Customer Reviews

Epic: Dawn of Destiny

5 star:		(28)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

I just finished reading this and I haven't enjoyed a book this much in awhile. I'm not much of an alien or sci-fi enthusiast, so I was a little hesitant in giving this a shot, but I was beyond pleasantly surprised.

The story is solid, it keeps the reader engaged and interested and never veers off far enough to loose your interest. The character depth is outstanding, being an avid King reader I have come to be very picky about connecting with the characters in a story. Lee Stephen does an excellent job at connecting the reader to each of the characters, you don't just read about them you feel for them, experience their ups and downs, and hope for their success.

The story itself is very believable, enough detail is given to make the story seem authentic without overselling it. The world he creates begins to take on a life of its own, with a bit of its history revealed but also with questions left unanswered. The unanswered questions leave you wanting more, you start wanting to understand and find the same answers the characters are searching for. There were times I found myself trying to understand something only to find on the next page a character asking the very same questions, as if we were in this world together. It is a world that I already desire to get back to and see what is going on and it is my hope that Mr. Stephen gains enough backing and support to continue this series.

If you haven't picked this up I highly recommend it. It is outside of my normal genre yet I found it terrific, hopefully all those who read it will too.

Dawn of Destiny lies at the intersection of faith and science fiction. Science fiction may have characters who subcribe to a particular creed, but rarely in the genre is theme of faith so integral to plot or character development, but don't let that scare all of the secular humanists out there. Underneath this theme is a tightly plotted military science fiction book that provides a glimpse of a future Earth under the constant threat of attack by one of three extra-terrestrial groups. The characters are memorable, the world building maintains the right pace of mystery and revelation, and the writing is easily digestible. In fact, I would say that Lee Stephen and John Scalzi have a lot in common in terms of style, belonging to the group of the "New Comprenhensible" that Scalzi sometimes prattles about.

I won't go into too many details in order to avoid spoilers, but Stephen does provide a definitive answer about why men and women fight that may be as valid as the answers provided by Ambrose, Heinlein, or Haldeman. Let the unshakeable faith of his main character begin to catalyze your thoughts and you might be surprised at your destination.

If you're interested in more details, I'd encourage you to check out the Web site devoted to the universe that Lee Stephen has created. There's some really good information on there about the world and the author. (I'll leave the URL to some patient Googling; I don't want to have my review canned as spam for including a link.)

First off, for you non sci-fi fans, don't get scared off by the genre. It's so much more than `a genre'. I was enveloped in the story from start to finish. I ate up that book in a few hours (which is pretty good for me). I read it every moment I had at work, at home, and in between. The story sucks you in from the first page. The characters are well developed and believable - I think that's what attracted me most to them - they were people I could point out and say, "Hm, I know a guy like that" and mean it. There's a great mix of action wonderfully spaced throughout the book with a few dramatic sequences, tense moments, and plenty of comedic relief.

You follow the lead character, Scott Remington, through his experience as a soldier in Earth's global military. The story takes place in the future, with the dawn of world peace at hand. Contact is made with extraterrestrials (who are aggressive) and the unified Earth Defense Network (EDEN) is the first and only line of defense. This book is the first in a series of eight or nine to follow.

While the book has a clear beginning, middle, and end, it leaves much to look forward to. If there is one concern I had, it was that there wasn't an in depth look to how Earth became what it was - they adopted a new `era' called, the "New Era", so dates are described as 0002 NE. That's awesome, but I'm super intrigued as to how Earth got to even that point, what made them decide to unify, and how does the world exist in that time - are there still countries, governments for each? How does society function? EDEN gives plenty of insight into how their military functions, but the book steers away from much more than that. I'm anxious to see what answers are given in the upcoming book, Outlaw Trigger, the next in the series. Some of my favorite points DOD:

* The introduction and staying power of the characters - different personalities, characteristics, and even nationalities make each person unique, identifiable, and unforgettable.
* The fact that everyone in the book is `real'. No one is indestructible. No superheroes. And no outrageous feats. HOWEVER, characters show they CAN be heroes and accomplish amazing things. Just in the way that humans sometimes do.
* Intensity. There are a few battle sequences where I feel like I'm sitting across the street from the action watching every moment. Like I can almost feel the heat from the guns.
* Real fiction. What I mean by that: Lee Stephen makes the story as close to believable as you can be with aliens involved. The way they act, move, react, and relate is something lots of other sci-fi book/movies, miss. They become too `fantasy' or forced.
* It kept me entertained throughout the entire book. At no point did I say, well this chapter is moving kinda slow. I didn't want to put down the book and I didn't want to finish. I was actually upset that I finished the book because I wanted more.
* Undertones. While I believe they're obvious throughout the book, the undertones, messages, and morals flowed right with the story. Again, nothing was forced. Everything had it's place and it's place had everything. There is a strong Christian undertone throughout the book, some quite obvious (Scott Remington has a Bible that he keeps with him and often prays for guidance and strength) and others not so obvious until you've finished the scene, chapter, or even the book.

This is an excellent read for sci-fi and non sci-fi alike.

I recently read Dawn of Destiny by Lee Stephen, and I thoroughly enjoyed myself. I was unaware of this author and his works until one of my students `introduced' me to the series. [I teach gifted English Language Arts at a middle school in Paradis, LA...] My student said that he thought it was great, and he thought I would enjoy reading it as well. Well, I did.

I found it quite refreshing that the book dealt with serious, hard subject matter in a manner that is appropriate for anyone to read. The author leads the reader into an introspective process to uncover and accurately portray the psyche of an individual. Profanity is not a fundamental element in literature; it adds no momentous embellishment. Therefore, I completely disagree with the reviewer that said that "the dialogues are way too sterile for this genré." The author did re-create slang words for the world the book takes place in, such as "veck" and "dregg hopper." This was quite creative, in my opinion, and I felt like the dialogue was very appropriate for the genré. The former reviewer must not have realized that the genré is science FICTION. I think he/she missed a key word there!

As for the mention of the unnecessary presence of Christianity in the book - there actually was no direct mention of Christianity whatsoever. The religion in the book is an unnamed religion. The words "Christ" and "Bible" don't even appear, as the book Scott reads is only referred to as "Scripture." It IS a "natural part" of a person's psyche to reflect upon their plan, what they will choose to do, and what is `right' from the standpoint of a `spiritual aspect.' That's normal and an inevitable component of the human experience.

Overall, I think this is an awesome book! I would highly recommend it to anyone interested in intellectual entertainment, and I look forward to reading the second book in the series, Outlaw Trigger!

I bought this book based on references from other reviews of sci-fi books here on Amazon.com. I am very glad I ordered this book as it helped redeem my enthusiasm for sci-fi after reading several over-rated sci-fi books.

Although, this is the first book by Lee Stephen it has a level of maturity rarely seen in sci-fi. The military action is top-notch exciting stuff and the dialog between characters reads as genuine conversation.

It was difficult to put this book down. I'm halfway through the second as I write this review, and I'm anxious to see where the story goes. There are some great characters and good dialog. Battle episodes are separated by human scenes where the author demonstrates that there are people behind the armor, people with lives and relationships that extend beyond the war. I found the main character's references to his faith refreshing and honest.

A really great read and an amazing first foray into writing.

For years now, I've been looking for a good tale of alien invasion. A fan of "Starblazers," "Robotech," and "Cowboy Bebop," I'm often disappointed by what I find in bookstores and libraries. Historical revisions with aliens and men in giant cat suits just don't cut it. And the classics are, well, classics. You just want some new blood every now and then. From the moment I laid hands on Lee Stephen's "Dawn of Destiny" I knew I'd found my answer.

From page one to page 322, you'll find hardly a wasted word. The story moves, and then it smokes, and then it screams. Here we have one hell of a situation. Not one, but five alien races are invading earth. No-one knows why the aliens have come or why they attack. And they don't even all work together! A platoon of green recruits is sent to re-man a decimated heavy combat unit. They are suddenly faced with brutal attacks that come without provocation or warning.

The conflict works on many levels -- making for a very satisfying read. The story unfolds in a way that keeps us flipping pages to discover what's lurking underneath. The aliens are just plain cool -- ranging from demonic, to monstrous, to bloody horrific, to terrifying and strange. If you're not freaked out by at least one of these then I'd check for a pulse.

You'll find characters from every walk of life -- a soldier, a cop, a guy who loves his wife, a salesman, a drama queen, a pathological killer turned general. Stephen's palate is broad and you'll find yourself as intrigued with the bad guys are you are protective of the good. But there's complexity too. Some of the bad guys don't seem too bad. And some of the 'good guys' aren't people you'd trust as far as you could throw them. There's one who'd likely give Stalin a run for his brutality.

There's grit. You smell the ozone, hear the plasma bolts whizzing by. The characters take extreme risks, have real lives, and many pay the ultimate price.

The story provides major opportunity for heroism. And Stephen doesn't disappoint. Quite the contrary, he pulls off something extraordinary. On the one hand, you have a high tech sci-fi setting complete with advanced science, believable alien races, space travel and a working world government. On the other, you have a lead character of genuine and deep personal faith. It's a combo that's easy to botch. The cold analysis of science would otherwise seem incompatible with the passions of a man of conviction. But Stephens handles it like a pro so the contrast brings out the extremes of both in blazing color. He's genuine and spirited -- a hero straight out of Narnia or Middle Earth living and breathing in a futuristic setting. In sci-fi I've become used to the pragmatic, the clever, and the brutally efficient. But with Scott Remington, I was pleasantly surprised. Here's a guy with heart as well as smarts. It's the perfect icing for an otherwise delicious cake.

So if you've been looking for a fantastic alien invasion story, love great characters, like stories that really scream with action and are a fan of true-to-life heroes you've absolutely got to read this book. Five stars all the way.

Well, like many others I used the rating of others who had read this book before me as a ruler before I put down my own money for the book. So, overall I've very glad that I read it.
GOOD POINTS:
- Good story line. While you don't have all of the questions answered in the beginning of the book...the way the story unfolds have enought information to move you throught the book.
- Interesting characters. Overall they people in the book are easy to understand and follow.
- Humorous writing. This guy reminds me of some other writers in the way he tell his story. The humor and descriptions are among the best I've read in a long time.

BAD POINTS:
- As of July 2007, there's no follow-up book available. As it was in paperback and the title says BOOK 1, I would have thought that the second book was out and available...nope. According to the author's web site, it's done and waiting for release later this year.
- The back-story... OK, I've been a SCIFI reader for more years that I care to count. Some has been REALLY HOT, some has been so bad that I took pleasure in putting the pages through the shredder I use for some paper garbage! I know that you have to suspend your belief of some things to get into the story. Well, in the case of this story, you're dropped into what really is the middle of the story and I found myself wondering about the other people / conditions that wer enot being talked about. Heck, if you read the back cover you have a snipet of a story that happens on the streets of Chicago...once that story ends (great part of the book BTW) you never heard anything about the city or ramifications of the battle, nothing. GEEZ!

Overall I'm very glad I bought / read it and do plan on buying the follow-up book.

Dawn of destiny starts out in the life of Scott Remington, a new solider fresh from the Academy. This is a not-too distant-future, in which different alien races have come to earth, launching offensives with weapons far more advanced than any to be seen on earth. This is Scott's trial of faith and trial by fire, where he must fight to protect earth and all that he cares for.
But he is not alone.
Many other highly enjoyable and interesting characters make their appearances in the story as well. Together these soldiers- men, women, fathers, brothers, sisters all, find themselves thrust together in many areas of the world, fighting against an enemy they know almost nothing about. Other mysterious forces are at work in this novel as well, who's actions will affect both sides in unexpected ways. Scott's faith in God will be put to the test, and throughout this book, he will make, lose, strengthen and weaken relationships with those around him in a way ingeniously written by the author. Deep characters, stunning battles, and even humor have been weaved into this book, making the reader feel connected to the characters in a truly unique way.
I would recommend Dawn of Destiny to anyone who likes science fiction or action. The book is written in an easy to understand way, so even if you don't normally read sci-fi, you can still follow the book perfectly, while slowly becoming immersed in a sci-fi story. I first picked this book up because of another person's recommendation of it. I'm glad they recommended it, otherwise I would have never known about such an interesting book.

Wow, talk about an excellent book! And I don't mean "Wow, this is good for a first novel..." Within the last year I've read three first novels that have blown me away. In no particular order (this is just the order I that I read them):

1) "Warp Speed" by Travis S. Taylor
2) "Old Man's War" by John Scalzi
3) "Epic: Dawn of Destiny"

I read a ton of sci-fi, and by a ton, I mean that I read on average one book per week. If it's a really good one that I can't put down, the time line is even less. For example, I got Dawn of Destiny in the mail Tuesday evening and finished it by Saturday around noon. Just couldn't put the book down -- it was that good.

Lee Stephen's Epic universe draws you in from the very beginning. I really got a sense of being immersed in the world Lee created. The character development is top-notch. I felt an immediate personal connection with all of the characters, not just the major characters. As a Texan, I can say that Jayden was portrayed without any of the typical "Texas" inaccuracies commonly seen in movies or books. Thanks for getting that right. Becan was a great character, he's a fighter with a great sense of humor. David is more of the "old man" but blends with the rest really well. Scott is a natural born leader without any of the air of superiority lots carry. He just does what needs to be done and does it well.

The combat scenes are incredible. Keep them coming!!! I hope to see more of the Necrilid - when they appeared in the book, they were used very well.

The ending reaches a natural finishing point and I expect the next book to pick up right where it left off.

Two words: "Battering ram!"