Customer Reviews

Doctor Janeway's Plague

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(13)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I, too, was asked by the author to read and review his book. Basically, it tells the story of Reverend Doctor Janeway's obsession with this dark star. The main characters in the story have reason to believe that Janeway is several hundred years old and is the reason for the alarming amount of people turning into golems. If a golem kisses you, then you're a golem. There are some good scenes scattered throughout, but I got a little tired reading about all the golems kissing people, turning them into golems, especially after the forth time or so. The first 2/3 of the book could have been condensed and the end could have been expanded. There were also many times that I felt he could have spent time describing things more, such as the characters and the landscape. Most impressive was the dialogue, though. Too many times authors have their characters talk in speeches. Here, Mr. Farrell has his characters talk like normal, everyday people. This is a very hard book to classify, but I think it would primarily appeal to people who like Mysteries with a little dash of history and fantasy thrown in. All in all, this book is considerably better than a lot of the [stuff] being published today, but it is not quite EXCELLENT. Don't expect Shogun, The Exorcist, or Watership Down, but still, it's a good book and worth a read.

Dr. Janeway's Plague is a captivating mystery with plenty of twists and an excellent pace. While the book touches on the supernatural, it would be limiting to categorize it solely as science fiction. The diverse elements of Puritan New England, modern Cambridge, and astronomy combine to tell a story that I couldn't put down. Character development is excellent; Farrell gives us numerous complex characters, fully developed, with whom we become involved very quickly. Also, he's not afraid to kill off a few of the good guys. As someone on intimate terms with several of his settings (Widener library, Harvard Square, Concord, New Hampshire) I enjoyed his evocative descriptions. Once again, in a short amount of space and time, Farrell gives the reader a reality of place and personality that you would expect would take much more time to deliver. I highly recommend this book; it was a great read.

One of the benefits of reviewing books is that works by Authors I
would otherwise never have read have been brought to my attention. Not
all the books are memorable, but a surprising number are good, and
some are very good. "Dr. Janeway's Plague", by John Farrell
falls into the latter category. This work of mystery, with both
science fiction and mythology added, is as good as many works that are
sold by the ton. It is a very well written work that has the
advantages of being from a new author, which is critical if reading is
to be kept interesting, and also a work that appeals to readers who
like to think. This writer respects his readers and presents an
articulate read for the mind, as well as an unnerving read for the
emotions. His writing is fresh. I would rather look forward to a great
read that takes time to create and polish, than work from Authors who
churn out formulaic books.

This story takes place primarily in
Cambridge Massachusetts on the Eastern end of the state, and
Charlemont on the Western side. I cannot deny that my being from the
state and my familiarity with the locales gave the story unique
immediacy. However no matter where you live the book works, and does
so brilliantly.

Much of the story centers itself in very old
buildings. Happily a library is center stage for all booklovers. If
you have ever been deep in the crypt-like areas where books are stored
in dark rooms and arranged in claustrophobic labyrinths, you know how
easily you can unnerve yourself. John Farrell takes this very common
fear and then magnifies it exponentially by providing very good
reasons to be terrified. I am fortunate to live near many colleges
with great libraries. After I read this book, my first trip
underground was one with more than a bit of anxiety. A timer turns on
lights; if you get caught up in what you are doing the timer turns
off. After this book I'll start carrying a flashlight with me.

A
building built upon foundations from earlier construction,
architectural sleuths, PHD heroes and villains, and best of all
fundamentally good writing. This is as about as far from B-Movie
slasher trash and Night Of The Living Dead nonsense as dead stars are
from our planet.

The only reason the 5th star is absent is because
this is the writer's first book, and I always believe Authors get
better as they practice their craft.

First time novelist John Farrell has written a good scary thriller that combines equal parts of Brent Monahan's Book of Common Dread and George Romero's Night of the Living Dead, as a small group of amateur detectives' independent investigations all focus on the Reverend Doctor Robert H. Janeway, a Harvard Divinity School professor who seems to have survived into the present from Colonial times, and the strange goings-on in and around Harvard's Widener Library.

Miriam Tailor's research on her own family has convinced her that Janeway is an ancestor who is supposed to have died four hundred years ago. Leon Bradley is a retiring professor determined to figure out how his friend, Father Burton, could possibly have been decomposing before he died. While Glen DiStasio and Irwin Strathmond are astronomers, curious about the odd behavior of a star in the Monoceros system. All these storylines eventually converge around Janeway.

Farrell keeps his story moving at a brisk pace and provides some genuinely frightening moments. Some of the physics used to explain Janeway's longevity seemed awfully sketchy to me, but if you get caught up in the tension of the tale it's not too hard to suspend your disbelief. This is a fine first effort that holds out the promise of better books to come.

GRADE : B-

The mysterious Reverend Doctor Robert Janeway will do anything to escape his wretched existence. No one ever sees him eat; he only seems to consume dusky looking water. Like the golem of legend, Janeway is made of stone. Now changes are coming. Janeway avidly watches the skies, gazing at the shifting constellations. Invisible to the naked eye, a star is rising. Others see the changes recorded by their scientific instruments, but none suspect the danger the night sky will bring.

No one links Janeway, a respected academic, to the three deaths that occurred at the same time when a whore, a handicapped woman and a small child each die at the hands of someone they know and trust. Others die at his hands as well; each possessing something he needs to complete his cunning plan. Janeway's distant cousin Miriam Tailor also arrives in town, believing him to possess the key to immortality and desiring to learn his secrets. Janeway refuses to initiate Miriam into the process that caused his transformation, but he does find that she can be quite useful to his devious purposes.

Fans of Dean Koontz will find John Farrell's DOCTOR JANEWAY'S PLAGUE a fascinating read. Over four hundred years old, Janeway seeks an end to his existence irrespective of any moral or ethical considerations. The cast of characters ensnared by his purposes proves absolutely fascinating as they uncover an alarming plan. Indeed, this carefully plotted novel excels at providing the unexpected. A chilling tale of extraordinary power, DOCTOR JANEWAY'S PLAGUE provides enough pulse-pounding, page turning eeriness to keep readers burning the midnight oil. A vastly entertaining read, DOCTOR JANEWAY'S PLAGUE comes Highly recommended.

I liked the book and this is why: The characters were extremely believable especially for the setting (a university campus). Reading the book reminded me of being on campus and the dialogue of the professors seemed very real. I think Farrell had true grit to kill some of the main characters, people you expect to survive the story. It all makes the book a page turner. To see who survives, you'll have to read the book for yourself, but just knowing any one of the players could bite the farm keeps one reading 'till the end. The book starts with three seperate stories which all mesh together rather nicely, and the twist at the end is a true surprise. I kept guessing the nature of the relationships between the villians and thought I had covered every possibility as my mind kept changing as the story unfolded. To finish Dr. Janeway's Plague I had to tape all my favorites shows so that I could curb my curiosity . Definitely looking forward to what else Farrell has in store for the reading public.

This is one of those books, that once you start reading it, you don't want to be interupted until you are done. When I realized as I was coming to the end of the story, I was hoping for more pages. The the flow of the story is great, and the dark nature makes you think about it even when done reading. Since I live in the area, the way the author used landmarks and locations helped make the story more real. I could imagine what ws happening and where.

I would, and have, recommend this book to others.

Mr Farrell has written a sinister story of death and suspense centered in the Cambridge, Massachusetts area. I was not able to put it down even though the hairs were standing up on the back of my neck. I found myself holding my breath at times! John's story combines the science of astronomy and epidemiology with archeology and history to bring you a plot of sinister possiblities that may surround us. I hope AMAZON is marketing this book in Cambridge as that did add to the story for me.

The Rev. Doctor Janeway appears to be middle aged, but appearances can be deceiving. When his cousin Miriam shows up in Massachusetts to confront him about his past, he pulls her in to his web of deceit and manipulation. People begin dying, golem like creatures roam the streets, a star in the heavens is sending out radioactive rays, and those investigating Dr. Janeway cannot fathom what they are finding out.

I will be the first to admit, I am not a huge fan of science fiction, and I rarely read it. I think my unfamiliarity with the genre actually served me well in the instance of this book, because I really did not know what would happen, and was compelled to keep reading at any cost. I could not stop reading because I did not know where the story was going, and I wanted to see what would happen. I really liked the plot; it seemed well researched and intense. With the astronomical aspects of the plot, I was a little lost, as I know very little about astronomy. However, readers can fully appreciate the story without having knowledge of astronomy.

There are a lot of characters in the book, but I found them well developed, and all contributed to the furthering of the story. Throughout the story there does seem to be actions and themes that at first may seem a bit repetitious but in the end, it does serve a purpose, and helps deliver a bit of a plot twist.

All in all, I am glad I stepped out of my comfort zone and read a book from a genre I normally would not try.


I received a review copy courtesy of the author.

John Farrell, Doctor Janeway's Plague (iUniverse.com, 2001)

The first thing I thought of when seeing the title of this novel was "oh, great, another Star Trek tie-in. Say it ain't so, Jimbob." Well, it ain't so, Billy Jack. The Janeway of the title is Robert H. Janeway, namesake of the Mayflower minister and lecturer at a Boston college. Perhaps. Or is he the same guy, still looking like he's forty even though he's ten times as old? And if so, how has he managed to keep himself so well-preserved? Such are the questions facing one Mollie Tailor, who believes herself to be a distant cousin of Janeway's. She gets her answers, and complications, as usual, ensue.

This is a fast novel. It's also quite capable of hooking a reader and pulling him along, as I found out. I started this expecting I'd read fifty pages, then move onto something else I had in rotation, then come back and read another fifty, and so on, as I usually do. When I looked up, I was thirty pages from the end, a whole afternoon had elapsed, and I was late for a doctor's appointment. Whoops. It's pretty heavily plot-driven, and some minor characters suffer for it, but this is forgivable in the greater scheme of things; the major charcters are well-drawn and keep the reader's attention. It's also the first horror novel I've come across that uses astrophysics and actually makes it halfway believeable. (The cheese factor of the climax will probably vary according to reader. I loved it.)

There are a few niggling problems I had with it, but they are minor at best. A few cultural references that could have been better documented (e.g., I know what "The Moldau" is thanks to having read _The Inextinguishable Symphony_ last year, but I'm guessing most people not familiar with modern classical music are going to have that reference jar), some errors that are equally likely the fault of editors or conversion to PDF rather than the author's problems. So there aren't really any major knocks against it; the reader of modern horror novels will find little to complain about here. I look forward to Mr. Farrell's
next effort. ***