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108th out of 207 books
—
191 voters
Immortal (Immortal #1)
by
Gene Doucette (Goodreads Author)
IMMORTAL is a first person confessional, penned by a man who is immortal but not invincible. In an artful blending of sci-fi, adventure, fantasy and humor, Immortal introduces us to a world with vampires, demons and other "magical" creatures, yet a world without actual magic. It is a contemporary fantasy for non-fantasy readers and enthusiasts alike.
NOTE: the HIP edition o...more
NOTE: the HIP edition o...more
Paperback, 329 pages
Published
October 5th 2010
by Hamel Integrity Publishing
(first published October 1st 2010)
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Immortal tells a story about Adam, a man who existed (most likely, according to Adam) since the beginning of mankind. He was not your typical immortal superhero guy with superpowers nor was he the most handsome man in the universe. Adam was more or less like a normal human; except that he stopped aging at thirty-two, has a super immune system, and a whole lot more story to tell.
To me, it was a modern book about being immortal. It’s funny and sarcastic (which I love!), and at the same time it’s a...more
To me, it was a modern book about being immortal. It’s funny and sarcastic (which I love!), and at the same time it’s a...more
My decision to stop listening (no audiobook in GR atm, and I may or may not have the energy to add it) was a combination of frustration with the audiobook and the things I didn't like about the book overwhelming those I did. First off, the reader was okay except for when he was reading women - especially the medieval French vampire, which was bad enough that I would have returned the audio if I hadn't listened for quite a while already. But pretty darn close in annoyingness was the modern-day Bo...more
Not only did the good reviews draw me to this book, the Immortal premise attracted me favourably, with its tentative link to time-travel, which I’m a great fan of.
The only concept that made me pause before buying was the inclusion of Demons, Pixies and Vampires etc, which I tend to avoid on a permanent basis.
I needn’t have worried, as they complement the story rather than detract.
I was a bit peeved to see that the book was only available on Kindle, as I’m a book person, who enjoys the solid feel...more
The only concept that made me pause before buying was the inclusion of Demons, Pixies and Vampires etc, which I tend to avoid on a permanent basis.
I needn’t have worried, as they complement the story rather than detract.
I was a bit peeved to see that the book was only available on Kindle, as I’m a book person, who enjoys the solid feel...more
My relationship with alcohol is complicated. Give or take a few days
here and there, I hadn’t been dry since the speakeasy fire in 1922. By all
normal human standards that would make me a raging alcoholic, except
that by those same human standards I would also be dead by now, if not
from old age then from cirrhosis of the liver. But eighty years for me is like
a glass of wine with dinner for anybody else. - Adam
Adam is a thirty-something-year-old mister average with some extraordinary personalit...more
here and there, I hadn’t been dry since the speakeasy fire in 1922. By all
normal human standards that would make me a raging alcoholic, except
that by those same human standards I would also be dead by now, if not
from old age then from cirrhosis of the liver. But eighty years for me is like
a glass of wine with dinner for anybody else. - Adam
Adam is a thirty-something-year-old mister average with some extraordinary personalit...more
This was an incredibly fun romp. A perfect airplane read, the story moves along at a superbrisk but natural pace, glibly covering thousands of years of history in a tightly woven narrative.
Once I got about 20 pages in, I couldn’t put it down. The story is a first-person narrative following the life and times – and a particularly exciting week or so – in the life of Adam, an ordinary man who happens to never age, get sick or, at least so far, die.
Now I’m a sucker for an immortal life story, and f...more
Once I got about 20 pages in, I couldn’t put it down. The story is a first-person narrative following the life and times – and a particularly exciting week or so – in the life of Adam, an ordinary man who happens to never age, get sick or, at least so far, die.
Now I’m a sucker for an immortal life story, and f...more
Oct 23, 2010
The Sunday Book Review
added it
What would you do if you were immortal? Would you live life to the fullest, always excited as to what may appear at the next corner, or would end up being bored quickly knowing you have forever to do something?
If you’re Adam, the “let’s see what I can get away with” guy, you begin to get bored with so called surprises and begin looking for similarities between cultures and centuries that most would miss, but later end up playing an important part of history. While studying his surroundings seems...more
If you’re Adam, the “let’s see what I can get away with” guy, you begin to get bored with so called surprises and begin looking for similarities between cultures and centuries that most would miss, but later end up playing an important part of history. While studying his surroundings seems...more
Review on http://passionforpages.blogspot.ca/20...
When I first heard of Immortal I admit I wasn’t all that interested. Not because I didn’t think it could be a good story but because I didn’t think it was a story I would like.
I was wrong.
I cannot even begin to explain how much I loved this book. Absolutely loved it. The plot was captivating, the characters were interesting, it was funny and amusing – just one of those books I didn’t want to put down and once I had to I couldn’t stop thinking ab...more
When I first heard of Immortal I admit I wasn’t all that interested. Not because I didn’t think it could be a good story but because I didn’t think it was a story I would like.
I was wrong.
I cannot even begin to explain how much I loved this book. Absolutely loved it. The plot was captivating, the characters were interesting, it was funny and amusing – just one of those books I didn’t want to put down and once I had to I couldn’t stop thinking ab...more
From author/publisher
"Part science fiction fantasy, part action adventure and thriller, Gene Doucette creates the perfect balance of humor and edge-of-your-seat anticipation in this genre-defying story of an immortal man named Adam, who finds himself battling demons and bounty hunters in his eternal search for Eve, the red haired mystery woman of his dreams. Witty and wonderful, with a bite of sarcasm, Immortal is a five star read for any fiction lover. " (Book Blurb submitted by yours truly!)
I...more
"Part science fiction fantasy, part action adventure and thriller, Gene Doucette creates the perfect balance of humor and edge-of-your-seat anticipation in this genre-defying story of an immortal man named Adam, who finds himself battling demons and bounty hunters in his eternal search for Eve, the red haired mystery woman of his dreams. Witty and wonderful, with a bite of sarcasm, Immortal is a five star read for any fiction lover. " (Book Blurb submitted by yours truly!)
I...more
Adam has been around since the beginning of mankind.
Adam takes us through the events that lead to someone discovery what he is. He has a few encounters with other species, and is able to finally figure out how to get rid of one of them. You also get a glimpse back to his earlier times and when he first encountered some of the beings that are after him. His memories back to some of the earliest moments in history shape him and give you an idea of the man he is now.
This is a great book. It's def...more
Adam takes us through the events that lead to someone discovery what he is. He has a few encounters with other species, and is able to finally figure out how to get rid of one of them. You also get a glimpse back to his earlier times and when he first encountered some of the beings that are after him. His memories back to some of the earliest moments in history shape him and give you an idea of the man he is now.
This is a great book. It's def...more
May 07, 2012
Sarah (Workaday Reads)
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
read-in-2012,
netgalley
This is a very personal first person POV story about Adam. Adam is a fairly normal guy albeit more self aware and honest about himself. He is a professed alcoholic with serious intimacy issues. He avoids thinking about or confronting everything, preferring to lose himself in a glass of beer. Adam is the type of guy who makes a good acquaintance, but a bad friend.
I found the humour to be dry and subtle. There were quite a few chuckle-worthy moments, and even more smile-worthy ones.
The ending left...more
I found the humour to be dry and subtle. There were quite a few chuckle-worthy moments, and even more smile-worthy ones.
The ending left...more
This book was fantastic! It's about a man who has been alive for 40,000-60,000 years and currently has a price on his head. It goes through several episodes of his extremely long life, introducing various supernatural (as we think of them) creatures that he has contact with, as well as placing him alongside several major people and events throughout history.
Doucette does a great job of letting you into the mind of an immortal man. He is an alcoholic who doesn't mind letting people know what he i...more
Doucette does a great job of letting you into the mind of an immortal man. He is an alcoholic who doesn't mind letting people know what he i...more
A Bestselling Author for sure!
This book, “Immortal” was one of the best fantasy/non-fantasy novels I have read to date. From the very beginning I was pulled into the story and could not let it go.
“Adam,” one of the Immortals many aliases, was a super amazing character that had me on the edge of my seat as I followed along through the stories of his amazing life. In the midst of his past experiences was a fantastic present-day tale of survival and rescue that seemed too real to not believe. Add...more
This book, “Immortal” was one of the best fantasy/non-fantasy novels I have read to date. From the very beginning I was pulled into the story and could not let it go.
“Adam,” one of the Immortals many aliases, was a super amazing character that had me on the edge of my seat as I followed along through the stories of his amazing life. In the midst of his past experiences was a fantastic present-day tale of survival and rescue that seemed too real to not believe. Add...more
A big “Thank You” to Net Gallery for the advance copy!
First of all - I want to party with Adam!! This is a guy who knows how to party. He should, he has been at it for 60,000 plus years. And along the way he has picked up all the survival skills to survive that long as our "conquerable" immortal (he can be killed). Life skills we all can live by:
One of the first things I learned was if there’s going to be a mob panic, don’t be standing between that mob and wherever it is they want to go. The se...more
First of all - I want to party with Adam!! This is a guy who knows how to party. He should, he has been at it for 60,000 plus years. And along the way he has picked up all the survival skills to survive that long as our "conquerable" immortal (he can be killed). Life skills we all can live by:
One of the first things I learned was if there’s going to be a mob panic, don’t be standing between that mob and wherever it is they want to go. The se...more
FUll Review: http://thetbrpile.weebly.com/1/post/2...
Without giving away the plot that develops, I can say that the story gently touches on interesting issues of scientific and business ethics without being heavy-handed or preachy. While there are also some scenes of violence, it is not overly disgusting and the other "non-human" creatures that also exist alongside Adam and play parts in the story are interesting as well. Although there are some sex scenes in the book (Adam is quite appreciative...more
Without giving away the plot that develops, I can say that the story gently touches on interesting issues of scientific and business ethics without being heavy-handed or preachy. While there are also some scenes of violence, it is not overly disgusting and the other "non-human" creatures that also exist alongside Adam and play parts in the story are interesting as well. Although there are some sex scenes in the book (Adam is quite appreciative...more
Fun story, the kind of story that I really can get into. First off, I love anything with immortal characters, you can blame Highlander for that. No, not the movie, I'm a young whippersnapper and I was sucked in by the TV series (amazing).
What I liked most about this book was the overall tone. Funny, but not to the point where it ruins the book. Still has enough drama and action to pull you in. Interesting plot, some fun flashbacks that really hammer in the whole immortality thing (I actually wou...more
What I liked most about this book was the overall tone. Funny, but not to the point where it ruins the book. Still has enough drama and action to pull you in. Interesting plot, some fun flashbacks that really hammer in the whole immortality thing (I actually wou...more
I met Gene on Twitter and was impressed by his wit. I was a little afraid to read his book... what if I didn't like it? What would I say? Well, my son latched onto it first and told me it was one of his favorite books. He had recently finished The Passage and was looking for something completely different. He has eclectic tastes like his mom... Anyway, I had to unearth Immortal from his room (the cave, as we call it) and finally had a chance to read it.
It isn't easy to blend humor, action, suspe...more
It isn't easy to blend humor, action, suspe...more
This book is something i've been searching for a while. It brings back the feeling i had when i was first watching Highlander as a child. The main character feels like Methos for the most part. It's what made me read the book with only one break (for sleep). The only reason i cant give it a 5 star is because of the bad guys. All of them have this "lets be gentlemen about violence" that at the beginning was kind of irritating an just got worse at the end. I get that all ofg them are professionals...more
Cool. Yet another snarky immortal story. But I really like them. The reviews built up the author as a new Douglas Adams, and while he has a way to go on that account, I thought it did read a bit like "the long dark tea time of the soul" (??) in parts. Gene has a good turn of phrase and enjoys the story as much as the reader. The story addresses some of the age old questions about immortality in believable ways - what to do in your spare time, how to get around, how to deal with the changing worl...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
Review posted on Ja čitam, a ti?
Did you ever wonder what would you do if you knew you'd never die? That you are going to live forever? I know I did. Actually, I was obsessed with that concept when I was much younger. I was terrified of death (and fascinated by it at the same time) - I was a weird kid, I know. That's when I started to get interested in paranormal, mythical creatures as vampires, other religions and their believes regarding life, death and immortality. I read Anne Rice's Vampire...more
Did you ever wonder what would you do if you knew you'd never die? That you are going to live forever? I know I did. Actually, I was obsessed with that concept when I was much younger. I was terrified of death (and fascinated by it at the same time) - I was a weird kid, I know. That's when I started to get interested in paranormal, mythical creatures as vampires, other religions and their believes regarding life, death and immortality. I read Anne Rice's Vampire...more
May 09, 2012
Sandra
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
folks who like snark with a bit of fantasy
What a fun read!!! I was intrigued by the blurb and couldn't wait to get my hands on this book when it became available at NetGalley.
I'm so glad I did. I had a difficult time putting it down for sleep and work and other such pesky time consumers.
The story is told in the first person narrative by Adam, who's been around the block a few times (actually, a few tens of millenia, give or take), a somewhat average guy in looks and stature, and who just happens to be immortal, frozen in time at about...more
I'm so glad I did. I had a difficult time putting it down for sleep and work and other such pesky time consumers.
The story is told in the first person narrative by Adam, who's been around the block a few times (actually, a few tens of millenia, give or take), a somewhat average guy in looks and stature, and who just happens to be immortal, frozen in time at about...more
I wasn't sure what to expect from Immortal other than what the title gave away (spoiler alert: the main character is immortal) and the fact that it was super-highly-rated on Goodreads. So I came in with little of the way of expectations, which helped, I think.
Immortal starts out pretty amusing with a dry, British sort of sense of humor that reminds me of Hitchhiker's Guide (though a bit less non-sequitor-ish) and Lamb (but more enjoyable, to me, since it didn't have the Bible Studies pre-req for...more
Immortal starts out pretty amusing with a dry, British sort of sense of humor that reminds me of Hitchhiker's Guide (though a bit less non-sequitor-ish) and Lamb (but more enjoyable, to me, since it didn't have the Bible Studies pre-req for...more
Immortal is not, perhaps, what one might expect from a novel focusing on a being incapable of death by natural causes. Doucette's writing is fresh, original, and riddled with dry humour. Adam, the frank and somewhat cynical immortal man, does not begin his story with the overdone "first I fell in a vat of radioactive material", but instead asserts that he has, perhaps, been around since the beginning of time; admits that he cannot remember back past a certain point; and assures the reader that h...more
Mar 25, 2012
Kate
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Fantasy lovers, humor lovers
Shelves:
genre-fantasy,
genre-humor,
read-in-2011,
publisher-indie,
author-gender-male,
author-nationality-usa,
creatures-vampires,
creatures-demons,
creatures-genies,
creatures-fae,
creatures-dragons,
creatures-original,
genre-urban-fantasy,
misc-stand-alone-book,
pov-first-person,
rating-3-stars,
set-in-multiple-locations,
tense-past,
misc-did-not-finish,
reviewed-by-iamfantastikate
Should I read it? Yes, if you're a fan of comedic fiction. Immortal is quirky, absurd and probably good for readers who want a light read. If you enjoy Douglas Adams' style of humor and don't mind reading a full book of it, you're likely to enjoy Doucette's work.
What's the short and skinny of it? Adam is immortal but seemingly not invincible. He's unsure of the hows and whys behind his immortality, but he's not overly concerned by them, either. He just is and, for the most part, always has been....more
What's the short and skinny of it? Adam is immortal but seemingly not invincible. He's unsure of the hows and whys behind his immortality, but he's not overly concerned by them, either. He just is and, for the most part, always has been....more
What a great book. This is the story of a man who just doesn't die. He can be killed, but he won't die of disease or natural causes. He's been alive longer than most of human civilization and approaches life with a wry-but-fatigued philosophy, having seen pretty much every face humanity has to offer. He spends his time as a drifter, changing his name, changing his place, trying to stay hidden, and drinking lots of beer.
That would be an interesting story in itself, but Gene Doucette takes it up t...more
That would be an interesting story in itself, but Gene Doucette takes it up t...more
Immortal by Gene Doucette is about a dude named Adam (who may or may not be that Adam). He's seen nations rise and fall and endless numbers of friends grow old and die. He wants to lay low, stay out of trouble and maybe have a few drinks and do some drugs. There's just one problem, a price has been put on his head and now he's a wanted man.
Adam first realizes he's wanted when his current roommates are murdered. He's fingered for their deaths and has to scramble. As he's trying to sort out what h...more
Adam first realizes he's wanted when his current roommates are murdered. He's fingered for their deaths and has to scramble. As he's trying to sort out what h...more
Immortal is probably the modern (and historical) fantasy you've been seeking.
By the end of the first chapter I was fairly convinced that Gene Doucette had found this manuscript between seats on the subway because it had clearly been written as a collaboration by some of my favorite authors while they were sharing a bottle of whiskey. He has the wit of Douglas Adams, the sarcasm of Jim Butcher, the droll plotting of Spider Robinson, and the sly twists of Neil Gaiman, just to mention a few. But do...more
By the end of the first chapter I was fairly convinced that Gene Doucette had found this manuscript between seats on the subway because it had clearly been written as a collaboration by some of my favorite authors while they were sharing a bottle of whiskey. He has the wit of Douglas Adams, the sarcasm of Jim Butcher, the droll plotting of Spider Robinson, and the sly twists of Neil Gaiman, just to mention a few. But do...more
I read this book out of sheer curiousity and reviewed it at the request of the author as part of a blog tour. It is a very good urban fantasy with only superficial similarities to the work of Jim Butcher (The Dresden Files series). The author slightly redefines classic myths to fit within modern times without losing their impact on the reader's psyche.
The central character may be immortal, but he is not a god. The author successfully drives this point home throughout the narrative.
The central character may be immortal, but he is not a god. The author successfully drives this point home throughout the narrative.
This is one of THOSE books. You know, the kind that makes you grab every person you know and tell them to read it. Yes, it's that good.
Immortal overflows with wit and humor. Sarcastic and charming, it just grabs you and won't let go. Adam is exactly what you'd expect an unwitting immortal to be: jaded, wise, worldly, and well, a drunk. :)
All I can say is that history and mythology have never been so fun!
Good job, Mr. Doucette. Good job.
Immortal overflows with wit and humor. Sarcastic and charming, it just grabs you and won't let go. Adam is exactly what you'd expect an unwitting immortal to be: jaded, wise, worldly, and well, a drunk. :)
All I can say is that history and mythology have never been so fun!
Good job, Mr. Doucette. Good job.
Immortal is one of those rare original stories that I can never seem to find enough of; I was swept away by it. When I first picked this book up, I'd been winding my way through a Nobel winner's masterpiece. But I dropped Orhan and left the party with Adam the Immortal, smitten from my first glance of him.
The brilliance of this book is in the way Adam's story weaves its way through so many different times and places. He's in Pompeii at Vesuvius's eruption, modern day New York, medieval France an...more
The brilliance of this book is in the way Adam's story weaves its way through so many different times and places. He's in Pompeii at Vesuvius's eruption, modern day New York, medieval France an...more
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Gene Doucette is the author of Immortal and Hellenic Immortal and the upcoming Fixer, as well as the as-yet untitled third Immortal book.
Gene is also a humorist and an award-winning screenwriter and playwright. He lives in Cambridge MA with his wife and, when the colleges aren't in session, his two children.
Follow Gene on Twitter and Tumblr.
More about Gene Doucette...
Gene is also a humorist and an award-winning screenwriter and playwright. He lives in Cambridge MA with his wife and, when the colleges aren't in session, his two children.
Follow Gene on Twitter and Tumblr.
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“I was suicidal for two solid centuries once. That was during the early part of what they now call the Dark Ages, in medieval Europe. Suicidal tendencies were de rigueur at the time, and I’m nothing if not trendy.”
—
3 people liked it
“I'm a pretty sad example of what one should do with eternal life. I've never reached any higher level of consciousness, I don't have access to any great truths, and I've never borne witness to the divine or transcendent. Some of this is just bad luck. Like working in the fishing industry in Galilee and never once running into Jesus.”
—
2 people liked it
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Apr 23, 2012 11:55pm