Customer Reviews

Pandora's Redoubt (Deathlands, No. 50)

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4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(3)
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I am a long time reader of Deathlands, and have read it through the highs and lows that every series goes through. However, with Pandora's...a lack of continuity and editorial work has continued to plague a top notch adventure series. The reading of this book, from a stand alone perspective is quite enjoyable. The action scenes and probability explorations of a futureworld after a holocaust are well done, giving the reader a feel for the post-nuke Deathlands. But a lack of understanding for the main characters of the series hurts it greatly. Longtime readers of the series will understand what I mean. Character interaction and development seems to have become a thing of the past, with the cast only going from one battle to another. They are slowly becoming cardboard cutouts without depth. However, I continue reading in hopes that an overall storyline will again make itself felt. All in all, a fair Deathlands fix, but a lowering of the quality of the goods.

I just finished reading the latest Deathlands offering and would like to share my views on it.

First, the re-view is actually a 3.5 out of five, but since we can't put up the half points I have to give it a three. But for the record it's getting a 3.5 from me.

The reason I am giving it a 3.5 are as follows. Here are the things that I didn't like about it. The biggest thing was yet ANOTHER mutant power that Krysty has developed. That makes three new powers she's exhibited since Stoneface.

Those of you who know me and my reviews know that I can't stand weird mutants. And this book had another one. The whole situation around this particular mutant was, in my opinion very similar to Deep Rising but set on land. Still, I must admit that if this was a genetically engineered creature, it would make one heck of a weapon.

Lastly, I don't think the characters were up to snuff but lets face it, every writer will write the characters differently.

Those are the things that I didn't care about. Now for the things I did like!

The Wards and Novaville. It was said in the novel that Novaville had at one time been a prison. I was very impressed on how the writer showed how the society would have evolved after nearly one hundred years. I won't go into full details as it would take too much time but I was quite impressed.

The second thing I liked about the book was the 'Ranger' and the problems that it brought with it. Again I won't go into many details but I liked it! Had overtones of the movie 'The Beast' from the late 80's.

Yet another thing that really caught my attention was how a lot of the descendants viewed technology as either magic or legend. My hats off to the writer.

Overall if you like lots of non stop action, with overtones of military adventure, this book is for you.

Keep up the work, I hope that your next novel continues to get even better!

Pandora's Redoubt has alot going on in the story, but lacks the depth needed to flesh out characters and story. The story starts off as Ryan and his band are in the mist of escaping a redoubt that is collapsing under a torrent of lava. The survivalist escape by the skin of their teeth to another redoubt. All is not well in this new redoubt as they discover they are not alone. Apparently raiders have invaded the redoubt. After a brief battle against some mutie dogs, Ryan and JB discover the raiders have been building a gigantic tank that is dubbed "Leviathan". Being the perfect vehicle to tour the new area the group has jumped into, Ryan and Co. take Leviathan out for a spin. In doing so, they a cybernetic battle tank called "Ranger" that guards the redoubt and a city nearby. After an intense battle the survivalist defeat the tank, but not without risking damage to Leviathan. Ryan decides to take Leviathan to the city in hopes of finding a garage to inflict repairs. Meanwhile, Ranger, not so defeated as we are led to believe follows Leviathan to the city. In the city another battle ensues and Ryan manages to topple a building under Ranger burying it. Afterwards, the group stops at a gas station to look for tools and parts to repair Leviathan. While investigating the area, Ryan and his son Dean come upon a woman being brutally raped by a bike gang. Ryan tells Dean that they cannot help, since their survival is more important than helping the woman's. Dean however disobeys, and in turn help frees the woman. The freedom comes with a unwelcome repayment as the woman manages to knock out the entire group with a knock out gas. The woman, a heir to the nearby ville, wants the tank for herself to defeat the Ranger that guards the city and redoubt. Riches await in the city, and dommination of Deathlands is her aspiration. What happens to Ryan and his group? Taken prisoner? Tortured? Someone put to death? You'll have to read the book and find out...

Pros for reading Pandora's Redoubt:

There is alot of action and gritty violence going on in the story. Alot of interesting characters and strange new technology are introduced. The Ranger tank was also a interesting antagonist in the story. A benevolent machine doing it's duty in protecting the redoubt and city, but unaware that it's creators have wipped themselves out in the nukecaust.

Cons For Pandora's Redoubt: With everything that was introduced into the story i.e.; characters and tech, there was little exploration into the how's and why's on how things came to be. Why was the Ranger made? What are it's full capabilities? The city covered in ivy, what advanced technology is contained in the city? Also, what is up with Krysty? It seems that the writers for Deathlands are trying to make Krysty into some sort of super-mutant with special powers. In the last book, Krysty had this ability to move had hyper-fast speeds. In this book she has the ability to infuse energy into people like a jolt of caffine for sleepy individual. I personally don't like how the character is being handled in this manner. I have a sick feeling that in upcoming books, Krysty will have more and more powers. I find these new powers to almost be silly and beyond what makes up the character. I hope they center more on the human side of Krysty instead of the magical side.

All in all, Pandora's Redoubt is not a bad book. I'd give it 3.5 stars if I could. Recommended for the Deahtlands fan. I look forward to the next Deathlands book: "The Rat King" coming in September.

You can always tell a Nick Polotta story, its always fast, furious, and full of action. Ryan and his post-holocaust survivors go thru yet another round of survival in the deathlands, but this time they find themselves the ultimate War Wag if you will - in the form of an armored tank named LEVIATHAN. This is a super tank that gets them in a super-lot of trouble. It was a fun read but the only thing that really bothered me was that all of a sudden the entire group knew how to run a battle tank! When did this happen? The only ones with that kind of experience are Ryan and J.B. Now they could teach the rest of the group I suppose, but this was not shown or told in any way and to me it was a weakness in the storyline. It just seemed weird that Doc and Jak just knew how to use this high-tech machine with no problems. But despite that, overall it was a fun enough read and I for some reason really liked the very ending, it made me wonder why the story wasn't as neat and colorful as that?