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The Shattering Saga: The Above #1
Lucian: Dark God's Homecoming
A taut, fast moving science fiction adventure in the style of the late Jack Vance. Plexico weaves a dazzling tale filled with action and awe inspiring suspense. Cover art and interior illustrations by the amazing Ingrid Hardy. Science fiction for a new generation.
- GenresScience Fiction
244 pages, Paperback
First published July 1, 2009
5 people are currently reading
38 people want to read
About the author
Van Allen Plexico
75 books46 followersVan Allen Plexico has written a dozen novels and contributed to at least that many anthologies, but is best known for his popular and critically-acclaimed SENTINELS superhero novels, as well as the two-time Novel of the Year Finalist LORDS OF FIRE and its sequels in the "Shattering" space opera series. In the realm of nonfiction, he co-wrote the best-selling DECADES OF DOMINANCE and SEASON OF OUR DREAMS books about Auburn football and created the ASSEMBLED! books, exploring the history of Marvel’s AVENGERS comics. He writes and edits for numerous publishers including Airship 27, Pro Se Press, Permuted/Swarm Press, Maple Street Press, New Babel Books, Adamant, and White Rocket, along with occasional columns for RevolutionSF.com and the War Eagle Reader. He serves as an Associate Professor at Southwestern Illinois College.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
November 30, 2022
I am normally a cozy mystery can but occasionally I fancy something different and I have found that Van Allen Plexico certainly takes me out of my comfort zone and out of this world, like nobody else can and I loved it. He always writes a story that is entertaining, full of action and story that always has a different approach or twist to the norm. I loved the characters and the interaction between them, especially as you tried to guess who was behind it all. I don't normally cheer on the bad guys because they are usually so evil but Lucian is a hero. I did find some of the God names confusing as they were unusual but to be honest I just say back and enjoyed the ride as we travelled through portals and different dimensions.
The God of Evil was banished from the golden city, where all the other gods live after trying to stage a take over. He is left with no power, just his immortality and far from home with no way to return. When he starts to feel his power return he heads back to the city he loves to take his revenge. Only things have changed since he has been away, he wasn't the only one who lost his power and many of the Gods have been killed. Once again blamed he is on the run from the remaining gods with three humans in toe. Can Lucian clear his name and keep a step ahead of his hunters? He might be the God of Evil but in order to survive he might just have to become a hero and ignore his character.
I liked the narrator. He did a good job with all the varied characters and voice in this book that helped bring the action to life.
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request from audiobooksunleashed and have voluntarily left this review
The God of Evil was banished from the golden city, where all the other gods live after trying to stage a take over. He is left with no power, just his immortality and far from home with no way to return. When he starts to feel his power return he heads back to the city he loves to take his revenge. Only things have changed since he has been away, he wasn't the only one who lost his power and many of the Gods have been killed. Once again blamed he is on the run from the remaining gods with three humans in toe. Can Lucian clear his name and keep a step ahead of his hunters? He might be the God of Evil but in order to survive he might just have to become a hero and ignore his character.
I liked the narrator. He did a good job with all the varied characters and voice in this book that helped bring the action to life.
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request from audiobooksunleashed and have voluntarily left this review
October 12, 2017
Fast paced is the right word.
It's nothing but set pieces with exactly the minimum of words to move the plot along.
That whole Hemingway thing (Don't quote me but I think it was him) About whether a sentence is necessar because it advances the plot or develops your chracter otherwise lose it was taken to heart a little much.
We get to the all too obvious double cross quest within 20 or 30 pages and the reluctant aid (who turns out to have his own agenda to setup the sequl of course) within 50.
I'm all for fast paced but give me time to breath in the characters.
Good idea but it needs a rewrite.
It's nothing but set pieces with exactly the minimum of words to move the plot along.
That whole Hemingway thing (Don't quote me but I think it was him) About whether a sentence is necessar because it advances the plot or develops your chracter otherwise lose it was taken to heart a little much.
We get to the all too obvious double cross quest within 20 or 30 pages and the reluctant aid (who turns out to have his own agenda to setup the sequl of course) within 50.
I'm all for fast paced but give me time to breath in the characters.
Good idea but it needs a rewrite.
July 9, 2017
Wonderful story, in the style of Zelazny! Highly recommended!
September 27, 2017
Lots if fun in this book. A story of personal growth, shimmering portals to other planes of existence, and a mystery to be solved. Mortals, gods, demons, and ray guns. What is there not to like?
February 21, 2013
Lucian-Dark God’s Homecoming- A Review.
Lucian, by Van Plexico is the story of a God of a heretofore unknown pantheon who have seemingly hidden from mortals since the dawn of time. The quibble and bicker amongst themselves and at times go to outright war with each other.
In this pantheon, ‘Lucian’ is the devil of sorts, though it’s not really made clear why he is, just that it’s his role. In fact other races called him the ‘Liberator’ for his habit of raising an army and overthrowing tyrants on various worlds. He is also known by many names among the mortals one is ‘Marcus’. It is the most recent nom de plume he has used.
These powerful Gods tend to stay in their own realms for the most part, though they do have a shining golden city that some number of them live in, ruled by the powerful Golden God of battle ‘Baranak’.
From the first we see of each character there is great enmity between Baranak and Lucian. It seems the latter had tried to overthrow the former a millennia ago and failed, so he is immediately suspect as a new twilight of the Gods is unfolding in this golden realm. Gods are dying. Over 70 have died so far and all evidence points to the ‘bad boy’ God, Lucian.
Thus begins an epic journey across many worlds and dimensions as Lucian and his three human companions whose faster than light space craft had somehow been captured by the Gods of the golden city, and the space explorers themselves were thrown into a dungeon alongside Lucian, begin an incredible undertaking to not only clear Lucian’s name, but to save human worlds as well as the heavenly.
Lucian- Dark God’s Homecoming is an epic novel chronicling the adventure of a God the worlds think is evil and his quest to clear his name.
This was a good, fun read that held my attention and never seemed to drag. I was actually saddened to see it end. There was something for every type of sci-fi fan here. All in all I have nothing bad to say about this one at all. Seriously one of my favorite books out of forty or so I’ve read in the past year. I’m sure others could find fault with it if they wanted too, but I could not. I thought it was just right. Good work Van. I enjoyed it quite a bit. 5 stars
Lucian, by Van Plexico is the story of a God of a heretofore unknown pantheon who have seemingly hidden from mortals since the dawn of time. The quibble and bicker amongst themselves and at times go to outright war with each other.
In this pantheon, ‘Lucian’ is the devil of sorts, though it’s not really made clear why he is, just that it’s his role. In fact other races called him the ‘Liberator’ for his habit of raising an army and overthrowing tyrants on various worlds. He is also known by many names among the mortals one is ‘Marcus’. It is the most recent nom de plume he has used.
These powerful Gods tend to stay in their own realms for the most part, though they do have a shining golden city that some number of them live in, ruled by the powerful Golden God of battle ‘Baranak’.
From the first we see of each character there is great enmity between Baranak and Lucian. It seems the latter had tried to overthrow the former a millennia ago and failed, so he is immediately suspect as a new twilight of the Gods is unfolding in this golden realm. Gods are dying. Over 70 have died so far and all evidence points to the ‘bad boy’ God, Lucian.
Thus begins an epic journey across many worlds and dimensions as Lucian and his three human companions whose faster than light space craft had somehow been captured by the Gods of the golden city, and the space explorers themselves were thrown into a dungeon alongside Lucian, begin an incredible undertaking to not only clear Lucian’s name, but to save human worlds as well as the heavenly.
Lucian- Dark God’s Homecoming is an epic novel chronicling the adventure of a God the worlds think is evil and his quest to clear his name.
This was a good, fun read that held my attention and never seemed to drag. I was actually saddened to see it end. There was something for every type of sci-fi fan here. All in all I have nothing bad to say about this one at all. Seriously one of my favorite books out of forty or so I’ve read in the past year. I’m sure others could find fault with it if they wanted too, but I could not. I thought it was just right. Good work Van. I enjoyed it quite a bit. 5 stars
February 10, 2015
I'm a huge fan of Van Allen Plexico's Sentinels series. Normally I don't go in for the more space opera-type stuff, so I was curious to see how this book would read. It's a very enjoyable story with some great action set-pieces. I liked the interaction between Lucian and his human companion, Evelyn. However, I did feel the first-person style was a bit of a weakness from the book. Lucian is a very self-centered character, and while there's nothing wrong with that, the perspective of the story felt like we got a bit too much of Lucian.
I understand this book is connected to Van's other space opera books, which I am looking forward to reading. Although I didn't enjoy Lucian as much as his superhero Sentinels series, it still gave me enough of a taste of this wider universe that I'm interested in discovering more.
I understand this book is connected to Van's other space opera books, which I am looking forward to reading. Although I didn't enjoy Lucian as much as his superhero Sentinels series, it still gave me enough of a taste of this wider universe that I'm interested in discovering more.
December 16, 2013
Original and fascinating take on cosmic gods and high fantasy, grounded by some good characters and great storytelling. Do not read ahead. Do not miss a clue. Do not miss a word.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews