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Frank Herbert
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Ascension Factor Hardcover – February 5, 1990

by Frank Herbert (Author)
4.2 out of 5 stars 22 ratings
This final book in the "Destination: Void" collaboration between Frank Herbert and Bill Ransom, set twenty-five years after the previous book The Lazarus Effect, concludes the story of the planet Pandora.
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  1. Print length
    381 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Random House Value Publishing
  4. Publication date
    February 5, 1990
  5. ISBN-10
    0517031892
  6. ISBN-13
    978-0517031896
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Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Random House Value Publishing
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ February 5, 1990
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 381 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0517031892
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0517031896
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.5 pounds
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.2 out of 5 stars 22 ratings

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Frank Herbert

Frank Herbert

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Frank Herbert (1920-86) was born in Tacoma, Washington and worked as a reporter and later editor of a number of West Coast newspapers before becoming a full-time writer. His first SF story was published in 1952 but he achieved fame more than ten years later with the publication in Analog of 'Dune World' and 'The Prophet of Dune' that were amalgamated in the novel Dune in 1965.

Customer reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars
22 global ratings

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Top reviews from the United States

  • C. Lynch
    5.0 out of 5 stars May be Herbert's greatest work
    Reviewed in the United States on November 23, 2007
    Format: Mass Market PaperbackVerified Purchase
    I really don't understand how this work could have been so poorly received. The entire Voidship series is one of the most provocative and deeply moving works of science fiction that I have ever read. I actually found this series far more provocative than the Dune series. I don't know how much is Herbert and how much is Ransom, but this is an incredible collaboration. It is a long inquiry into the nature of existence, consiousness, and humanity. It is also a great story. It a truly original, unique work.
    9 people found this helpful
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  • Ray Erickson
    5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful Copy.
    Reviewed in the United States on April 26, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    Thank you.
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  • StarWizard
    4.0 out of 5 stars Four Stars
    Reviewed in the United States on August 7, 2014
    Format: Mass Market Paperback
    forth and last book of the series
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  • Brian
    1.0 out of 5 stars Even as a Frank Herbert fan I can not recommend this book and feel the authors really did Frank ...
    Reviewed in the United States on July 27, 2015
    Format: Mass Market PaperbackVerified Purchase
    Very disappointing. Was basically a rewrite of the previous two. Many flaws and problems in this book. Even as a Frank Herbert fan I can not recommend this book and feel the authors really did Frank a disservice with this book.
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  • trey
    5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
    Reviewed in the United States on March 9, 2017
    Very good seller. Item arrived as described.
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  • Morblodplez
    5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
    Reviewed in the United States on November 19, 2015
    great
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  • desmoinesmusiclover
    5.0 out of 5 stars More Voidship
    Reviewed in the United States on August 27, 2001
    Unlike Dune, this series has been out of print for some time. Shame! No one does it better than Herbert but Dune-Mania has left too much of his best work unread and unknown. Dune was a masterpiece, no question. But the series devolved into action novels - the work of creating his universe did not have to be re-done so the rest was just what happens next (and as Brian continues the series, what happened before). The Voidship series is different. Beginning with Destination: Void, which establishes the premise, each novel must reestablish the world in which it is set. Each set of characters has very new hurdles and new forms of intelligent life(? at least self-awareness) to deal with, each with their own world view. A good marketing bet would be to reintroduce these novels in paperback, capitalizing on the popularity of the Dune series. Let the new generation of sf readers discover the other worlds of Frank Herbert. This review refers to the series - Destination: Void, The Jesus Incident, The Lazarus Effect, and The Ascension Factor
    11 people found this helpful
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  • Dan Shaffer
    1.0 out of 5 stars The Ascension Failure
    Reviewed in the United States on December 24, 2014
    Format: Mass Market Paperback
    This book was written by Bill Ransom after Frank Herbert passed away in 1986. In the introduction Bill states that he worked with Frank on the plotting and character development, but the writing was left up to Bill.

    The book takes place 25 years after the end of the Lazarus Effect. In that time a lot has changed on Pandora. With the exception of Queets Twisp who is transformed from rugged fisherman to zen-like monk, gone are the main characters from the previous novel: Kareen Ale; Kerro (Shadow) Panille, who was head of Current Control; Scudi Wang; Brett Norton. It's bad enough that all of the characters are gone, worse that the reader doesn't learn their fates until more than half-way through the book.

    At the end of the Lazarus Effect, the hyp tanks are brought down from orbit. But despite the fact the tanks offered tremendous opportunities for Pandora, only 3 humans survived: Raja Flattery who overthrows the Islander-Merman governments and takes over as dictator; Mack who is responsible for monitoring current control from orbit; and Alyssa Marsh who Flattery turns OMC (Organic Mental Core).

    Flattery is in charge. He keeps an authoritarian grip on the population, by restricting food supplies. Flattery seeks to leave Pandora by taking a spaceship to another star. Opposing Flattery is a group known as the Shadows. The Shadows include tv reporter Ben Ozette and Holomaster (camera man) Rico LaPush. They kidnap from Flattery, Crista Galli who was raised by the Kelp. Ozette and LaPush are pursued by bounty hunter Spider Nevi.

    Meanwhile, reporter Beatriz Tatoosh, former girlfriend to Ozette, travels to the orbital station to run a story on the OMC that is in the process of being installed for Flattery. But the Tatoosh tv crew is attacked by Yuri Brood who is working for Flattery. At the orbital station, Brood takes over, holding Tatoosh hostage.

    Back on Pandora the Shadows and Zavatans plot to overthrow Flattery. In addition, to Ozzette and LaPush, the Shadows include Kaleb Norton-Wang, the son of Brett Norton and Scudi Wang. Ransom wastes a number of pages covering characters who are eliminated by Flattery and add nothing to the plot.

    Overall, the pace events is beyond slow. It's painful. With the main characters from the previous books gone replaced by boring new characters. Nevi, chases Ozzete, Tatoosh goes to orbit, is pursued by Yuri, everyone hates Flattery. On and on the book drags. Finally the end comes suddenly almost from nowhere. It's like the book just stopped.
    One person found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Grey Lady
    4.0 out of 5 stars Inconceivable starting point, but good finish anyway
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 26, 2007
    Format: Mass Market PaperbackVerified Purchase
    If you've read the Jesus Incident (although that is not necessary, it is quite possible to read this book as a stand-alone novel), you will think it to be inconceivable that the Pandoran population has become so stupid as to just let "the director" take over and manipulate the economy, especially food production. Having stated that, the novel itself is as exciting as ever. As is always the case with Herbert, there is more to the story than just what is actually described as happening. Religion, philosophy, and interesting science are always together and this is also the case in this book. And I for one did not notice the fact that though the book started off with two authors, it ended with only one. It had the right kind of ending anyway!
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  • Roly Williams
    4.0 out of 5 stars Four Stars
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 3, 2016
    Format: Mass Market PaperbackVerified Purchase
    Thanks
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