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Philip José Farmer's The Dungeon #3
Philip Jose Farmer's The Dungeon 3
THE HIDDEN CITY earing the zenith of the quest, Clive and Neville Folliot and their comrades from time and space are scattered through a ruined city. Beneath the decaying streets waits the greatest danger of the Ren and the Chaffri, inscrutable masters of the Dungeon! THE FINAL BATTLE leeing from the mysterious creators of the Dungeon, Clive breaks through to the ninth level. Stranded in a freezing polar wilderness, he struggles to find his missing comrades and to triumph at last against the murderous masters of the Dungeon
592 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1989
7 people are currently reading
406 people want to read
About the author
Charles de Lint
447 books3,973 followersCharles de Lint is the much beloved author of more than seventy adult, young adult, and children's books. Renowned as one of the trailblazers of the modern fantasy genre, he is the recipient of the World Fantasy, Aurora, Sunburst, and White Pine awards, among others. Modern Library's Top 100 Books of the 20th Century poll, conducted by Random House and voted on by readers, put eight of de Lint's books among the top 100.
De Lint is a poet, folklorist, artist, songwriter and performer. He has written critical essays, music reviews, opinion columns and entries to encyclopedias, and he's been the main book reviewer for The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction since 1987. De Lint served as Writer-in-residence for two public libraries in Ottawa and has taught creative writing workshops for adults and children in Canada and the United States. He's been a judge for several prominent awards, including the Nebula, World Fantasy, Theodore Sturgeon and Bram Stoker.
Born in the Netherlands in 1951, de Lint immigrated to Canada with his family as an infant. The family moved often during de Lint's childhood because of his father's job with an international surveying company, but by the time Charles was twelve—having lived in Western Canada, Turkey and Lebanon—they had settled in Lucerne, Quebec, not far from where he now resides in Ottawa, Ontario.
In 1980, de Lint married the love of his life, MaryAnn Harris, who works closely with him as his first editor, business manager and creative partner. They share their love and home with a cheery little dog named Johnny Cash.
Charles de Lint is best described as a romantic: a believer in compassion, hope and human potential. His skilled portrayal of character and settings has earned him a loyal readership and glowing praise from peers, reviewers and readers.
Charles de Lint writes like a magician. He draws out the strange inside our own world, weaving stories that feel more real than we are when we read them. He is, simply put, the best.
—Holly Black (bestselling author)
Charles de Lint is the modern master of urban fantasy. Folktale, myth, fairy tale, dreams, urban legend—all of it adds up to pure magic in de Lint's vivid, original world. No one does it better.
—Alice Hoffman (bestselling author)
To read de Lint is to fall under the spell of a master storyteller, to be reminded of the greatness of life, of the beauty and majesty lurking in shadows and empty doorways.
—Quill & Quire
His Newford books, which make up most of de Lint's body of work between 1993 and 2009, confirmed his reputation for bringing a vivid setting and repertory cast of characters to life on the page. Though not a consecutive series, the twenty-five standalone books set in (or connected to) Newford give readers a feeling of visiting a favourite city and seeing old friends.
More recently, his young adult Wildlings trilogy—Under My Skin, Over My Head, and Out of This World—came out from Penguin Canada and Triskell Press in 2012, 2013 and 2014. Under My Skin won 2013 Aurora Award. A novel for middle-grade readers, The Cats of Tanglewood Forest, published by Little Brown in 2013, won the Sunburst Award, earned starred reviews in both Publishers Weekly and Quill & Quire, and was chosen by the New York Times Editors as one of the top six children's books for 2013. His most recent adult novel, The Mystery of Grace (2009), is a fascinating ghost story about love, passion and faith. It was a finalist for both the Sunburst and Evergreen awards.
De Lint is presently writing a new adult novel. His storytelling skills also shine in his original songs. He and MaryAnn (also a musician) recently released companion CDs of their original songs, samples of which can be heard on de Lin
De Lint is a poet, folklorist, artist, songwriter and performer. He has written critical essays, music reviews, opinion columns and entries to encyclopedias, and he's been the main book reviewer for The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction since 1987. De Lint served as Writer-in-residence for two public libraries in Ottawa and has taught creative writing workshops for adults and children in Canada and the United States. He's been a judge for several prominent awards, including the Nebula, World Fantasy, Theodore Sturgeon and Bram Stoker.
Born in the Netherlands in 1951, de Lint immigrated to Canada with his family as an infant. The family moved often during de Lint's childhood because of his father's job with an international surveying company, but by the time Charles was twelve—having lived in Western Canada, Turkey and Lebanon—they had settled in Lucerne, Quebec, not far from where he now resides in Ottawa, Ontario.
In 1980, de Lint married the love of his life, MaryAnn Harris, who works closely with him as his first editor, business manager and creative partner. They share their love and home with a cheery little dog named Johnny Cash.
Charles de Lint is best described as a romantic: a believer in compassion, hope and human potential. His skilled portrayal of character and settings has earned him a loyal readership and glowing praise from peers, reviewers and readers.
Charles de Lint writes like a magician. He draws out the strange inside our own world, weaving stories that feel more real than we are when we read them. He is, simply put, the best.
—Holly Black (bestselling author)
Charles de Lint is the modern master of urban fantasy. Folktale, myth, fairy tale, dreams, urban legend—all of it adds up to pure magic in de Lint's vivid, original world. No one does it better.
—Alice Hoffman (bestselling author)
To read de Lint is to fall under the spell of a master storyteller, to be reminded of the greatness of life, of the beauty and majesty lurking in shadows and empty doorways.
—Quill & Quire
His Newford books, which make up most of de Lint's body of work between 1993 and 2009, confirmed his reputation for bringing a vivid setting and repertory cast of characters to life on the page. Though not a consecutive series, the twenty-five standalone books set in (or connected to) Newford give readers a feeling of visiting a favourite city and seeing old friends.
More recently, his young adult Wildlings trilogy—Under My Skin, Over My Head, and Out of This World—came out from Penguin Canada and Triskell Press in 2012, 2013 and 2014. Under My Skin won 2013 Aurora Award. A novel for middle-grade readers, The Cats of Tanglewood Forest, published by Little Brown in 2013, won the Sunburst Award, earned starred reviews in both Publishers Weekly and Quill & Quire, and was chosen by the New York Times Editors as one of the top six children's books for 2013. His most recent adult novel, The Mystery of Grace (2009), is a fascinating ghost story about love, passion and faith. It was a finalist for both the Sunburst and Evergreen awards.
De Lint is presently writing a new adult novel. His storytelling skills also shine in his original songs. He and MaryAnn (also a musician) recently released companion CDs of their original songs, samples of which can be heard on de Lin
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
June 26, 2012
In this, the third volume of Philip Jose Farmer's The Dungeon, the gang splits up early on. Clive Folliot, Horace, and the cyborg Guafe go through one gate, and User Annie, Shriek, Sidi, and Finnbogg go through another. Clive's group encounters the Walking Mountains and their Herdsmen, while Annie's group runs afoul of feral sharkmen, only to be rescued by the ape-like Rohga. Will either group be able to overcome labyrinths, giant oracles, and fanatical cyborgs to finally catch up to Clive's brother Neville?
The shared world science-fantasy tale that is The Dungeon continues. I'd say The Valle of Thunder was the best one yet. When one book features giant brontosauruses, cyborgs, AND ape-men, it's hard to beat. It also happens to be the best written of the series so far, thanks to Charles de Lint. While the prose isn't as flowery as it would become later in his career, there are still flashes of brilliance.
I'd say the only major gripe I have with this book is the continued inconsistencies in User Annie's character. She doesn't refer to herself as User Annie more than a couple times in this one, her personality is different, her way of speaking is different, and suddenly she has a young daughter at home she never mentioned before. Other than that, I have a minor gripe. The budding pseudo-relationship between Clive and Shriek the spider-woman was dropped and never mentioned.
While the ending of the book has a big payoff, there are still tons of unanswered questions. Since I already own the next three, I'll be attacking the next one shortly.
So, while I'd recommend this to fans of PJF and pulp adventure tales, I would most definitely NOT recommend it to anyone who hasn't read the previous two. 3.5 out of 5 easily.
The shared world science-fantasy tale that is The Dungeon continues. I'd say The Valle of Thunder was the best one yet. When one book features giant brontosauruses, cyborgs, AND ape-men, it's hard to beat. It also happens to be the best written of the series so far, thanks to Charles de Lint. While the prose isn't as flowery as it would become later in his career, there are still flashes of brilliance.
I'd say the only major gripe I have with this book is the continued inconsistencies in User Annie's character. She doesn't refer to herself as User Annie more than a couple times in this one, her personality is different, her way of speaking is different, and suddenly she has a young daughter at home she never mentioned before. Other than that, I have a minor gripe. The budding pseudo-relationship between Clive and Shriek the spider-woman was dropped and never mentioned.
While the ending of the book has a big payoff, there are still tons of unanswered questions. Since I already own the next three, I'll be attacking the next one shortly.
So, while I'd recommend this to fans of PJF and pulp adventure tales, I would most definitely NOT recommend it to anyone who hasn't read the previous two. 3.5 out of 5 easily.
June 21, 2020
this is my fave of the series so far! annabelle is a bad bitch
September 10, 2021
The third volume of The Dungeon didn't work for me as well as the previous two.
Mainly, it just felt like a bit of a jumbled mess and almost bordered on being a farce. Secondly, there seemed to be a huge shift in some of the characters. Annie was not like the Annie of the prior two novels at all - didn't speak the same, act the same, and the implant she used for protection was completely forgotten and would have come in handy any time the small group was in danger.
I'm hoping book four is better, because I'm invested in this series now and feel obligated to know if they escape the dungeon.
Mainly, it just felt like a bit of a jumbled mess and almost bordered on being a farce. Secondly, there seemed to be a huge shift in some of the characters. Annie was not like the Annie of the prior two novels at all - didn't speak the same, act the same, and the implant she used for protection was completely forgotten and would have come in handy any time the small group was in danger.
I'm hoping book four is better, because I'm invested in this series now and feel obligated to know if they escape the dungeon.
June 12, 2020
This book is alright and the action is very good, but I have the sneaking suspicion that the authors of all the Dungeon books didn't really coordinate how they were going to write the characters, because from book 2 to 3 to 4 some of the characters talk and act totally different. That part was a little jarring.
(I also think the author forgot about the Baalbec A-9.)
(I also think the author forgot about the Baalbec A-9.)
January 31, 2019
7/10.
Prefiero al Farmer de CF, pero esta saga de fantasía (6 libros) se llevo yb 7/10 en todas y cada uno de ellos. Entretenida, vamos.
Prefiero al Farmer de CF, pero esta saga de fantasía (6 libros) se llevo yb 7/10 en todas y cada uno de ellos. Entretenida, vamos.
February 2, 2013
In this case, it's obvious the author is not the same as the one who wrote the previous book and it's also obvious he's not better than that one.
In this book, the characters don't move from one world to another, all the action being on the fifth world, minus a certain illusion at the beginning. In the first, they started on the Earth of 1868, wound up in the first level of The Dungeon and the end of the book caught them in the second level. In the second they really marched on, starting in the second level, passing it, then the third and fourth, with the end of the book catching them just as they're passing into the fifth.
The transition from world four to world five is troubling for Clive, as apparently the forces that run The Dungeon, and for whom they're mere pawns in a game, decided to test him by giving him an illusion of being back home and having all that he ever wanted. He didn't fall for it and was brought back, his memory of the event being wiped afterwards, though he still occasionally recalls troubling bits and pieces of it. The wondrous white suits given to them in the third world are also taken away during this transfer.
On another note, the author obviously likes dinosaurs and had to find a way to fit them into his book. Fitting them in was easy, but he made a slip: Chang Guafe calls them by their Earth names. His species never reached Earth, so how could he know all that?
About the story, Annie rebels when entering the fifth world, considering that Finnbogg kept her from exiting The Dungeon when she had the chance at the end of the second book, and wants to look for a way out. Clive wants to look for a way to the next level, still in search of his brother. So all the others choose who to follow. As expected, the group splits evenly, Smithe, Chang Guafe and Finnbogg going with Clive, and Sidi, rescued at the end of book two, Shriek and Thomas going with Annie. The two groups are followed in alternating chapters, their adventures showing two completely different parts of this fifth world.
In this book, the characters don't move from one world to another, all the action being on the fifth world, minus a certain illusion at the beginning. In the first, they started on the Earth of 1868, wound up in the first level of The Dungeon and the end of the book caught them in the second level. In the second they really marched on, starting in the second level, passing it, then the third and fourth, with the end of the book catching them just as they're passing into the fifth.
The transition from world four to world five is troubling for Clive, as apparently the forces that run The Dungeon, and for whom they're mere pawns in a game, decided to test him by giving him an illusion of being back home and having all that he ever wanted. He didn't fall for it and was brought back, his memory of the event being wiped afterwards, though he still occasionally recalls troubling bits and pieces of it. The wondrous white suits given to them in the third world are also taken away during this transfer.
On another note, the author obviously likes dinosaurs and had to find a way to fit them into his book. Fitting them in was easy, but he made a slip: Chang Guafe calls them by their Earth names. His species never reached Earth, so how could he know all that?
About the story, Annie rebels when entering the fifth world, considering that Finnbogg kept her from exiting The Dungeon when she had the chance at the end of the second book, and wants to look for a way out. Clive wants to look for a way to the next level, still in search of his brother. So all the others choose who to follow. As expected, the group splits evenly, Smithe, Chang Guafe and Finnbogg going with Clive, and Sidi, rescued at the end of book two, Shriek and Thomas going with Annie. The two groups are followed in alternating chapters, their adventures showing two completely different parts of this fifth world.
January 22, 2015
Three books into Phillip Jose Farmer's The Dungeon series, and I hit the first one written by Charles de Lint. Following the further adventure of Major Clive Folliot and company through the extra-dimensional world (possibly) of The Dungeon, the third novel continues the quest to find Clive's brother Neville.
De Lint does something rather clever with his book (part of why I'm such a fan), and separates the group into two; allowing him to switch the narrative back and forth between chapters to resolve the current cliffhanger faced by each team. This made for a much faster read, and as the groups moved through dinosaurs, spaceships, and a clear Tarzan-styled setting, it also allowed for a lot more range in the story.
Today I start on volume four, and I really hope the pace continues to increase as I'm finding the series a lot of fun.
De Lint does something rather clever with his book (part of why I'm such a fan), and separates the group into two; allowing him to switch the narrative back and forth between chapters to resolve the current cliffhanger faced by each team. This made for a much faster read, and as the groups moved through dinosaurs, spaceships, and a clear Tarzan-styled setting, it also allowed for a lot more range in the story.
Today I start on volume four, and I really hope the pace continues to increase as I'm finding the series a lot of fun.
February 6, 2013
It's normally quite difficult to come into a series in the middle (book 3 to be exact), but after I conquered the first 50ish pages I had things figured out. The characters are so distinct (or inhuman) that they are easily told apart, and the adventure plot keeps your mind distracted and entertained in the meantime. Unfortunately we're missing out on De Lint's signature style (since he's writing only one book in a lengthy series, that the series' tone takes precedence over his own), but he still gives us a roiling adventure through one of the levels of the Dungeon.
November 24, 2011
I'm afraid I'm going to have to abandon the rest of the series. I finished this book but the story is just so much of the same shit over and over I've grown bored of it. And rather than chasing nostalgia I would rather just read good stories instead. So long, The Dungeon. It was fun and magical. Half my life ago...
January 11, 2010
love Farmer's sci fi
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews