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Edge #2
The Edge of Ruin
A novel of the eternal battle between science and superstition
I’m Richard Oort. I’m a cop.
Two months ago I had learned there were unseen worlds on the borders of our reality. Dimensions filled with horrific, nightmare creatures. Things that viewed humans as prey. Things that drove us to acts of unspeakable violence.
I had to fight them. To defend the people I loved, and to find out who I was. And am.
I’m still a cop. But now I’m also CEO of Lumina Enterprises, a mysterious, globe-girdling operation even I don’t know the full extent of. Replacing the previous guy, who appears to have also been Prometheus, really and truly. Now Prometheus is bound, and the job of taking the fight to the next level is mine.
Because the horrors aren’t over. And they’ll use any human weakness they can get hold of. This is a fight for the world. For keeps.
I’m Richard Oort. I’m a cop.
Two months ago I had learned there were unseen worlds on the borders of our reality. Dimensions filled with horrific, nightmare creatures. Things that viewed humans as prey. Things that drove us to acts of unspeakable violence.
I had to fight them. To defend the people I loved, and to find out who I was. And am.
I’m still a cop. But now I’m also CEO of Lumina Enterprises, a mysterious, globe-girdling operation even I don’t know the full extent of. Replacing the previous guy, who appears to have also been Prometheus, really and truly. Now Prometheus is bound, and the job of taking the fight to the next level is mine.
Because the horrors aren’t over. And they’ll use any human weakness they can get hold of. This is a fight for the world. For keeps.
368 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2010
9 people are currently reading
243 people want to read
About the author
Melinda M. Snodgrass
69 books220 followersMELINDA M. SNODGRASS
Melinda Snodgrass was born in Los Angeles, but her family moved to New Mexico when she was five months old making her almost a native. She studied opera at the Conservatory of Vienna in Austria, graduated from U.N.M. with a degree in history, and went on to Law School. She practiced for three years, and discovered that while she loved the law she hated lawyers so she began writing.
In 1988 she accepted a job on Star Trek: TNG, and began her Hollywood career. Her novels, The High Ground, In Evil Times and The Hidden World are available from Titan Books. She is the executive producer on the upcoming Wild Cards shows being developed for Hulu. Her passion (aside from writing) is riding her Lusitano stallion Vento da Broga.
Melinda Snodgrass was born in Los Angeles, but her family moved to New Mexico when she was five months old making her almost a native. She studied opera at the Conservatory of Vienna in Austria, graduated from U.N.M. with a degree in history, and went on to Law School. She practiced for three years, and discovered that while she loved the law she hated lawyers so she began writing.
In 1988 she accepted a job on Star Trek: TNG, and began her Hollywood career. Her novels, The High Ground, In Evil Times and The Hidden World are available from Titan Books. She is the executive producer on the upcoming Wild Cards shows being developed for Hulu. Her passion (aside from writing) is riding her Lusitano stallion Vento da Broga.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
April 9, 2010
The Edge of Ruin is a direct sequel to The Edge of Reason, an excellent present-day fantasy novel by Melinda Snodgrass in which Chtulhu-esque beings use religion to generate emotions like fear and anger, enabling them to enter our dimension. It's an unusual and original concept that led to a fascinating novel.
Unfortunately The Edge of Ruin is not quite as strong as the first novel in the EDGE series. At the start of the novel, things are in extreme disarray: Lumina's leader, Kenntnis, is incapicated; Richard Oort, the cop-turned-paladin-of-reason, is trying to get a handle on both the Lumina enterprise and his family; and worst of all, the invading Chtulhu beings have established a beachhead in our dimension, making it all the more urgent for Richard & co. to get organized.
The "& co." part is important: this novel has a larger cast of characters than the first novel, and switches viewpoints very frequently, from returning characters such as Richard (now told in the first person), Rhiana, and Mark Grenier (who, in the most jarring change since the first novel, is now on Lumina's side), to new ones like scientist Eddie Tanaka and Lumina COO Dagmar Reitlingen. The frequent changes in POV are a bit jarring as the chapters are very short: there are 50 chapters, plus a prologue and a coda, for only about 380 pages. In addition, not every character is as interesting as Richard and Rhiana, and as a result, The Edge of Ruin never gripped me like The Edge of Reason did.
The dialogue at times is a bit too pat (e.g. about Rhiana: "She's finding that life in Monsterville isn't as wonderful as she expected."), and the novel occasionally takes on the tone of an action movie... which it probably would have been if seen entirely from the eyes of Eddie Tanaka, the scientist who evades slaughter by escaping on a tramp steamer. The ending is a bit chaotic, and the resolution downright bizarre, but it does set up an interesting starting point for the next novel in the EDGE series.
All in all, if you enjoyed The Edge of Reason, I still suggest picking up The Edge of Ruin. It's not quite as impressive as the first novel, but if, like me, you were hooked by the start of the story, I'm sure you'll want to know how it continues. It's not an ideal sequel, but Richard Oort is still a fascinating protagonist, the concept for the novel is still quite original, and I'm still eager to see where Melinda Snodgrass will take the story in the next novel.
(This review was also published on the Fantasy Literature website: www.fantasyliterature.com - come check us out!)
Unfortunately The Edge of Ruin is not quite as strong as the first novel in the EDGE series. At the start of the novel, things are in extreme disarray: Lumina's leader, Kenntnis, is incapicated; Richard Oort, the cop-turned-paladin-of-reason, is trying to get a handle on both the Lumina enterprise and his family; and worst of all, the invading Chtulhu beings have established a beachhead in our dimension, making it all the more urgent for Richard & co. to get organized.
The "& co." part is important: this novel has a larger cast of characters than the first novel, and switches viewpoints very frequently, from returning characters such as Richard (now told in the first person), Rhiana, and Mark Grenier (who, in the most jarring change since the first novel, is now on Lumina's side), to new ones like scientist Eddie Tanaka and Lumina COO Dagmar Reitlingen. The frequent changes in POV are a bit jarring as the chapters are very short: there are 50 chapters, plus a prologue and a coda, for only about 380 pages. In addition, not every character is as interesting as Richard and Rhiana, and as a result, The Edge of Ruin never gripped me like The Edge of Reason did.
The dialogue at times is a bit too pat (e.g. about Rhiana: "She's finding that life in Monsterville isn't as wonderful as she expected."), and the novel occasionally takes on the tone of an action movie... which it probably would have been if seen entirely from the eyes of Eddie Tanaka, the scientist who evades slaughter by escaping on a tramp steamer. The ending is a bit chaotic, and the resolution downright bizarre, but it does set up an interesting starting point for the next novel in the EDGE series.
All in all, if you enjoyed The Edge of Reason, I still suggest picking up The Edge of Ruin. It's not quite as impressive as the first novel, but if, like me, you were hooked by the start of the story, I'm sure you'll want to know how it continues. It's not an ideal sequel, but Richard Oort is still a fascinating protagonist, the concept for the novel is still quite original, and I'm still eager to see where Melinda Snodgrass will take the story in the next novel.
(This review was also published on the Fantasy Literature website: www.fantasyliterature.com - come check us out!)
October 3, 2011
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 6, 2019
“The Edge of Ruin,” by Melinda Snodgrass (Tom Doherty, 2010). Apparently the second book of a series, so it was pretty confusing almost all the way through. Anyway: there are multiple dimensions. We live in one in which reason and science dominate; there are others which are full of magic. One of the dimensions is invading ours. There are pockets where reason no longer applies, the rule of law and the rules of science are out of whack. Most of the world has no idea what is happening. Richard Oort, a former police officer, has somehow become the CEO of Lumina Enterprises, a huge multinational with unbounded resources. He is a paladin with a sword that negates magic. There are figures on his side and against him. It all boils into a confrontation between the forces of non-magic and the others. The good guys win this round, but there are probably going to be more. Well done. Good writing, interesting characters.
https://melindasnodgrass.com/
https://melindasnodgrass.com/
February 5, 2019
I don’t often read supernatural stories because I don’t like the blood and mayhem, but I won this in a raffle. This is as much a story of a young man’s journey from being put down by his father for his interests and leanings, to being the head of a multinational corporation and a paladin who stands against the Old Ones. These gods from another dimension have come through rifts in the boundary between worlds in the past and threaten to again. But Richard Oortt holds the sword that can cast out magic, fend off non-humans and close the rift. Well-written with great character development, I enjoyed this.
September 13, 2020
I really struggled with this book. I read the first book, and managed to get to the end and decided I was curious enough to give the second book a try but I gave up after reading half of it. Nothing happens. All the key (exciting) characters from the first book are incapacitated or inactive. New characters are boring. A real let-down!
June 9, 2010
This is the sequel to The Edge of Reason and picks up shortly after the events of the first book. There is a much larger cast of characters that surround Richard as well as the peripheral characters. I liked this book better than the first because I felt like the characters other than Richard got more well-rounded and less stereotypical.
The narration switches around among a set of these characters so you get more view of their motivations and reasons for acting. This could be annoying to some or sometimes difficult to follow, but I thought it added more depth to the characters and made the action slightly more intense (because you cared about more than one character). Some of the characters are left to be one-dimensional and unexplored, but with this many it was bound to happen.
The action comes fast and furious, especially at the end so the tension runs a little high (and prevents some character development) but I felt that the plot-driven story worked fine. The end of this book leaves it very open to another book but it didn't feel as abrupt as the first book's ending. I'll be looking forward to the next installment.
The narration switches around among a set of these characters so you get more view of their motivations and reasons for acting. This could be annoying to some or sometimes difficult to follow, but I thought it added more depth to the characters and made the action slightly more intense (because you cared about more than one character). Some of the characters are left to be one-dimensional and unexplored, but with this many it was bound to happen.
The action comes fast and furious, especially at the end so the tension runs a little high (and prevents some character development) but I felt that the plot-driven story worked fine. The end of this book leaves it very open to another book but it didn't feel as abrupt as the first book's ending. I'll be looking forward to the next installment.
July 19, 2011
When I picked this up from the library, I did not realize that it was the second book of s series. And even though I haven't read the first book (when I vaguely remember seeing and thinking looked a little too heaven and hell for me), I had no problem figuring out the scenario and the characters.
In the previous volume, policeman Richard Oort got pulled into a fight to keep the 'old ones' out of our universe. They feed off of us, and drive us insane. A few 'good' ones try to protect humanity. The bad guys were using a televangelist as a front. They take on the bad guys, the mentor good guy old one is trapped, and Richard is now in charge of everything.
Things advance slowly in this volume, with the old ones coming further into our world, the half-human daughter of one is immature and obsessed with Richard. Richard's father is trying to control him, and he is trying to figure out this multi-billion dollar company he is now in charge of while also trying to figure out the next step in the war.
It may have been a little low on the action, but it was an engrossing read. I'm not sure I'll go back and read the first book, but I'll definitely read the next book when it comes out.
In the previous volume, policeman Richard Oort got pulled into a fight to keep the 'old ones' out of our universe. They feed off of us, and drive us insane. A few 'good' ones try to protect humanity. The bad guys were using a televangelist as a front. They take on the bad guys, the mentor good guy old one is trapped, and Richard is now in charge of everything.
Things advance slowly in this volume, with the old ones coming further into our world, the half-human daughter of one is immature and obsessed with Richard. Richard's father is trying to control him, and he is trying to figure out this multi-billion dollar company he is now in charge of while also trying to figure out the next step in the war.
It may have been a little low on the action, but it was an engrossing read. I'm not sure I'll go back and read the first book, but I'll definitely read the next book when it comes out.
July 15, 2016
The Edge of Ruin
by Melinda M. Snodgrass
I read this book out of order, and glad to say the story line was not limited to the reading order of the series. I am also impatiently waiting for the sequel. Melinda, when are you sending it in? I love the idea of a free spirit as our hero. Richard is an intriguing character that each chapter brings you closer to see the motivation of his spirit, his strength, regret and purpose. The artistic aspect of his character plays genteelly into the story line of facing other worldly creators that are threatened by music, math and science. I hope to see that he over comes his difficulties, find his inspiration and finally save the world from the Old ones. The villains of the book are not just evil, debased, and insane but have human flaws even when they are half human. I found the premise of the book intriguing, imaginative, and totally fresh and new... I have to read edge of reason, and wait patiently for the next book in the series.
by Melinda M. Snodgrass
I read this book out of order, and glad to say the story line was not limited to the reading order of the series. I am also impatiently waiting for the sequel. Melinda, when are you sending it in? I love the idea of a free spirit as our hero. Richard is an intriguing character that each chapter brings you closer to see the motivation of his spirit, his strength, regret and purpose. The artistic aspect of his character plays genteelly into the story line of facing other worldly creators that are threatened by music, math and science. I hope to see that he over comes his difficulties, find his inspiration and finally save the world from the Old ones. The villains of the book are not just evil, debased, and insane but have human flaws even when they are half human. I found the premise of the book intriguing, imaginative, and totally fresh and new... I have to read edge of reason, and wait patiently for the next book in the series.
November 16, 2016
Took me awhile to get around to this book, I think it's been neatly 2 years since I read it's predecessor. I remembered the broad strokes of what happened in that but this story does a solid job of recapping what's gone before without getting overly bogged down in exposition. Several of the point of view characters are into high culture to the borderline of the point of parody & the anti religious material gets laid on a little thick at points (& I'm not even personally religious). The story itself is essentially about an alien invasion but with a science/magic hybrid so it reads more like a contemporary fantasy. It's solid though I wasn't sure about some of the pacing. I'm definitely interested in the follow up because I'm uncertain as where things will go as a lot of storylines seem to have resolved themselves. Overall I think it's enjoyability offsets any quibbles I may have.
July 16, 2011
Nice sequel to the Edge of Reason. Don't know if there are more books, but there could be. She does some interesting things with POV, which I actually really liked. A fast-paced, entertaining book that doesn't drag even though it should.
November 28, 2013
Will the world as we know it end? Will Richard be able to take charge of Lumina? Who will work with him after all that had happened? These questions will be answered as we move forward toward the edge.
June 22, 2010
a bad cross between law and order: special victims unit and the left behind series by LaHaye and Jenkins. Did not finish it.
June 23, 2010
This book is, in a word, terrible! Totally not worth reading. Unless you're, maybe, 10 years old, and/or think the Harry Potter books are literature.
September 24, 2010
Juvenile writing, excessive cursing, and a plot like swiss cheese. Didn't bother finishing this one.
December 31, 2011
Did not try because it is the 2nd of a series. . .
July 15, 2012
Great read - buy it, read it.
September 10, 2014
Lotta talk, not a lot of action.
November 12, 2015
Continuing from book 1, the story kicks into high gear, suspense level increases, and the protagonist gets whinier. (I'm enjoying the series, but want to punch the hero occasionally).
January 24, 2016
Really enjoyed this book! Thought this one was better than the first! Intense story line with lots of dramatic twists in this one
December 8, 2016
Better written than the first, but I'm concerned about the swift tossing-aside of a character.
Want to read
March 28, 2011Damn, this is a sequel to a book I haven't read and don't have; guess I'll shelve this for now.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews