lobby for a science-fiction convention, Jim finds himself surrounded by costumed Klingons, Vulcans, and Ferengi—plus a strange virus that transforms its carriers into savage, flesh-eating zombies!

As bloody corpses stumble to life and the planet teeters on the brink of total apocalypse, Jim must deliver a ragtag crew of fanboys and fangirls to safety. Dressed in homemade uniforms and armed with prop phasers, their prime directive is to survive. But how long can they last in the ultimate no-win scenario?

*This is an original work of fiction, horror, and parody, and is not officially sponsored by, affiliated with, or endorsed by the owners of the Star Trek® brand. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (56)

Two great tastes that taste great together......
Here's the basic recipe for this book:

Take George Romero's brain and place it in a blender. Add Gene Roddenberry's brain to the blender. Add a pinch of obscure Trek trivia, a dash of Federation morality, a healthy shatner of mindless action, a cupful or two of bad puns, and a cross-genre character sure to please the Star Wars haters. Hit the "puree" button and let it all just get mixed up real good. That's pretty much what you've got here. It's a fast, fun read full of thrills, chills, and mindless zombie-crushing action. There's absolutely nothing in the way of a plot to get in the way of the story, and it moves along at a crisp pace.

Derivative? Oh yeah. This book manages to hit on just about every hackneyed zombie-Trek cliche available to it, but that's part of the fun. You wouldn't be reading it if you expected anything less, now would you? Look, I won't waste much of your time here. If you're a genre geek, you'll love it. If you're not, then you're probably not reading this review anyway.

My take on it? 4-stars, baby, and hit me up when you publish the sequel.

A Fun Read With One Glaring Error
If you're looking for a fun read with a mix of Star Trek, Star Wars & Zombies, this is the book for you.It mixes the three genres amid trivia & one liners.My only complaint was found in chapter 28, where a glaring mistake occurs.
As the chapter opens, we are told, "By the time Jim and Leia reemerged from martock's room, it was nearly five o'clock."Four pages later, after a short discussion among the characters, we are told, "At five minutes to four, the team waswell-armed and well-prepared as it would ever be."How does the action of a few minutes time go back an hour or ahead 11 hours during this time?Was this a mistake on the part of the writers and something not caught the editors, or was it a typesetters mistake?.

Fun read - with many genre 'Easter Eggs imbedded'
A very fun read for the Sci-fi fan - or Trekkie/Trekker.Being all that myself, I enjoyed this zombie-romp through a typical genre convention.Each chapter is given the name of a ST episode - and the astute will catch familiar names of characters peppered throughout the book.

I enjoyed this read immensely, but I am not sure if the wider non-geek audience would get as much from this book as I did.

Great fun book
I am not a hard core trek fan,I have never been to a trek conventnion, but I am a lifelong trek fan, and found this book great fun.First even though the whole zombie thing is getting old, this book gives a slightly new and fresh take on that.2. The characters are very likable and believable. 3. It reads in many way, like watching an episode.Its hard to explain but I found myself immersed in this book very easily.

If your a sci-fi show fan in general you will enjoy this book, and I'm trek fans will love it.It also gets my vote for a book that really not only deserves a movie treatment (TV movie) but could be made into one with little re-write and a modest budget.

A winner!
I picked up this book with a mixture of anticipation and trepidation.The premise--zombies disrupt a Star Trek convention--really appealed to the sci-fi loving, convention-going geek in me.But the amateur critic in me was fearful it would be utter rubbish.

To my delight, Night of the Living Trekkies satisfied both parts of me.

Authors Kevin David Anderson and Sam Stall have loaded their story with countless references to the Trek Franchise--and toss in a little love for some other sci-fi shows too.They even managed to make Star Wars an essential and surprising logical part of the plot.

They have also created a smart, funny and extremely readable tale, a sci-fi/zombie parody with a heart.

The protagonist, a world-weary veteran of the war in Afghanistan named Jim Pike, is well-drawn and extremely likable.As the book opens, Pike is marking time as assistant manager in a Houston hotel, the site of a small Trek convention.But as the guests and staff fall victim to a zombie plague, Pike finds the will to survive and the strength to save others.

This turned out to be one of the most enjoyable books I've read all year.The mix of Star Trek, humour and horror is a real winner. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

More terrific Star Wars entries
Kevin J. Anderson brings lots and lots of action to the Star Wars universe. He compares quite favorably with Timothy Zahn, maybe even surpassing him???

Awsome Trilogy
The Thrawn Trilogy is a tough act to follow, but Kevin J. Anderson's action packed Jedi Academy Trilogy demands respect.Just read it!Anderson introduces a collection of new characters, takes the reader to a myriad of planets across the star wars galaxy, and fills the pages with endless action.It is well written, exciting, and memorable.I was almost sad to finish it.Anderson's trilogy is another tough act to follow. ... Read more

Product Description
"After the fall of the Empire, many archives were opened and hidden information came to the attention of scholars across the galaxy. We are at a crux point in history . . . Citizens of the New Republic must know their history--a rich and glorious tradition, [with] many dark mistakes. We must learn from both."
--New Republic Historical Council

The story is one that began many thousands of years before the birth of Luke Skywalker . . . or Anakin Skywalker . . . or even Obi-Wan Kenobi. It spans galaxies, encompasses kingdoms and powerful dynasties, chronicles wars, and charts the rise and fall of individuals who changed the course of their times. Now, at last, the many strands of this extraordinary saga are drawn together--from the original movies, from the novels, from every verifiable source--and tied together in one, comprehensive volume.

- Learn about the Great Hyperspace War that divided the ancient Jedi Knights
- Discover the colorful adventures of the rogue heroes Han Solo and Lando Calrissian
- Experience the overthrow of the Empire, the birth of the New Republic, the founding of Skywalker's Jedi academy, the marriage of Han Solo and Princess Leia Organa, and much more!

Relive the legendary events. Catch up with the action you missed. Explore the saga of Star Wars from the very beginning--in one, authoritative essential guide!
Amazon.com Review
When this book first hit print, many Star Wars fansfelt a great disturbance in the Force. Not the bad,millions-of-voices-crying-out-in-terror kind of disturbance, mindyou--more like a galactic sigh of relief as two Star Wars vetsfinally dared to compile a comprehensive chronology, a bookambitiously subtitled "The Definitive History of the Star WarsUniverse." And Kevin J. Anderson and Daniel Wallace don'tdisappoint. Their accurately named Essential Chronologysatisfies all but the most rabid fan-boy needs, cataloging everysignificant event from the Golden Age of the Sith (roughly 5,000 yearsB.B.Y., Before the Battle of Yavin) through to the exploits of theYoung Jedi in 24 A.B.Y. (immediately preceding the events of Del Rey'sNew Jedi Order storyarc).

In encyclopedic style, the duo have compiled the periods and playersfrom what's become a sprawl of comics, computer games, newspaperstrips, "audio adventures," and paperbacks. Some niggling details, ofcourse, slip through the cracks, but the end product succeedsadmirably, proving to be both entertaining and useful. The icing onthe cake? Solid illustrations by Bill Hughes, an era-by-era timeline(including every major book, comic, computer game, and movie),and--thank the Maker--an index. --Paul Hughes ... Read more

Customer Reviews (26)

The original chronology guide
The original chronology guide to Star Wars, showing time lines and how different events were linked and affected each other.Recommended for Star Wars scholars or collectors.

The absolute best Essential Guide!!!!!
I am a die hard Star Wars fan, my room is like a shrine to it. I got the Chronology for Christmas a few years ago, and it's my favorite out of all of the essential guides. It goes into detail about the pre-Republic days, Xim the Despot, and The Hyperspace and Sith Wars. It also goes beyond the fall of the Empire, and the beginning of the Yuuzhan Vong invasion. I really loved the early Republic days and how it nearly fell to the collaboration of Exar Kun and the fallen Jedi, Ulic-Qel Droma. My favorite section of the whole guide is the Rise of Grand Admiral Thrawn. Thrawn was the only alien Grand Admiral, (Chiss was his species) and the last to nearly topple the New Republic.

There is a lot more in the Guide, but you will just have to read it.

a good source of history in star wars world
not a bad book gave alot of information and on some exploits from some of main characters but i would had hoped for a little more detail of some of the stories like they didnt give much information about clones wars or how did palpatine was able to make his new roder with the rising form of the empire or how did skywalker learn about darkside and become his transformation to darth vador. I figure most is based on from the movies but even the authors with the excess to what they have and what they can learn from lucas himself i am sure they could had put a little information on some of these events.

A brief but thorough chronology
I was always curious about how had everything started and how did it continue. Well, I had two options:
1) browse through the entire comments written about SW books
or
2) get a chronology

This chronology is well written and updated (2001) and leaves the necessary gap for the upcoming next two movies (Episodes 2 & 3).

After reading it I've decided to buy 4 books related to some parts of the history I was interested (what happened between the first 3 movies)

I strongly reccommend it

a coloring book???
this book needs a hardback counterpart, it seems like a coloring book...with it's b&w pages and pictures...the info is great but keep an eye out for the enclyclopedia update ... Read more