Five Star Science Fiction/Fantasy - Surviving Frank [Hardcover]

David A. Page (Author)

Book Description

Series: Five Star Science Fiction/Fantasy | Publication Date: August 2, 2003

Frank was famous for his expert investigative skills, his unorthodox techniques, and the fact that he was a werewolf. Ryan is human, promoted to detective by Internal Affairs. His first assignment is to investigate Frank's methods. Posing as the werewolf's new partner, wrestling with his own guilt and insecurities as a cop and as a spy, he assists Frank in a murder investigation while simultaneously gathering evidence against him. As Ryan and Frank search for answers, they discover that the governor could be the next target in a string of murders. With the politics of Boston hanging in the balance, the partners must tolerate one another long enough to find the killer before he can strike again. (20021201)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"From a darkly humorous tale of the power of words (Death and the Librarian) to a never-before-published response to events of September 11 (Ilion), Friesner's 12 stories illustrate the author's acutely sensitive vision of wonder in the everyday world... Known primarily for his 'Star Wars' novels... Zahn's short stories also deliver strong plots and memorable characters... Zebrowski's many novels (e.g. Macrolife) mark him as a visionary as well as a master of hard sf. The ten short stories collected in In the Distance provide a benchmark of his creativity... the author expands his concept of the human condition to embrace the stars. Part of Five Star's continuing commitment to showcasing the short fiction of the genre's most prominent author's, these three volumes belong in most libraries where short sf is popular."
-- Library Journal (December 2002) (Library Journal 20020615)

"...Part of Five Star's continuing commitment to showcasing the short fiction of the genre's most prominent authors, these three volumes (Death and the Librarian and Other Stories/ Star Song and Other Stories/ In the Distance, and Ahead in Time) belong in most libraries where short sf is popular."
-- Library Journal (December 2002) (Library Journal )

"Four more titles in Five Star's new series (God Is an Iron and Other Stories/ Generation Gap and Other Stories/ The Lady Vanishes and Other Oddities of Nature/ Suppose They Gave a Peace and Other Stories) of short fiction by noteworthy sf authors offer a variety of tales that illustrate the depth and staying power of the genre...Most of the stories in these volumes have only appeared in periodicals. Libraries wishing to augment their sf or short fiction collections should consider any of them."
-- Library Journal (June 2002) (Library Journal )

"An original and darkly funny read..."
-- Romantic Times (Romantic Times )

"...a fun and funny light read, and the plot was solid if quirky..as light comedy Surviving Frank works well..."
-- The SF Site (The SF Site )

"A hybrid of supernatural an dsuper-funky, the horror/comedy/cop adventure Surviving Frank is a droll trawl through historic Boston like no other...Quick in the reading, easy to like, Survivng Frank goes down as smoothly as the pastries Frank gobbles while careening through Boston traffic or engaged in a full-on battle royale, armed with salad bar utensils, against foppish heavies. In short, this book is a howl."
-- wigglefish.com (wigglefish.com )

Product Details

• Hardcover: 272 pages
• Publisher: Five Star; 1 edition (August 2, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786256346
• ISBN-13: 978-0786256341
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,958,290 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Frank is back in hardcover!, October 19, 2003

By A Customer

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Five Star Science Fiction/Fantasy - Surviving Frank (Hardcover)

David Page has taken a different turn with his book "Surviving Frank." The book immediately takes a distinctive look at detective work from the eyes of someone who is not quite accepted in his community, but who is otherwise dedicated to his work.

Frank's adventures and misadventures help us to look at a serious issue from someone who is really not that serious about himself. This approach not only shows us that we are all human, well except for Frank in a manner of speaking, but also shows that the unorthodox approach might be the best approach. Page shows this time and time again with his character development as well as his writing style.

For his first novel Page has really opened some doors in literature. It's a good read for those of you who want a light read, some good laughs and a story which is most unconventional.

4.0 out of 5 stars Unique Story, Talented Author, December 2, 2006

By 

Molly "Book Nerd NYC" (NEW YORK, NY, United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Five Star Science Fiction/Fantasy - Surviving Frank (Hardcover)

How does one classify a novel in which a detective werewolf living in Boston begins working on a new case with his 13th partner? Mystery, horror, and a touch of humor all intertwine to make a unique story.

In Surviving Frank, David A. Page has created a fantasy world in the reality of Boston city life. Frank, known to his friends as Hairy, has been down on his luck. His wife is dead, he's become a werewolf, and he's lost 12 partners. Now he's faced with a new challenge: a rookie goody-two-shoes partner named Ryan. The case? The murder of a scientist at the Boston Public Library.

Yes, the library scene sucked me right into the story. Since I've never been to that particular library, I'll have to take the author's description as truth (Page lived in Boston, so I'm not taking much of a leap of faith here). I only wish that Frank and Ryan had spent more time working the case in the library. But if I want a good mystery that deals with books, I can always fall back on John Dunning's "Booked" series.

I couldn't really relate to Frank or his situation, but two other characters really stood out for me. Ryan, Frank's rookie partner, always has good intentions. Yet as he spends more time with Frank, his personality becomes more developed; as if Frank is pulling him out of his shell. Violet also caught my attention. She's a journalist who helps them on the case. Why did she capture my attention? The name alone would have done it. But she's also a smart, spunky person who can take care of herself and usually gets what she's after. I'm impressed that a male writer could do such a good job writing a strong female secondary character.

5.0 out of 5 stars Offbeat and witty, February 12, 2004

By 

Bo (Libertyville, IL United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Five Star Science Fiction/Fantasy - Surviving Frank (Hardcover)

A mystery with many twists and detours along the way. This book is a hybrid for those who enjoy fantasy/science fiction, but also like to sit down with a good classic mystery. Strange characters, vividly come alive as you come to the surprising conclusion. Buy this book!