Customer Reviews

Sumdar, the Tetralogy: Book One: Birth Into Dreams

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I am a big sci-fi/fantasy fan.Ashimov's foundations, Dunes deserts,Clark's missions and Tolkien's Middle Earth.Even in imagination or far into the future or the past all was very real in their own sense. 'Sumdar'. It was quite different than the books that I have read.The story was the present, the now but had all the fantasies and dreams of another time and space. It makes you think about the Chinese philosopher who wondered if he was the butterfly in his dreams.'Dreams within dreams'.At first the story was vague and random making me wonder where it was heading towards. But as the story got deeper it was much more than I had expected. Every dream and reality was so tastefully intertwined that it makes you wonder at each step where you are. It brings out all the deep down fantasies and doubts and hopes and pulls it up into reality making you wonder what universe I, the reader, am in. Although the world that Pierre is in is imaginative, for me it was quite real. Maybe more so than any of the other books that I have read. It questions science,history,people,literature,religion and so on. Making you wonder what it means to be living in 'this' universe. If the world you are living really is 'the' universe.
The book starts out slow but as it gets to the end and as the random pieces fit together you get totally sucked into it. I read this book in a day. I couldn't stop reading.
I don't have any doubt that this book will be one of the best sci-fi/fantasy stories to be. I can't wait for the next book.

This is a story based on the premise of an alternative evolutionary branch of human beings called the Sumdar. Sumdars are fascinating, seemingly immortal, beings that live amongst ordinary humans. They look just like ordinary humans, and only Sumdars can recognize the difference. Sumdars have a fascinating and rich culture, a utilitarian and philisophical religion, a unique language, but most importantly, Sumdars have extraordinary, yet plausible, abilities that are far beyond what ordinary humans can ever imagine.
The story is told in four parts. The first book, subtitled Birth Into Dreams, has a character-driven plot that is rich in its use of imagery. The main character, a young American man of French ancestry, Pierre, is forced into a metamorphosis of both mind and body as he discovers that he is not the ordinary human he thought he was. As he experiences numerous adventurous encounters with several fascinating and eccentric Sumdar characters, he is haunted by the mysterious disappearance of his first true love, Grace. The story builds up with almost unbearable suspense in anticipation of answers that are laced into the countless unexpected twists of fate.
The story builds momentum as it draws the reader into what is likely to be considered a great work of American literature. This truly original concept is so well developed, that it will easily gain its status as one of the great legends to be born in the 21st century. Dare the reader to put this book down, and the reader will undoubtedly continue reading, unable to stop. Upon finishing this first book in the series of four, the reader will beg to know when book number two is expected to be released.

This story was a refreshing change from the typical ... that is pervasive today. I liked the fact that the plot didn't depend on pornography, vulgarity, violence or horror in order to get your attention. I found myself drawn into the point where I had to keep reading - It was confusing at first, but that just made me want to figure it out even more. The voice of the narrator can be eccentric at times, but that goes along with some of the weird characters. I also enjoyed trying to figure out the symbolism that obviously runs throughout the book - I think the most obvious clues are given within the Kunyar information. I give it five stars because I think the Sumdar story idea has great potential - I'm curious to see where this is heading in books two, three and four.

Anyone who regards themselves as a scientist would agree the biggest scientific hype over the last decade is certainly discovery of the genome. This book contains cutting edge implications that stretch the imagination of the possibilities of DNA and bioterrorism. Although the book starts off a little slow, once the story develops its roller coaster pace leaves the reader compelled to finish the book in one sitting. Excellent work!

Ever get annoyed of things being explained away as magical? If so, then you may very well want to pick this book up. Warinner sets forth on a task to broach the barrier which many authors use as a security blanket - the one that allows the most amazing things to occur while using mysticism as the single word excuse for its possibility. By doing this the reader begins to consider that the unlikely can actually occur. This is integrated into a rather directed plot that leads you deep into the world of Sumdar. One can only hope that Book Two will be at least as entertaining.

If this book wasn't a gift from a friend, I'm sure I wouldn't have purchased it myself. The author attempted rather clumsily to deliver symbolic imagery within his main character's, Pierre's (notice that "Pierre" is French for "Peter", the author's name), dream sequences. These are just too painful and transparent to follow. As I read on, I found it difficult to believe the interaction between Pierre and other people. It just seemed like they were speaking AT each other and not TO each other. I see that the author is a doctor. Great. Wonderful. He is able to convey various scientific facts throughout this book, but I felt like he just plopped these bits of information into the dialogue without giving much consideration as to how people would actually vocalize them. It was like reading some sort of educational science text and not science fiction. Plus how could this Pierre surrender his way of life so quickly?! IT MADE NO SENSE! The plot itself didn't even actually begin until the last two chapters, leading up to an all too abrupt ending (probably to generate interest in the second book, where the real story will most likely begin). The author rushed everything and gave no deep thought to interweave the information into the stories progression.

I am not usually a science fiction lover, but the cover of this book intrigued me. I was not dissapointed by the story. It starts out fairly predictable, but soons has you guessing what you assumed you knew. Very well thought out. If you don't usually read in this genre- this is a good book to start with.

Much depth in the characters that transport you to a different time and place through the use of dream and reality sequences. There are lessons to be learned by all humanity to achieve the spiritual plane much like in the Sumdar world. I'm not an avid sci-fi reader, but I very much look forward to the next book in the series.

I wouldn't compare this book to The Lord of The Rings yet. But I see a
glimpse of it. The physical universe of this book is here on earth but
the whole scale of this book is not limited to here. The possibilities
of the human mind is endless. It portrays a simple story from the
outside but the metaphor in each event and characters make you think
of another deeper world.
It is a great book and I can't wait for the second book to come out.
If the first book gave you a small view of what the world of Sumdars
and Kunyar, I am sure the following books give me the details of
this fascinating world. I hope the second book will come out soon.

When my friend sent me this book from the US, I thought it was rather a weird(?) recommendation. I am not that much into fantasy and science fiction. However, to my surprise it was a great book to read. At first there were missing links I couldn't make out but as I read each chapter and find the connection between them it was all very exciting. Especially, the whole concept of gunyar and sumdars were totally mind boggling. Just when you think you know the world you are living in you begin to wonder which one you are actually lIVING in.
Great book, highly recommended.