End of Days [Paperback]

Dennis Danvers (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback
• Publisher: NY Avon Eos 1999. (1999)
• ASIN: B000J5GEC4
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The End is Near, June 1, 2000

By 

Kevin Wohler (Lawrence, KS USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: End of Days (Hardcover)

In Circuit of Heaven, Dennis Danvers wrote a compelling "Romeo and Juliet" novel about two lovers caught between reality and a virtual world known as the Bin. The story was intriguing in its newness, even if it had an overly sentimental ending. In End of Days, Danvers has written a good story, but it's a very different story and not quite a sequel.

The Bin, now in operation for 100 years, is still housing the majority of humanity. Back on Earth (the real Earth), Gabriel and his Christian Soldiers have nuked much of the planet into radioactivity trying to bring about the End of Days. The setting seems the same, but from the beginning, one clear difference struck me.

I didn't recognize any of the characters, save Gabriel and Newman Rogers. For a book that's supposed to be a sequel, I thought it was odd. I find this especially ironic considering that everyone in the Bin is "immortal" and yet neither Nemo nor Justine (from Circuit of Heaven) is mentioned. Even Lawrence, the Construct and nanny for Nemo, is only mentioned as a memory.

Once I resigned myself to the notion that this "sequel" was not going to have any of the same characters, I learned to love it. The story lines of five main characters interweave in exciting and sometimes unexpected way. Nevertheless, Donovan - the central character for much of the first part of the book - seems to fade as the story progresses. By the end of the novel, he becomes a bit player, not a star.

My worst complaint about the novel is that Danvers' sentimentality sometimes gets in the way of his telling a story. His devotion to love (while beautiful at times) can hinder the progress of a story by making it predictable. There is no tragedy in his novels, which seems as unrealistic as the Bin itself. But for science fiction and cyber fans that want to read something romantic (in a weird sort of way) Danvers is a great read.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Intriguing cyberworld, June 8, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: End of Days (Hardcover)

Over a hundred years have passed since much of the planet's populace chose to enter the virtual reality world of the Bin. Those individuals who failed to enter the Bin were methodically eradicated by Gabriel and his Army of God. Gabriel also tried to destroy the Bin by entering a virus into its program. Creator Newman Rogers saves his baby by transporting the Bin to a safe off-world site while letting Gabriel and his horde believe the Bin died.

A new problem surfaces when the Bin's inhabitants start to commit suicide, apparently due to eternal boredom and the lack of anything important in life. That changes when Newman informs some of the Bin's residents that Gabriel now knows they survived his previous assault and he plans to destroy them. This, in turn, energizes them, but is it enough to stop the fanatical Gabriel and his soldiers?

END OF DAYS, the sequel to CIRCUIT OF HEAVEN, is overloaded with too many sub-plots that take away from the main story line. When talented author Dennis Danvers challenges mankind's need to perform meaningful tasks, the tale is clever and briskly moves forward. Likewise, the lack of individual responsibility in a society is also intelligently challenged. However, when the novel turns to the battle of good against evil, it bogs down because it loses its philosophical edge. Still, Mr. Danvers has created a unique cyberworld that is entertaining, thought provoking, and fun to experience.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Entertaining, original, witty, and full of energy, November 27, 1999

By 

kornel - See all my reviews

This review is from: End of Days (Hardcover)

Once I started reading Mr Danver's book, I got glued to it. He's not simply trying to ride the cyber-mania like so many other stories but he put technology into the context of much greater philosophical issues. He has so much to say and he has so much energy to tell you his story. His characters are interesting and very well developed, and often incredably funny. Highly recommended to the philosophically-minded sci-fi fan. It'll keep you thinking and laughing.