Semper

New Eden #1

by Peter J. Dudley

Librarian's Note: this is the original cover; an alternate cover edition also exists.

Dane, in line to become Southshaw's thirteenth Semper, knows of the nuclear war that devastated the Earth three hundred years ago. He understands the Book of Truth and has heard his father's sermons every Sunday since he could walk.

But as his sixteenth birthday approaches, he's faced with a choice he never expected to have to make: Should he obey his cruel, fundamentalist uncle and twelve generations of Southshaw Truth, and take his rightful place as Semper?

Or should he follow his heart, risking exile and death, to seek and unearth the real truth? An exotic huntress, a mythical ghost-man, and a tailor's daughter hold the keys to his answer. And to the survival of Southshaw itself.

Genres: Dystopia, Fantasy, Young Adult, Science Fiction, Fiction, Ebooks, Post Apocalyptic

197 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 21, 2012

About the author

Peter rarely uses his electrical engineering degree from UC Berkeley these days. Instead, he writes adventure and fantasy fiction, short stories, and poetry for people with a sense of adventure (or a sense of humor). He has a day job as an executive in Corporate Social Responsibility, running a huge corporate volunteer program and the nation's largest employee charitable giving campaign. In his career, he's worked on the first smart phone, the first PDA, and the first stealth bomber. A Connecticut native, he has been in the San Francisco area for most of his life and is the proud father of two fantastic kids: one is an Eagle Scout and the other is a transgender woman.

Reviews

[Lynn Vannucci · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this on the new reading app, Radish - and I loved it so much! An engrossing YA adventure about the human race 300 years following an apocalyptic event - and how, even after the apocalypse, the human race still hasn't figured out the on-going problem of race relations. Highly recommend. The first in a trilogy and I can't wait for the other two to be available on Radish.

[J.R. Schuyler · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

Semper is a fun, well-paced book that lies somewhere between science fiction and fantasy. The main character, Dane, is a bit dense at times, but given his upbringing, I can hardly blame him. As the series progresses, I get the sense he will grow as a person and start to overcome his shortcomings. I enjoyed reading about the other characters too, especially Lupay and Freda.
The book is written in first-person present tense, which can be hit-or-miss for me, but the author used it very effectively here. The POV added to the mystery of the narrative and left me wondering what would happen next.
I wavered between 4 and 5 stars when deciding what to rate this book. There are some minor typos and grammatical errors, especially in the first few chapters, and there are places where the writing could be tightened up a little. But overall, the style was wonderful and I really enjoyed the story, so I rounded it up to 5 stars.
I’m looking forward to the next installment in the series.

[Jen Lynn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this book rather interesting and unique. When at first it seemed it took place in the past, you eventually find out it actually takes place in the distant future, after most of mankind was killed off by a nuclear bomb. The premise was quite unique and intriguing, however something was lacking and I can’t quite put my finger on what it was. I think it had to do with the Subterrans - I don’t quite understand exactly why they attacked the way they did. Maybe future books would answer that, but it left a big enough gap to just feel annoying. The ending was ok, not quite a cliffhanger, yet the author left it set up for the next book in the series. It was good, but fell short of being great. Worth the read, but I’m not interested enough to keep reading the series.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hundreds of years in the future, when Earth is left near-barbaric due to a technology implosion, a young man named Dane is dreading the duties and responsibilities his sixteenth birthday promises. On Dane's birthday, he will become "Semper" - the new leader of the Southshaw people - and will be forced to choose a wife. While hunting near his community, Dane encounters an alluring mutant-girl, whom he witnesses being captured by ghost people - a people rumored to slaughter children and eat them alive.

Intrigued and compelled to save the dark, beautiful mutant girl, Dane follows her and her captors miles into the forest. After helping the mutant girl escape, Dane begins to question whether the mutant girl is truly a mutant, which compromises his long-held Southshaw beliefs. Additionally, Dane discovers some centuries-old artifacts that open his mind to new possible truths and revelation about his world and surroundings.

Shortly after returning to Southshaw, Dane is exiled for coming into contact with the "dangerous" mutant girl and the artifacts. Dane leaves Southshaw with his new wife by his side, and sets out to discover what the rest of the world truly holds.

Semper combines several elements bound to appeal to a wide range of sci-fi and fantasy fans. The novel combines a little bit of ABC's Lost television series, a bit of the dystopian The Hunger Games element, and even some M. Night Shyamalan's The Village. Fans of these media will most likely devour Semper.

Semper is written in first-person from Dane's point of view, which makes the novel even more mysterious and enigmatic - mainly because you'll be guessing right along with Dane in trying to figure out why his world and society is the way it is.

Although there are religious conflicts present in Semper, I personally chose not to focus on this element since the topic fails to appeal to me; however, as a hard-core fan of conspiracy theories, I interpreted the novel as one big conspiracy mystery. The result was immensely satisfying, so ergo, this novel will definitely appeal to many readers no matter their tastes, interests, and beliefs.

One of my favorite aspects of Semper was that throughout my reading of this novel, my constant hunger for answers drove me to turn the pages with dedicated interest: Why and how did technology ruin Dane's world? Why does Southshaw consider some humans "mutant?" Why are some nearby regions still considered dangerous and radioactive? Why are some people bald and white, and what types of "mysterious" food (that is familiar to us, but not to Dane) is Dane describing? This list of questions goes on and on, which would probably make Semper a perfect book-club selection for teens and young adults.

Semper is adventurous and fun, and gives readers a lot to speculate and chew on. Dudley also concludes Semper in a wide-open manner that will leave readers eagerly awaiting the next installment in this new series.

For more book reviews, please visit http://dreamworldbooks.com.

[Angela Oliver · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very professionally written book (first person, present tense) and is utterly engaging. I devoured it in a matter of day/s and it kept me hooked right up to the very end. The world is well rendered, and the plot well-paced and interesting, keeping you looking expectantly for the next book. The characters were well developed, I especially liked Dale's clumsy 16-year old approach to well... communicating with girls and his own lack of confidence. His bumbling nature and tendency to put his foot in his mouth both made me want to slap some sense in him and also rang completely true. The girls too were a delight. Freda with her quick wit and Lupya, the fierce huntress. I cannot help but wonder what the future holds for them.

[Wendy · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I got my book I was expecting a simple, young adult fantasy tale. I am a big fan of dystopian adventure tales and this turned out to be one.

One of the things I thought was most interesting was the world building. Dudley creates a robust dystopia with several different cultures. You get some taste of an apocalyptic past and see how the religion and belief system evolved post world-tragedy. Some of my favorite parts were the hints the author gave about how the world evolved over a dozen generations.

There was adventure, romance, political intrigue and action. It was easy to keep the pages turning.

[Molly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this fast-paced YA dystopian novel. The main character is sometimes frustrating in his inaction/puzzlement, but overall it was a great read. Very quick with pacing--sometimes hard to keep up with everything that is going on. Keeps you on the edge of your seat and turning pages. Two great female characters and an interesting secondary character I didn't expect to see continue as part of the action.

[Todd · Rating 5 out of 5]

I almost passed this one up, that would have been a HUGE mistake. This book is fast paced and it just simply draws you in through excellent character development, plot, and about everything else one could want in a book. I have found three great books within the last few months. Wool, Echo's Remnant, and now Semper. Semper, is just one of those that you won't put down till the last page.

[Jim Defrisco · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is Peter's first novel, and I thought it was great. It's a coming of age story targeted to young adults, but is enjoyable for kids of all ages :-). It is the first book in what will probably be a series. If you liked the Hunger Games, then you will probably like this book.

[Dianna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED Semper. It is a compelling story with many satisfying twists and turns - and ARTFULLY written. The descriptions drew me in - simply brilliant. Couldn't put it down! I highly recommend this for a great and entertaining read. Not just for teenagers!

[Kathy Harrington · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh this was a really good book. I especially loved the 3way love affair. You usually find 1 girl/2 guy so this was a nice change. I can't wait to see where the next book takes us.

[Pamela Murrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Intriguing

This is not normally my type of book. The genre isn't my style. But it was well written, with some twists and turns. It says it's book 1. I hope there is a book 2.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful. I couldn't put it down.