Kevin J. Anderson Book Review

[dizzyjam]

For some time now I've been Friends on MySpace with sci-fi/fantasy author Kevin J. Anderson. And while being "Friends" with most authors/singers/actors on there can just be by name alone, Kevin is someone who truly becomes a friend with his fans. For those of you who may not know, Kevin J. Anderson is the author of many great books out there including writing and editing several Star Wars books, his original series "Saga of the Seven Suns", his acclaimed co-authoring with Brian Herbert (the son of the late Frank Herbert) of the recent DUNE novels that continue the saga where Frank left off based on his own notes he left behind, and the upcoming fantasy Terra Incognita project which will feature a music CD to tell the story in song as well. This author is prolific and has written even more than what little I've mentioned here including what I'll be mentioning below. Shortly after just a few interactions he asked me if I wanted to review an ARC for him of an upcoming project to be published. I realize most on here know what I'm talking about, but for those that don't know an ARC stands for Advanced Reader's Copy. It's the copy that authors get to hand out to fans for advance reviews. Well, considering the subject matter (which you'll find out about in a moment dear reader) I just had to say yes! Then I received it in the mail and set it aside for a time when I could dive deep into it. And it set there, and set there, and set there. I've been so busy trying to get things together for my store that I almost didn't put in any time for it, I so wanted to make sure I could concentrate on it when I did so. Finally I picked it up one night and put in some time only to get through the first couple of chapters. I thought it to be an easy read and the handling of the characters seemed spot on. I figured I'd pick it up the next day and zip through most if not all of it. Then something came up and a week passed and I found myself picking it up again. I read a good bit more. Two more sessions passed and I got past the halfway mark. The last hundred pages were so good I couldn't put it down. What is this book you ask?

This is my review of Enemies & Allies by author Kevin J. Anderson. It is a story of the "first" meeting between Batman and Superman set in the Fifties during the space race war between the U.S. and the Soviets. This was a very easy read and his handling of these characters and what motivates them was spot on. And the secondary characters such as Lois, Jimmy, Perry, Alfred, and Jim Gordon were put to good use too. What really got me was the detailing he put into it. From guest appearances of classic Batman villains in their civilian roles "before" they went bad to the heart to heart talk Clark had with his mom at the ranch home in Smallville when he had trouble filling in on a column that was out of his league, Mr. Anderson showed that he knew how these characters ticked and let them tick magnificently! I felt like I was reading a tale that featured all the best of what we currently know of these characters, but put in a time period that we all have fond feelings for. More than once I could see Christian Bale or Tom Welling as the characters while other times Mike Keaton or Chris Reeve would come to mind. These characters were handled so well I just shake in anticipation of a sequel. And the villain of Lex Luthor was handled so expertly in the hands of this author that I dare say it was one of the best representations I've seen of him in some time in any format. Both Metropolis and Gotham were handled so well I felt I was visiting familiar places. Flying saucers and Area 51 come into play, and just wait until you see how Kevin J. Anderson handles that! This is a book coming out in just a few more days and I encourage everyone reading this that likes either or both of these characters to go out and pick up a copy. As you visit with old friends you'll be glad you did!

You can contact Kevin J. Anderson and keep up with what's going on with his projects and more at these sites:

www.wordfire.com (Kevin’s main site)
www.wordfire.com/kjablog (Kevin’s main blog)
www.anderzoneshop.com (the place to buy signed books and other KJA items)
www.myspace.com/kevinjanderson (Kevin's MySpace page)
www.twitter.com/TheKJA (Kevin’s Twitter feed)
www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=504391866&ref=profile#/group.php?gid=75203293463&ref=mf (Kevin's Facebook Fan page)

[morganlbusse]

Wow, this sounds really good. I've only read Kevin's star wars books and I like Batman and Superman, so I might have to go pick this book up for my hubby and me ;P

[dizzyjam]

Yeah, I definitely recommend this book. Also you should check out the DUNE books he's been doing with Brian Herbert. That's some really good storytelling there. Has anyone else out there done much reading of Kevin J. Anderson?

[duchessashley]

Ha! ;D Only the Young Jedi Knight series he wrote with his wife. I worked at a Barnes & Noble near where he lives...and was able to get the whole series signed. It's in my library, waiting for future readers.

[dizzyjam]

Duchess, you should read more by him then. Go out tomorrow and pick this one up. After that start on his and Brian Herbert's DUNE novels. They're awesome! Do you still live in that area? I communicate with Kevin on occasion. I could tell him about you and he might remember. Especially if you got all of them signed by him.

[duchessashley]

I will check this one out. I've eyed the Dune series from time to time, but I've never gotten into it. I always feel like I should start with the original stuff and get a good base in that before branching out into the newer stuff. Are the KJA/BH Dune novels stand alone? Or do I need to know the entire Atreides history?

Oh, and I don't think he'd remember me. That was a number of years ago. I was the lead of the children's department and didn't have much contact with signing authors. And I think I exchanged my purchased copies for the signed ones. I don't really remember. See how long it's been?!

[dizzyjam]

Yes, do check this one out. It is out today and available for purchasing and is a very good read. Enemies and Allies is the name in case anyone has forgotten.

And the DUNE novels should be read in chronological order instead of the order they were published in my opinion. I'll tell you why. I had gotten all the books that are out a while back and figured I'd read the original one first (DUNE by Frank Herbert) and then go back and read the prequels. I did that and I kind of wish I hadn't. The prequels are written in such a way that they really build up to the events of that first Frank Herbert book, while being very action filled in their own right. If I had held off at first, I would have still enjoyed the first book by Frank and maybe even more so because of the build up in anticipation.

Here's what you got to realize: The two prequel trilogies that Kevin and Brian Herbert wrote were based off of extensive notes that Frank Herbert left behind. This isn't something they just pulled out of their rear end, they were basing this on what Frank was planning on doing anyway. So are the two books that conclude everything. Now they're writing books to fill in the gaps of time that occur between Frank's original novels. I can only presume that they're based on notes Frank left behind as well. So if you're going to read the DUNE books, start with the ones Kevin and Brian did first with the two trilogies and then read the first book by Frank.

Here's the complete order of DUNE books that Kevin sent to me recently when I asked him (I've put the authors initials for each one after the original book so that you would know who wrote what):

THE BUTLERIAN JIHAD trilogy (The Butlerian Jihad, The Machine Crusade, The Battle of Corrin)
THE HOUSE trilogy (House Atreides, House Harkonnen, House Corrino)
DUNE
PAUL OF DUNE (BH & KJA)
DUNE MESSIAH (FH)
THE WINDS OF DUNE (BH & KJA)
THE THRONE OF DUNE (to come) (BH & KJA)
CHILDREN OF DUNE (FH)
LETO OF DUNE (to come) (BH & KJA)
GOD EMPEROR OF DUNE (FH)
HERETICS OF DUNE (FH)
CHAPTERHOUSE DUNE (FH)
HUNTERS OF DUNE (BH & KJA)
SANDWORMS OF DUNE (BH & KJA)

I, myself still have a lot of reading to do in this, but I sure hope that helps you out for when you dive in to the DUNE novels. They are all excellent reads, no matter who wrote them.

And don't forget to pick up Enemies and Allies now on sale! :-)

[duchessashley]

Wow! Thanks for the info and the list! That is most helpful!

Is KJA paying you to plug his book? (Just kidding!)

I sure appreciate the introduction to Dune lit here. I've seen the feature film and the Sci-Fi Channel remake (and Children of Dune...) - and I have a copy of Herbert's book, but I've never cracked it open. But now, a trip to the library or to Barnes & Noble is a must! ;D

[fluke]

Re: Enemies and Allies. Another book to add to my wish list. Thoroughly enjoyed KJA's Star Wars novels.

[dizzyjam]

May 5, 2009 17:48:21 GMT -5 @duchessashley said:

Wow! Thanks for the info and the list! That is most helpful!

Is KJA paying you to plug his book? (Just kidding!)

I sure appreciate the introduction to Dune lit here. I've seen the feature film and the Sci-Fi Channel remake (and Children of Dune...) - and I have a copy of Herbert's book, but I've never cracked it open. But now, a trip to the library or to Barnes & Noble is a must! ;D

You're quite welcome, and I hope your trip to Barnes & Noble is fruitful.

As far as KJA paying me? No, that isn't the case any more than Jeff Gerke paying any of us when we mention Marcher Lord Press to people. No money is changing hands I assure you. Rather, I'm just a fan that is a part of a group of fans that is helping get out the word about KJAs projects and let people know what's good about them. On top of that I'm a person who is putting together a bookstore and I'm getting my practice in on promoting the latest things. You can check out info on what I'm doing with the bookstore in my thread on here: wherethemapends.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=bios&action=display&thread=465 I need to update that thread. And you can also follow my progress with up to date information on my MySpace page here: www.myspace.com/beyondthecharts I'll promote anything that I like and I'll promote anything in print if I'm going to sell it. And right now I'm building up support to follow my store's progress so that when I go online people will hopefully stop by and buy what I sell.

But getting back to as far as KJA goes, one of the reasons I'm helping out right now is because there are a few people out there that have been trying to make it seem as if he's no good or that he's someone not to read for other reasons and these people tend to use foul language and are very invasive on the things Kevin is doing, and with people like that out there, I feel it's only right as one of the people who likes him to be telling people that his stuff is not just good but great! (To sound for a moment like Tony the Tiger) I mean really, nothing I've read by him so far has disappointed me and this Enemies & Allies was a very good read. He's got a good chance of hitting the New York Times bestseller list with this, so if you can go out this week and get a copy, do so. And then read it because it's a really good read.

In fact, here's a couple of clips Kevin just put out to help promote the book (and another upcoming book), so maybe that will help you with your decision:

vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=56972105

vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=56972806

[duchessashley]

I was just kidding! I knew he wasn't paying you! ;D He does sound like a great guy and I look forward to reading more of his stuff.

[dizzyjam]

Oh, I knew you were just kidding as you had said as much, but I felt I should respond about it anyway in case someone came along and saw your comment and started thinking about it seriously. I didn't want to leave any room for doubt. And Kevin is a great guy from what I've been able to tell so far, I sure hope you enjoy reading his stuff as you move forward with it.

[Divides the Waters]

As a Star Wars fan, I used to participate in Zahn vs. Anderson debates all the time. I've since come to be a little more accepting of his style of storytelling, and learned that he was a truly gracious man. I've been collecting the Dune novels to read in order someday (thankfully, he has a timeline at http://www.dunenovels.com). I would definitely recommend him as an author. Do you happen to know anything about his personal beliefs? (Just curious.)

[dizzyjam]

Divides the Waters,

I still hadn't looked at that site yet as of your post, so I decided to look in order to know where that timeline would be on there. I didn't see it. Care to post a more specific link? Regardless, the chronology I put a few posts above is straight from Kevin himself in an e-mail I received, so it's as official as it comes.

As far as his personal beliefs, I haven't asked him and don't know if I will. Although I have expressed my own beliefs on a forum he created, I don't feel I can just ask him that as of yet. Maybe in the future, or maybe not. Time will tell. If you feel you need to, just pray. We all need that anyway.

And I remember when I first got Kevin's first book in the Jedi Academy trilogy. I was fresh off of Zahn's Thrawn trilogy and while reading it felt it to be episodic at first. Retrospect tells me that it was just the different style between the two authors. Then I read the next one and by the end I was champing at the bit to find out what was going to happen. When I got to the end of the third one I went back and reread the whole trilogy over again. I didn't do that as immediately with Zahn's trilogy. I was impressed. One can debate the two authors all one wants to, but they are both good in their own right and drew me into a realm of Star Wars I never thought possible as a teenager. Besides, they both have their own individual projects and although I love Tim Zahn as a Star Wars author, I haven't, so far as I've read, liked him in his other projects. Go figure. Maybe it's the subject matter. Don't know. But I like Kevin's work that I've read so far outside of Star Wars.

[Divides the Waters]

www.dunenovels.com/chronology.html

Seems a bit outdated. Wonder why they took it off?