Customer Reviews

The Ayes of Texas

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I first picked up the book as something to read on a trip, and I only chose this one because it looked interesting. But as I started reading I couldn't believe how interesting and captivating it was. I was astonished at how detailed and HI-Tech the story was, but at the same time it was still about normal life in our present society. I found the story taught great lessons of our past and how they still affect us today. It talked about hard-work, the military, business, politics, the Hi-Tech industry, wealth, power, friendship, loyalty, the Cold War, everyday life and how as we are all steadily moving into the future the more things change the more they stay the same!! I found the book wonderful, and I find myself reading it again from time to time, because each time I find new twists and turns that make the story that much more real and it draws me into that world and allows me to live right along side it. Again it's a great book, it's not that heavy into Sci-Fi, as it is everyday life, and it is an enjoyable and captivating read. I am so glad that I got the chance to read this book, and I am sure you will feel the same way when you are finished!

This is a marvelous example of the Texas Brag, or Texas Tall Tale. Of course the science is unrealistic and remember this was written in the early 80's Cold War environment. This is wonderful escapist fun..a perfect vacation or beach book! More fun than Pecos Bill riding a tornado!!!

I read this book about every four years. Suspension of disbelief is key to the enjoyment of this book. Hm. Realism...The Wizard of Oz...Harry Potter...James Bond...John McClane(sp?)...Star Trek (any version)...Star Wars...Battlestar Galactica. Yeah, those are all very realistic. But, you know something? They were very entertaining to me as I was growing up. I had no trouble separating real from fantasy. The critics here who think everything should be written from a standpoint of political and historical "accuracy" and "correctness" need to lighten up.

Especially in light of today's political climate, is there a Texan (from any state or nationality) who would NOT like to see the night-sky ablaze with the people exercising their right to vote?

I rate this book as highly, and recommend it as highly as I do "Lone Star Planet" by H. Beam Piper. It's fantasy...but it's FUN, wish-fulfillment fantasy. And yes, everything in Texas IS bigger. (Except mountains. All we have here are foothills. But everything else is bigger.)

I just read this book and must disagree with the person who gave this one star and hated it so much. Sure you have to suspend belief somewhat, but what SF book doesn't require this? Also, the copywrite in my book is 1982. The author is speculating on future technology. I did find myself having trouble with what the the USSR did in the end, and how the USA reacted to it - way too casual and not realistic. However, once again, it's just a novel. It was a quick read and a lot of fun. Great for a trip or if you expect to be stuck in an airport.

All the criticisms of this book are true...and irrelevant. It doesn't take itself too seriously, and it's fun. Of course you can't create a tsunami and surf a battleship on it, but the visual's awesome, and no worse than critically acclaimed serious stuff that comes out of Hollywood. Of course the odds are insane and a lot of the characters overblown. Ever seen James Bond?

It's a fun book, great escapist fiction, and da Cruz has enough background to make it possible to suspend disbelief. Worth it new, and more than worth it used.

I am sorry but this book was awful. This is the second book I have read by Daniel da Cruz. The first book, Texas on the Rocks, was much the same.

This book takes place in a world, which followed a slightly different turn of political fortune then ours. In this world the Soviet Union has gained the upper hand in the international game of cat and mouse that the US and the USSR have played for decades.

The hero a good ol' boy turned entrepreneur named Gwilliam Forte, is written in the most stereotypical fashion possible. Forte is always right, more brilliant then anyone else in the book, charismatic, a lady killer and anything else you can imagine this side of eternity. Of course everyone and everything involving Texas is superior to everything else. Reading this novel you would think that Texas could conquer the world by sheer intelligence alone.

In the book Forte has to figure out a way to thwart the docking of the Russian navy in one of its "monitoring visits". I don't want to give the plot away but the situation is resolved with totally invented science and the assistance of an old World War II battleship.

This is really a rotten book. There are a number of serious flaws in the book that would have made the book unpleasant by themselves but combined they make the book unbearable.

If you like cliché with absolutely no relation to reality then read this book. If you like character development, plausible plot lines and realistic science then avoid this novel at all costs.

Very characteristic of a certain US right wing worldview (what's referred to on the AltHist forums as a "RWD" or Republican Wet Dream). The lone Republical/Conservative/Texan must save the world from the liberal folly.......

The author clearly lacks any knowledge of (and has failed to carry out basic research on) military tactics/strategy/logistics, basic physics, naval architecture... well pretty much every other topic. Being written in the eighties is no excuse; even then the concepts he uses were known to be rubbish.

As for his worldview it's equally bad; decadent Europe (and Africa/Asia/ME) has been conquered by the nasty Russians and it's up to the Texans to save the day. He also shows a utter lack of understanding of economic, sociology, physics et cetera.

It's a pity trees died for this nonsense.