The Disinherited : A Novel

Average customer rating:

"We were raised in a convent, then released into Hollywood"

too bad

The Disinherited : A Novel
Han Ong
Manufacturer: Amazon Remainders Account
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Literature & Fiction | Children | Bargain Books | Stores | Books
Similar Items:

Fixer Chao: A Novel

American Son: A Novel

Letters to Montgomery Clift (Working Classics)

Talking to the Moon

Back Where He Started

ASIN: B000F3UNR2

Book Description

Manila, 2000. Forty-four-year-old Roger Caracera returns to his birthplace after nearly three decades in the United States. He has come to bury the corrupt, charismatic head of the family sugar dynasty: his estranged father, Jesus. To Caracera's chagrin and pleasure, he is now viewed by his countrymen as the representative American; a local tabloid even refers to him as a General Douglas MacArthur look-alike. And when his father's will is read, Caracera is stunned to discover that he has been left half a million dollars.

Unable to live with this burdensome inheritance, he decides to give his money away. But who among the millions of needy Filipinos is he to focus on?

Traversing high and low life, societies rank and respectable, and with a cast of characters that includes a slum-dwelling boy hustler, a middle-aged American pederast, a rising Filipino tennis player, a calculating society matron, and a Peace Corps worker turned trophy wife, The Disinherited is an incisive and illuminating exploration of the impulse to do good in the world and the paradoxical harm brought on by generosity.

Customer Reviews:

"We were raised in a convent, then released into Hollywood".......2006-01-02

When Roger Caracera returns to the Philippines for his father's funeral, he gets more than he bargained for. Although never very close to the wealthy sugar magnate, Jesus Caracera, Roger is chosen as the chief inheritor to the old patriarch's immense fortune, giving him a tidy sum of $500,000, perhaps in an effort for Roger to reestablish a connection with his birthplace.

Roger has had an uneasy relationship with his homeland. More American than Philippino, Roger has long since rejected much of his restrictive, conservative upbringing, preferring to adopt the freewheeling "western ways." Now living in New York City and teaching writing at Columbia University, his return to Manila is viewed with suspicion and a certain chagrin by his older and cynical uncles and aunts.

For the Caracera family has been hiding a dark secret: Apparently Roger's Uncle Eustacio Caracera was gay and had willed a sizeable sum to Pitik Sindit, a child whore; a young, poor prostitute with whom he had fallen in love with. Shamed by his brothers and sisters, Eustacio had sequestered himself from his own immediate family, undertaking a willed ostracism, a careful quiet mutiny.

Annoyed that his family tried to derail Pitik's rightful inheritance, and full of guilt over his family's feudal wealth, Roger decides to track him down as well to give him his rightful bequest. While his relatives begin to view him as the "unearther, the burrower, and the formenter of old and new troubles," Roger comes to believe that he wants to leave some kind of signature behind, his actions reflecting a bedrock of selflessness.

Roger's journey leads him into the midst of Manila's most horrible slums as he witnesses the city's barely underground gay sex trade. Pitik also goes by the name of Blueboy, and works as exotic dancer; employed by a vicious Philippino woman who also pimps him, he's constantly tempted by a self confessed American pedophile. Roger, who considers himself a confirmed heterosexual, tries to go out of his way to save Pitik from this squalid life, but he finds himself forming a strange connection to this boy, who is simultaneously seductive and naïve, bit also manipulative, and quite repellent.

Author, Han Ong weaves an exotic tale of family intrigue, set against the background of a country where the demarcation between the rich and poor, the haves and the have-nots have never been more finely drawn. Roger starts out with good intentions, determined to end the line of what he sees as a decrepit dynasty, but he is constantly confounded by the world around him.

His Aunt Irene warns him, trying to set him straight, in her world "there are the servers and those whom are served." She possesses a ruthless, clear-eyed logic that aims to cut through the "liberal pretensions and foggy romanticism" of her nephew. This is reflected in Ong's own view of the Philippines, a world of elite tennis clubs serving as pockets of peace, members and patrons shielded from the cries of so much teaming poverty, "a country where money has a tactile presence; its power put plainly was supernatural."

Ong is notably quite damning of his homeland, hardly sympathetic to his country's plight, which continually excused it's poverty, its lack of education, its deplorable standard of living, and it's history of willing subjugation first to conquerors Spanish, Japanese, and American, and more recently to a string of mad despots.

The Disinherited is a big, sweeping saga; with the characters speaking in paragraphs and thinking in essays, long diatribes, the style reflecting this, deliberately convoluted and elaborate. The prose is studied, exquisite, and beautiful, as Ong steadily weaves a web of the Philippines, showcasing its history, class warfare, politics and cultural clashes; there's no doubt that the book is epic in tone and in theme.

In Roger, Ong has created a subtle and complicated character, caught up in the changing tides of his culture he's a man whose values are undoubtedly anchored in the West, but he still feels the ineffable pull of his birthplace, the old world with all it's chaos, corruption, poverty, and organized mayhem. Mike Leonard January 06.

too bad.......2005-01-05

I cant get through the book. Compared to fixer chao is just terrible, I am SO disappointed. I read the first 3 chapters and had no idea whats going on. I guess like everyone else in hollywood, success has spoiled this artist who I was once obsessed with after reading Fixer Chao. Moral of the story: Just because they come out with one good book doesn't mean you should run out and buy their next book. Han Ong, what were you thinking? Stylistically its out of control, you used to be so candid and honest and straightforward, now your words only confuse and depress me. I just cant recommend this book although Fixer Chao was the best book I read in 10 years, hands down.

La Desheredada/The Disinherited Lady (Letras Hispanicas / Hispanic Writings)

Average customer rating:

La Desheredada/The Disinherited Lady (Letras Hispanicas / Hispanic Writings)
Benito Perez Galdos
Manufacturer: Catedra
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Historical | Genre Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Spanish | World Literature | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Spanish | Foreign Language Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 8437618681

Average customer rating:

The Disinherited (Serpent's Tail Book)
Michel Del Castillo
Manufacturer: Serpent's Tail
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Average customer rating:

The Disinherited: A Novel of the 1930's
Jack Conroy
Manufacturer: University of Missouri Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Historical | Genre Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0826207707

Average customer rating:

The disinherited lady,: A novel
Benito PeÌrez GaldoÌs
Manufacturer: Exposition Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding
ASIN: B0007EC5C0

Average customer rating:

The Disinherited, a Novel of the 30's
Jack Conroy
Manufacturer: Hill and Wang
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000IS4Z3C

Product Description

From the back cover: Jack Conroy, born in 1899 in Missouri, experienced many of the events set down in "The Disinherited." The "Monkey Nest" coal mine disaster took the lives of his father and two of his brothers. At fourteen Conroy went to work in the Wabash Shops. He never attended high school but took correspondence courses, and in 1921 spent part of the year at the University of Missouri. Later he bummed around the Midwest, and in the late twenties he moved north to Detroit and Toledo. From 1929 on he wrote verse, short stories, and reviews, with the encouragement of H.L. Mencken, who published him in "American Mercury" and encouraged him to write "The Disinherited."

Average customer rating:

The disinherited,: A novel
Margaret Nichols
Manufacturer: Macre-Smith Co
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding
ASIN: B0007EZ7MK

Average customer rating:

The Disinherited: A Novel.
Han. Ong
Manufacturer: Picador
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000TBBWES

Book Description

Oberon, newly-crowned King of Amber, finds himself in the middle of deadly political machinations, as his father tries to turn him into a puppet ruler. Meanwhile, rumors abound of a Shadow Amber in the sea, where a distorted version of Oberon sits on an onyx throne. To make matters worse, Oberon's sister is trying to marry him off to a grasping would-be queen, at least two siblings are out for his blood, and the entire Shadow-universe is starting to unravel. What's a new king to do? Seek help from an unlikely new ally!

Customer Reviews:

The Cosmic Soap Opera continues.......2006-04-26

I always liked the Zelazny Amber books, and I like Betancourt's books as well. One of the problems with the Zelazny books was that he failed to develop a couple of key characters. We saw plenty of Oberon in one of the Zelazny books without really finding out much about him. That's just one more reason that I enjoy the Betancourt books, where we find out quite a bit more about Oberon.

I think Betancourt came up with a good story line to explain how Oberon became King of Amber in the first place. And this book keeps our attention as we see Oberon make more of a name for himself.

As I've said before, we're all waiting for the next book!

Roger Zelazny's Shadows of Amber (Amber).......2006-03-11

This is the first book in the second trilogy (I'm assuming it will be a trilogy) written by Betancourt, set in Roger Zelazny's Amber universe. Both sets of Betancourt books are prequels to the series authored by the now-deceased Zelazny.

There are essentially four main characters that carryover from the first prequel trilogy: Oberon and his father Dworkin (who are the only characters of the Amber bloodline who graduate to the actual Zelazny series), and Oberon's siblings Freda and Connor.

I'm not an overly critical person, but this book was flat and lifeless, and fairly formulaic. Each of the three books from the first prequel trilogy beats it hands down. There are not a lot of words in this book, it's an extremely fast read. Quality of the story aside, you won't feel like you got your money's worth simply based on quantity or length of read-time.

This book picks up where the last set of books left off. The first triolgy set the stage for the creation of Amber. This series will witness the development of Castle Amber and its Kingdom under Oberon.

Presumably we will be introduced to some of the characters that Zelazny actually wrote about, and if you read his books you'll realize that means that Oberon better start having kids. I hope so, because that is the main reason people will read these books, in order to taste Zelazny's brilliance again. I don't think Betancourt can pull that off by himself, he needs some old familiar faces created by Zelazny to give his story a little bit of soul, to make the reader care about what happens.

I wasn't thrilled by the resurection of a clearly killed off character from the last book. It's too much like daytime Soap Opera plotlines. Somewhere during this series he'lll either have to kill off, or exile Oberon's remaining borthers and sisters because they are not in Zelazny's books. I'll keep reading to see what happens to them, and to learn the origins of Oberon's progeny, but I hope the next couple books are more enjoyable.

A Good Read.......2006-02-01

John has held relatively true to Zelazny's Amber, while carving out his own twists and turns to the series. It is true that he has made some changes that hardcore fans dislike, however this was to be expected. The first 3 novels have kept the the feeling of "RETURNING" to the high adventure and mystery of the Amber Realm. In this fourth novel, I get the feeling that John is more comfortable in his new home. Relaxing a bit and flexing his muscles to see what the readers will and will not accept. I see an author who is only getting better with each new book.

Can't wait for the conclusion.......2005-12-23

Roger Zelazny creates a world so believable that it sometimes became difficult to remember what was his story, and what is reality. His ability was one that seldom is matched.

But John Betancourt comes close.

Mr. Betancourt's Amber novels get better each time. While the story (so far) does not seem to have the multi-layered complexity that Mr. Zelazny's did, it still has more than enough twists and turns to keep the reader guessing.

One thing Mr. Betancourt has learned from Mr. Zelazny is just where to stop the book to leave the reader on edge. I anxiously await the completion of this series.

Better. Kind of. .......2005-12-22

The first 40 or so pages of this book really encapsulate a lot of what is wrong with the series overall: Oberon faces an unstoppable monster, reputed to have destroyed the armies of Chaos in a bygone era. Then he tries something he's never done before and succeeds where all others have failed. In the process he accidentally rewrites part of the universe, bringing Betancourt's vision of Amber an inch closer to resembling Zelazny's, but stopping before really accomplishing much. This part is also, thankfully, the only significant appearance of Betancourt's "fey."

Following this over-the-top opening, the book meanders for 150 pages. Oberon wanders between the two main storylines. The first involves betrothal negotiations with a woman that Oberon finds physically repulsive. The other is his visits to the newly arrived city beneath the sea, usually under the magical compulsion of the ruler there, Queen Moins. The action picks up a bit towards the end when Oberon manages to beat the greatest swordsman among Dworkin's children ("Wait, I thought Locke was the greatest...") and uses shapeshifting to disguise himself as King Swayvil ("But... I thought that Oberon's only ever seen Swayvil in dreams... and only as a dragon...") on a daring mission! And then he wraps things up with an out of the blue, over the top cliff-hanger. There are also a few bizarre plot twists in there, but I don't want to spoil them.

I will say that there were a few parts of the book that I genuinely enjoyed. Oberon-as-rake was well carried off. Regardless of other complaints I may have, Oberon's tendency to have his head turned by any pretty thing that crossed his path did earn a smirk out of me and I was more capable of seeing the future Oberon in those moments. And I enjoyed the big sword fight at the end, even if it was another illustration of "Gee, can nothing stop the might of Oberon?!" There were also a handful of cosmological/metaphysical points where I had to admit, "You know, I never thought of it that way."

Otherwise, I found the book lackluster. The dialogue had a lot of awkward moments, with characters over-reacting over a few lines of conversation, or even saying things that didn't jibe with earlier comments. When he's not accomplishing the otherwise impossible, Oberon is continues to be bumbling, short tempered and petulant. Betancourt had noted on one bulletin board that this book had been a rush job, and it shows.

But the biggest misfortune this book faces is this: It's not Amber. Literally. This is our first real, solid look at Oberon's new kingdom. This is Betancourt's chance to bring us into Amber, highlighting geographical points that Amber fans would instantly recognize. But he doesn't. There is no Mount Kolvir with the city of Amber perched on the side of it. Instead, Castle Amber is on top of a hill, with the city spread around it. The city of Amber is longer a port town, and the sea can only be seen in the distance from a tall tower. Places like the Valley of Garnath and the forest of Arden, if they even exist in this universe, go unnamed.

The previous book, "To Rule in Amber" gave us some warning of what was to come, but this book hammers it in. Even with Oberon accidentally rewriting the universe, only two things have changed: There's now a Pattern in the basement of the castle and there's an underwater city. Not Rebma, mind you, but "Caer Beatha." (As best I can tell, this name comes from someone's Amber Diceless campaign...) And that is all the similarity that seems to exist between Zelazny's Amber and Betancourt's.

This doesn't even include the scads of teasers Roger had left regarding the origins of the Amber universe and some of the artifacts. But given the example given by the original trilogy, readers shouldn't be surprised. Overall this book is mediocre as a fantasy novel, and awful in terms of describing the world of Roger Zelazny's Amber.

Average customer rating:

Not Free SF Reader
Why Is the Dwarf Always The Bad Guy?
Flair, fantasy, humor
Not on par with original Amber books
One of the best in all of bookdom.

Knight of Shadows (Amber, 9)

Manufacturer: Americana Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio Cassette

General | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books

General | Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books

General | Books on Cassette | Audiobooks | Formats | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 1588071340

Customer Reviews:

Not Free SF Reader.......2007-09-03

Merlin is trying to work out why Julia went all Femme Fatale on him, and why the J's are out to get him.

He starts to discover there is some sort of clandestine struggle between the powers at the heart of Amber and Chaos.

Why Is the Dwarf Always The Bad Guy?.......2005-05-31

Zelazny manages to break out of his own pattern for a bit and some of the fog that moved in during Sign of Chaos begins to dissipate. Caught between the maneuverings of the Pattern and the Logrus, Merlin finds himself trapped and sent on a knight's quest in which he is force to make choices that will change the balance between the two forces. Pattern ghosts haunt his passage, and Merlin is hard put to determine who is real and who is just a memory.

The key to the remaining story is the imbalance between the Courts and Amber which may unleash a series of events that threaten all of shadow. Merlin grows increasingly frustrated with the unending interference in his own life which keeps him perpetually at risk. Surrounded by arcane signs, warring wizards, and exploding castles Merlin would just like to enjoy life for a while but his efforts at hedonism simply dig him in deeper.

Knight of Shadows still follows the 'travel a bit then fight a bit' pattern, but gradually the busy field of characters is starting to make sense. With a sigh of relief the reader can relax and enjoy the twists in Merlin's adventures as more than one character performs a perfect turnabout just so we will have to keep guessing at the real villain right until the last confrontation.

Flair, fantasy, humor.......2004-10-26

Bias alert. I should start this review by saying that I am not sure that Zelazny could write a bad book. Non-Zelazny fans may disagree.

Merlin is very clearly the son of Corwin. He is irreverent about the holy ghosts of Amber and Chaos. He hits his head against the rules (and sometimes even wins). Despite an overly-long sequence in a strange testing ground between shadows, Zelzany still infuses this book with the manic strangeness and humor that are part of what make him such a wonderful writer. As noted, virtually none of the Amber novels can be read stand-alone or out of sequence. You are going to have to read the books before this one to get the background. And you are going to have to read the ones after this to get an explanation. An enjoyable task, luckily.

Not on par with original Amber books.......2004-08-30

Though you will not put the book down because of Mr. Zelazny's writing style. Do not expect the normal skilled plotting and crafted characterizations of the original Amber books. This book cannot stand alone...it leaves you hanging.

Merlin, son of Corwin, who was the hero of the original series, narrates this sequence, and here continued to accidentlly make his way through encounters with new powers that are completely incompatible with the original mythos. Those who are allied with each other will not speak with each other. While their enemies somehow know everything. Most of the important action happens offstage, and promised explanations never materialize.

So I would suggest you only read this book if you are a fan of the Amber series and have read the others that come before it.

One of the best in all of bookdom........1999-07-23

The Chronicles of Amber are the most masterfully written books in all of bookdom. I really enjoy reading them. I have read them all and keep reading them when i finish. I just can't stop thinking how good they are. I am hoping for another series. When I read the first five, I was blown away. That someone had the imagination to create such a magical world and call ours a shadow, was something I did not think possible. Not that I could have thought of it. Roger Zelazny, i believe, is the best author of science fiction/fantasy in the world. In the back of my mind, i always though that maybe he actually was someone from Amber. That he came here to tell a story about his life or his reletives. Having the power of the Pattern or the Logrus would be a great asset. I could sure use a pizza right about now. It would help if i didn't have to pay for it either. If I could just put my hands in the air and pluck it out of the nether...hehehe...

5 Titles in Amber Series - The Courts of Chaos - Trumps of Doom - Blood of Amber - Knight of Shadows - Prince of Chaos

Average customer rating:

5 Titles in Amber Series - The Courts of Chaos - Trumps of Doom - Blood of Amber - Knight of Shadows - Prince of Chaos
Roger Zelazny
Manufacturer: various
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

Product Description

5 massmarket paperback Titles in Amber Series - The Courts of Chaos - Trumps of Doom - Blood of Amber - Knight of Shadows - Prince of Chaos

knights of shadows (the new amber novel)

Average customer rating:

knights of shadows (the new amber novel)
Roger Zelazny
Manufacturer: william morrow
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

The Chronicles of Amber complete (Vol I and II Which Contain 1st 5 novels, Plus: Trumps of Doom, Blood of Amber, Sign of Chaos, Knight of Shadows and Prince of Chaos)

Average customer rating:

The Chronicles of Amber complete (Vol I and II Which Contain 1st 5 novels, Plus: Trumps of Doom, Blood of Amber, Sign of Chaos, Knight of Shadows and Prince of Chaos)
Roger Zelazny
Manufacturer: Nelson Doubleday
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Average customer rating:

The Chronicles of Amber Series: Nine Princes in Amber, The Guns of Avalon, The Sign of the Unicorn, The Hand of Oberon, The Courts of Chaos, Trumps of Doom, Blood of Amber, Sign of Chaos, Knight of Shadows, Prince of Chaos (Complete Set 1-10)

Average customer rating:

The Chronicles of Amber Series: Nine Princes in Amber, The Guns of Avalon, The Sign of the Unicorn, The Hand of Oberon, The Courts of Chaos, Trumps of Doom, Blood of Amber, Sign of Chaos, Knight of Shadows, Prince of Chaos (Complete Set 1-10)
Roger Zelazny
Manufacturer: Avon
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

THE GREAT BOOK OF AMBER - The Complete Amber Chronicles: Nine Princes in Amber; Guns of Avalon; Sign of the Unicorn; Hand of Oberon; Courts of Chaos; Trumps of Doom; Blood of Amber; Sign of Chaos; Knight of Shadows; Prince of Chaos - with Visual Guide

Average customer rating:

THE GREAT BOOK OF AMBER - The Complete Amber Chronicles: Nine Princes in Amber; Guns of Avalon; Sign of the Unicorn; Hand of Oberon; Courts of Chaos; Trumps of Doom; Blood of Amber; Sign of Chaos; Knight of Shadows; Prince of Chaos - with Visual Guide
Roger (with Neil Randall) Zelazny
Manufacturer: Avon Eos
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Average customer rating:

Knight of Shadows :Amber 9
Roger Zelazny
Manufacturer: MORROW, WILLIAM & COMPANY IN
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Average customer rating:

Super Reader

Almost as Good as Smith's Lensman Series

Z-Lensman: Second Stage Lensman Trilogy, Vol. 3
David A. Kyle
Manufacturer: Red Jacket Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
Lensman | Media Series | Series | Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
Space Opera | Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

Lensman From Rigel: Second Stage Lensman Trilogy, Vol. 2

The Dragon Lensman: Second Stage Lensman Trilogy, Vol. 1

Children of the Lens (The Lensman Series, Book 6)

Second Stage Lensmen (The Lensman Series, Book 5)

Triplanetary: A Tale of Cosmic Adventure (Lensman Series, Book 1)

ASIN: 0974889571

Book Description

With Z-Lensman, the final novel in his post-E.E. Smith Lensmen trilogy, David A. Kyle turns his attention to the strangest of the three non-human Second Stage Lensmen: Nadreck the Palainian, whose Z-type species exists in a multidimensional state beyond the familiar three dimensions experienced by most of the galaxy's life forms. The constant shifting of their bodies through unfamiliar dimensions -- together with the frightfully cold and poisonous atmosphere they breathe and their implacable emotional detachment -- make the Palainians one of the more unsettling races known to Civilization. But, as events will soon demonstrate, they are also one of its most valuable assets.

In the process of training a new class of Z-type Lensmen cadets from the Palainian Z-Academy, Nadreck makes the unintentionally fateful decision to bring a religious leader from a Boskonian Spawn-influenced planet to be studied on Tellus before continuing on to Palain VII. On Tellus, Nadreck and the newly-promoted Galactic Patrol lieutenant Benson Cloudd become aware of a strange new problem affecting Civilized space. Machines throughout a wide swathe of the galaxy have begun to malfunction, and communicators, spaceships and computers are becoming increasingly unreliable. But in the process of searching for the source of this mechanical mayhem, Nadreck discovers something even more disturbing: remnants of the Eddorian Conspiracy are planning a new invasion, and their forces are gathering on multiple planes of existence!

Faced with mysteries and threats on multiple fronts, Nadreck, Cloudd and the android-bodied Lensman Lalla Kallatra must work together while at the same time scattering themselves across the stars, each in pursuit of their own piece of the puzzle. As the final confrontation approaches, all of the power wielded by Civilization -- and all of the combined resourcefulness of its members, from Galactic Coordinator Kimball Kinnison personally leading the Patrol's Grand Fleet against an unprecedented weapon to the shade of Deuce O'Six defending the borders of the spirit world -- must be brought to bear. But will it be enough? And will the threat that is closest to home be recognized in time?

All this and much more is revealed in Z-Lensman, the mesmerizing conclusion to Kyle's galaxies-spanning saga!

Customer Reviews:

Super Reader.......2007-08-27

Nadreck of Palain IV is the feature Second Stage Lensman in this novel. In the beginning it details how he helped an Arisian stop Gharlane of Eddore, and be invited to become Second Stage.

The rest of the book involves the machine entity A-22 found in Dragon Lensman, the young female Lensman Lalla Kallatra, and working out what do do with both A-22, and how to stop the Eichwoor from gaining a further hold.

A pair of Clouds are influential in this, both Storm Cloud and a new Lensman Cloud, with it all coming to a head at a ball, thanks to a little subterfuge by Worsel.

Almost as Good as Smith's Lensman Series.......2005-11-01

I am an AVID fan of E.E. "Doc" Smith's Lensman Series, which according to some people is a seven-book series, but I think of as a six-book series (ending with Children of the Lens).

I wish that "Doc" had written more than six Lensman books, as I'm sure that many others do.

The vast majority of Doc's Lensman books focus on the activities of the various human Lensman, especially Kim Kinnison.

David Kyle's three Lensman books are written from the point of view of the completely alien lensmen.

Z-Lensman gives us a better view of Nadreck, a four-dimensional creature who lives in conditions as cold as Pluto.

Though I do not find Kyle's books as satisfying as I do the Doc Smith books, I still give him five stars because they give us more information about the Lensman Universe.

I do suggest, however, that you read Dragon first, then Z second, as Z builds on some of the events of Dragon, then, of course, read the Rigellian version.

If you love E.E.Smith's books, as I do, then definitely read David Kyle's three Lensman books, written from the points of view of the other three Second Stage Lensmen

Books:

Books Index

Books Home

Recommended Books