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| Review Summary |
Thomas (Tom) Hunter is an early-20's guy who lives in Denver, in an apartment with his sister. He works at a coffeeshop, and has several manuscripts of books he'd like published at home. He also was raised in the Philipines, learned how to defend himself against gangs there, and has borrowed a bunch of money that he has to pay back (which is why he's in Denver--he's running from the lenders). He's found by his lenders, and shot. He wakes up in a black forest, where he is convincingly told he's a survivor from a spaceship . Evil bats, specifically the leader named Teeleh, pursue him and tear much of his flesh from him before he escapes over a river into a beautiful colorful forest...and he thinks Denver is a dream.
Tom wakes up in a garbage can in Denver. He thinks the forest is a dream. But now, every time he falls asleep, he wakes up in the forest. And every time he falls asleep there, he wakes up on Earth. The green forest is inhabited by , perfect humans, and a named Rachelle who he falls in love with. But one man crosses the river, where he eats fruit from the sly Teeleh and black forest, and the whole world turns to evil. Tom has found out from Teeleh that on Earth, a virus will be unleashed called "the Raison strain," and Earth's inhabitants will be virtually wiped out. He tries to warn those on Earth, but by so doing, unknowingly gives the information needed to create this virus into the wrong hands.
In the other Earth, he is becoming a great leader against those humans who have turned evil, and on Earth, he is becoming one who can come back to life, and the only one who can save Earth from destruction. His story is continued in "Red" and "White."
Elenawen, Resident Scholar
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Fleeing assailants through alleyways in Denver late one night, Thomas Hunter narrowly escapes to the roof of an industrial building. Then a silent bullet from the night clips his head and his world goes black.
Now Thomas wakes from a deep sleep, remembering the vivid dream he just had of being chased. Incredibly real. His head is even bleeding – but he's fallen on a rock. He's in a green forest, waiting to meet Rachelle, the woman he's falling madly in love with.
That night, Thomas tumbles into bed and falls into a fitful sleep. He dreams. But here comes the real mind bender. Every time Thomas falls asleep in one reality, he awakes in the other. He truly no longer knows which reality is real. Each reality has dramatic impact on the other, each proves to be real, each presents huge stakes, and the fate of each will depend on one man: Thomas Hunter.
Diana, Resident Scholar
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W Publishing, Feb 2004, 19.99, 400 pp.
ISBN: 0849917905
Multi-billionaire Valborg Svensson craves becoming the most powerful person on earth. To accomplish his objective, he finds a serum that will kill its human host in three weeks if left without a vaccine. Valborg plans to release this weapon of mass destruction on an unsuspecting world. Any nation that fails to capitulate to his demands will die for the vaccine will be limited to those who bow down to Valborg.
Wannabe writer Thomas Hunter learns about Valborg's terrorist plot to gain global supremacy. He tries to take control of the vaccine, but Valborg's agents attack him. As he flees a bullet grazes his head knocking him out. When he awakens, Thomas remembers in deep detail his fleeing from Valberg's thugs, but he is in some alternate realm running for his life from demonic creatures while looking for his beloved Rachelle. That night he goes to sleep only to awaken to a realm in which Valborg wants him dead and Rachelle is part of his dreams. He questions his sanity as each time he goes to sleep in one world, he wakes up in the other.
BLACK starts off as a medical thriller, but quickly spins into a science fiction tale that spans two worlds reminiscent of Piers Anthony's THE APPRENTICE ADEPT trilogy, but with more of a psychological hook. The story line is action packed on both worlds as Thomas struggles with what he perceives is reality vs. a dream fantasy.
Harriet Klausner
Harriet Klausner, Resident Scholar
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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
Composition of Book
Descript. of chases or violence - 10%
planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 30%
Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 30%
Descript. of society, phenomena (tech), places - 30%
Tone of book
- suspenseful (sophisticated fear)
FANTASY or SCIENCE FICTION?
- science fiction story
Explore/1st contact/ enviro story
Yes
Plotlets:
- exploring the dreamscape
Tech./$$$/Info hunt
Yes
Stealing/recovering/destroying
- cure/disease/bioweapon
Is this an adult or child's book?
- Adult or Young Adult Book
Main Character
Identity:
- Male
Profession/status:
- writer
Age:
- 20's-30's
Is this an ordinary person caught up in events?
Yes
How sensitive is this character?
- sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor
- Mostly serious with occasional humor
Physique
- very athletic
Main Adversary
Identity:
- Male
Age:
- 40's-50's
Profession/status:
- business executive
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in:
- a moderate amount
How sensitive is this character?
- hard edged
Sense of humor
- Cynical sense of humor
Intelligence
- Smarter than most other characters
Physique
- average physique
Setting
Terrain
- Forests
Earth setting:
- near future (later in 21st century)
- current (early 21st century)
A substantial portion of this book takes place on a non-Earth planetary body:
- humans in a primitive/fantasy society
Takes place on Earth?
Yes
Planet outside solar system?
Yes
Style
Person?
- mostly 3rd
Accounts of torture and death?
- generic/vague references to death/punishment
How much dialogue?
- roughly even amounts of descript and dialog
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