5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Making waves, November 1, 2009
A good read and a book that breathes life into the Deathlands saga. The cover tells you everything you need to know - a postapocalyptic western set almost entirely on a speeding train. There are some nice twists and some very subtle links to the Outlanders series, which shows the writer really knows what he's doing. The book rattles along at a good pace and will keep you turning the pages right to the end. Good stuff!
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5 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A solid book with a fresh premise, October 31, 2009
In a series that has run as long as Deathlands, most of the readers are tired of the "companions encounter evil baron, companions defeat evil baron" plot line. It has been done to death, and usually includes some kind of gladiatorial game at some point. Alpha Wave is a fresh departure and a strong entry in the series.
The bulk of the book takes place on board a moving train, with Jak captured and Krysty mortally impaired by a mysterious illness. The purpose behind the train remains a mystery right up until the climax, with much of the action involving the remaining companions attempting to remain hidden on the train while the search for their missing friend.
The action scenes are crisp and exciting, and the characterizations are surprisingly deep. Doc in particular is more, um, "Doc-ish" than he has been in quite some time, which was very nice.
I will avoid spoilers and simply say that this is a great read that shows that there is still life in this series, and it doesn't involve gladiator pits.
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2 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
Alpha Wave is more like Delta Dirt..., October 18, 2009
After the past 3 great deathlands comes aturkey so cold that no one even seems ta want to review it.
There has not been a worse deathlands book since strontim swamp and salvation road. This will definately go down as one of the all time worst books in this long series.
I would think this was another Andy Boot book, but according to the [...] website, it is the same writer that has been writing the last coupla outlanders books. Good concepts, but poor execution - in both seires!
When Alpha Wave was in my hands, I thought this one looked like and sounded like a Victor Milan book, like his train/vengeance last DL book that was awesome.
But not even close. When Krysty is sick and near death, she seems to be able to tell all his friends, and her friends all seem able to communicate with her...but Ryan! Ryan talks about Krysty's condition as if she even isn't in the scene! Totally stood out as stupid and a first-timer writer who doesn't know these characters awas at work here.
Then my eyes glazed over when they approach a hostile ville and a sec guard tries to kill Ryan, and Ryan shoots the gun right out of the guys hand. Far-fetched enough? No it gets worse. The guard thinks that ryans shot is so awesome, that he decides to come out and act like a starstruck fan of this stranger with one eye!
And this writer describes the clothing of Ryan all wrong. Only in the cover art does he wear a leather vest - but not on the books. (Great research there!)
Same with the blasters. Writer got quite a few things wrong there as well. Slow plodding and pacing made me put this book down more than a few times to read much better books in my library arsenal.
There is a reason that no one is giving this solid reviews like the last 3 books. Not even on the serie's mother website - [...] does anyone discuss or review this book. Well heres your template.
I want my money back.
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