The Pandora Sequence: The Jesus Incident, The Lazarus Effect, The Ascension Factor Paperback – December 28, 2012

Somehow I ended up reading the second book of this set(The Lazarus Effect) by itself when I was in high school, and it was one of my favorites as a standalone sci-fi adventure. Aftwerwards I moved on to the Dune series and loved each entry, and now I have the benefit of seeing the scope of Herbert's ideas and the context of that one adventure set in its proper order.I recommend picking up Destination: Void, as it sets up the Pandora Sequence with some of the characters and plotlines carrying over or being referenced. It's also a damn good read that makes you think about what constitutes sentience. Going into The Jesus Incident(first in this set), it's very clear what kind of havoc the characters of Destination: Void have unleashed, and it's a harrowing story about how humanity destroys the one planet that can support them out of ignorance, greed, and defiance of their deity. Moving forward to The Lazarus Effect, it has been generations since, and the world of Pandora has evolved in a way that divides humanity. It tackles issues of race, class, and the misinterpretation of scripture (notably in one chapter that I found hilarious and ironic if the situation were applied to real religions here). It also has an action-filled plotline that sells the stakes on a personal level as the characters muse on what the situations mean to them.I've seen other reviews of the last book, The Ascension Factor, and I have to agree that it doesn't quite live up to the rest of the series, particularly since it was finished after Frank Herbert's death. It goes in a direction that I feel wasn't quite right for the preceding stories, and I'm personally disappointed at how it handles references to the previous books' characters. Nonetheless, it is still decent sci-fi that inhabits that same incredibly fleshed-out world and continues the trend of telling the story from the perspective of a later generation.Overall as a collection, The Pandora Sequence is a fantastic read, though I do caution that it is hefty in word count and the ideas presented on the pages. I honestly wish that it garners a following much like the Dune series.

A wonderfully intricate, literate trilogy that imagines an alternative planet for humanity and an expanded appreciation for what is human being, as well as what is sentient life and the connections between the two. Even now, 30 years after I first read it, the Pandora sequence inspires hope for struggling humanity and the difference that each person can make.

Read these books a while back because the title of the first book(the Jesus incident) caught my eye. This is now one of my favorite series. I might also recommend reading Destination: Void first or after (I read it after and still thoroughly enjoyed it). This is an excellent series an I hope someday it can be made into a series similar to game of thrones or 3-4 epic movies. Either way I strongly recommend this series to all sci-fi fans.

Tough read...While I've read many Sci-Fi novels on my new Kindle Paperwhite, and most I fly through, this one's been a little tedious. There are many characters who are constantly thinking to themselves. There's more self-dialogue that discussions with other people. It makes the flow very sporadic. Having read all of the Herbert Dune novels, I should have been prepared for this since as the series continued it got more weird, convoluted and difficult to follow. I'm persistent and will continue on to the end, but it's not on the top of my list.

Kinda dated but it was easy to overlook that and just let your mind wrap around the story. I really enjoyed the book. Shipped and received on schedule.

I enjoyed the first two books in the series. However, the third was written after the death of Mr. Herbert. The plot in the first two was easy to follow, and the characters easier to comprehend. With the third book, the plot took a wild left turn and kept going. Newer characters were introduced and were very 2 dimensional. very few of the characters in the second book were carried over and it took a while before the new ones were "fleshed out" enough to understand them. A main character from book 2 showed up briefly early in book 3, then played a minor role until the end of 3. Suddenly, he becomes a major player again. I found the 3rd book tough to follow, and only finished it to get it over with....didn't really enjoy the story line as much as I have with other works of Herbert's. Even though the story is his, the style of writing is not.As for the Nova reference....it started out bright and then fizzled at the end.

Daughter has been reading books by this author. She likes books by him as well as all of the Dune series.

What a surprise to find additional material on the same level as Dune. The expansive universe is interesting, and the story thought provoking. Give your mind a gift and read this book.

It was a pleasure to read, I liked it as much as Dune

After Dune these are my three favourite Herbert books in one.There is a prequel but it has aged unlike these three. The opus is difficult to understand completely on the first read but subsequent reads reveal more detail hidden there. Also the "poetic" side of it starts to mesh and make it the great work that it is.Don't be put off by any religious preconceptions, it's not about religion as such.

The first two novels are fantastic, great ideas, imagery, insights. Had it ended with the end h in the second book it would be a solid five stars from me. The third novel is flawed and a slog to read but there is Some great psychedelic events that might make it worth your time

Good story but some of the terms used set the era - would have been better to use some generic words.

So far it seems like a great read ( book one)