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10th out of 23 books
—
6 voters
Dust
by
Arthur Slade (Goodreads Author)
SEVEN-YEAR-OLD MATTHEW DISAPPEARS one day on a walk into Horshoe, a dust bowl farm town in Depression-era Saskatchewan. Other children go missing just as a strange man named Abram Harsich appears in town. He dazzles the townspeople with the promises of a rainmaking machine. Only Matthew’s older brother Robert seems to be able to resist Abram’s spell, and to discover what h...more
Mass Market Paperback, 192 pages
Published
October 12th 2004
by Laurel Leaf
(first published April 8th 2003)
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An excellent book. I really liked it. One staggering complaint:
WHY MUST IT TURN INTO THE GOLDEN COMPASS TOWARDS THE END? WHY? SLADE... I'm awfully angry with you!
All disappointing similarities aside, like I said-- totally an excellent book. Arthur Slade can write. I read it a few years ago so I don't totally remember exactly what happens, all I know is that there's some kids and a few butterflies and a creepy guy with really white skin. There might also be a windmill at the end. Whatever.
What I...more
WHY MUST IT TURN INTO THE GOLDEN COMPASS TOWARDS THE END? WHY? SLADE... I'm awfully angry with you!
All disappointing similarities aside, like I said-- totally an excellent book. Arthur Slade can write. I read it a few years ago so I don't totally remember exactly what happens, all I know is that there's some kids and a few butterflies and a creepy guy with really white skin. There might also be a windmill at the end. Whatever.
What I...more
The very first page gets you with a hook and from that point on it’s hard to put this book down. The story follows the disappearance of Matthew and several other children from a small town and the appearance of a pale stranger with interesting powers as well as some interesting pets. The story is narrated by Robert, who is struggling to find his place between boyhood and manhood, when his brother disappears and things start to get…odd. He quickly turns into the hero as the town’s adults are suck...more
A young boy accepts a ride to town with a stranger and never makes it into town. He is declared missing but the townspeople, although concerned for him, are more concerned about the lengthy drought. A new man arrives at the town and promises to bring rain to their county. The missing boy's older brother senses something dangerous about him, especially when more and more children go missing. The feeling intensifies when he realizes that no one, not even the parents, care about the missing childre...more
I only read this as I am currently borrowing my little sisters kindle to test it out as I am thinking of buying one.
She reads books like Tracy beaker etc so I decided to have a quick look though the free books on offer and came across this one.
First off it is a nice quick read, I read it in about an hour or so while relaxing at home. I know the book is aimed more at young teens but it still interested me from start to end.
The pacing of the story is great, from one chapter to the next you are...more
She reads books like Tracy beaker etc so I decided to have a quick look though the free books on offer and came across this one.
First off it is a nice quick read, I read it in about an hour or so while relaxing at home. I know the book is aimed more at young teens but it still interested me from start to end.
The pacing of the story is great, from one chapter to the next you are...more
In the first chapter of this book Robert's younger brother Matthew is kidnapped by an odd sounding man who claims he never had a childhood. The reader and Matthew are the only ones who know what happened. A short while later Abram Harsich shows up and wows the town with his "Mirror of all things" that shows people just want they want most. This story is placed in Saskatchewan, Canada during the dust bowl. After this spectacle the people start to go somewhat loopy and behave as though everything...more
Arthur Slade- Dust (HarperCanada 2001) 3 Stars
Dust takes place in Horshoe, Saskatchewan and mentions many towns and areas that I know all about having been to the places. It even mentions Swift Current, my city. The reason for this is that Arthur Slade is a fellow Saskatchewan author. Dust tells the story of Robert, an eleven-year-old boy whose younger brother disappears one day and strange events start taking place. As more children disappear Robert begins to suspect the truth behind the events...more
Dust takes place in Horshoe, Saskatchewan and mentions many towns and areas that I know all about having been to the places. It even mentions Swift Current, my city. The reason for this is that Arthur Slade is a fellow Saskatchewan author. Dust tells the story of Robert, an eleven-year-old boy whose younger brother disappears one day and strange events start taking place. As more children disappear Robert begins to suspect the truth behind the events...more
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Mixing historical fiction with sci-fi and mystery is no easy task to pull off successfully, but Arthur Slade hits a home run with "Dust". It's the story of a small town in Saskatchewan during the Dust Bowl era of the 1930s. A strange man comes to town with promises of being able to create rain, and almost everyone falls under his spell, despite the fact that several children in the area disappeared at the same time the strange man arrived. Only Robert, the bookish brother of one of the missing c...more
I found this hugely disappointing. I loved the opening. The setting and the young protagonist were beautifully drawn and highly evocative. I loved that he was a dreamy boy, obsessed with John Carter of Mars. The story unfolded at a stately pace. The aura of mystery and unease built steadily... and then it all went to crap!
As soon as answers began to emerge as to what was actually going on I completely lost interest. I just didn't find it convincing at all. Yes, I'm very familiar with the fantasy...more
As soon as answers began to emerge as to what was actually going on I completely lost interest. I just didn't find it convincing at all. Yes, I'm very familiar with the fantasy...more
I got this as a free book on Kindle and, therefore, didn't have very high expectations for it. It was a well-written intriguing story with excellent characterization. I couldn't figure out if it wanted to be a historical fiction or a sci-fi/fantasty novel...but that's not a bad thing. I spent the majority of my time reading this being absurdly confused, but the concept and execution was good enough that I'll revisit it in a few months to see if I enjoy it more the second time around. I did think...more
It's been a while since I've read a novel that most will classify as literary, though it does have some sci-fi/ paranormal elements, so reading Dust was like gentle spring rain to my reader's mind. Cleansing even. Slade has a winner here, and I wouldn't be surprised if this novel continues to find a broader fan base and further attention.
It's got some elements that remind me of Steven King. Not for style of writing or Carrie-like gore. No, the similarities are more subtle than that. Slade has a...more
It's got some elements that remind me of Steven King. Not for style of writing or Carrie-like gore. No, the similarities are more subtle than that. Slade has a...more
I thought it was an interesting book. It didn't grab me like other books have for this age group but young boys might like it. One word of warning for parents there is mild pg language in the book and if you are trying to keep your children away from it for awhile you should read it first to find if it bothers you or not. I'm not sure I would want my 10 or 11 year old to read it, but a 13/14 year old could probably deal with it. I'm not used to finding mild language in books geared to young/yout...more
Excellent MG story. Eleven-year-old Robert is the only one who suspects the stranger in town is...not what he seems.
The story takes place in the Canada, during their Dust Bowl of the 1930s. I could almost taste the dust from the author's descriptive writing. Robert's younger brother Matthew sets off to walk to town with his parents to follow a few minutes later. Matthew never reaches town. He's gone.
That same day a stranger appears who promises he can make rain. Only Robert and his Uncle Alden a...more
The story takes place in the Canada, during their Dust Bowl of the 1930s. I could almost taste the dust from the author's descriptive writing. Robert's younger brother Matthew sets off to walk to town with his parents to follow a few minutes later. Matthew never reaches town. He's gone.
That same day a stranger appears who promises he can make rain. Only Robert and his Uncle Alden a...more
This book was ridiculously awesome. It started out as kind of a historical fictiony mystery set against the backdrop of the Canadian Dust Bowl. Then the author threw in some potential-serial-killer action with a tinge of fantasy (in the form of butterflies that steal your soul). And then, out of nowhere, (view spoiler) show up, and it really gets crazy.
Plus, it delves into the mindset of a tween right on the cusp of a...more
Plus, it delves into the mindset of a tween right on the cusp of a...more
Excellent young adult book. Historical with magical elements, set in Canada during the Dust Bowl era. A seven year old boy named Mathew walks to town and is picked up by a stranger. He disappears - but a strange man comes to town soon after. The man's name is Abram, and he promises to make it rain. The townsfolk are mesmerized and pretty soon everyone is forgetting things - including Mathew.
His older brother Robert, age 11, is the only one who seems to be able to remember Mathew. He's also resi...more
His older brother Robert, age 11, is the only one who seems to be able to remember Mathew. He's also resi...more
Although published in 2004, I just became aware of this title, and I really don't know how I missed it when it was released.
Somewhat reminiscent of a Dean Koontz or Stephen King work, Dust begins with the disappearance of seven-year-old Matthew Steelgate from a small, farming town. There are no witnesses, no clues, no answers. Shortly thereafter, a stranger appears in the town, and the people in the town begin to change. Children are still disappearing and no one but Matthew's 11-year-old brothe...more
Somewhat reminiscent of a Dean Koontz or Stephen King work, Dust begins with the disappearance of seven-year-old Matthew Steelgate from a small, farming town. There are no witnesses, no clues, no answers. Shortly thereafter, a stranger appears in the town, and the people in the town begin to change. Children are still disappearing and no one but Matthew's 11-year-old brothe...more
I can now add historical fiction to the "like list". Dust was a very interesting, fantasy story set back in the dust bowl era. Farmers mostly were left in devastation by the drought and depression. beside the fact that every page of this book is interesting, Arthur Slade does a great job of painting the picture of that time. through Robert and his family children can see how hard things were. they can see that when crops did not grow families were not fed. the gist of the story is that hardship...more
2004- During the Great Depression, Robert's younger brother Matthew disappears from a small dusty prairie community in Saskatchewan, after Robert refuses to walk into town with him. Plagued with guilt, Robert finds himself at first drawn to the new stranger in town, Abram Harsich, who claims he can help the town's dry spell by building a ""rainmill."" However, as the rest of the townspeople fall under Abram's spell, Robert and his Uncle Alden seem to be the only ones who think that Abram isn't w...more
Like a twenty-first century Something Wicked This Way Comes, Slade's Dust is a tour-de-force that echoes the work of the formidable Ray Bradbury whilst still maintaining its own identity.
In a depression-soaked American town, a drought threatens the towns peoples life-stock until a stranger arrives with the promise of rain. All the towns people have to do is help him build a device that will bring it.
One boy sees past his lies and is the only one who can stop this stranger from opening the door t...more
In a depression-soaked American town, a drought threatens the towns peoples life-stock until a stranger arrives with the promise of rain. All the towns people have to do is help him build a device that will bring it.
One boy sees past his lies and is the only one who can stop this stranger from opening the door t...more
Jun 20, 2008
Krista the Krazy Kataloguer
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
read-ya,
read-goodreads-authors
A science fiction story with a slow buildup of the bizarre, reminding me of some of William Sleator's books. It would make a great movie!
Dec 17, 2012
Susan
added it
The setting of this book is in a small town in Canada during the Dust Bowl. People are desperate for rain to water their crops, however it's not a historical fiction. Instead it is spooky and strange since kids start disappearing in the area and Matthew tries to figure out what or who is taking them. I just saw this book go out of the library and asked the student if he would like something strange to read. He said he would so I'm glad he picked this up. I have more books on top of the lower boo...more
Dust is the fanciful story of a boy whose world is turned upside down after his younger brother is kidnapped. As strange things begin to happen around him, he finds himself alone in the knowledge that something is not right -- and he alone must set things right again.
I loved this story. Slade does a fantastic job in making the reader see through the eyes of an eleven-year-old boy. The story itself was very much like a fairy tale in its simplicity with fantastic elements woven beautifully into th...more
I loved this story. Slade does a fantastic job in making the reader see through the eyes of an eleven-year-old boy. The story itself was very much like a fairy tale in its simplicity with fantastic elements woven beautifully into th...more
I checked out this book because the concept of Slade's story intrigued me. Not a big horror girl, I tend to shy away from it anymore; I scare my own self too badly for it to be enjoyable reading, usually. I stepped into this luminous setting and it grabbed me. The shadows of the story stayed with me for days. The perspective of the story and its characters was so unique, the story so cleanly crafted, that it was both disappointment and relief to finish it. Makes me wish I had e-Readers for my mi...more
This book was good. It wasn't fantastic or horrible but somewhere in between.
I loved the setting and main character of the book. I also think the original story had great potential. It, at first, greatly reminded me of Changeling and the Wineville Chicken Coop murders.
However, like most potential, it was mostly crushed by convenient events, unexplained details, and a quick, mediocre ending.
It wasn't the best book, but it wasn't a drag to read.
I would recommend it to anyone wanting a quick, somew...more
I loved the setting and main character of the book. I also think the original story had great potential. It, at first, greatly reminded me of Changeling and the Wineville Chicken Coop murders.
However, like most potential, it was mostly crushed by convenient events, unexplained details, and a quick, mediocre ending.
It wasn't the best book, but it wasn't a drag to read.
I would recommend it to anyone wanting a quick, somew...more
Dust is the story of children disappearing in Depression-era Canada. Robert's brother Matthew is one of the children, and he suspects the newcomer Abram is connected, who is promising rain to the people via his mystical "rainmaker". Robert finds out the truth is stranger, and scarier, than he could have ever imagined. This book was extremely well done. From the first few pages I was hooked, and the mystery of the missing children is intriguing to the very end. This is a must have for any older c...more
Dust is a great story. It's not full of vampires, and witches, and warlocks. There are no bombs, guns, or mushy romances. It's full of people, and an evil that is beyond all of those things. It's an evil that none of them see for what it truly is. Except for one boy. The dust covers the town, and the minds of those that live in the town. Until one man appears, promising the promise to beat all; rain. In a dusty time like that which covered Kansas during the dust-bowl, Robert fights to stay awake...more
I'm not sure what I expected when I started reading this book but it was one creepy story. And, it stayed creepy all the way through.
One summer day, seven-year Matthew disappears while walking to town. His brother Robert feels a terrible sense of guilt. After all, Robert was too busy reading to go with Matthew when his brother asked. At first, it seems as if it might be an accident but when authorities discover other children from town missing, there is clearly something sinister at work. At fir...more
One summer day, seven-year Matthew disappears while walking to town. His brother Robert feels a terrible sense of guilt. After all, Robert was too busy reading to go with Matthew when his brother asked. At first, it seems as if it might be an accident but when authorities discover other children from town missing, there is clearly something sinister at work. At fir...more
Jun 27, 2012
The Cheap Reader
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
own-kindle,
freebie
I’ve always been fairly indifferent to atmosphere in books. Sure I enjoy when a book has a good atmosphere but I’m not ‘hurt’ if a book doesn’t have one. Dust’s atmosphere was great. It was very spooky and unsettling. It wasn’t outright scary because that’s pretty easy to do. Instead, it’s just a little something off. You can never quite put your finger on what it is but it’s definitely there. It kind of reminded me of Stephen King (or at least what I remember his books are like. It’s been years...more
This is a dark and mysterious book, one that is different from other books I've read. It completely drew me in and made me want to figure out what was going on.
It's the depression and there is a drought in Saskatchewan. Kids are going missing, including 7 year old Matthew. Then Abram Harsich comes to town, promising to solve all of their problems if they help him to build a rainmaking machine. It is clear that he can draw on mystical forces and has everyone under his spell, except for Matthew's...more
It's the depression and there is a drought in Saskatchewan. Kids are going missing, including 7 year old Matthew. Then Abram Harsich comes to town, promising to solve all of their problems if they help him to build a rainmaking machine. It is clear that he can draw on mystical forces and has everyone under his spell, except for Matthew's...more
Review from the wife:
She said it was decently written and edited, though she wished there was more of a personality to the writing. She felt like the bland tone of the writing and dreamy concept just didn't carry the story along enough, after the first chapter, and the middle part dragged more than it should have. She enjoyed it, but didn't really connect with it. It just didn't have that "can't put it down" grip. Not bad, and an enjoyable read, just, it didn't draw her in.
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Arthur Slade was raised in the Cypress Hills of southwest Saskatchewan and began writing at an early age. He received an English Honours degree from the University of Saskatchewan, spent several years writing advertising and now writes fiction full time. He is the author of the "Canadian Chills" series of books, "Dust" (which won the Governor General's award), "Tribes," and "Jolted." He currently...more
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“Sky was the first god. Robert knew that there was only one God and he had a Son who was also God, but there were gods who had vanished: the gods of thunder, of fire, of the wide oceans of the earth.”
—
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