The Dark Mystery of the Shadow Beasts [Paperback]

Gregory Janicke (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 2004

The Shadow Beast Series is an exciting new science fiction/fantasy series for young adult readers.

On planet Dulunae, a unique group of teenagers manage to escape from the ruthless dictator, CH’NOPS, and his brutal army of Antibodies. Together, Gyro, Marina, Lynai’seth and Jax form a group called The Outcasts and scout for safety from the Antibodies. Coming from different cultures and customs, each of The Outcasts faces the challenge of overcoming and understanding these differences as they struggle to survive the barbaric conditions into which they are thrown. The Outcasts also set out to search for the place that promises freedom and peace – a place called HayVen. On their journey, they discover even greater dangers and encounter the monstrous creature and killer – Shadow Beast. Titles in this series include:

Book One "The Dark Mystery of the Shadow Beasts",
Book Two "Attack of the Shadow Beasts",
Book Three "The Conquering Beasts",
Book Four "Battle of the Shadow Beasts",

Each book in the Shadow Beast Series offers "Questions for Discussion."

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Gregory Janicke has been writing and drawing stories since he was nine years old. His educational comic strip, "Fizzik Rules," has appeared in The New Straits Times (Malaysia) and in newspapers throughout the world. He and his wife, Deborah, currently live in Morocco, where he is creating his next exciting series of stories.

Product Details

• Paperback: 168 pages
• Publisher: Times Editions (June 2004)
• ISBN-10: 9835809933
• ISBN-13: 978-9835809934
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 5.1 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #6,710,840 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I first knew I wanted to be a writer at age 9 when my mother lugged home an old, beaten up Royal typewriter with twisted keys. I gazed at the strange name, QWERT YUIOP, on the second line under the numbers. I knew QWERT and I would be friends. I pounded away at the Royal for hours on end to my grandmother's chagrin, composing very short stories about living lightning, malevolent mud monsters and sinister prairie grass. I was from Illinois, where these things can be found.

QWERT and I kept pounding out stories through grade school and high school. My grandmother warned me to stop the pounding, but my mom said it was okay while she was at work. In college, I studied art and writing and won a short story contest. I kept writing, kept publishing, kept typing up to my time at a Great Midwestern Newspaper, when the era of the Royal gave way to the computer. QWERT survived the change.

Then came the Shadow Beasts and The Outcasts. I hope you enjoy them.

Best,
Gregory Janicke
www.gregoryjanicke.com

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is a flashlight book., September 26, 2004

By 

Rustworthy (Atlanta, GA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Dark Mystery of the Shadow Beasts (Paperback)

Remember when your parents made you turn out the light but you were so caught up in a story you took it under the covers with a flashlight? This is a non-stop adventure of a colorful (literally) band of teenagers and children trying to survive on a hostile planet while being pursued by Antibodies (monstrous humanoids with transparent skin), who destroyed their home Communities and put them on the road as Outcasts. Gregory Janicke knows how to build suspense and maintain it through harrowing episodes, but also knows how to relieve it with humor when it becomes too intense. It's about a diverse, interesting mix of characters working to overcome their differences, even of language, and to care for each other at the risk of their own safety. There's Jax, brave but vulnerable, whose large eyes give him the exceptional vision to lead his friends past dangers in the dark; Marina, the fierce female warrior with her quarterstaff; the beautiful, silent Lynai'seth, who cares for the children and calms souls with her mystical presence, and Dav'yn, brash and foolhardy as he tries to impress everyone with his courage. Most of the humor comes from the rivalry between Jax and Dav'yn, as these two will argue even while trying to escape the fearsome Shadow Beasts. It's a fun, exciting, scary adventure. I hear the next book in the Shadow Beasts series will be out in the near future. The young readers in your life will love it. And you might as well give them a flashlight.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent science fiction fantasy!, September 24, 2004

By 

Marina-Jax "Shadow" (Malaysia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Dark Mystery of the Shadow Beasts (Paperback)

The Dark Mystery of the Shadow Beasts is Janicke's first book in his Shadow Beasts series. It starts off on the Planet Dulunae, and the story revolves around a group of teenagers who are "Outcasts" by name and geographically - they have no homes. They all have to band together to reach HayVen, in spite of the fact that they all look different, speak different languages, and have their own prejudices and agendas. Not so very different from real life... This book is excellent in teaching us that we need to live together, and embrace each other's differences in a fantastically adventurous way. Plus there's even some romance in here - heart-stopping, adrenalin-pumping stuff. 2 thumbs up!