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The D-Evolution #1
Death Drop
In a time when a live Human specimen would fetch a king’s ransom on the black market, being a smuggler seemed like the perfect front to search for her people. But the cost of Dezmara Strykar’s operation has forced her to win each smuggling run she enters. Now every smuggler is gunning for her top position, and her rare black Zebulon star freighter makes her an easily recognizable target.
But dodging jealous smugglers, safeguarding her Human identity and solving the mystery surrounding who she is will become harder than she ever imagined. A mysterious creature in a black Zebulon star freighter has murdered a freedom fighter and has stolen the only weapon that can save countless worlds from an unspeakable evil. Dezmara’s next run will turn into much more than just cover to search for Humans. Dezmara Strykar just became the most wanted murder suspect in the universe. Now she is going to have to run for her life.
But dodging jealous smugglers, safeguarding her Human identity and solving the mystery surrounding who she is will become harder than she ever imagined. A mysterious creature in a black Zebulon star freighter has murdered a freedom fighter and has stolen the only weapon that can save countless worlds from an unspeakable evil. Dezmara’s next run will turn into much more than just cover to search for Humans. Dezmara Strykar just became the most wanted murder suspect in the universe. Now she is going to have to run for her life.
560 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 2011
15 people are currently reading
810 people want to read
About the author
Sean Allen
1 book24 followersSean Allen was born in the U.K. to American military parents. He spent a majority of his childhood and early adult years in Colorado, where he earned a B.S. degree in Economics and a M.S. in Engineering and Technology Management from the Colorado School of Mines. Sean spent several years in the thriving Twin Cities arts community as a performing musician. He is currently living in California with his wife, indulging his love for writing and the great outdoors.
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August 22, 2011
On October 1, 2011, Death Drop will burst onto the scene, leaving a trail of genre bending destruction in its wake. This explosive debut novel by Sean Allen is the first book set in The D-Evolution series.
Humans are dead. That’s right, they were completely wiped out 400,000 years ago; however, the universe is still populated by a myriad assortment of sentient life. That life is threatened by the Durax, a heinous race whose bodies are weak, but whose mind-controlling abilities have enabled them to conquer, destroy and enslave all who cross their path. Fortunately, all is not lost. A group of rebels known as The Dissension has a serum enabling them to withstand the Durax’s telepathic assaults. Or at least they did. The serum is no longer safe and the Dissension is slowly losing their rebellion to the Durax.
Dezmara Stryker has heard the stories of humans, and it seems that somehow she is one, possibly the last one. She is willing to go to any lengths to keep that fact hidden. Smuggling comes easy to Dezmara and is the perfect front as she searches for information on other humans. She has quickly become the best smuggler around, gaining a solid reputation, but that reputation comes with a cost… recognition.
A double-cross leaves a top Dissension soldier dead, and Dezmara is the prime suspect. When multiple enemies start pursuing Dezmara, she is forced to muster every last ounce of her intellect, strength and skills to avoid being killed. Death Drop starts with a BANG and ends with a BOOM!
It’s a jungle out there
Death Drop has many different races; each one is described in such detail that it felt like watching anime in my brain. Many are molded after Earth animals and have a variety of awesome talents. It’s clear these races have been culturally immersed for a very long time. Almost all have been terrorized in some way by the Durax. Many are enslaved; some, transformed into crazed super soldiers, have taken advantage of the turmoil and formed immense criminal empires or joined forces with the Durax; and a brave few stand in rebellion. The rest are just trying to survive, if they haven’t already been completely wiped out.
Dezmara is a heroine with a quick wit and insane skills. She’s River Tam on steroids (well, at least with an awesome flight suit, helmet and weaponry). Every scene involving this high octane smuggler was heart-pounding fun. I enjoyed her encounters with the various denizens of the universe, although the accent of Luv, her mechanic, got pretty annoying. (I liked him, but I often wished he would lose his tongue.) I absolutely loved her guard cat, Diodojo.
Other characters were equally impressive. From the grizzled war veteran with the powers of Ice to the murderous, soul stealing enemy General, the various characters had distinctive personalities, striking physical descriptions and amazing abilities.
I might need a neck brace
Every turn of the page brings about a new twist, intense space battle, or a fantastic new location. The plot develops quickly and the action zips through the pages. Dezmara, who I feel is the most interesting of the characters, doesn’t even show up until a fifth of the way through, but the setup is so good you’ll hardly notice. Once she enters the story, prepare for some serious whiplash. The double-crosses, unexpected twists and mysteries characters continue to the last page.
During many chapters, Allen’s narrative wanders into alternating point of view. This is not my usual preference in novels, but due to the fast-paced nature of the story, it adds to the feel that this is more like a movie or comic book than a novel, which I believe was his intention.
BOOM! KAPOW! CLACK CLACK CLACK!
Death Drop is heavy on the action and almost every page includes some onomatopoeic sound effects. This is another example of Death Drop’s comic book qualities. I’ve seen this used often in graphic novels and comics, but much more sparingly (if at all) in science fiction and fantasy novels. Thankfully, Allen’s use of onomatopoeia enhances the quirky feel of Death Drop and was another distinguishing facet of his style.
I will advise that many scenes have detailed descriptions of gore and heavy doses of R-rated language. It fits with the style of the book, but is not advised for those under 18.
Why should you read this book?
Sean Allen clearly had fun writing this book and I had fun reading it. There’s plenty of high tech gadgetry, cool spaceships, magnetic shields and vast space colonies for the science fiction buff. The fantasy enthusiast will enjoy the multitude of beings that inhabit the Death Drop universe. The ability to move rocks, shape shift, control minds or capture the souls of those they have killed are just a few of the powers presenting a magical touch. There’s something for everyone in this book. The style is different from my typical fare and it won’t suit everyone, but if you’re adventurous, why not give it a go? If you’re still not sure, check out the awesome character art and download 280 pages free (yes, free) at The D-Evolution. Is it anime? Is it a graphic novel? Is it Space Opera? … no, it’s Death Drop.
Humans are dead. That’s right, they were completely wiped out 400,000 years ago; however, the universe is still populated by a myriad assortment of sentient life. That life is threatened by the Durax, a heinous race whose bodies are weak, but whose mind-controlling abilities have enabled them to conquer, destroy and enslave all who cross their path. Fortunately, all is not lost. A group of rebels known as The Dissension has a serum enabling them to withstand the Durax’s telepathic assaults. Or at least they did. The serum is no longer safe and the Dissension is slowly losing their rebellion to the Durax.
Dezmara Stryker has heard the stories of humans, and it seems that somehow she is one, possibly the last one. She is willing to go to any lengths to keep that fact hidden. Smuggling comes easy to Dezmara and is the perfect front as she searches for information on other humans. She has quickly become the best smuggler around, gaining a solid reputation, but that reputation comes with a cost… recognition.
A double-cross leaves a top Dissension soldier dead, and Dezmara is the prime suspect. When multiple enemies start pursuing Dezmara, she is forced to muster every last ounce of her intellect, strength and skills to avoid being killed. Death Drop starts with a BANG and ends with a BOOM!
It’s a jungle out there
Death Drop has many different races; each one is described in such detail that it felt like watching anime in my brain. Many are molded after Earth animals and have a variety of awesome talents. It’s clear these races have been culturally immersed for a very long time. Almost all have been terrorized in some way by the Durax. Many are enslaved; some, transformed into crazed super soldiers, have taken advantage of the turmoil and formed immense criminal empires or joined forces with the Durax; and a brave few stand in rebellion. The rest are just trying to survive, if they haven’t already been completely wiped out.
Dezmara is a heroine with a quick wit and insane skills. She’s River Tam on steroids (well, at least with an awesome flight suit, helmet and weaponry). Every scene involving this high octane smuggler was heart-pounding fun. I enjoyed her encounters with the various denizens of the universe, although the accent of Luv, her mechanic, got pretty annoying. (I liked him, but I often wished he would lose his tongue.) I absolutely loved her guard cat, Diodojo.
Other characters were equally impressive. From the grizzled war veteran with the powers of Ice to the murderous, soul stealing enemy General, the various characters had distinctive personalities, striking physical descriptions and amazing abilities.
I might need a neck brace
Every turn of the page brings about a new twist, intense space battle, or a fantastic new location. The plot develops quickly and the action zips through the pages. Dezmara, who I feel is the most interesting of the characters, doesn’t even show up until a fifth of the way through, but the setup is so good you’ll hardly notice. Once she enters the story, prepare for some serious whiplash. The double-crosses, unexpected twists and mysteries characters continue to the last page.
During many chapters, Allen’s narrative wanders into alternating point of view. This is not my usual preference in novels, but due to the fast-paced nature of the story, it adds to the feel that this is more like a movie or comic book than a novel, which I believe was his intention.
BOOM! KAPOW! CLACK CLACK CLACK!
Death Drop is heavy on the action and almost every page includes some onomatopoeic sound effects. This is another example of Death Drop’s comic book qualities. I’ve seen this used often in graphic novels and comics, but much more sparingly (if at all) in science fiction and fantasy novels. Thankfully, Allen’s use of onomatopoeia enhances the quirky feel of Death Drop and was another distinguishing facet of his style.
I will advise that many scenes have detailed descriptions of gore and heavy doses of R-rated language. It fits with the style of the book, but is not advised for those under 18.
Why should you read this book?
Sean Allen clearly had fun writing this book and I had fun reading it. There’s plenty of high tech gadgetry, cool spaceships, magnetic shields and vast space colonies for the science fiction buff. The fantasy enthusiast will enjoy the multitude of beings that inhabit the Death Drop universe. The ability to move rocks, shape shift, control minds or capture the souls of those they have killed are just a few of the powers presenting a magical touch. There’s something for everyone in this book. The style is different from my typical fare and it won’t suit everyone, but if you’re adventurous, why not give it a go? If you’re still not sure, check out the awesome character art and download 280 pages free (yes, free) at The D-Evolution. Is it anime? Is it a graphic novel? Is it Space Opera? … no, it’s Death Drop.
April 7, 2011
Graphic Debut Space Opera Adventure Romp of the First Order
I love getting to know new authors and this is Sean Allen’s debut novel. From visiting his homepage devolutionnovels.com I knew Sean is a bit of a renaissance man with an entertaining style of writing so I gladly accepted his publishers generous offer of a review copy. Since I haven’t seen fit to give myself a Pad (with or without an i) I read this on my iPhone. It translates to 1660 pages with the font I am using, just shy of 600 pages in print I would say. I like long novels so that was a plus right there.
What is it about? It is set in a universe with lots of different races, all likeness with earth animals intended (see the cast page). But they all have a problem with the Durax, a diminutive race with mind-controlling powers bent on conquering everyone and cruelly bend them to their will. Against them is the Dissension, a rebel organization with a Serum that protects them from the Durax’s mental powers. But something seems to be wrong with the Serum so they set out to catch the assumed culprit who happens to be the last Human (at least as far as she knows, she doesn’t really know she is human but from what she has read she assumes she is). Dezmara Strykar is a feisty rather likeable character and the whole mystery around her added a great deal of appeal to this book. That’s why it was rather frustrating to read the first fifth of the book since she doesn’t appear until then.
The beginning is a rather brilliant battle that makes use of almost every possible trope in military science fiction at least once and some of them many times and I mean that in a positive way. It was thrilling action packed and frustrating because I kept waiting on Dezmara. Things like that is author cruelty.
The rest is a fast paced, thrilling romp of a space opera adventure that just asks for more. There is treason, double-crosses, crash landings, rescues, pirates, traps, gambling, debt slaves, monsters, conspiracies, and strong characters.
You might believe the that writer is a graphic artist since the descriptions are really that, graphic. And that is the only real critic I would like to give, some of the description or events might be unnecessary drawn out due to wordy descriptions. The illustrations are in fact made by Matt Dixon.
Sean calls it ‘Greasepunk’ and it gives me sort of a Warhammer 40k (I have never read any 40k books but played the game) vibe mixed with classic science fiction and a good portion of humor. The banter level is acceptable (you know it is important to me) but it is the simple fun of the action that hooked me. I liked this book more and more as I read it and by the middle I was hooked.
This is a standalone book with a satisfying conclusion but open for more books about the characters and the D-Evolution universe I would gladly sign up for.
I love getting to know new authors and this is Sean Allen’s debut novel. From visiting his homepage devolutionnovels.com I knew Sean is a bit of a renaissance man with an entertaining style of writing so I gladly accepted his publishers generous offer of a review copy. Since I haven’t seen fit to give myself a Pad (with or without an i) I read this on my iPhone. It translates to 1660 pages with the font I am using, just shy of 600 pages in print I would say. I like long novels so that was a plus right there.
What is it about? It is set in a universe with lots of different races, all likeness with earth animals intended (see the cast page). But they all have a problem with the Durax, a diminutive race with mind-controlling powers bent on conquering everyone and cruelly bend them to their will. Against them is the Dissension, a rebel organization with a Serum that protects them from the Durax’s mental powers. But something seems to be wrong with the Serum so they set out to catch the assumed culprit who happens to be the last Human (at least as far as she knows, she doesn’t really know she is human but from what she has read she assumes she is). Dezmara Strykar is a feisty rather likeable character and the whole mystery around her added a great deal of appeal to this book. That’s why it was rather frustrating to read the first fifth of the book since she doesn’t appear until then.
The beginning is a rather brilliant battle that makes use of almost every possible trope in military science fiction at least once and some of them many times and I mean that in a positive way. It was thrilling action packed and frustrating because I kept waiting on Dezmara. Things like that is author cruelty.
The rest is a fast paced, thrilling romp of a space opera adventure that just asks for more. There is treason, double-crosses, crash landings, rescues, pirates, traps, gambling, debt slaves, monsters, conspiracies, and strong characters.
You might believe the that writer is a graphic artist since the descriptions are really that, graphic. And that is the only real critic I would like to give, some of the description or events might be unnecessary drawn out due to wordy descriptions. The illustrations are in fact made by Matt Dixon.
Sean calls it ‘Greasepunk’ and it gives me sort of a Warhammer 40k (I have never read any 40k books but played the game) vibe mixed with classic science fiction and a good portion of humor. The banter level is acceptable (you know it is important to me) but it is the simple fun of the action that hooked me. I liked this book more and more as I read it and by the middle I was hooked.
This is a standalone book with a satisfying conclusion but open for more books about the characters and the D-Evolution universe I would gladly sign up for.
August 30, 2011
My review from www.rantingdragon.com
On October 1, 2011, Death Drop will burst onto the scene, leaving a trail of genre bending destruction in its wake. This explosive debut novel by Sean Allen is the first book set in The D-Evolution series.
Humans are dead. That’s right, they were completely wiped out 400,000 years ago; however, the universe is still populated by a myriad assortment of sentient life. That life is threatened by the Durax, a heinous race whose bodies are weak, but whose mind-controlling abilities have enabled them to conquer, destroy and enslave all who cross their path. Fortunately, all is not lost. A group of rebels known as The Dissension has a serum enabling them to withstand the Durax’s telepathic assaults. Or at least they did. The serum is no longer safe and the Dissension is slowly losing their rebellion to the Durax.
Dezmara Strykar has heard the stories of humans, and it seems that somehow she is one, possibly the last one. She is willing to go to any lengths to keep that fact hidden. Smuggling comes easy to Dezmara and is the perfect front as she searches for information on other humans. She has quickly become the best smuggler around, gaining a solid reputation, but that reputation comes with a cost… recognition.
A double-cross leaves a top Dissension soldier dead, and Dezmara is the prime suspect. When multiple enemies start pursuing Dezmara, she is forced to muster every last ounce of her intellect, strength and skills to avoid being killed. Death Drop starts with a BANG and ends with a BOOM!
It’s a jungle out there
Death Drop has many different races; each one is described in such detail that it felt like watching anime in my brain. Many are molded after Earth animals and have a variety of awesome talents. It’s clear these races have been culturally immersed for a very long time. Almost all have been terrorized in some way by the Durax. Many are enslaved; some, transformed into crazed super soldiers, have taken advantage of the turmoil and formed immense criminal empires or joined forces with the Durax; and a brave few stand in rebellion. The rest are just trying to survive, if they haven’t already been completely wiped out.
Dezmara is a heroine with a quick wit and insane skills. She’s River Tam on steroids (well, at least with an awesome flight suit, helmet and weaponry). Every scene involving this high octane smuggler was heart-pounding fun. I enjoyed her encounters with the various denizens of the universe, although the accent of Simon, her mechanic, got pretty annoying. (I liked him, but I often wished he would lose his tongue.) I absolutely loved her guard cat, Diodojo.
Other characters were equally impressive. From the grizzled war veteran with the powers of Ice to the murderous, soul stealing enemy General, the various characters had distinctive personalities, striking physical descriptions and amazing abilities.
I might need a neck brace
Every turn of the page brings about a new twist, intense space battle, or a fantastic new location. The plot develops quickly and the action zips through the pages. Dezmara, who I feel is the most interesting of the characters, doesn’t even show up until a fifth of the way through, but the setup is so good you’ll hardly notice. Once she enters the story, prepare for some serious whiplash. The double-crosses, unexpected twists and mysteries characters continue to the last page.
During many chapters, Allen’s narrative wanders into alternating point of view. This is not my usual preference in novels, but due to the fast-paced nature of the story, it adds to the feel that this is more like a movie or comic book than a novel, which I believe was his intention.
BOOM! KAPOW! CLACK CLACK CLACK!
Death Drop is heavy on the action and almost every page includes some onomatopoeic sound effects. This is another example of Death Drop’s comic book qualities. I’ve seen this used often in graphic novels and comics, but much more sparingly (if at all) in science fiction and fantasy novels. Thankfully, Allen’s use of onomatopoeia enhances the quirky feel of Death Drop and was another distinguishing facet of his style.
I will advise that many scenes have detailed descriptions of gore and heavy doses of R-rated language. It fits with the style of the book, but is not advised for those under 18.
Why should you read this book?
Sean Allen clearly had fun writing this book and I had fun reading it. There’s plenty of high tech gadgetry, cool spaceships, magnetic shields and vast space colonies for the science fiction buff. The fantasy enthusiast will enjoy the multitude of beings that inhabit the Death Drop universe. The ability to move rocks, shape shift, control minds or capture the souls of those they have killed are just a few of the powers presenting a magical touch. There’s something for everyone in this book. The style is different from my typical fare and it won’t suit everyone, but if you’re adventurous, why not give it a go? If you’re still not sure, check out the awesome character art and download 280 pages free (yes, free) at The D-Evolution. Is it anime? Is it a graphic novel? Is it Space Opera? … no, it’s Death Drop.
On October 1, 2011, Death Drop will burst onto the scene, leaving a trail of genre bending destruction in its wake. This explosive debut novel by Sean Allen is the first book set in The D-Evolution series.
Humans are dead. That’s right, they were completely wiped out 400,000 years ago; however, the universe is still populated by a myriad assortment of sentient life. That life is threatened by the Durax, a heinous race whose bodies are weak, but whose mind-controlling abilities have enabled them to conquer, destroy and enslave all who cross their path. Fortunately, all is not lost. A group of rebels known as The Dissension has a serum enabling them to withstand the Durax’s telepathic assaults. Or at least they did. The serum is no longer safe and the Dissension is slowly losing their rebellion to the Durax.
Dezmara Strykar has heard the stories of humans, and it seems that somehow she is one, possibly the last one. She is willing to go to any lengths to keep that fact hidden. Smuggling comes easy to Dezmara and is the perfect front as she searches for information on other humans. She has quickly become the best smuggler around, gaining a solid reputation, but that reputation comes with a cost… recognition.
A double-cross leaves a top Dissension soldier dead, and Dezmara is the prime suspect. When multiple enemies start pursuing Dezmara, she is forced to muster every last ounce of her intellect, strength and skills to avoid being killed. Death Drop starts with a BANG and ends with a BOOM!
It’s a jungle out there
Death Drop has many different races; each one is described in such detail that it felt like watching anime in my brain. Many are molded after Earth animals and have a variety of awesome talents. It’s clear these races have been culturally immersed for a very long time. Almost all have been terrorized in some way by the Durax. Many are enslaved; some, transformed into crazed super soldiers, have taken advantage of the turmoil and formed immense criminal empires or joined forces with the Durax; and a brave few stand in rebellion. The rest are just trying to survive, if they haven’t already been completely wiped out.
Dezmara is a heroine with a quick wit and insane skills. She’s River Tam on steroids (well, at least with an awesome flight suit, helmet and weaponry). Every scene involving this high octane smuggler was heart-pounding fun. I enjoyed her encounters with the various denizens of the universe, although the accent of Simon, her mechanic, got pretty annoying. (I liked him, but I often wished he would lose his tongue.) I absolutely loved her guard cat, Diodojo.
Other characters were equally impressive. From the grizzled war veteran with the powers of Ice to the murderous, soul stealing enemy General, the various characters had distinctive personalities, striking physical descriptions and amazing abilities.
I might need a neck brace
Every turn of the page brings about a new twist, intense space battle, or a fantastic new location. The plot develops quickly and the action zips through the pages. Dezmara, who I feel is the most interesting of the characters, doesn’t even show up until a fifth of the way through, but the setup is so good you’ll hardly notice. Once she enters the story, prepare for some serious whiplash. The double-crosses, unexpected twists and mysteries characters continue to the last page.
During many chapters, Allen’s narrative wanders into alternating point of view. This is not my usual preference in novels, but due to the fast-paced nature of the story, it adds to the feel that this is more like a movie or comic book than a novel, which I believe was his intention.
BOOM! KAPOW! CLACK CLACK CLACK!
Death Drop is heavy on the action and almost every page includes some onomatopoeic sound effects. This is another example of Death Drop’s comic book qualities. I’ve seen this used often in graphic novels and comics, but much more sparingly (if at all) in science fiction and fantasy novels. Thankfully, Allen’s use of onomatopoeia enhances the quirky feel of Death Drop and was another distinguishing facet of his style.
I will advise that many scenes have detailed descriptions of gore and heavy doses of R-rated language. It fits with the style of the book, but is not advised for those under 18.
Why should you read this book?
Sean Allen clearly had fun writing this book and I had fun reading it. There’s plenty of high tech gadgetry, cool spaceships, magnetic shields and vast space colonies for the science fiction buff. The fantasy enthusiast will enjoy the multitude of beings that inhabit the Death Drop universe. The ability to move rocks, shape shift, control minds or capture the souls of those they have killed are just a few of the powers presenting a magical touch. There’s something for everyone in this book. The style is different from my typical fare and it won’t suit everyone, but if you’re adventurous, why not give it a go? If you’re still not sure, check out the awesome character art and download 280 pages free (yes, free) at The D-Evolution. Is it anime? Is it a graphic novel? Is it Space Opera? … no, it’s Death Drop.
September 7, 2011
This was a fantastic book! It held my attention from the first chapter all the way through to the end. It was exciting and action-packed. The graphic description of some of the battle scenes makes it definitely a book for adults. I absolutely could not put it down. If you like sci-fi/fantasy type books, this one is for you!
September 7, 2011
Speculative fiction is not normally what I choose to read, but I loved this book. The characters are fascinating, lots of action, and it's quite graphic. I really liked going to the website and seeing the characters' artfully depicted: http://www.devolutionnovels.com/. They are awesome.
December 24, 2011
Almost finished and it richly deserves the 4 stars that I ave given it!
I'll write a proper review when I have finished the book.
I'll write a proper review when I have finished the book.
September 6, 2011
Great read with interesting characters and lots of action.
October 11, 2011
Highly entertaining so far. Have not finished reading yet
Have finished reading. Now I see why it was so highly recommended.
Have finished reading. Now I see why it was so highly recommended.
Read
September 9, 2011liked it, takes me away from every day life.
September 10, 2011
Very fun and fast paced book. I couldnt wait to see what happened next.
Very entertaining. I would highly recommend Death Drop.
Very entertaining. I would highly recommend Death Drop.
December 28, 2012
Note this review I posted (well it's still in the posting queue waiting for publishing Saturday at noon 29 Dec) so it may read funny.
"He's onto us, Admiral!" Shouted Otto. "No real runner would steal cargo and go off course in the middle of a run - they'd never run again, not to mention the bounty put on their heads by the ringers in Trillis - It's HIM!" Malo grunted his agreement and flexed his fists in anger
NOTE: This review may contain SPOILERS.
Death Drop by Sean Allen. I got my copy of this book from a giveaway [here at Goodreads] by the author. (almost a year ago now) As it was a giveaway I really wanted to like this book a lot, however, I think it is just OK. I still liked it some just not as much as I was hoping I'd like it. This is the first book in a series called The D-Evolution. I was aware of that when I entered the giveaway, I think the series is planned to be a trilogy. This book sets up the series very well, but I will probably pass on the other books in the series.
First off my big disappointment was with the story synopsis that is on the back of the book (and used at Goodreads for the book's entry) described a character named Desmara, which I thought would be the main character, but she doesn't appear until a few pages before page 150. She is really just one of an ensemble cast, which I don't mind I just wish my expectations hadn't had been set so high, or that the synopsis had concentrated more on the bigger plot arc of the story. I really enjoyed her as a character and she was one of the few characters I could relate to. She is also the only human of the main characters. Her story which is included in the synopsis is more the "B plot" of the book. The "A plot" is something entirely different, but is the story arc for the entire series.
A second disappointment with this book was at 560 pages it took me a long while to get through it and it was a little difficult to follow. It also dragged for me for the first 100 pages or so waiting for Desmara to make her entrance and to get her into the main plot. In some ways she reminded me of the title character of Aeon Flux (the MTV Liquid Television cartoon series I have yet to watch the movie even though I have the DVD) and a little of Lara Croft. The pace picked up for me about half-way through the book, then dragged a little more but picked back up and then when the end came. I was torn between being excited about what would happen in the next book or two and being disappointed that the book ended with such a cliffhanger to set up the next book. It didn't help that while the book was dragging for me I put it down for over a month before picking it back up.
I also had difficulty picturing all the different characters because they were so non-human, I'm partly a visual person, and their descriptions were a bit confusing. I think if some of them were a little easier to picture I might have liked this a bit more. OK yes there are some character drawings on the website for the book series (http://www.devolutionnovels.com ), but to be honest at the time I didn't think the website would have as much info such as character images on it (it might not have at the time I first checked it out). I also had forgotten there was a website for it until I finished the book. So I had to rely on my own imagination, like readers used to have to do all the time, and many of the characters are completely different from what I had imagined.
The book started off with two characters that are sort of a George and Lenny from "Of Mice and Men" so I thought it would be more of a sci-fi buddy adventure story. I was wrong they are part of an underdog rebellion that is fighting to save the entire universe from a super powerful being (mostly spiritual not physical?) that is hell bent on being the supreme emperor of the universe by destroying, controlling and or enslaving every species and race in the universe, and will most likely succeed. So instead of a buddy story I got an intergalactic revolution story. Cue up the opening theme from Star Wars.
The bulk of the story involves the rebels, who have discovered a drug that makes beings immune to the psychic control of this would be universal emperor/demon, the problem is their resources are decreasing rapidly and their population dying off. Also the wanna-be uber emperor with his psychic powers usually knows about things way before they get anywhere near him, and he has some moles in the system that are trying to stop the flow of this drug for obvious reasons.
Oh and the main plot point with Desmara? She was a smuggler or as the book calls them "runners". Apparently in the universe of this book these runners compete against each other. So the more cargo you haul around and deliver to people the bigger and better your reputation. Desmara was the best in the business, although she hid her identity since she was a human, humans in this universe are thought to have been killed off by the super-uber emperor and thought to be extinct. If her humanness was discovered she would be killed. So her public persona was named "The Ghost" it was also believed that The Ghost was a male his specific species not known due to him not being seen. The fact that the Ghost was really a human female was inconceivable.
For more information on this book and The D-Evolution Series you can visit the website for it: http://www.devolutionnovels.com .
Death Drop by Sean Allen 2011 Vintage Six Media 560 pages. - **
"He's onto us, Admiral!" Shouted Otto. "No real runner would steal cargo and go off course in the middle of a run - they'd never run again, not to mention the bounty put on their heads by the ringers in Trillis - It's HIM!" Malo grunted his agreement and flexed his fists in anger
NOTE: This review may contain SPOILERS.
Death Drop by Sean Allen. I got my copy of this book from a giveaway [here at Goodreads] by the author. (almost a year ago now) As it was a giveaway I really wanted to like this book a lot, however, I think it is just OK. I still liked it some just not as much as I was hoping I'd like it. This is the first book in a series called The D-Evolution. I was aware of that when I entered the giveaway, I think the series is planned to be a trilogy. This book sets up the series very well, but I will probably pass on the other books in the series.
First off my big disappointment was with the story synopsis that is on the back of the book (and used at Goodreads for the book's entry) described a character named Desmara, which I thought would be the main character, but she doesn't appear until a few pages before page 150. She is really just one of an ensemble cast, which I don't mind I just wish my expectations hadn't had been set so high, or that the synopsis had concentrated more on the bigger plot arc of the story. I really enjoyed her as a character and she was one of the few characters I could relate to. She is also the only human of the main characters. Her story which is included in the synopsis is more the "B plot" of the book. The "A plot" is something entirely different, but is the story arc for the entire series.
A second disappointment with this book was at 560 pages it took me a long while to get through it and it was a little difficult to follow. It also dragged for me for the first 100 pages or so waiting for Desmara to make her entrance and to get her into the main plot. In some ways she reminded me of the title character of Aeon Flux (the MTV Liquid Television cartoon series I have yet to watch the movie even though I have the DVD) and a little of Lara Croft. The pace picked up for me about half-way through the book, then dragged a little more but picked back up and then when the end came. I was torn between being excited about what would happen in the next book or two and being disappointed that the book ended with such a cliffhanger to set up the next book. It didn't help that while the book was dragging for me I put it down for over a month before picking it back up.
I also had difficulty picturing all the different characters because they were so non-human, I'm partly a visual person, and their descriptions were a bit confusing. I think if some of them were a little easier to picture I might have liked this a bit more. OK yes there are some character drawings on the website for the book series (http://www.devolutionnovels.com ), but to be honest at the time I didn't think the website would have as much info such as character images on it (it might not have at the time I first checked it out). I also had forgotten there was a website for it until I finished the book. So I had to rely on my own imagination, like readers used to have to do all the time, and many of the characters are completely different from what I had imagined.
The book started off with two characters that are sort of a George and Lenny from "Of Mice and Men" so I thought it would be more of a sci-fi buddy adventure story. I was wrong they are part of an underdog rebellion that is fighting to save the entire universe from a super powerful being (mostly spiritual not physical?) that is hell bent on being the supreme emperor of the universe by destroying, controlling and or enslaving every species and race in the universe, and will most likely succeed. So instead of a buddy story I got an intergalactic revolution story. Cue up the opening theme from Star Wars.
The bulk of the story involves the rebels, who have discovered a drug that makes beings immune to the psychic control of this would be universal emperor/demon, the problem is their resources are decreasing rapidly and their population dying off. Also the wanna-be uber emperor with his psychic powers usually knows about things way before they get anywhere near him, and he has some moles in the system that are trying to stop the flow of this drug for obvious reasons.
Oh and the main plot point with Desmara? She was a smuggler or as the book calls them "runners". Apparently in the universe of this book these runners compete against each other. So the more cargo you haul around and deliver to people the bigger and better your reputation. Desmara was the best in the business, although she hid her identity since she was a human, humans in this universe are thought to have been killed off by the super-uber emperor and thought to be extinct. If her humanness was discovered she would be killed. So her public persona was named "The Ghost" it was also believed that The Ghost was a male his specific species not known due to him not being seen. The fact that the Ghost was really a human female was inconceivable.
For more information on this book and The D-Evolution Series you can visit the website for it: http://www.devolutionnovels.com .
Death Drop by Sean Allen 2011 Vintage Six Media 560 pages. - **
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 22, 2024
Maybe I'll try to read more. I'm not really into non-stop action scenes. One after another with different "people" that I don't know. Very boring to me since I have no attachment to anyone. The description I read sounds great, but I never found the plot it seemed to promise and I gave up. I tried it because it was on a list of "if you like Murderbot...." I can't see any comparison.
Want to read
November 14, 2019Looks like I'll never get to read this despite its positive reviews because the author had a panic attack or something.
January 13, 2012
400,000 years have passed since the last known Human was exterminated, and Dezmara Strykar can’t remember anything before the moment, eight years ago, when she woke up in an abandoned space freighter. But in that time, she has come to realize three things: she’s the best pilot and smuggler in the universe, she can handle herself in a fight, and she’s Human.
A race of creatures called the Durax rule the universe using their savage mind powers, and the remaining free people have two choices: join the Dissension Army and fight, or struggle to survive in the cutthroat world of outlaws the war has created. In a time when a live Human specimen would fetch a king’s ransom on the black market, choosing life as a smuggler seemed like the perfect front to search for her people. But the cost of Dezmara’s operation has forced her to win each smuggling run she enters. Now every smuggler is gunning for her top position, and her rare black Zebulon star freighter makes her an easily recognizable target.
But dodging jealous smugglers, safeguarding her Human identity, and solving the mystery surrounding who she is will become harder than she ever imagined. A mysterious creature in a black Zebulon star freighter has murdered a soldier in the Dissension Army and has stolen their greatest weapon in the war against the Durax. Dezmara’s next run will turn into much more than just a cover to search for Humans. Dezmara Strykar just became the Dissension’s number one murder suspect. Now she is going to have to run for her life.
A terribly famous, and wholly remarkable, author once wrote that "Space is big. Really big". I don't read a huge amount of science fiction (I don’t get sent a lot to review – hint hint) but when I do read it I want the story to tap into that feeling. I want to boggle my mind with the scope of the epic, universe-spanning vision. I want to be exposed to strange alien races and cultures that I have never dreamed of before.
Death Drop by Sean Allen is the first novel in the D-Evolution series. There are two main narrative strands. The first follows the members of the Dissension Army as they attempt to track down a traitor to their cause. The second follows Dezmara Strykar as she attempts to uncover the mystery of her existence. The two plots start to interweave and Dezmara finds herself on the run from everyone.
There is quite a large cast of characters and I found all the different species one of the novel’s strengths. Each new race the reader encounters offers the opportunity for the author to let his imagination run wild. From the mutated evil of the Durax, to the minotaur like Moxen. Death Drop reminded me in some ways, of a favourite science-fiction comic from my youth called Alien Legion. Like the Legion, the Dissension Army is made up of many disparate characters who are all brought together to vanquish an evil force. It would be hard for me to choose a favourite character but I have to admit a bit of a soft spot for a couple of standouts, the marvelously monickered Dr Artemus Blink and Dezmara’s protector, Doidojo.
The are some huge action set pieces, both on and off planet, that are all suitably bloody and over the top. At one point the Dissension Army are forced to take on a huge group of battle trained bezerkers and I think I lost count of the number of dismemberments that occurred in that skirmish.
The story moves from one gripping cliffhanger to another, and zips along at a break neck pace. The best advice I can give is don't over think Death Drop. Let it wash over you like the fast paced, action packed spectacle that it is and I can guarantee you will have a great time. I look forward to visiting the D-Evolution universe again in the future.
Death Drop is published by Vintage Six Media and is available now.
A race of creatures called the Durax rule the universe using their savage mind powers, and the remaining free people have two choices: join the Dissension Army and fight, or struggle to survive in the cutthroat world of outlaws the war has created. In a time when a live Human specimen would fetch a king’s ransom on the black market, choosing life as a smuggler seemed like the perfect front to search for her people. But the cost of Dezmara’s operation has forced her to win each smuggling run she enters. Now every smuggler is gunning for her top position, and her rare black Zebulon star freighter makes her an easily recognizable target.
But dodging jealous smugglers, safeguarding her Human identity, and solving the mystery surrounding who she is will become harder than she ever imagined. A mysterious creature in a black Zebulon star freighter has murdered a soldier in the Dissension Army and has stolen their greatest weapon in the war against the Durax. Dezmara’s next run will turn into much more than just a cover to search for Humans. Dezmara Strykar just became the Dissension’s number one murder suspect. Now she is going to have to run for her life.
A terribly famous, and wholly remarkable, author once wrote that "Space is big. Really big". I don't read a huge amount of science fiction (I don’t get sent a lot to review – hint hint) but when I do read it I want the story to tap into that feeling. I want to boggle my mind with the scope of the epic, universe-spanning vision. I want to be exposed to strange alien races and cultures that I have never dreamed of before.
Death Drop by Sean Allen is the first novel in the D-Evolution series. There are two main narrative strands. The first follows the members of the Dissension Army as they attempt to track down a traitor to their cause. The second follows Dezmara Strykar as she attempts to uncover the mystery of her existence. The two plots start to interweave and Dezmara finds herself on the run from everyone.
There is quite a large cast of characters and I found all the different species one of the novel’s strengths. Each new race the reader encounters offers the opportunity for the author to let his imagination run wild. From the mutated evil of the Durax, to the minotaur like Moxen. Death Drop reminded me in some ways, of a favourite science-fiction comic from my youth called Alien Legion. Like the Legion, the Dissension Army is made up of many disparate characters who are all brought together to vanquish an evil force. It would be hard for me to choose a favourite character but I have to admit a bit of a soft spot for a couple of standouts, the marvelously monickered Dr Artemus Blink and Dezmara’s protector, Doidojo.
The are some huge action set pieces, both on and off planet, that are all suitably bloody and over the top. At one point the Dissension Army are forced to take on a huge group of battle trained bezerkers and I think I lost count of the number of dismemberments that occurred in that skirmish.
The story moves from one gripping cliffhanger to another, and zips along at a break neck pace. The best advice I can give is don't over think Death Drop. Let it wash over you like the fast paced, action packed spectacle that it is and I can guarantee you will have a great time. I look forward to visiting the D-Evolution universe again in the future.
Death Drop is published by Vintage Six Media and is available now.
July 22, 2012
Full disclosure: I received my copy of Death Drop for free as part of the Goodreads.com “First Reads” program, which throws out books to the huddled masses in order to help promote the books and get people to write reviews.
I was really looking forward to reading Death Drop... The back cover quotes were all stellar, and the reviews I read on Goodreads and elsewhere really made me think that the novel would be heaps of fun.
Nope.
This is a novel published by one of the many really little publishing houses, and one which clearly needs to spend a considerable amount more on their editing staff. I don’t know whether the author here felt the need for an editor or not, but one was sorely needed. One well versed in the style of modern science fiction.
This book... It’s hard to know where to begin. The plot revolves around the “last human in the universe” and her struggle to survive in a life where she’s one-of-a-kind. This is a hard plot trick to pull off, since there’s really not much to feel very connected to, as a reader.
But we do get descriptions. Oh, do we get descriptions. Paragraph after paragraph of needless, mind-numbing description.
For instance, from late in the book (page 468):
“The machine was fixed laterally by two rectangular expanses of lattice that stretched from its undercarriage and beyond its sides. Two giant cogs sat in a machined slot at the end of each brace and meshed with notched tracks that lined both sides of the room like ancient tribal markings in a metallic cave. A smaller diameter sprocket was welded to each wheel and extended from their centers like toothy crowns, but these were not royal adornments for the potentate pieces of the operation; they were yokes for the master’s tether...”
I’m sure this looks great when rendered visually, but in prose, it just causes my eyes to glaze over. This detail is never used in the story, beyond this effort to make the settings seem more real, and so mostly I just feel kind of pissed off that the author seems to be putting real effort into overloading with pointless details. In cases like this reader imagination works wonders, and can often create equally plausible and yet fantastic ways of making things happen.
Did you catch that? “Rendered visually.” It’s a thought I had over and over again. The author was also fond of using sound-effect words as sentences. “KABOOM!” was a frequent one. This is something that you see in comic books, not in prose novels.
There were other errors of style that rubbed me the wrong way each time I came across them (the use of bold text for emphasis, rather than oblique text, quotation marks around italicized thoughts, rather than the quote-less equivalent, and the overuse of the exclamation point are just a few of the issues that pop easily to mind). This, more than any particular story-telling failure of the prose, makes me think the author published with no experienced editor helping.
Mr. Allen: This really wants to be a graphic novel. If you want to write a novel, fine, but find an editor experienced in the genre you’re aiming for. Otherwise, call every artist you know: this wants to be a graphic novel, not a prose novel.
2 of 5 stars.
I was really looking forward to reading Death Drop... The back cover quotes were all stellar, and the reviews I read on Goodreads and elsewhere really made me think that the novel would be heaps of fun.
Nope.
This is a novel published by one of the many really little publishing houses, and one which clearly needs to spend a considerable amount more on their editing staff. I don’t know whether the author here felt the need for an editor or not, but one was sorely needed. One well versed in the style of modern science fiction.
This book... It’s hard to know where to begin. The plot revolves around the “last human in the universe” and her struggle to survive in a life where she’s one-of-a-kind. This is a hard plot trick to pull off, since there’s really not much to feel very connected to, as a reader.
But we do get descriptions. Oh, do we get descriptions. Paragraph after paragraph of needless, mind-numbing description.
For instance, from late in the book (page 468):
“The machine was fixed laterally by two rectangular expanses of lattice that stretched from its undercarriage and beyond its sides. Two giant cogs sat in a machined slot at the end of each brace and meshed with notched tracks that lined both sides of the room like ancient tribal markings in a metallic cave. A smaller diameter sprocket was welded to each wheel and extended from their centers like toothy crowns, but these were not royal adornments for the potentate pieces of the operation; they were yokes for the master’s tether...”
I’m sure this looks great when rendered visually, but in prose, it just causes my eyes to glaze over. This detail is never used in the story, beyond this effort to make the settings seem more real, and so mostly I just feel kind of pissed off that the author seems to be putting real effort into overloading with pointless details. In cases like this reader imagination works wonders, and can often create equally plausible and yet fantastic ways of making things happen.
Did you catch that? “Rendered visually.” It’s a thought I had over and over again. The author was also fond of using sound-effect words as sentences. “KABOOM!” was a frequent one. This is something that you see in comic books, not in prose novels.
There were other errors of style that rubbed me the wrong way each time I came across them (the use of bold text for emphasis, rather than oblique text, quotation marks around italicized thoughts, rather than the quote-less equivalent, and the overuse of the exclamation point are just a few of the issues that pop easily to mind). This, more than any particular story-telling failure of the prose, makes me think the author published with no experienced editor helping.
Mr. Allen: This really wants to be a graphic novel. If you want to write a novel, fine, but find an editor experienced in the genre you’re aiming for. Otherwise, call every artist you know: this wants to be a graphic novel, not a prose novel.
2 of 5 stars.
October 16, 2014
originally appeared on:Bookshelf Confessions
This book is amazing. The cover may not that be indicative of how great the content was, but believe me, this book could do just well in Hollywood.
At first glance, you might get scared of reading a 560-page sci-fi novel but this book got me hooked right at the beginning and it only got more intense the more I turned the pages. What more can I say? This is an epic story. :D
Death Drop by Sean Allen is the first novel in the D-Evolution series. There are two main narratives. The first follows the members of the Dissension Army as they attempt to track down a traitor to their cause. The second follows Dezmara Strykar as she tries to discover the mystery of her existence. The two plots start to interweave and Dezmara is on the run from everyone. That’s why it was quite frustrating to read the first few chapters of the book since she doesn’t appear until then. :D
Though “Death Drop” is sci-fi, I didn’t find myself confused with the fictional world and the terms and the descriptions used by the author. The author was very descriptive and his writing suited the story well. Although some of the descriptions I think are too wordy or quite unnecessary. The story moves from one gripping cliffhanger to another, and was always at a fast-action paced.
The facts and plot are already presented right at the beginning. With the well-written prose, the character build up has its foundation. I liked how Mr. Allen weaved this wonderful story, without getting lost in it himself. The scope of the novel is a vast place and I liked how the author makes use of this as an advantage in creating wild and different species.
The characters are amazing too. They are well-thought of, and how they’re described makes me want to jump into the book and see for myself. Mr. Allen brings all of them to life. I felt for the Dissension Army and for their cause. And I enjoyed Dezmara’s journey to uncover her existence.
The dialogues are believable; I enjoyed the banter a lot. The battle scenes are also great, bloody may be, but it suited the story well. There was never a boring part.
There’s a great twist at the end. Although this book may serve as a standalone, I would definitely be looking forward to the other D-Evolution books in this series.
All in all, “Death Drop” is a fast-paced, exciting, thrilling and action-packed sci-fi novel with pirates, gambling, smuggling, debt slaves, monsters, aliens, treasons, battles, traps and conspiracies . Would recommend to anyone who enjoys sci-fi at its finest.
*Though I won’t recommend this to very young children- based on the battle scenes*
This book is amazing. The cover may not that be indicative of how great the content was, but believe me, this book could do just well in Hollywood.
At first glance, you might get scared of reading a 560-page sci-fi novel but this book got me hooked right at the beginning and it only got more intense the more I turned the pages. What more can I say? This is an epic story. :D
Death Drop by Sean Allen is the first novel in the D-Evolution series. There are two main narratives. The first follows the members of the Dissension Army as they attempt to track down a traitor to their cause. The second follows Dezmara Strykar as she tries to discover the mystery of her existence. The two plots start to interweave and Dezmara is on the run from everyone. That’s why it was quite frustrating to read the first few chapters of the book since she doesn’t appear until then. :D
Though “Death Drop” is sci-fi, I didn’t find myself confused with the fictional world and the terms and the descriptions used by the author. The author was very descriptive and his writing suited the story well. Although some of the descriptions I think are too wordy or quite unnecessary. The story moves from one gripping cliffhanger to another, and was always at a fast-action paced.
The facts and plot are already presented right at the beginning. With the well-written prose, the character build up has its foundation. I liked how Mr. Allen weaved this wonderful story, without getting lost in it himself. The scope of the novel is a vast place and I liked how the author makes use of this as an advantage in creating wild and different species.
The characters are amazing too. They are well-thought of, and how they’re described makes me want to jump into the book and see for myself. Mr. Allen brings all of them to life. I felt for the Dissension Army and for their cause. And I enjoyed Dezmara’s journey to uncover her existence.
The dialogues are believable; I enjoyed the banter a lot. The battle scenes are also great, bloody may be, but it suited the story well. There was never a boring part.
There’s a great twist at the end. Although this book may serve as a standalone, I would definitely be looking forward to the other D-Evolution books in this series.
All in all, “Death Drop” is a fast-paced, exciting, thrilling and action-packed sci-fi novel with pirates, gambling, smuggling, debt slaves, monsters, aliens, treasons, battles, traps and conspiracies . Would recommend to anyone who enjoys sci-fi at its finest.
*Though I won’t recommend this to very young children- based on the battle scenes*
February 7, 2012
Can I just begin with wow? Seriously, it's been a long time since I've taken a dive into an epic science fiction adventure. Death Drop was definitely the perfect choice to get me back into the groove. Before I move on to anything else about this book I need to share one thing with you. These characters are amazing. Even if I wasn't able to see them in person on the D-Evolution website, I still would have been perfectly content. The way that Sean Allen builds his characters and brings them to life, causes you to have them living in your head for the entire book. It blew me away!
That being said, one of Death Drops definite strong points is the descriptive writing it contains. From the sweeping reaches of space, to the very well thought out and unique races of this world, everything is beautifully described. To become immersed in this novel is as easy as breathing. At page one the reader is treated to nothing but well-written prose and character build up. Space is a very large place my friends. Sean Allen reminds us of that in every chapter. The scope of this novel is amazing, and a great place to get lost in. Add in dynamic and believable dialogue, and you have me hooked.
At its heart, this book is pure science fiction. Everything revolves around the fact that humans are no longer the alpha dogs in the universe. Actually, no race stands a chance against the Durax. It is guaranteed that your favorite character will be in peril at some point in this story. This allows the book to develop an incredibly frantic pace! By the time I was a few chapters in, I was unable to stop reading. I felt for the plight of the motley crew of survivors. I rooted for Dezmara. I rooted for Dissension Army and their cause. I happily admit that this would make an amazing movie. It's like strapping yourself into a fast car. Death Drop goes from zero to sixty in a matter of chapters.
I wish I could share more specifics with you, but the point remains that this is a very very largely scoped book. The character and world descriptions are vast, but beautiful. I will warn you that it is not as easy to get into an epic science fiction book as some others, so if you are going to tackle this make sure you are prepared! However I assure you that if you are willing to get lost in a book, Death Drop is well worth your time.
That being said, one of Death Drops definite strong points is the descriptive writing it contains. From the sweeping reaches of space, to the very well thought out and unique races of this world, everything is beautifully described. To become immersed in this novel is as easy as breathing. At page one the reader is treated to nothing but well-written prose and character build up. Space is a very large place my friends. Sean Allen reminds us of that in every chapter. The scope of this novel is amazing, and a great place to get lost in. Add in dynamic and believable dialogue, and you have me hooked.
At its heart, this book is pure science fiction. Everything revolves around the fact that humans are no longer the alpha dogs in the universe. Actually, no race stands a chance against the Durax. It is guaranteed that your favorite character will be in peril at some point in this story. This allows the book to develop an incredibly frantic pace! By the time I was a few chapters in, I was unable to stop reading. I felt for the plight of the motley crew of survivors. I rooted for Dezmara. I rooted for Dissension Army and their cause. I happily admit that this would make an amazing movie. It's like strapping yourself into a fast car. Death Drop goes from zero to sixty in a matter of chapters.
I wish I could share more specifics with you, but the point remains that this is a very very largely scoped book. The character and world descriptions are vast, but beautiful. I will warn you that it is not as easy to get into an epic science fiction book as some others, so if you are going to tackle this make sure you are prepared! However I assure you that if you are willing to get lost in a book, Death Drop is well worth your time.
July 29, 2014
I have completed Sean Allen's first book "Death Drop" and found it quite captivating indeed! In the beginning, he built upon an in-depth and detailed descriptive platform of characters and scenes. This captured my attention. I could sense the ominous darkness of evil that the Durax had released upon not just a galaxy.... but to the universe itself and what seemed to be the hopelessness of the Dissension Army. The book was entrancing really. Death Drop kept you mesmerized by the fluid way in which each chapter was written. Never missing a beat, the book would lull you into a secure complacent state of consciousness and then explode with a twist of terror! I will not ruin this excellent read by giving exact details; but one instance like this occurred at the very beginning of the book, with two Dissension Army soldiers, both of which I grew very found of. Let us just say that this was just the beginning of many an exciting and adventurous ride! The calm and serenity of a pure peace... and in an instant changing to pure terror! This book was very insightful, subtle in most respects,witty in others and down right action pact! All in all... just from the interaction and dialogue between the cast of characters alone this book was very entertaining and exciting. A "Good Read" indeed! Am looking very much forward to Sean Allen's next book!!
December 28, 2011
I'd really give this book 3.5 stars but I'm rounding up to 4.
The primary reason for the rating being so low on what was really a fabulous book is simply that the beginning was very slow and you really have to stick with it for anything to make sense. The author crafts a brilliant earth where many races of creatures exist but no humans do, and -at least for me- keeping all these races straight was no easy task at first. The beginning, while fast paced and at times exciting, also is really little more than exposition leading up to the appearance of what may be the only human being still in existence.
On her appearance things start to click together marvelously and this becomes a wonderful piece of speculative fiction that I would recommend to everyone. Allen's style of writing is truly superb and I often felt like I could really envision what was going on, no small feat given the unusual world what we are asked to enter.
Stick with this book if you pick it up. It's a good decision.
I received a lovely signed copy of this book as part of Goodreads First Reads program. I was under no obligation to write a review.
The primary reason for the rating being so low on what was really a fabulous book is simply that the beginning was very slow and you really have to stick with it for anything to make sense. The author crafts a brilliant earth where many races of creatures exist but no humans do, and -at least for me- keeping all these races straight was no easy task at first. The beginning, while fast paced and at times exciting, also is really little more than exposition leading up to the appearance of what may be the only human being still in existence.
On her appearance things start to click together marvelously and this becomes a wonderful piece of speculative fiction that I would recommend to everyone. Allen's style of writing is truly superb and I often felt like I could really envision what was going on, no small feat given the unusual world what we are asked to enter.
Stick with this book if you pick it up. It's a good decision.
I received a lovely signed copy of this book as part of Goodreads First Reads program. I was under no obligation to write a review.
July 22, 2012
I'm on page 247 and am calling it quits. It seems that this book would be great for someone who is not an avid sci/fi reader, but for those of us who love the genre may have a few problems with it.
First the names and discriptions of some of the races are just silly. For instance Moxen, who look alot like upright standing ox. Mewlatia, who look feline(mew, you know the things that cats "say"). Extollers, can you guess this one? Yep they keep the exorcized spirits of their enemy with them. It just got annoying after a while.
Then there is the over explaining every detail. Sci/fi is fun because it allows you to use your imagination, but the author, I don't think, trusts the average reader to be able to do that.
I had this book in my Kindle for a while and had been looking forward to reading it, now I'm just bummed.
First the names and discriptions of some of the races are just silly. For instance Moxen, who look alot like upright standing ox. Mewlatia, who look feline(mew, you know the things that cats "say"). Extollers, can you guess this one? Yep they keep the exorcized spirits of their enemy with them. It just got annoying after a while.
Then there is the over explaining every detail. Sci/fi is fun because it allows you to use your imagination, but the author, I don't think, trusts the average reader to be able to do that.
I had this book in my Kindle for a while and had been looking forward to reading it, now I'm just bummed.
April 23, 2012
Wow, what can I say? I'm not a science fiction fan, but the artwork on the cover captured my interest. I'm glad I followed my instincts and bought this book. It's a non-stop, action-packed adrenaline ride!
The main character Dezmara has endearing qualities that make you want to root for her while recognizing her all-too-human frailties make her struggle and earn every single gain.
Sean Allen writes in a visually stunning and vivid style, bringing the worlds and the creatures that populate them to life in a stunning way. Heavy on the metaphors and colorful language to make a point, his impact is powerful. The ending was both satisfying and yet left me anxiously awaiting his second novel. Congratulations Sean Allen on a fantastic debut novel and cheers to your successful career! You've made a SF convert out of me!
The main character Dezmara has endearing qualities that make you want to root for her while recognizing her all-too-human frailties make her struggle and earn every single gain.
Sean Allen writes in a visually stunning and vivid style, bringing the worlds and the creatures that populate them to life in a stunning way. Heavy on the metaphors and colorful language to make a point, his impact is powerful. The ending was both satisfying and yet left me anxiously awaiting his second novel. Congratulations Sean Allen on a fantastic debut novel and cheers to your successful career! You've made a SF convert out of me!
March 25, 2012
Goodreads giveaway
I enjoyed Death Drop MUCH more than I expected to. Nothing against the genre, but space sci-fi isn't usually my top pick. This book may have changed my perspective.
Mr. Allen does an excellent job of weaving multiple story lines with the plot arc of the main character, Dezmara. The characters are well-developed and sympathetic, and I very quickly found myself immersed in the world he created.
There are several surprising plot twists in the final chapter, and I am now impatiently awaiting the next installment in the series.
Well done, and good luck on your nomination!
I enjoyed Death Drop MUCH more than I expected to. Nothing against the genre, but space sci-fi isn't usually my top pick. This book may have changed my perspective.
Mr. Allen does an excellent job of weaving multiple story lines with the plot arc of the main character, Dezmara. The characters are well-developed and sympathetic, and I very quickly found myself immersed in the world he created.
There are several surprising plot twists in the final chapter, and I am now impatiently awaiting the next installment in the series.
Well done, and good luck on your nomination!
April 20, 2012
I received this book through a goodreads giveaway. I am sorry to say I was not able to finish the book. I just could not get into it. I will try to give it another go sometime in the future. Maybe I just need to be in a certain mood.
June 5, 2012
I'm on page 138 of 560 of Death Drop: 2nd time trying to get into this book. The writing is soooo heavy-handed I just can't do it. You don't need to describe EVERY little thing that happens and EVERY object in the scene!!!
I'm done.
I'm done.
August 29, 2012
Interesting and clever. Well written. Thanks Goodreads!(received the book for free through Goodreads First Reads)
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