Peter Orullian to write and release a novelization of SFAM

[twanky]

Just curious if anyone who ordered the Limited Edition have received any shipping notice yet? Thanks.

Both Scenes and the Astonishing hardbacks arrived today

[dream416]

Well I received my shipping notice  But now Canada Post is on strike.....Just my luck lol.

[hefdaddy42]

Got my shipping notice as well.  Very cool.

[twanky]

So i'm confused about Chapter 6. Must be typos as the character Julian is also called Nick, Nicky and Jack in that Chapter. Dissappointing when you pay $100 for a book
Book #2 by the way

[Trav]

Just received mine. #54

[Deadeye21]

How's the font sizes? Wondering if it'll be digestible for a visually impaired DT Diehard like myself

[Zydar]

How's the font sizes? Wondering if it'll be digestible for a visually impaired DT Diehard like myself

I actually found them to be pretty small. I'm visually impaired myself and I sometimes struggle to read the book because of this. I should've gotten the e-book version instead since then I can adjust the font size on my Kindle. 

[dream416]

Received my copy today via DHL wicked!!!!!! #777

[Deadeye21]

I actually found them to be pretty small. I'm visually impaired myself and I sometimes struggle to read the book because of this. I should've gotten the e-book version instead since then I can adjust the font size on my Kindle.

Hmm... well that definitely limits my options here!

[Wim Kruithof]

I've got mine (#432) and paperback version and dove deep in. I'll write a review - without spoilers - here  next week, when I complete the journey.

[CodyWanKenobi]

What email address did your confirmation emails come from?

[Wukong]

So i'm confused about Chapter 6. Must be typos as the character Julian is also called Nick, Nicky and Jack in that Chapter. Dissappointing when you pay $100 for a book
Book #2 by the way

Yes, I noticed this as well. I was wondering if it was some kind of lore I missed, or what?

[Adami]

Isn't Nicholas one of the characters?

[TheHoveringSojourn808]

Isn't Nicholas one of the characters?

Yes

[Wukong]

Isn't Nicholas one of the characters?

Is that who Julian changes into?

[TheHoveringSojourn808]

Is that who Julian changes into?

I think they transition into Victoria first, and then the hypnotist

[Trav]

What email address did your confirmation emails come from?

Descant Publishing

[ZirconBlue]

Victoria reincarnates as Nicholas. 

Julian and Edward are the 2 brothers, the latter of whom reincarnates as the hypnotherapist.

[Zydar]

No spoilers please

[CodyWanKenobi]

Mine arrived! Looks great! Can't wait to crack it open once I've finished reading LOTR.

[twanky]

Isn't Nicholas one of the characters?

Yes but not in 1928

[RaiseTheKnife]

Hard cover arrived the other day. Copy #746.  Looking forward to reading.

[Wim Kruithof]

REVIEW on the novel...

Last couple of days I've been under a Scenes-blanket. It kept a hold on me, whether I was at work, running my 5 k's in the evening or taking care of my children, I constantly fade away to Metropolis. Even my wife said a few times I wasn't around, although was sitting next to her. The story to me for a long ride.

Without giving spoilers away, I really think Orullian delivered a fine work of art. As he mentioned in the interview noxon did, Orullian really made a study of the lyrical conceptalbum. Searching for meanings, for storylines and develop the ideas further. The novel is build up by chapters who switch through 1999 and 1928. That really helps the reading a lot. He dove in the world of the '20's and you really feel that age and environment, when the story switched to 1928. It literally is in every aspect of the Metropolis-world. Whether the novel tells about traffic, labor, cars, buildings, habits... it al drips just the '20's. Especially conversations and language are nicely built to just bring us back decades.

And then there are these lovely moments where the lyrics from the songs literally come by. Like the countdown when regression-sessions starts or as is the case with the fatal tragedy. The house get visual due to the book, it becomes alive as is so much the case for all those details being tiny or huge. But there are also corners being exposed which to me never occurred so in the lyrics. Then I had to look up, 'where did Orullian could make this turn' and then the lyrics developed in such a way. There are funny winks to Dream Theater, like the Majesty Theater later in the story, chapter 38. Although I am not sure these are on purpose (which in Orullians case I bet they are).

And even though the conspiracy and murder are what they are, Orullian made it much, much more deeply layered and getting to know the characters so well, the truth - which seems so - in the end is beautiful, being as complex as it can be but also - somehow - completely logical and 'what would seem so' since we have the conceptalbum. 'Vague written review' I know, sorry for that. But rather than unfolding the storylines or thoughts, I really would like to share this novel is just a piece of art. And definitely has a place in the wide world Dream Theater created.

In the Teams-interview Orullian gave away there are easter eggs to connect this Metropolis world to The Astonishing in a distant future and it surely felt that way. Music - sounds, waves - got an important value in the story and the willing to control (or even force) humans to your own standards is a layer in the novel. As an example; "Well, as you might imagine, it's not popular to suggest what proper behavior looks like, or for that matter, to utilize sound to guide the actions of others." P. 198.

So if Metropolis pt. I (the song) is a root to the conceptalbum... this concept storyline definitely could grow into The Astonishing later on, where the whole empire expands on those ideas. Brilliantly written.

I know one thing for sure, this novel without a doubt gave me so much more context and layers to the conceptalbum, that I love Scenes From a Memory even more than before.

[TheHoveringSojourn808]

REVIEW on the novel...

Last couple of days I've been under a Scenes-blanket. It kept a hold on me, whether I was at work, running my 5 k's in the evening or taking care of my children, I constantly fade away to Metropolis. Even my wife said a few times I wasn't around, although was sitting next to her. The story to me for a long ride.

Without giving spoilers away, I really think Orullian delivered a fine work of art. As he mentioned in the interview noxon did, Orullian really made a study of the lyrical conceptalbum. Searching for meanings, for storylines and develop the ideas further. The novel is build up by chapters who switch through 1999 and 1928. That really helps the reading a lot. He dove in the world of the '20's and you really feel that age and environment, when the story switched to 1928. It literally is in every aspect of the Metropolis-world. Whether the novel tells about traffic, labor, cars, buildings, habits... it al drips just the '20's. Especially conversations and language are nicely built to just bring us back decades.

And then there are these lovely moments where the lyrics from the songs literally come by. Like the countdown when regression-sessions starts or as is the case with the fatal tragedy. The house get visual due to the book, it becomes alive as is so much the case for all those details being tiny or huge. But there are also corners being exposed which to me never occurred so in the lyrics. Then I had to look up, 'where did Orullian could make this turn' and then the lyrics developed in such a way. There are funny winks to Dream Theater, like the Majesty Theater later in the story, chapter 38. Although I am not sure these are on purpose (which in Orullians case I bet they are).

And even though the conspiracy and murder are what they are, Orullian made it much, much more deeply layered and getting to know the characters so well, the truth - which seems so - in the end is beautiful, being as complex as it can be but also - somehow - completely logical and 'what would seem so' since we have the conceptalbum. 'Vague written review' I know, sorry for that. But rather than unfolding the storylines or thoughts, I really would like to share this novel is just a piece of art. And definitely has a place in the wide world Dream Theater created.

In the Teams-interview Orullian gave away there are easter eggs to connect this Metropolis world to The Astonishing in a distant future and it surely felt that way. Music - sounds, waves - got an important value in the story and the willing to control (or even force) humans to your own standards is a layer in the novel. As an example; "Well, as you might imagine, it's not popular to suggest what proper behavior looks like, or for that matter, to utilize sound to guide the actions of others." P. 198.

So if Metropolis pt. I (the song) is a root to the conceptalbum... this concept storyline definitely could grow into The Astonishing later on, where the whole empire expands on those ideas. Brilliantly written.

I know one thing for sure, this novel without a doubt gave me so much more context and layers to the conceptalbum, that I love Scenes From a Memory even more than before.

Thanks for the review, I'm glad it seemed to tickle the fancy of a DT fan as strong as you. I read Lifting Shadows when it was newer and while I never read the Astonishing novelization (that was also written by Peter Orullian, I think?) I'm intrigued to read this one. Might wait for the ebook version though as I don't know that I need to drop the scratch on the hardcover

[Wim Kruithof]

Thanks for the review, I'm glad it seemed to tickle the fancy of a DT fan as strong as you. I read Lifting Shadows when it was newer and while I never read the Astonishing novelization (that was also written by Peter Orullian, I think?) I'm intrigued to read this one. Might wait for the ebook version though as I don't know that I need to drop the scratch on the hardcover

Thank you. I bought it also on eBooks (Apple) where I was able to continue reading in lazy positions. And if you like The Astonishing, you would really like the novel and by reading, you'll eventually love The Astonishing even more.

At least, this was the case for me.

[hefdaddy42]

Still waiting

[TheHoveringSojourn808]

Still waiting

[ZirconBlue]

Mine arrived today, but I think I'm going to save it to be a Christmas present for my son.

[hefdaddy42]

Finally got mine.

[brakkum]

Got mine as well, #722

[twanky]

So i'm confused about Chapter 6. Must be typos as the character Julian is also called Nick, Nicky and Jack in that Chapter. Dissappointing when you pay $100 for a book
Book #2 by the way

Another one again, different character. I'm beginning to wonder whether it's intentional

[hefdaddy42]

Update: my copy was kidnapped by my youngest child, so we'll see if I ever actually get to read it lol

[Max Kuehnau]

start them young  They might enjoy the album too (given you'll show it to them)

[hefdaddy42]

start them young  They might enjoy the album too (given you'll show it to them)

Well, they are 21, familiar with the album, and have been with me to see DT every tour since The Astonishing.  So they definitely knew what it was lol

[Max Kuehnau]

ok then, that's great