Customer Reviews

Season of Passage

5 star:		(148)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I reviewed this book back in July of 2002 using lots of cheesy descriptors and verbosity. Well, I still love the book as much as ever, although this time I'm not compelled to launch into any cliches.

I DO however want to expand more on what you might THINK you know about this book. Pike is well known as an author of teen horror, but this is not a young adult novel. I feel that Pike's established reputation as a teen horror writer actually could have hurt this book because it makes it less likely to be taken seriously by adult readers and the literary community in general. It is most definitely for a mature audience and can MORE than hold its own for content and quality against the novels of any other respected authors of adult fiction. I find myself shocked that this book was never "discovered" by the literary community because it is really quite brilliant. Like most of the reviewers I grew up reading Pike's YA fiction and was actually a little surprised by this book, which is a very mature and adult story. You probably want me to get to some point, so here it is: This is NOT a young adult novel so please do not disregard it just because of Pike's reputation as a teen horror author. Don't make the mistake of the general literary community and overlook this book based on your preconceived notions about Pike's work.

On to another point. I was reading the reviews, and I was overwhelmed by a common thread that repeated over and over. Snippets like "I've read this book x number of times"... "I'm on my second copy because I read my first one out" ... "this is my favorite book of all time"... "10 years later this is still the best book I've ever read"... What's my new point? I see very few books with reviews that are so repetitive and consistent in such a manner. Almost everyone who discovers this book finds it to be something really special and worth coming back to over and over. Maybe one lone reviewer could be nuts, but take a quick look over the reviews, and you'll discover that almost all of us are saying the same thing. So give it a shot.

READ THIS BOOK.

As a Yale student, I have read, analyzed, and been lectured on the best works of the western world's literary cannon. But I've also read my share of supermarket fiction--some of which is good escapism, some of which is just awful. I was given Season of Passage for my birthday a number of years ago, and, expecting it to fit somehwere in the range of the supermarket fiction books, was greatly surprised to find that it belonged in a much higher class. This book is a masterpiece, and I mean that in the sense that it has true literary value. A brilliant page-turner, it's one of my favorite novels--along with Crime and Punishment and the Brothers Karamazov. The Season of Passage is a true gem for avid sci-fi fans, and definitely worth the interest of those fed on the classics. This is the only Pike book I have read, and whether or not he just got lucky in writing such a fabulous work, I do not know, but I will attest to the merits of Season.

This is my all-time favourite Christopher Pike book, and quite possible my favourite book in general. This superb blend of horror, science-fiction, and fantasy captivates the reader the whole way through and the story-within-a-story concept encourages the reader to keep on reading to find out what happens to Chaneen's kingdom and Lauren's expedition to Mars. I would recommend this book to anyone who has an open mind (don't you just hate those stubborn people who refuse to enjoy something different). I remember when I first read this book two summers ago, I was enchanted and unable to put it down (I even ignored my girlfriend), and since, I have lent it to all my friends. Please, read this. It is an extraordinary read and it changed my life.

I was nine when I read "Season," for the first time. I remember I did not sleep for a few days after I finished it - not out of fear, but out of complete and utter awe. I knew then that all I wanted to do was write books and be in love with Mr. Pike. Now, at the ripe age of 29 and an MFA Fiction Grad student, I still want thoes 2 things! I just re-read this spectacular and epic piece of amazing writing, my copy glued back together at least 5 times, (too hard to part with and buy a new one) and I am in love all over again. We are getting old, dear Pike followers, and we still come back again and again. I have saved every paperback for my kids to love and cherish when they get a bit older ( they are 5 and 2 right now).

There is such a deep and wonderful search for te human spirit in these books, all the books! Words can hardly say what it is and why we love him so. I have used this book in my Intro to Creative writing to excite and instill a burning love of stories. The science fiction, the fantasy, the pain, and the horror are just what lies on the surface - as all of his true fans know, the heart of these stories is a deep truth about who we are, how we love, and what we are capable of.

Christopher Pike is Literature!! Read this book if you are unfortunate to have never done so! See the beauty and be happy you listened to all of us!

I first read this book at age 12, when it was published in 1993. At the time the concepts were very mature and, in retrospect, I probably wouldn't let a thirteen-year old pick this up - but my mother recognized the author as a teen horror writer who was one of my very favorites and did not relaize the level of adult subject matter.
Something brought me back to this book again and again over the years. True, I often came back to many Pike books, but this one outlasted my maturation into adulthood and remains exalted on my bookshelf as my all-time favorite. At some point I vowed to read the book each and every year, and at 21 I have nearly succeeded and probably read it eight or so times.
This book is always new to me. It is always haunting, and beautiful, with multiple stories and characters who are so real that they live on in my memory long after I have put the book down. I used to spend hours lending names and faces of famous people to the characters, for the movie that I am convinced this could become.
I cannot recommend this book highly enough. It is netiher horror nor romance, sci-fi nor mystery, but something strange and compelling which encompasses all genres. It may sound peculiar but I have never read another book that infuses such a feeling of ... well, rapture. Reading rapture! Hokey, yes. Nonetheless - this book will stay with you.
I cannot wait to read it again.

"The Season of Passage" takes place in the then-future of 2004. An expedition to Mars sets in motion an ancient curse set to to destroy mankind. They realize there are far worse things in the red planet than Martians. As far-fetched as that may seem, Pike grounds the story with believable, likable characters and a beautifully written story-within-a-story explains how everything fits together.

I've been a fan of Christopher Pike for about a decade now. When I first read "The Season of Passage" such a long time ago, it became an instant favorite of mine. I thought it was incredible and having re-read it recently I'm still amazed at how thought out and intricately woven everything was- how the little details mentioned early in the story being re-introduced and taking on larger significance later on. This is Pike's best novel.

I first read this book, when I was 16 years old and could not put it down. To this day (7 years later) it is still the scarist book I ever read. But I am currently reading it for the seventh time. Everytime I read it I notice something I missed the first time around. Buy this book in hard back because you'll definitely want to read it more than once.
Season of Passage is primarily the story the US exploration to Mars that go to do research and find out what happened to the Russian crew that went before them. But the terror starts long before any of them ever leave the ground. With vivid nightmares and an unexplainable pull and dread of the 'dead' planet. There is also the underlying story that is being written by the younger sister of the main character. At the end the two stoies combine to an ending that will leave you wanting more and eager to read it again and again...
There is so much about this book I could tell you but I won't for fear of giving the story away. But Mr. Pike did an extrodinary job of developing characters that seemed real enugh to touch, and invoke an emotional response from the reader. It's the little details that make this book great, and most readers won't recognize the significance till the last page. (Think Sixth Sense) This book is a must read.

This is an unbelievably absorbing book, a veritable page turner. It will entertain anyone who enjoys horror, science fiction, or fantasy books. It combines all three genres successfully.

The book involves a trip to Mars by a group of Americans, who seek to unravel a mystery intimated by a Russian expedition to Mars, which never returned to Earth and seemingly vanished. Part of the American team includes a Dr. Lauren Wagner, who leaves behind a thirteen year old sister, Jennifer, who has premonitions of disaster on Mars. Dr. Wagner leaves her sister in the care and custody of her boyfriend, reporter Terry Hayes.

Central to the book is a story of fantasy written by Jennifer about two ancient races, the Asurians and the Sastra. To simplify, the Asurians are evil and the Sastra are good. Their tale of conflict is spellbinding and allegorical to the central, yet parallel story of the expedition to Mars.

Suffice to say that what is encountered on Mars is chilling and terrifying. The Americans come across an ostensible survivor of the Russian expedition. It turns out that he is something else. It is something from the beginning of time which has lain dormant for eons and now threatens the Earth itself. It makes human beings not human anymore. It turns them into something very, very scary.

The apparent survival and return to Earth by Dr. Lauren Wagner and Major Gary Wheeler, pilot of the mission to Mars expedition, raises questions by those who know and love them. They sense that Lauren and Gary are not who they purport to be. They are now different somehow. Could they be... vampires?

The clue on how to stop the potential destruction of the human race lies in the allegorical tale. This fantasy (or is it?) has the answers. This book is unbelievably creative and imaginative. Yet, somehow the author manages to make the combination of genres work flawlessly, weaving it all into an enthralling novel. This is an old fashioned, page turning, must read book. It is simply one of the best and most engrossing books I have ever read.

This is an unbelievably absorbing book, a veritable page turner. It will entertain anyone who enjoys horror, science fiction, or fantasy books. It combines all three genres successfully.

The book involves a trip to Mars by a group of Americans, who seek to unravel a mystery intimated by a Russian expedition to Mars, which never returned to Earth and seemingly vanished. Part of the American team includes a Dr. Lauren Wagner, who leaves behind a thirteen year old sister, Jennifer, who has premonitions of disaster on Mars. Dr. Wagner leaves her sister in the care and custody of her boyfriend, reporter Terry Hayes.

Central to the book is a story of fantasy written by Jennifer about two ancient races, the Asurians and the Sastra. To simplify, the Asurians are evil and the Sastra are good. Their tale of conflict is spellbinding and allegorical to the central, yet parallel story of the expedition to Mars.

Suffice to say that what is encountered on Mars is chilling and terrifying. The Americans come across an ostensible survivor of the Russian expedition. It turns out that he is something else. It is something from the beginning of time which has lain dormant for eons and now threatens the Earth itself. It makes human beings not human anymore. It turns them into something very, very scary.

The apparent survival and return to Earth by Dr. Lauren Wagner and Major Gary Wheeler, pilot of the mission to Mars expedition, raises questions by those who know and love them. They sense that Lauren and Gary are not who they purport to be. They are now different somehow. Could they be... vampires?

The clue on how to stop the potential destruction of the human race lies in the allegorical tale. This fantasy (or is it?) has the answers. This book is unbelievably creative and imaginative. Yet, somehow the author manages to make the combination of genres work flawlessly, weaving it all into an enthralling novel. This is an old fashioned, page turning, must read book. It is simply one of the most entertaining and engrossing books I have ever read.

I'm not usually into sci-fi books, but I read The Season of Passage and I loved it! It didn't seem like a sci-fi book to me. It was more horror and suspense. The first time I read it I stayed up until I just couldn't read anymore because I was so tired. I couldn't put it down. When I read it the second time, and I usually don't read books more than once, I still couldn't put it down. The story is really good. I would recommend it to anyone who likes horror and suspense books. There is some explicit language, but overall it is an excellent book.