Ransom, Bill

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More Voidship
Ascension Factor -- Frank Herbert's other sci-fi world

Ascension Factor
Bill Ransom , and B. Ransom
Manufacturer: Putnam Adult
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0399132244

Customer Reviews:

More Voidship.......2001-08-27

Unlike Dune, this series has been out of print for some time. Shame! No one does it better than Herbert but Dune-Mania has left too much of his best work unread and unknown. Dune was a masterpiece, no question. But the series devolved into action novels - the work of creating his universe did not have to be re-done so the rest was just what happens next (and as Brian continues the series, what happened before). The Voidship series is different. Beginning with Destination: Void, which establishes the premise, each novel must reestablish the world in which it is set. Each set of characters has very new hurdles and new forms of intelligent life(? at least self-awareness) to deal with, each with their own world view. A good marketing bet would be to reintroduce these novels in paperback, capitalizing on the popularity of the Dune series. Let the new generation of sf readers discover the other worlds of Frank Herbert. This review refers to the series - Destination: Void, The Jesus Incident, The Lazarus Effect, and The Ascension Factor

Ascension Factor -- Frank Herbert's other sci-fi world.......1999-10-28

This is not a story of empire, such as in his great classic series, "Dune; but rather, Herbert and Ransom tell the story of an ill-fated interstellar colonial expedition gone horribly wrong. I am looking for a hard copy of this work because I believe that the general theme of the mega-hit Strategy software game, "Alpha Centauri" is inspired by some of the vicious alien creatures described in Herbert's story of the adaptation of humanity to a brutal alien world. Characterization is a lot deeper than most sci-fi, and the "run around the fortress" scene is something I've remembered for more than two decades since I last read the book. In our world of animated feature films, this would make an incredible movie.

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The lazarus effect review.
The Lazarus Effect
Voidship strikes again
A very good read!

The Lazarus Effect
Frank Herbert , and Bill Ransom
Manufacturer: Ace Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0441475213

Customer Reviews:

The lazarus effect review........2002-04-01

In my eyes, this is a very good book. I suggest you spend a week or two to read it. You will feel better after you read is. It makes me wonder my this wasnt a hit instead of Dune. They are both outstanding books and this book gets my gratitude.

The Lazarus Effect.......2002-03-28

I feel that people everywhere should read the Pandora series. It mixes action, love, literature, and culture into an action packed yet down to earth book. I feel that Frank herbert, and Bill Ransom have created a marvelous Series that shows how people are nto what they seem.

Voidship strikes again.......2001-08-27

Unlike Dune, this series has been out of print for some time. Shame! No one does it better than Herbert but Dune-Mania has left too much of his best work unread and unknown. Dune was a masterpiece, no question. But the series devolved into action novels - the work of creating his universe did not have to be re-done so the rest was just what happens next (and as Brian continues the series, what happened before. The Voidship series is different. Beginning with Destination: Void, which establishes the premise, each novel must reestablish the world in which it is set. Each set of characters has very new hurdles and new forms of intelligent life(? at least self-awareness) to deal with, each with their own world view. A good marketing bet would be to reintroduce these novels in paperback, capitalizing on the popularity of the Dune series. Let the new generation of sf readers discover the other worlds of Frank Herbert.

A very good read!.......1999-02-20

Well I hate long reviews so here's what I have to say about The Lazarus Effect. If you read any of Peter F. Hamiltons books like The Reality Dysfunction then you should enjoy this one. It's Biotechnology vs. Technology, Mermen vs. Mutes

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On a short list..
Artificial Viral Agents unleashed to turn Earth into Eden

Burn: A Novel
Bill Ransom
Manufacturer: Ace Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0441003621

Customer Reviews:

On a short list.........2005-06-09

This is one of only 2 books that I lost interest in finishing to the point where they were put down. I had bought it, read probably half of it, and consciously decided to not bother finishing it. I don't even remember what it was that turned me off, but it still sticks out in my memory.

Artificial Viral Agents unleashed to turn Earth into Eden.......1996-01-01

I would be happy to answer questions about this novel or others that I've written, or questions on writing in general. http://www.tcd.net/~bransom Best wishes, Bill

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The Ascension Factor
Frank Herbert , and Bill Ransom
Manufacturer: Ace
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: 0441977596

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Insight into Childhood Emotional Trauma
Author revised new edition of JAGUAR

Jaguar
Bill Ransom
Manufacturer: Ace Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0441703534

Book Description

"Jaguar is a psychodrama with the emphasis on story and characterization, not effects. ...Ransom, best known for his collaborations with the late Frank Herbert, has written an intense and intriguing trale that will keep you riveted to the pages." --Rave Reviews

Download Description

The Jaguar's mind roams the dreamways between worlds, searching for a way to escape the broken, lifeless body lying comatose in a veterans' hospital. He knows the price others must pay for his wanderings, and he doesn't care . . .

Customer Reviews:

Insight into Childhood Emotional Trauma.......2003-09-10

Touted as a novel of Parallel worlds, this story actually presents the points of view of four children abused and traumatized in childhood who try to overcome their situation. The social message here is far more compelling and important than the genre generally presents.

Author revised new edition of JAGUAR.......2001-05-21

As the Author, I'm offering my email address here in case you have questions or comments on this Wildside Press edition of JAGUAR, a story of dreams and deadly dreamers. Sweet Dreams, Bill

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The Jesus Incident
Frank & Ransom, Bill Herbert
Manufacturer: Gollancz
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: 0575027592

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Attention Dune Fans-This one slipped by!

Viravax
Bill Ransom
Manufacturer: Ace Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0441000835

Customer Reviews:

Attention Dune Fans-This one slipped by!.......1998-08-24

This is a yet-to-be discovered jewel for Herbert fans. All the familiar elements are here--ecology, religion, power and genetics. Although Herbert's influence permeates this novel, Ransom finds his own voice and offers an exciting, thought provoking story. If Robin Cook's name were on the cover, this book would have been a bestseller and readers would have had more bang for the buck. Try it, you'll like it!

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The Jesus Incident
Frank & Ransom, Bill Herbert
Manufacturer: Berkley
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000KP5MRG

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Scales were never balanced
Love it!
More gas than a hylighter
a very dark story... great book
The Jesus Incident

Jesus Incident
Frank Herbert , and Bill Ransom
Manufacturer: by Berkley Pub Corp/Dist by G P Putnam's Sons, NY
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

The Ascension Factor
The Dosadi Experiment
The Eyes of Heisenberg
The Green Brain
The Santaroga Barrier

ASIN: 0399122680

Book Description

A determined group of colonists are attempting to establish a bridgehead on the planet Pandora, despite the savagery of the native lifeforms, as deadly as they are inhospitable. But they have more to deal with than just murderous aliens: their ship's computer has been given artificial consciousness and has decided that it is a God. Now it is insisting - with all the not inconsiderable force of its impressive array of armaments to back it up - that the colonists find appropriate ways to worship It .

Customer Reviews:

Scales were never balanced.......2006-07-21

i couldn't help but feel sorry for the obvious villains of this work.ever since introducing them to the scene they never seemed to pose any sort of threat to the kind of god-like powers Herbert always instills to his good guys.much like in the Dune series where the omnipotent kwisatz haderach foils any atttempts at his downfall the kelp-hugging poet and his hippie-esque eco-renegades are always
saved by the deus-ex machima that is the writers quill.
i thought that the characters were wonderfully defined as opposed to another reviewer they just simply lacked the true tools of power
to truly tip the scales.all in all once again herbert almost annoyingly has his villains plot and scheme to no avail and the good guys live happily ever after.

Love it!.......2006-04-19

Just wanted to add my 2 cents - I think Frank Herbert and Bill Ransom did a fantastic job on this book. The Jesus Incident is my favorite. There are many different issues in the book including environmental issues and moral/ethical issues to name just a couple. Are clones "human"? Are "humans" better than clones? Do clones have "human" rights? How do you define intelligence? Is it possible for what appears to be ocean plant life to be intelligent? The authors entwine all these issues, including the question of whether or not Ship is God, into a wonderful sci-fi world and a great story. Wish they'd make a movie out of this one!

More gas than a hylighter.......2005-12-28

This is an extremely dull book. I found myself falling asleep consistently when reading the first 100 pages. I even started the book over to ensure that I "got it". What I "got" was a book that foundered more or less completely. This is the least focused Herbert book I have ever read. Maybe we can blame it on Bill Ransom.

Second book in the Pandora series (1st book is Destination: Void), characters living on Ship, Colony and Redoubt on Pandora.

Morgan Oakes, Chaplain/Psychiatrist, in charge. Second in command Jesus Lewis, living on the Pandoran surface. Trying to destroy the electrokelp and hylighters, seemingly sentient inhabitants of Pandora. Ship brings Raja Flattery out of hibernation and assigns poet Kerro Panille to groundside. Raja changes last name to Thomas. They, along with Waela TaoLini, will conduct a new round of interaction with the kelp/electrokelp. They do so and are rescued by the hylighters. Kerro establishes close communication with the hylighters, learning in the process that the electrokelp and the hylighters are the same consciousness, also known as the Avata.

Thomas is prompted by Ship to engage Pandorans to figure out the correct way to "WorShip". This was the original charge from a newly conscious Ship in Destination: Void, that humans learn how to properly WorShip. Ship states that it will destroy humanity if this task is not completed quickly.

Colony is destroyed - how is never explained as far as I can tell. Redoubt is destroyed. Ship leaves, taking Lewis and Oakes. Apparently, the proper way to WorShip, to "find our own humanity and live up to it" (p. 412), is uncovered in time to stop the destruction of humanity.

Throw in there a time traveling expedition by Hali Ekel to Golgotha to see the crucifixion of Jesus. Why? To understand "holy violence". Okay, but why?

Avata, a female child, is born from the coupling of Waela and Kerro. Purpose? To give "them [Pandora's inhabitants] the new worship and weaving them into a single organism." Do what?

I was fairly excited about the interactions with the kelp, as the communication between two different sentient groups (kelp and humans) is pretty meaty science fiction fare. This interaction was pretty sketchy, though. The interaction did produce Kerro's bridging communication with the hylighters/kelp/Avata. I'm still not sure what all this is supposed to mean.

The characters in this book were just uninteresting. Oakes, Lewis, Ferry and Murdoch, collectively the "bad" guys, were flat, flat, flat. Kerro Panille, the poet with the ability to communicate directly with Ship (a rare ability), was cloaked in so much fluffy nonsense that I'm still not sure what all happened with him.

On Herbert's trademark quotations that start each new chapter, I am usually a fan, but I stopped reading them in this book because they were inane.

The book just spent too long to portray too little. Pretty simple actually.

This isn't the greatest review (pretty sketchy), but it covers the main highlights of the book. My advice, if you are interested in the Pandora series (which I still am even after this book), is to read this review and move on to the next book, The Lazarus Effect.

a very dark story... great book.......2004-11-07

Any fan of the original Dune chapters should definitely check out this book. Herbert had such an excellent ability for crafting alien worlds... complete with mysterious yet realistic-seeming lifeforms and ecosystem. This is beyond just a Sci-Fi book tho... as with Dune, Herbert does an amazing job of dealing with human nature, the fear of the unknown, and of course, religion.

Unfortunately, I personally feel that the sequels to this book taper off in terms of quality.

The Jesus Incident.......2004-08-24

Not a review, just a notice that BILL RANSOM was the co-author with Frank Herbert on this book and the whole series. Amazon left my name off this display.

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Lazarus Effect/int
Frank Herbert , and Bill Ransom
Manufacturer: Berkley
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: 0425070050

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