Frank Herbert - The Pandora Sequence: The Jesus Incident, The Lazarus Effect, The Ascention Factor

Book Description

All three novels in the Pandora Sequence by Frank Herbert & Bill Ransom, sequels to Frank Herbert's Destination: Void. The Jesus IncidentA sentient Ship with godlike powers (and aspirations) delivers the last survivors of humanity to a horrific, poisonous planet, Pandorarife with deadly Nerve-Runners, Hooded Dashers, airborne jellyfish, and intelligent kelp. Chaplain/Psychiatrist Raja Lon Flattery is brought back out of hybernation to witness Ships machinations as well as the schemes of human scientists manipulating the genetic structure of humanity.

The Lazarus EffectIn The Jesus Incident Herbert and Ransom introduced Ship, an artificial intelligence that believed it was God, abandoning its unworthy human cargo on the all-sea world of Pandora. Now centuries have passed. The descendants of humanity, split into Mermen and Islanders, must reunite because Pandoras original owner is returning to life!

The Ascension FactorPandoras humans have been recovering land from its raging seas at an accelerated pace since The Lazarus Effect. The great kelp of the seas, sentient but electronically manipulated by humans, buffers Pandoras wild currents to restore land and facilitate the booming sea trade. New settlements rise overnight, but children starve in their shadows. An orbiting assembly station is near completion of Project Voidship, which is the hope of many for finding a better world.

Pandora is under the fist of an ambitious clone from hibernation called The Director, who rules with a sadistic security force led by the assassin Spider Nevi. Small resistance groups, like the one led by Twisp Queets and Ben Ozette, have had little effect on his absolute power. The Director controls the transportation of foodstuffs; uprisings are punished with starvation. The resistance fighters main hope is Crista Galli, a woman believed by some to be the child of God. Crista pools her talents with Dwarf MacIntosh, Beatriz Tatoosh, and Rico LaPush to transcend the barriers between the different species and overthrow The Director and the sinister cabal with which he rules.

The Pandora Sequence

Frank Herbert & Bill Ransom

WordFire Press (c) 2013
www.wordfire.com

ISBN: 978-1-61475-052-9

The Pandora Sequence
2012 Herbert Properties LLC & Bill Ransom

The Jesus Incident originally published in 1979 by Berkley Medallion
1979, 2012 Herbert Properties LLC & Bill Ransom

The Lazarus Effect originally published in 1983 by G.P. Putnams Sons,
1983, 2012 Herbert Properties LLC & Bill Ransom

The Ascension Factor originally published in 1988 by Ace/Putnam
1988, 2012 Herbert Properties LLC & Bill Ransom

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Foreword

The Path to Pandora

Bill Ransom

IN APRIL , 1975, Harlan Ellison invited the countrys top science fiction writers of the day to participate in a unique science fiction conference at UCLA. Four of the writers would create a basic world and planetary system; they and others, including Frank Herbert, would brainstorm story possibilities before, and with participation from, a live audience. These authors would then write interrelated stories, possibly even a group novel. Cross-communication in a typewriter-and-carbon-paper, dial-telephone (no call waiting, no call forwarding, no caller i.d.) world seemed an insurmountable task. Harlan, ringmaster and choreographer, ultimately wrangled, collected and arranged these stories into the greater story of Medea (Bantam).

Each writer received a transcript of the brainstorming sessions, a transcript of student questions from the audience, and the original planetary system/conditions provided by Hal Clement, Poul Anderson, Larry Niven and Fred Pohl. Frank Herbert came into the live brainstorming session on tax deadline day in 1975as did Tom Disch, Ted Sturgeon, Bob Silverberg and the UCLA audiencehaving seen the planetary specs, a considerable document, a mere one hour earlier. Bob Silverberg remarked, We were handed twenty-three single-spaced pages without margins, full of data and we got this atoh, about six oclock

Harlan: Six-thirty.

Each of these very successful authors already was committed to major novel or film projects, as was Frank Herbert, who was tasked with finishing and promoting his recent Children of Dune. By 1976 Frank moved toward revising a re-issue of Destination Void , and figuring out his next novel project. Berkley wanted to reissue Destination Void in hopes of reaping some of the publicity tailwind from Children of Dune. They had been disappointed in its original sales, and suggested to Frank that the problem was with the math and technology detail that supported the story, which actually was questioning the nature of consciousness. Since we met every day for coffee and conversation anyway, Frank asked me to read Destination Void with an eye toward suggestions for replacing as much of the math as possible with plain (American) English. Both of us were re-reading Destination Void through fall of 1977. The story and project were science fiction, so asking counsel of a regional poet with modest national recognition was risky. For me it was an opportunity to learn first-hand how to sustain a novel-length narrative. My fear: I might bungle this learning opportunity and risk the friendship. In the process, I learned the identities of people who were unwitting models for his characters. Those secrets remain safe with me.

Harlans letter to all participants in Medea on September 3, 1977 included a specific message to Frank:

Frank, I havent heard from you as I write this. Youre the only one. Please get in touch with the others. Dont forget, we have to have it done and in Freds hands by the 20 th of November, which isnt that far off. Please, each of us, dont let the others down. Franks newsman blood respected a deadline.

One Fall morning the crunch-crunch of gravel outside and quick bangbangbang on the door interrupted my rush to meet a noon deadline on an article on carpenter ants. My house was off the grid, and my wife and I were practicing separation, so drop-ins were rare.

Ransom?

Early morning, Franks prime writing time, and very unlike him to interrupt mine. I swung the door open to a Frank Id not seen beforepale, disheveled and scared.

Without a moments hesitation, Frank blurted, Can you write like me for 750 bucks?

Frank was notorious for his practical and impractical jokes, but his voice quavered and his eyes were red.

I can write like anybody for 750 bucks, I said. Whats up?

I just took Bev to the hospital, he said. He was near tears and took a moment to get control. Coughing up blood, dont know what it is yet but it cant be good.