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The Pandora Sequence #1-3
The Pandora Sequence: The Jesus Incident, The Lazarus Effect, The Ascension Factor
All three novels in the Pandora Sequence by Frank Herbert & Bill Ransom, sequels to Frank Herbert's Void.The Jesus Incident—A sentient Ship with godlike powers (and aspirations) delivers the last survivors of humanity to a horrific, poisonous planet, Pandora—rife with deadly Nerve-Runners, Hooded Dashers, airborne jellyfish, and intelligent kelp. Chaplain/Psychiatrist Raja Lon Flattery is brought back out of hybernation to witness Ship’s machinations as well as the schemes of human scientists manipulating the genetic structure of humanity. Book 1 in Herbert & Ransom’s Pandora Sequence.The Lazarus Effect—In The Jesus Incident Herbert and Ransom introduced Ship, an artificial intelligence that believed it was God, abandoning its unworthy human cargo on the all-sea world of Pandora. Now centuries have passed. The descendants of humanity, split into Mermen and Islanders, must reunite � because Pandora’s original owner is returning to life!Book 2 in Herbert & Ransom’s Pandora Sequence.The Ascension Factor—Pandora’s humans have been recovering land from its raging seas at an accelerated pace since The Lazarus Effect. The great kelp of the seas, sentient but electronically manipulated by humans, buffers Pandora’s wild currents to restore land and facilitate the booming sea trade. New settlements rise overnight, but children starve in their shadows. An orbiting assembly station is near completion of Project Voidship, which is the hope of many for finding a better world.Pandora is under the fist of an ambitious clone from hibernation called The Director, who rules with a sadistic security force led by the assassin Spider Nevi. Small resistance groups, like the one led by Twisp Queets and Ben Ozette, have had little effect on his absolute power. The Director controls the transportation of foodstuffs; uprisings are punished with starvation.The resistance fighters� main hope is Crista Galli, a woman believed by some to be the child of God. Crista pools her talents with Dwarf MacIntosh, Beatriz Tatoosh, and Rico LaPush to transcend the barriers between the different species and overthrow The Director and the sinister cabal with which he rules.Book 3 in Herbert & Ransom’s Pandora Sequence.
- GenresScience Fiction
794 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1988
66 people are currently reading
405 people want to read
About the author
Frank Herbert
536Ìýbooks15.9kÌýfollowersFranklin Patrick Herbert Jr. was an American science fiction author best known for the 1965 novel Dune and its five sequels. Though he became famous for his novels, he also wrote short stories and worked as a newspaper journalist, photographer, book reviewer, ecological consultant, and lecturer.
The Dune saga, set in the distant future, and taking place over millennia, explores complex themes, such as the long-term survival of the human species, human evolution, planetary science and ecology, and the intersection of religion, politics, economics and power in a future where humanity has long since developed interstellar travel and settled many thousands of worlds. Dune is the best-selling science fiction novel of all time, and the entire series is considered to be among the classics of the genre.
The Dune saga, set in the distant future, and taking place over millennia, explores complex themes, such as the long-term survival of the human species, human evolution, planetary science and ecology, and the intersection of religion, politics, economics and power in a future where humanity has long since developed interstellar travel and settled many thousands of worlds. Dune is the best-selling science fiction novel of all time, and the entire series is considered to be among the classics of the genre.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
December 12, 2018
The Jesus Incident:
Having been a Herbert fan for quite a few years, I hadn't read this particular series. I began with Destination: Void. It was interesting, but I didn't feel any attachment to it like I felt in the Dune series. But I slugged on, and read The Jesus Incident.
People made excuses for Herbert regarding this series, claiming that it was really Ransom's voice. That may be true to a limited extent, for Herbert's wife was quite ill at the time, and he was on a deadline to write a nonfiction book. However, Herbert had the final say, and the changes made to the plot line, etc. were all Herbert.
I really resent atheists entering into a discussion about Christianity, as if it's an intellectual exercise and what they understand it to mean. Christianity is not an intellectual exercise, it's a relationship. How do you enter into an intellectual exercise about your love for wife or husband, or even your children? Although much of what is brought up is interesting, but it ends there and on a hollow note. It will always end on a hollow note. Christianity is not about people, and that is what all unbelievers try to glean from the teachings.
As a theologian and a person of deeply held faith, The Jesus Incident is neither an intellectual exercise, nor does it understand the crucifixion, or what it means. The ship speaking in people's minds is also ridiculous unless there is an implant. It could send out electromagnetic radiation, but a conversation?
Neither can a computer become God, no matter how much it believes itself to be God. Harlan Ellison wrote a short story that was actually better in that the computer had no moral limitations in what it would do to a life form. It was amoral and actually enjoyed tormenting the last humans.
In this book we're to believe that a computer has developed the moral trait of mercy and compassion, teaching two of the characters about Jesus crucifixion. Typical of an unbeliever, they want people of faith to worship themselves, and each other, as if this would help people live in harmony. Even Vonnegut entered into that nonsense. They blame religion for the world's ills. It's man who is to blame for the world's ills, and only those who've taken their religious propensity into their own interpretation (which is exactly what Herbert and Ransom did) does the intent become lost, polluted, convoluted, and twisted.
This book was disappointing. I gave it four stars because it's written well, and the plot is interesting even with its limitations. But all I could take away from it is that man given over to worshiping themselves (Oakes) will always cross the line in experimenting with DNA and become a tyrant (using the Scream Room to keep people in line).
The Lazarus Effect:
Having been a Herbert fan for quite a few years, I hadn't read this particular series. I began with Destination: Void. It was interesting, but I didn't feel any attachment to it like I felt in the Dune series. But I slugged on, and read The Jesus Incident.
People made excuses for Herbert regarding this series, claiming that it was really Ransom's voice. That may be true to a limited extent, for Herbert's wife was quite ill at the time, and he was on a deadline to write a nonfiction book. However, Herbert had the final say, and the changes made to the plot line, etc. were all Herbert.
I really resent atheists entering into a discussion about Christianity, as if it's an intellectual exercise and what they understand it to mean. Christianity is not an intellectual exercise, it's a relationship. How do you enter into an intellectual exercise about your love for wife or husband, or even your children? Although much of what is brought up is interesting, but it ends there and on a hollow note. It will always end on a hollow note. Christianity is not about people, and that is what all unbelievers try to glean from the teachings.
As a theologian and a person of deeply held faith, The Jesus Incident is neither an intellectual exercise, nor does it understand the crucifixion, or what it means. The ship speaking in people's minds is also ridiculous unless there is an implant. It could send out electromagnetic radiation, but a conversation?
Neither can a computer become God, no matter how much it believes itself to be God. Harlan Ellison wrote a short story that was actually better in that the computer had no moral limitations in what it would do to a life form. It was amoral and actually enjoyed tormenting the last humans.
In this book we're to believe that a computer has developed the moral trait of mercy and compassion, teaching two of the characters about Jesus crucifixion. Typical of an unbeliever, they want people of faith to worship themselves, and each other, as if this would help people live in harmony. Even Vonnegut entered into that nonsense. They blame religion for the world's ills. It's man who is to blame for the world's ills, and only those who've taken their religious propensity into their own interpretation (which is exactly what Herbert and Ransom did) does the intent become lost, polluted, convoluted, and twisted.
This book was disappointing. I gave it four stars because it's written well, and the plot is interesting even with its limitations. But all I could take away from it is that man given over to worshiping themselves (Oakes) will always cross the line in experimenting with DNA and become a tyrant (using the Scream Room to keep people in line).
The Lazarus Effect:
November 7, 2021
Not as good as I remember from when I first read it as a teenager.
November 20, 2016
Fantastic series.
November 10, 2014
Entertaining trilogy. Each book could likely stand in its own right. They're all sequels to Destination: Void, and set in the same universe/timeline, but each is completely different from the other two, by virtue of characterizing the planet as an incredibly complex (and perhaps supernatural) ecosystem in different stages of development/regression.
Not to mention, of course, that despite the fact both Herbert and Ransom are billed the same, the truth is the books become more Ransom as they go, with the third having been written almost solely by him and published after Herbert died.
Not to mention, of course, that despite the fact both Herbert and Ransom are billed the same, the truth is the books become more Ransom as they go, with the third having been written almost solely by him and published after Herbert died.
November 21, 2014
Destination Void and the Jesus Incident a phenomenal. The Lazerus Effect is ok but very long considering that nothing much happpens, and the Ascension Factor was disappointing. Do yourself a favor and stop with the first two.
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July 12, 2017Awesome
I really enjoyed reading this series. Aliens, consciousness, greed, hope and destiny. Frank Herbert may be my favorite author! Worth the read
I really enjoyed reading this series. Aliens, consciousness, greed, hope and destiny. Frank Herbert may be my favorite author! Worth the read
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
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