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The Pandora Sequence #3
The Ascension Factor
This final book in the "Destination: Void" collaboration between Frank Herbert and Bill Ransom, set twenty-five years after the previous book The Lazarus Effect, concludes the story of the planet Pandora.
381 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1988
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews
October 16, 2012
GGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGRRRRRRR RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRROOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA AAAAAANNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I'll never know whether it was the homage as apology that prefaced this book which coloured my reaction to it. My suspicion, however, is that it played a minor role.
I dug out the two preceding books and rifled through each after I finished The Ascension Factor. Rather fearfully, in fact. I was hoping that my memory of both justified the five star ratings I'd given, simultaneously sad that the premise set up in the series should have come to such a dismal end, and worried that in actuality The Jesus Incident and The Lazarus Effect were as poorly written and trite as The Ascension Factor.
One of the things which reportedly frustrates people about Herbert is his prose. He doesn't explain his meaning - the reader must sift through clues, piece together snippets, hold multiple abstract concepts simultaneously in sight. He does not elucidate beyond a chapter quote that teases a direction of thought. It was this brilliance that was most clearly, and quite painfully, missing from The Ascension Factor. The n-dimensional perspectives that Herbert brings to his work, the nuanced meaning and cryptic references to ideas that entice groping towards understanding, were wholly absent. This book was void (pardon the pun) of Herbert's ability to interweave themes through subtlety and inference.
So talking about the plot is a bit of a farce. It all went . . . nowhere. It didn't finish on a note of grand vision or even abstruse complexity. It was a let-down of quantum proportions.
To be fair to the real author of this work, which is not Frank Herbert but Bill Ransom, who in their right mind would want the thankless task of trying to put pen to the path blazed by Herbert? A brave soul, indeed, if a well-meaning and somewhat foolhardy one.
I'll never know whether it was the homage as apology that prefaced this book which coloured my reaction to it. My suspicion, however, is that it played a minor role.
I dug out the two preceding books and rifled through each after I finished The Ascension Factor. Rather fearfully, in fact. I was hoping that my memory of both justified the five star ratings I'd given, simultaneously sad that the premise set up in the series should have come to such a dismal end, and worried that in actuality The Jesus Incident and The Lazarus Effect were as poorly written and trite as The Ascension Factor.
One of the things which reportedly frustrates people about Herbert is his prose. He doesn't explain his meaning - the reader must sift through clues, piece together snippets, hold multiple abstract concepts simultaneously in sight. He does not elucidate beyond a chapter quote that teases a direction of thought. It was this brilliance that was most clearly, and quite painfully, missing from The Ascension Factor. The n-dimensional perspectives that Herbert brings to his work, the nuanced meaning and cryptic references to ideas that entice groping towards understanding, were wholly absent. This book was void (pardon the pun) of Herbert's ability to interweave themes through subtlety and inference.
So talking about the plot is a bit of a farce. It all went . . . nowhere. It didn't finish on a note of grand vision or even abstruse complexity. It was a let-down of quantum proportions.
To be fair to the real author of this work, which is not Frank Herbert but Bill Ransom, who in their right mind would want the thankless task of trying to put pen to the path blazed by Herbert? A brave soul, indeed, if a well-meaning and somewhat foolhardy one.
April 5, 2013
THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS
If you've read any of the Destination: Void series, you'll know that this final book is different. That's because Frank Herbert passed away before it was written. So when you notice his name on the front of the book, that's not really true. Bill Ransom claims that Frank Herbert helped with a character sketch of the book, and I'm sure that the two authors talked about plans for the book over coffee.
As far as I can tell, that's about it.
The Ascension Factor is fairly horrendous. It goes absolutely nowhere and falls flat on its face. The plot is tedious and boring, and is not at all what I would have expected to close this series out. Quite frankly, Ransom isn't half the prose writer that Herbert was. He should stick to poetry, I think.
Not to say that there aren't any redeeming qualities to this book. A slew of minor characters help to demonstrate the ruthlessness and abject poverty that Pandora's society has become. Nevertheless, there are far too many bad moments. One does not simply kill off the main characters from the last book in a nebulous time in-between novels. Brett and Scudi were some of the best characters in the series, and I was quite angry when you are nonchalantly told that they were killed in an "accident" of some sort.
Christa Galli is an atrocious character. At first, she spends every waking moment dreaming about Ben's kiss. Then, their relationship is agonizing and it never seems to really develop into anything at all. Towards the end of the novel, she becomes so obsessed with the kelp that she doesn't even notice Ben. Beatriz is another poorly written character. The author tells us that she still has feelings for Ben, but then she never feels even a single pang of jealousy even though she knows Ben is in love with Galli. Flattery is portrayed as a one-dimensional, ruthless ruler who will stop at nothing to get into outer space. This is quite sad, because the original clone Flattery was a character of depth (i.e. do I do my duty and sacrifice the entire Ship, or let everyone live and release this god on the universe?). I don't think that I need to go on.
The plot revolves around the idea that Flattery is building a new ship and is trying to leave Pandora. This would be okay, but it is overlooked by minor plot threads and suspense is never built towards this aim. I also think that Herbert would not have closed out this series without somehow involving Ship once again. To think that Ship simply left humanity on Pandora and sailed off into the sunset doesn't fit well with me. It's delivering far too succinct of a package to the reader.
The final verdict: 2 out of 5 stars. Unless you're a diehard fan of the series, I wouldn't waste my time with this novel.
If you've read any of the Destination: Void series, you'll know that this final book is different. That's because Frank Herbert passed away before it was written. So when you notice his name on the front of the book, that's not really true. Bill Ransom claims that Frank Herbert helped with a character sketch of the book, and I'm sure that the two authors talked about plans for the book over coffee.
As far as I can tell, that's about it.
The Ascension Factor is fairly horrendous. It goes absolutely nowhere and falls flat on its face. The plot is tedious and boring, and is not at all what I would have expected to close this series out. Quite frankly, Ransom isn't half the prose writer that Herbert was. He should stick to poetry, I think.
Not to say that there aren't any redeeming qualities to this book. A slew of minor characters help to demonstrate the ruthlessness and abject poverty that Pandora's society has become. Nevertheless, there are far too many bad moments. One does not simply kill off the main characters from the last book in a nebulous time in-between novels. Brett and Scudi were some of the best characters in the series, and I was quite angry when you are nonchalantly told that they were killed in an "accident" of some sort.
Christa Galli is an atrocious character. At first, she spends every waking moment dreaming about Ben's kiss. Then, their relationship is agonizing and it never seems to really develop into anything at all. Towards the end of the novel, she becomes so obsessed with the kelp that she doesn't even notice Ben. Beatriz is another poorly written character. The author tells us that she still has feelings for Ben, but then she never feels even a single pang of jealousy even though she knows Ben is in love with Galli. Flattery is portrayed as a one-dimensional, ruthless ruler who will stop at nothing to get into outer space. This is quite sad, because the original clone Flattery was a character of depth (i.e. do I do my duty and sacrifice the entire Ship, or let everyone live and release this god on the universe?). I don't think that I need to go on.
The plot revolves around the idea that Flattery is building a new ship and is trying to leave Pandora. This would be okay, but it is overlooked by minor plot threads and suspense is never built towards this aim. I also think that Herbert would not have closed out this series without somehow involving Ship once again. To think that Ship simply left humanity on Pandora and sailed off into the sunset doesn't fit well with me. It's delivering far too succinct of a package to the reader.
The final verdict: 2 out of 5 stars. Unless you're a diehard fan of the series, I wouldn't waste my time with this novel.
February 23, 2019
A great ending to a great trilogy. I prefer this over Dune. Yeah, I said it.
Some issues with this edition. I don't know if they scanned it in or what, but weird typos like "tho" instead of "the" and the varied spelling of Marta as Malta and Maria all within a couple pages. Does anyone copyedit anymore?
But the story is the important part. Damn how I wish these would be turned into movies.
Some issues with this edition. I don't know if they scanned it in or what, but weird typos like "tho" instead of "the" and the varied spelling of Marta as Malta and Maria all within a couple pages. Does anyone copyedit anymore?
But the story is the important part. Damn how I wish these would be turned into movies.
June 18, 2016
Ummmmm, most of the reviews for this book kinda suck. What am I getting myself into???
-------
Okay, this wasn't really as bad as a lot of people are making it out to be. Seems like a lot of folks just thought this one was terribly written because Herbert died before it was actually started and Ransom wrote it all on his own (although he says he and Herbert had already plotted the whole thing out together). Anyway, I couldn't really tell a difference.
I liked this series as a whole, though I do sort of wish it had gone in some different directions than it did. But I thought Pandora and the kelp were really interesting, and I generally liked the characters. I guess I'm glad I read this instead of trying Dune again, but I think I may have gotten Frank Herbert out of my system now. He's just not quite my sci-fi style.
-------
Okay, this wasn't really as bad as a lot of people are making it out to be. Seems like a lot of folks just thought this one was terribly written because Herbert died before it was actually started and Ransom wrote it all on his own (although he says he and Herbert had already plotted the whole thing out together). Anyway, I couldn't really tell a difference.
I liked this series as a whole, though I do sort of wish it had gone in some different directions than it did. But I thought Pandora and the kelp were really interesting, and I generally liked the characters. I guess I'm glad I read this instead of trying Dune again, but I think I may have gotten Frank Herbert out of my system now. He's just not quite my sci-fi style.
January 10, 2013
Set 25 years after the events in The Lazarus Effect, The Ascension Factor concludes the Pandora Sequence trilogy. Though the entire trilogy was a collaboration between Frank Herbert and Bill Ransom, Herbert died two years before The Ascension Factor was published. While this book is definitely Herbert-esque, Ransom's influence is noticeably heavier than in the preceding two novels and characterizations felt quite different.
As in most any Herbert novel, The Ascension Factor explores various themes, including genetic memory, totalitarianism, subjugation and slavery, and the unequal distribution of resources.
For me, the ending seemed slightly rushed and was a bit too hippy-dippy touchy-feely new agey let's all hold hands and sing Kumbaya. Still, a good read and a decent conclusion to the trilogy.
Time for a rant:
Wordfire Press, you should be ashamed of yourselves! Your ebook edition of The Ascension Factor is terrible ! Spaces after hyphens! Multiple paragraphs merged into one! Single paragraphs split into multiples! Text in the wrong place! Things which should be italicized, but aren't! Things which are italicized, but shouldn't be! Text which doesn't match that in the paper version: text added, text omitted, text changed!
As in most any Herbert novel, The Ascension Factor explores various themes, including genetic memory, totalitarianism, subjugation and slavery, and the unequal distribution of resources.
For me, the ending seemed slightly rushed and was a bit too hippy-dippy touchy-feely new agey let's all hold hands and sing Kumbaya. Still, a good read and a decent conclusion to the trilogy.
Time for a rant:
Wordfire Press, you should be ashamed of yourselves! Your ebook edition of The Ascension Factor is terrible ! Spaces after hyphens! Multiple paragraphs merged into one! Single paragraphs split into multiples! Text in the wrong place! Things which should be italicized, but aren't! Things which are italicized, but shouldn't be! Text which doesn't match that in the paper version: text added, text omitted, text changed!
February 18, 2009
Though not nearly as well known as the Dune series, Herbert's trilogy with Bill Ransom is at least as potent, if not even more so. Whereas the Dune storyline gets progressively larger and larger, and more and more snarled and difficult to decypher, the drama on the planet of Pandora is far more streamlined. Rather than the competing interests of 28 different guilds and houses, etc, Pandora has a single space-ships crew of humans....the first book is them trying to settle the planet, the 2nd book is 500 years into the aftermath of that botched attempt, and the 3rd book is the immediate consequences of the 2nd book, 25 years later.
Instead of a desert and sandworms, the planet presents the settlers with a sentient lifeform almost unimaginable in our experience: Kelp. But not just kelp...its more than that. Its hard to describe without the space of three books to do it justice!
Basically, if you even vaguely like Dune, you should find these books and give them a chance. Like me, you just might love them!
Instead of a desert and sandworms, the planet presents the settlers with a sentient lifeform almost unimaginable in our experience: Kelp. But not just kelp...its more than that. Its hard to describe without the space of three books to do it justice!
Basically, if you even vaguely like Dune, you should find these books and give them a chance. Like me, you just might love them!
March 20, 2017
I just couldn't finish this, and that's a pity because I was really interested in the conclusion of the series, but Bill Ransom's style is just unbearable for me. This book made me avoid reading for more than two weeks. Not anymore. I quit it. I can't even bear listening to the audiobook.
The last book had some really great characters that made up for the soft nature of the philosophical content. But I'm clueless about this one. I don't know man.
The last book had some really great characters that made up for the soft nature of the philosophical content. But I'm clueless about this one. I don't know man.
February 26, 2010
read this in highschool and i loved it. just bought another copy of all three of them
December 21, 2021
JEPHTHA TWAIN ÎNDURA cele mai cumplite chinuri din ultimele trei zile. Călăii Sindicatului Războinicilor erau profesionişti: pentru ei ar fi fost o adevărată ruşine ca victima să moară prea devreme. De când intrase pe mâinile lor ― de trei zile ― nu leşinase nici măcar o singură dată. Îşi dăduseră foarte repede seama că amărâtul nu le va folosi la nimic. Agonia aceasta era pedeapsa pentru că îi făcuse să-şi piardă timpul cu el. După torturi, îi înfipseseră cârlige în carne şi-l agăţaseră pe peretele din obsidian al promontoriului. Nu-şi făcuse nici o iluzie, ştia de la început că acolo va ajunge. Cei care se opuneau regimului erau adesea spânzuraţi în cârlige şi lăsaţi să moară sub privirile întregii aşezări. Sensul precis al acestei lecţii nu fusese niciodată foarte clar.
Era noapte când cei trei din Sindicatul Războinicilor îl agăţaseră în cârlige. Îl răpiseră tot la adăpostul întunericului, iar Jephtha considerase acest lucru drept o dovadă de laşitate. Cu greu, reuşi să deschidă pleoapa stângă; era mai puţin umflată decât cealaltă. La orizont, deasupra obrazului negru al oceanului, se ghiceau razele timide trimise de zori să spioneze printre stele. Luminile unui hidrobuz cu navetişti se îndreptau greoi spre cheiul aşezării de dedesubt. Ca şi celelalte, era înţesat cu muncitori care lucrau la Proiectul Nava Neantului.
Numeroase hidrobuze pătau întunericul de nepătruns al oceanului, pe traseul dintre satul din Kalaloch şi complexul turnului de lansare. Un labirint de conducte organice şi diguri din piatră împânzea ţărmurile Kalalochului, asigurând buna desfăşurare a noilor proiecte de acvacultură iniţiate de "Comerţul Tritonian". După ce echipamentul de pescuit îi fusese confiscat, iar licenţa retrasă, Jephtha încercase ― fără succes ― să se angajeze în cadrul unuia dintre aceste proiecte. Partenerul său păstrase pentru sine doi peşti în loc să-i declare la depozitul portului. "Noua strategie economică" a Directorului interzicea acest lucru, iar agenţii săi îi pedepsiseră crunt pe cei doi pescari, ca să dea tuturor o lecţie.
Când zorile luminoase îşi făcură apariţia la orizont, Jephtha se simţi deodată mai uşor. Parcă nu-şi mai simţea corpul. Sinele său se debarasă de durere şi, ca un peştişor care se zbate să scape din mâna pescarului, reuşi să iasă din învelişul sufocant al cărnii chinuite. Se opri la câţiva metri depărtare, deasupra unei stânci, privind înapoi spre propriul său trup însângerat La această latitudine sudică, zilele pandorane durau aproape paisprezece ore. De câte ori aveau să mai respire plămânii săi perforaţi? Câtă viaţă mai rămăsese în sacul acela cu formă umană?
Era noapte când cei trei din Sindicatul Războinicilor îl agăţaseră în cârlige. Îl răpiseră tot la adăpostul întunericului, iar Jephtha considerase acest lucru drept o dovadă de laşitate. Cu greu, reuşi să deschidă pleoapa stângă; era mai puţin umflată decât cealaltă. La orizont, deasupra obrazului negru al oceanului, se ghiceau razele timide trimise de zori să spioneze printre stele. Luminile unui hidrobuz cu navetişti se îndreptau greoi spre cheiul aşezării de dedesubt. Ca şi celelalte, era înţesat cu muncitori care lucrau la Proiectul Nava Neantului.
Numeroase hidrobuze pătau întunericul de nepătruns al oceanului, pe traseul dintre satul din Kalaloch şi complexul turnului de lansare. Un labirint de conducte organice şi diguri din piatră împânzea ţărmurile Kalalochului, asigurând buna desfăşurare a noilor proiecte de acvacultură iniţiate de "Comerţul Tritonian". După ce echipamentul de pescuit îi fusese confiscat, iar licenţa retrasă, Jephtha încercase ― fără succes ― să se angajeze în cadrul unuia dintre aceste proiecte. Partenerul său păstrase pentru sine doi peşti în loc să-i declare la depozitul portului. "Noua strategie economică" a Directorului interzicea acest lucru, iar agenţii săi îi pedepsiseră crunt pe cei doi pescari, ca să dea tuturor o lecţie.
Când zorile luminoase îşi făcură apariţia la orizont, Jephtha se simţi deodată mai uşor. Parcă nu-şi mai simţea corpul. Sinele său se debarasă de durere şi, ca un peştişor care se zbate să scape din mâna pescarului, reuşi să iasă din învelişul sufocant al cărnii chinuite. Se opri la câţiva metri depărtare, deasupra unei stânci, privind înapoi spre propriul său trup însângerat La această latitudine sudică, zilele pandorane durau aproape paisprezece ore. De câte ori aveau să mai respire plămânii săi perforaţi? Câtă viaţă mai rămăsese în sacul acela cu formă umană?
March 16, 2018
I'll add a little more poison to the well; it seems many of the positive reviews here don't focus on this book so much as the series as a whole. The negative ones generally get to the point.
"The Ascension Factor" was written after Frank Herbert's death. Like "Hunters of Dune" and "Sandworms of Dune", it has a silly note of apology at the beginning from the author, though Bill Ransom's preface ("My greatest fear was that I would lose that sense of presence, of good companionship, when this book ended. With Frank, of all people, I should have known better.") is much better than Brian Herbert's ("We tried to make the books as good as possible."). I find myself wondering how many other people have written similar prefaces to their attempts to ride on the coattails of an author like Herbert, and have churned out similar mediocrity out of either incompetence or laziness.
Laziness is a funny accusation to level at the author of a long and complex novel, but I don't know a better way to put it. Bill Ransom isn't a moron, and he's not an amateur writer. But this book is marginally better than Brian Herbert's shabby conclusion to the "Dune" series. It contains similar mistakes. The first 1/5 of the book comprises the musings of several characters and has scant significant plot. Musings, back-story, and reverie pockmark the rest of the book and disrupt the flow of the plot. Characters sometimes repeat themselves in Brian Herbert fashion, but more often, they contradict themselves.
For example, on one page, Flattery (who, in spite of the ethical and moral integrity of his predecessor clone, is a monster on the level with Hitler, Stalin, or Idi Amin) wonders if he's been to hard on the kelp. For years he's deployed all the forces he can muster against the sentient stands, barely keeping shipping lanes open. Two or three paragraphs later, he wishes he'd whipped the worldwide oceans into shape, which he could have done easily. Why would a brilliant manipulator and manager of information commit such a mental discrepancy? Schizophrenia? No, just sub-par writing. Ransom and his editor should have spotted more of these errors.
Some books read like great symphonies, every note in place, nothing that doesn't belong. "The Ascension Factor" clangs along like a bad pastiche of Mozart and Beethoven, starting with a sullen and laborious prelude and ending with an obnoxious cadenza.
"The Ascension Factor" was written after Frank Herbert's death. Like "Hunters of Dune" and "Sandworms of Dune", it has a silly note of apology at the beginning from the author, though Bill Ransom's preface ("My greatest fear was that I would lose that sense of presence, of good companionship, when this book ended. With Frank, of all people, I should have known better.") is much better than Brian Herbert's ("We tried to make the books as good as possible."). I find myself wondering how many other people have written similar prefaces to their attempts to ride on the coattails of an author like Herbert, and have churned out similar mediocrity out of either incompetence or laziness.
Laziness is a funny accusation to level at the author of a long and complex novel, but I don't know a better way to put it. Bill Ransom isn't a moron, and he's not an amateur writer. But this book is marginally better than Brian Herbert's shabby conclusion to the "Dune" series. It contains similar mistakes. The first 1/5 of the book comprises the musings of several characters and has scant significant plot. Musings, back-story, and reverie pockmark the rest of the book and disrupt the flow of the plot. Characters sometimes repeat themselves in Brian Herbert fashion, but more often, they contradict themselves.
For example, on one page, Flattery (who, in spite of the ethical and moral integrity of his predecessor clone, is a monster on the level with Hitler, Stalin, or Idi Amin) wonders if he's been to hard on the kelp. For years he's deployed all the forces he can muster against the sentient stands, barely keeping shipping lanes open. Two or three paragraphs later, he wishes he'd whipped the worldwide oceans into shape, which he could have done easily. Why would a brilliant manipulator and manager of information commit such a mental discrepancy? Schizophrenia? No, just sub-par writing. Ransom and his editor should have spotted more of these errors.
Some books read like great symphonies, every note in place, nothing that doesn't belong. "The Ascension Factor" clangs along like a bad pastiche of Mozart and Beethoven, starting with a sullen and laborious prelude and ending with an obnoxious cadenza.
February 26, 2023
Woohoo! Done with Pandora! It was a ridiculous series that almost didn't feel like having any continuity. The origin book was about a small crew on a starship, then the trilogy that followed felt like a completely different beast, with each of the books in it different from each other, as well. Was there a common thread? I guess the evolution of humanity, but unlike something like Dune, the Pandora Sequence was random, cruel, overly pompous, with pointless religious overtones that went nowhere and with inconsistent characters. Worst of all, the ending of all of the books came out of nowhere, nullifying the meaning of most of the beginning.
The Ascension Factor is like that, as well. We start with a world ruthlessly ruled by a man just 25 years after the events of the previous book where things were left off with a society that was building spaceships to get to the hibernation pods in orbit. And now it's a quasifeudal fiefdom in which people are controlled with fear, surveillance and famine. When the authors need technology, it's suddenly there, when they need people to be poor and starving, they scramble to have a line to throw in illegally in the sea to catch a fish. I guess in a way that's plausible, considering I am complaining about this on a laptop after having read the book on a smartphone and knowing that there are people in the world somewhere living in abject poverty, but Frank Herbert and Bill Ransom want me to believe this happens at the same time with the same people. And the ending, oh God, should be the textbook definition of Deus ex machina!
Bottom line: I thoroughly disliked the three main books of the "sequence" and I couldn't wait to finish them. Now I did! I have no explanation on how I ended up remembering this series as good reading it 30 years ago.
The Ascension Factor is like that, as well. We start with a world ruthlessly ruled by a man just 25 years after the events of the previous book where things were left off with a society that was building spaceships to get to the hibernation pods in orbit. And now it's a quasifeudal fiefdom in which people are controlled with fear, surveillance and famine. When the authors need technology, it's suddenly there, when they need people to be poor and starving, they scramble to have a line to throw in illegally in the sea to catch a fish. I guess in a way that's plausible, considering I am complaining about this on a laptop after having read the book on a smartphone and knowing that there are people in the world somewhere living in abject poverty, but Frank Herbert and Bill Ransom want me to believe this happens at the same time with the same people. And the ending, oh God, should be the textbook definition of Deus ex machina!
Bottom line: I thoroughly disliked the three main books of the "sequence" and I couldn't wait to finish them. Now I did! I have no explanation on how I ended up remembering this series as good reading it 30 years ago.
April 8, 2018
Really loved #1 though many thought it sub par (compared to Dune), liked #2 but felt it getting childish in plot, and thought some things were just ridiculous in #3. To pin the gripe down, well, is to say that the bad guys & the cohorts of evil machinations were so grossly evil as to be incredulous, or outrageous. I think there is a scene with a little urchin child getting drowned by a bad guy (?). This book has background story to it, Herbert passed away interim, and this book lacks in the keen perception & insistent deductions which characterize protagonists like Paul or Duncan (“Dune”) or Mobius (“High Opps”).
The water world set up can be a bit boring because there is just a flat landscape, no trees, no myriad of scurrying or galloping animals, no structures (there are structures, floats of thin stuff), everything is underwater. Another underwhelming thing is this: takes place in same planet but the story is far removed from its beginnings, even the great sentient kelp & highlighters are gone :( The poetry I recall being appropriate, but the narrative was often too light-heartedly cartoonish that there was little room for ponderous & meditative verses. Again, I think the making of this trilogy explains the outcome in some ways. Still a good read, or not so bad, those unfamiliar should definitely try his other stuff, though #1 of this trilogy I think is great, it’s just that with this trilogy, one cannot say that it’s pure Frank Herbert SF.
The water world set up can be a bit boring because there is just a flat landscape, no trees, no myriad of scurrying or galloping animals, no structures (there are structures, floats of thin stuff), everything is underwater. Another underwhelming thing is this: takes place in same planet but the story is far removed from its beginnings, even the great sentient kelp & highlighters are gone :( The poetry I recall being appropriate, but the narrative was often too light-heartedly cartoonish that there was little room for ponderous & meditative verses. Again, I think the making of this trilogy explains the outcome in some ways. Still a good read, or not so bad, those unfamiliar should definitely try his other stuff, though #1 of this trilogy I think is great, it’s just that with this trilogy, one cannot say that it’s pure Frank Herbert SF.
April 6, 2019
I made it through this book in fits and starts, studiously committed to finishing out the trilogy. What slowed me down were the seemingly endless episodes spent inside seafaring vehicles while people "dogged the hatches" and "cleared the rotors", as they already had ad nauseum in the previous volume. What kept me going, to my own surprise, was the book's concern with autocratic control of the media - something I'd never expect to appear in a Herbert book (though it's well-known, surely, that this is in fact a Bill Ransom book), yet which provided some modern-day relevancy in our current, shitty "media-is-the-enemy-of-the-state" age.
Overall, this is passably good hard sci-fi, and as the final entry in a series comes off stronger than the later 'Dune' titles, which pulled that hard veer into the esoteric and were then miserably co-opted as a revenue stream for the Herbert estate. So kudos to Ransom for doing right by his friend and writing partner. There's still reason to read this trilogy, and reward to be found in it, in the 21st century.
Overall, this is passably good hard sci-fi, and as the final entry in a series comes off stronger than the later 'Dune' titles, which pulled that hard veer into the esoteric and were then miserably co-opted as a revenue stream for the Herbert estate. So kudos to Ransom for doing right by his friend and writing partner. There's still reason to read this trilogy, and reward to be found in it, in the 21st century.
January 27, 2022
Le dernier livre de Frank Herbert ou plutôt surtout de Bill Ransom qui l'a écrit sur le canevas de Frank Herbert. Le quatrième tome de la série du cycle du programme conscience.
Pandore, une planète colonisée de peine et de misère par les humains, amenés là par la Nef, depuis quelques centaines d'années. Mais Flatterie, un dictateur, oppresse le peuple et prépare un vaisseau pour une fuite éventuelle. Mais il y a aussi le varech, qui recouvre la planète et commence à récupérer ses capacités et sa mémoire après avoir été fortement diminué, qui pourrait faire des siennes. Et aussi Crista Galli, élevée en partie en symbiose avec le varech et qui se découvre des capacités sidérantes.
Des idées intéressantes, mais c'est loin de couler de source. L'orientation est un peu fantasy et les idées sur l'intelligence artificielle des autres tomes me manquent. Il manque aussi le talent de conteur d'Herbert et du rythme, ce qui fait que j'ai étiré ma lecture.
J'ai aimé, mais sans plus.
Pandore, une planète colonisée de peine et de misère par les humains, amenés là par la Nef, depuis quelques centaines d'années. Mais Flatterie, un dictateur, oppresse le peuple et prépare un vaisseau pour une fuite éventuelle. Mais il y a aussi le varech, qui recouvre la planète et commence à récupérer ses capacités et sa mémoire après avoir été fortement diminué, qui pourrait faire des siennes. Et aussi Crista Galli, élevée en partie en symbiose avec le varech et qui se découvre des capacités sidérantes.
Des idées intéressantes, mais c'est loin de couler de source. L'orientation est un peu fantasy et les idées sur l'intelligence artificielle des autres tomes me manquent. Il manque aussi le talent de conteur d'Herbert et du rythme, ce qui fait que j'ai étiré ma lecture.
J'ai aimé, mais sans plus.
December 29, 2022
2/10
Classic sci-fi. Meaning of course that it was weird and not super enjoyable.
This series had some bright spots, Ships discourses on philosophy and worShip being some of the bright spots, but the vast majority was strange and not incredibly interesting- thats not a great combo. This last book was almost entirely trash, perhaps having something to do with the death of Herbert before its completion, but let's be honest, its not as if even he could have halted this train wreck, but he likely could have made it more interesting. A boring train wreck is not something I thought possible till now.
Classic sci-fi. Meaning of course that it was weird and not super enjoyable.
This series had some bright spots, Ships discourses on philosophy and worShip being some of the bright spots, but the vast majority was strange and not incredibly interesting- thats not a great combo. This last book was almost entirely trash, perhaps having something to do with the death of Herbert before its completion, but let's be honest, its not as if even he could have halted this train wreck, but he likely could have made it more interesting. A boring train wreck is not something I thought possible till now.
September 6, 2017
I approached this book so cautiously: after loving the Lazarus effect, i looked forward to see how the adventure will unfold. The majority of reviews about this third novel were alarming: bill ransom's style is awful, the action is boring... and so on and so forth. But my experience was totally different: the book had coherence, powerful images, interesting twists of action, strong conflicts. It had a voice that went against all the preset expectations. Isn't that pleasant?
In short, an excellent trilogy and memorable planet and stories.
In short, an excellent trilogy and memorable planet and stories.
Read
December 4, 2019The fourth and final work in the Destination: Void series by these authors. It is a story on a fictional world of Pandora with its brutal dictatorship, strict food rationing, oppressive security forces, ruthless prevention of the development of consciousness on the part of the kelp, an imprisoned heroine, a growing resistance movement and a plan by the dictator to get away from this world.
A quarter of a century later, all that I remember was my strongly positive reaction to this and the other books in the series.
A quarter of a century later, all that I remember was my strongly positive reaction to this and the other books in the series.
November 12, 2017
We are humans. We don’t fight hunger with hunger. We fight hunger with food.
Now that I’ve finished the series, I’d like to say it’s pretty good. The last book really brings it home. As a story, it’s weird and dramatic. As a philosophical concept, it’s some amazing artistry. Herbert is known for his ability to portray the effects of power hunger and dictatorship. He explains humanity simply and succinctly. This series will make you look at humans somewhat differently.
Now that I’ve finished the series, I’d like to say it’s pretty good. The last book really brings it home. As a story, it’s weird and dramatic. As a philosophical concept, it’s some amazing artistry. Herbert is known for his ability to portray the effects of power hunger and dictatorship. He explains humanity simply and succinctly. This series will make you look at humans somewhat differently.
September 23, 2021
Read this so many moons ago, reread. It's got no preaching about global warming or racism and it could have happened a million years ago or in a thousand. It's timeless. It makes observations about mankind that are universal themes. Not the personalized soap box diatribes supporting literary works today so an author can claim they did their part to change the world by pointing out everyone else's flaws. Just good escapist sci-fi.
July 14, 2017
This series went from poor to interesting to poor and now to very poor in its last installment.
The very difficult to follow style of its predecessor suddenly drops to horrible.
The characters are among the worst you can possibly imagine and by now the plot is boring to extremes. I was barely able to finish this without throwing it out through a window.
The very difficult to follow style of its predecessor suddenly drops to horrible.
The characters are among the worst you can possibly imagine and by now the plot is boring to extremes. I was barely able to finish this without throwing it out through a window.
February 24, 2019
6/10. Los humanos intentan conquistar Pandora, un planeta hostil eminentemente oceánico …. Y con sorpresas.
Aderezado con inteligencias planetarias y luchas internas, la trilogía se deja leer de forma regular, bajando bastante la cosa según se avanza en los tres libros.
Si el segundo ya era más flojo, este es prescindible.
Aderezado con inteligencias planetarias y luchas internas, la trilogía se deja leer de forma regular, bajando bastante la cosa según se avanza en los tres libros.
Si el segundo ya era más flojo, este es prescindible.
January 9, 2020
I felt as though this book was fairly disconnected from the previous one. It also doesn't really explain why the antagonist gets into the mindset that he does, when all of our previous information about him suggests he'd be smarter than that. Not a bad story on its own, but don't expect it to flow much from the earlier novels.
May 23, 2022
DNF. The characters were super tedious and I just stopped caring.
However, this is partly Audible's fault - I added this to my watch thinking it was a standalone book (didn't read the description, just the title) and so I read this without reading the previous 2. It probably works better if you read it in order.
However, this is partly Audible's fault - I added this to my watch thinking it was a standalone book (didn't read the description, just the title) and so I read this without reading the previous 2. It probably works better if you read it in order.
August 31, 2021
The Ascension Factor brings the story of Pandora to a mostly satisfying conclusion, somewhat telegraphed by the title. I did hope to see a return of one more character, but the story didn't need it, and I see why the authors didn't.
June 9, 2022
Could really feel the absence of Frank Herbert in the writing. Then again it might be that I didn't enjoy the trajectory the story was already begining to take. I feel that the first 2 books in the series were the strongest and the most enjoyable - without all the cringe love story subplots...
December 3, 2016
This book had its moments. Overall it was just okay. I wish I could be more positive about this book.
In my opinion this is an okay read.
Mr. Joe
In my opinion this is an okay read.
Mr. Joe
January 11, 2018
Amazing conclusion to the trilogy! Dysfunctional society meets religion, and the authors tie it all together quite nicely.
January 2, 2019
I read this many years ago and hated it.
I feel I should try reading it again now.
I feel I should try reading it again now.
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