Logos Run (Runner) (Hardcover)

by William C. Dietz (Author)
Key Phrases: lum bugs, combat variant, gate seed, Techno Society, Emperor Hios, New Wimmura (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
At the start of Dietz's fast-moving sequel to Runner (2005), human civilization is about to lapse into a new dark age after the collapse of an interstellar empire threatens to isolate many of the inhabited worlds. However, the web of star gates that once spanned the empire may be reactivated if the duo of super-courier Jak Rebo and ESP-sensitive Lonni Norr can deliver the shape-changing AI, Logos, to the control center housed in the artificial satellite of a remote planet. Antitechnology fanatics would do anything to prevent that, the unscrupulous Techno Society craves the power that will accompany control of the restored network, and Logos has selfish plans of its own. In addition, the disembodied spirits of dead characters hang around to influence the action and sometimes to possess the bodies of the living. In a military SF novel that will entertain readers with a taste for cheerfully casual mayhem, much treachery and betrayal ensue, and there's seldom a dull-or quiet-moment.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist
Dietz's stories have in common intrigue, action, romance, and a well-realized setting. Here the intrigue comes from runner Jak Rebo's efforts to deliver an artificial intelligence named Logos to its destination. The romance comes from Jak's sensitive female companion. The action comes from everybody else and their brother-in-law trying to stop this run. And the setting is a postholocaust universe that Logos may help to recover and that meanwhile recalls H. Beam Piper's classic Space Viking (1963). Roland Green
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 368 pages
• Publisher: Ace Hardcover; F First Edition Hardcover edition (October 3, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0441014283
• ISBN-13: 978-0441014286
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.2 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,077,408 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Journey to Socket, February 12, 2008

By	Arthur W. Jordin (Smyrna, GA USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Logos Run (Paperback)

Logos Run (2006) is the second SF novel in the Runner series, following Runner. In the previous volume, Jak Rebo, Lanni Norr and Bo Hoggles deliver Tra Lee to CaCanth on Thara, where he becomes the Inwa. Then Jak visits his home village.

In this novel, Rebo is hired on Thara by the spirit of Milos Lysander to escort Logos -- a wearable artificial intelligence -- to Socket to reestablish the star gate system. Norr and Hoggles go along with him, Lanni because she is falling in love with Rebo and Bo because he loves Norr. First, they will take the starship Shewhoswimsthevoid to the planet Derius.

In Tryst on Thara, the night before they leave, the trio attends the Circus Solara. Norr becomes upset with the cruel way that the ringmaster treats a L-phant and confronts the circus performer. The other troupe members defend their leader and both Rebo and Bo are dragged into the conflict. The audience cheers on the trio as they fight the circus troupe.

In Seros on Anafa, the Techno Society is still seeking Logos. Omar Tepho hires the sensitive Dyson to channel the disincarnate spirit of Jevan Kane. The former Techno operative has big plans for Logos. He also doesn't want to leave Dyson's body.

Tepho sends Shaz - the combat variant -- with the assassin Du Phan after the sensitive Norr. They use the Society star gate to travel to Thara. Shaz infiltrates the Runner Guild facility in Tryst and searches for Logos in the room occupied by Rebo, Norr and Hoggles. When he finds nothing, Shaz awaits the return of the trio.

Returning to their room, Norr suffers another manifestation by the spirit Lysander. Taking over her body, he warns Rebo and Hoggles of Shaz's presence. However, they cannot see the combat variant and Shaz quickly decides to let them live until he can follow them to Socket. He departs the room, leaving Rebo and Hoggles asking Lysander who and what had been there.

In this story, the starship shuttle arrives on Thara, but no passengers depart. Rebo and his friends hang back while the other travelers crowd aboard. They board last so they can be the first to enter the starship.

The Circus Solara also boards the starship shuttle. Rebo thinks that their presence is a coincidence, but he takes action to counter possible moves by the irritated circus troupe. Initially, the trio seize the water supply on the ship. Later, Rebo shoots a sniper trying to shoot him.

This story takes Rebo, Norr and Hobbles to Derius and beyond. They face three murderous brothers on the ship, find that the star gate in New Wimmura on Derius is down, and travel toward Feda to continue their journey. Eventually they discover that Logos intends to go to Haafa before traveling on to Socket.

Rebo, Norr and Hoggles have several adventures in their quest. They almost die on Derius. Later, Norr is shot and almost dies. Overall, their journey is very hazardous.

Highly recommended for Dietz fans and for anyone else who enjoys tales of adventurous quests, technological artifacts, and true romance.

-Arthur W. Jordin

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fast action, solid characterization and an even continuation of a fine tale and universe makes LOGOS RUN a top pick., December 13, 2006

By	Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

If you enjoyed the first book in Dietz's new 'Runner' series, LOGOS RUN is a pick for you: prior readers will easily segue into the sequel to RUNNER, which continues the story of Jak Rebo, an interstellar courier to whom time and place is a snap and Earth a myth. Humanity is scattered amongst the stars - and the only intelligent life there - and interstellar couriers like Jak make a living delivering between systems. Now Jak possesses a sentient computer, Logos, who wants to reactivates star gates to change the world... fast action, solid characterization and an even continuation of a fine tale and universe makes LOGOS RUN a top pick.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars fine space opera, October 4, 2006

By	Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews (#1 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

In the very far distant future, an interstellar civilization developed that spread throughout the distant star systems. Humanity advanced because of star gates which allowed instant travel from one planet to another no matter what star system they were in. The star gates went offline after revolution decimated whole systems and the long slide into barbarianism has begun. Few star gates remain operational with most of those run by the mysterious Techno Society whose leader is Omar Tepho.

Runner Jak Rebo, sensitive Lonni Nor, heavy worlder Bo Hoggless and sentient A.I. Logos are on the planet Thara keeping a promise to a dead man, Lysander who in an early age was the Emperor Hios. His corrupt rule instigated the revolution and now he wants to make amends by having Logos install itself on the plant Sprocket so that the AI can start reseeding the star gates to enable civilization to climb back to its former glory. Tepho wants control of the star gates and as the heroes travel from planet to planet for reasons known only to the crafty Logos, Tepho and his minion are either there or one stop behind them.

Williams C. Dietz is one of the grandmasters of space opera. LOGOS RUN is full of action adventure, intrigue and surprises as the protagonists strive to do what is best for humanity by not letting the star gates fall into hands where they would be used to rule over mankind. Logos almost steals the show as he has his own agenda and manipulates those around to help him carry out his plans. The well thought out storyline is populated by interesting characters representing a civilization on a downward spiral.

Harriet Klausner