Customer Reviews

The Barsoom Project

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

 

 

Although missing some of the wonder that made the first novel in this on-going series a unique and highly satisfying work, "The Barsoom Project" remains, nonetheless, a very good read. Like its predecessor, the story has several dimensions, managing to succeed as an excellent fantasia on the rarely-studied, yet fascinating Eskimo mythos and magic, a provocative portrait of the likely future of the entertainment industry, and an abosrbing and convoluted murder mystery. Even if Barnes's and Niven's second "Dream Park" effort lacks the magic of their first, it is nonetheless a well-crafted book allowing the eager reader to check in on a few old friends, and live, if only for a moment, in a wonderland of entertainment that makes Disneyland<tm> look like an oversized swingset. Also in the same series by the same authors are:"Dream Park"and"The California Voodoo Game"--Dalin T. Error (dalint@hotmail.com)Alvin, Texas

This return to Dream Park (the role-playing theme park of the future) is workman-like enough and avoids the pitfalls of the earlier novel, but ultimately there isn't much real meat here. This time through, the game is a "Fat-Ripper Special", which means that the players are paying their hard-earned dollars to lose weight, get plenty of exercise, and change the way they think about food. This certainly makes sense from a Dream Park perspective - people always seem to have money for weight loss - and this at least makes it distinct from the original Dream Park novel, but it doesn't make for an especially interesting story. Once again, the best part of the book is the Game itself, which this time is based on Inuit mythology. And once again, the back-story (a ruthless industrialist attempts to sabotage the visionary Barsoom Project) is where most of the science fiction is, even though it gets very few pages, and isn't really all that interesting. So like the original Dream Park novel, this book is recommended for gamers more than for sci-fi readers. Those uncertain if they really want to return to Dream Park would be better off skipping to the third installment, The California Voodoo Game, which is a substantially better book than this one.

Returning to the ever-fascinating Dream Park, where a bodyguard assignment also reopens a decade-old in-park murder. The game this time involves Eskimo/Inuit mythology - a little more helter-skelter and a LOT more metaphysical than "Dream Park's" New Guinea. But I'll come back to the park anytime

In the follow up to Dream Park we have the continued adventures of the worlds wildest amusement park.
There isnt much adventure, and this actually reads a bit more like a mystery than a sci-fi / fantasy read.
It isnt bad, it isnt great. I read it because I read all things Niven. So if he published the LA phonebook I would be compelled to not miss out - though I might change my policy afterwards...

What an improvement over Dreampark. I was disappointed in Dreampark, finding it rather predictable, with poor characterization and sexualized, stereotype female characters. I found the plot, the prose and the descritpions sexist, and distasteful enough to nearly ruin the book for me. I listened to the audio version, and nearly stopped it cold so many times. I was ready to walk away from it and waste my Audible credit rather than finish it.

I listened to the Barsoom Project mostly because I'd bought three of the Dreampark books in a package deal, and I really like the narrator. Stephen Rodricky has an amazing voice and I have enjoyed is work on many other books. And, I will admit the concept of Dreampark is really facinating. I'm glad I gave this book a chance.

The plot was unexpected and really engrossing with rich descriptions, mystery and good twists. I found the characters to be far more believable and well developed. The gamers are in a "fat ripper" senerio and do not fall into the same requirements for stereotypical attractiveness that were found in the first book. The women were smart and sexy and capable but not perfect and not permiscuous, and not reduced to overly sexed inferior contributers. The men were not the only saviors or strong contributers to the success and investigations and they did not persue and get any and every woman - even the "attached" ones. And the setting of the Dreampark adventure was truly unique. I really enjoyed this book. I listened to it all the way through without skipping to another audio book.

I'm glad I gave this books, and this series, a chance. Really a great listen. I will be listening to the next book without a qualm.

At Dream Park, the participants have signed on to play "Fat-Ripper Special". The rules are simple: exercise and behavior modification when it comes to eating habits. In other words, the gamers are paying big bucks to lose big weight through new memes.

As the firm who runs Dream Park begins work on the Barsoom Project expedition of Mars, investment capital is needed. Everything involving the weight loss role playing program must go smoothly or else. However, Dream Park Security Chief Alec Griffin realizes the facility is under attack by nefarious capitalist Kareem Fekesh who wants to own the theme park and much more. One of the gamers, Eviane after a stay at a mental asylum following her previous visit to Dream Park when holograms she killed turned out to be real people; returns with hopes to recover missing aspects of her memory that a stalker plans to never allow happen.

This is a reprint of the second Dream Park science fiction thriller that merges Inuit mythos with gaming technology. Although well written especially the gaming confrontation between Griffin and Fekesh, this lacks the unique freshness of the first novel. Also like Dream Park, the ironically titled The Barsoom Project is not for everyone as the targeted audience is predominantly players; who will find this is an interesting enjoyable tale.

Harriet Klausner

An odd choice for a name, as the Barsoom Project is nothing to do with the actual game that will be played, but a project that the Dream Park company inside the book wants to get involved with, actual exploration of Mars.

The game itself involves lots of cold, eskimo types and other such things, no John Carters or Dejah Thorises or any analogues of any of that to be seen.

If you're already a fan, it's a decent buy. But don't expect it to be *as good* as Dream Park!

I found this book very exciting. Although I resd it before the other books in the series. I find that this book centered on the game which was a fat ripper special. That means that the game was to lose weight. To make it stick way past when the game was over they used Induit ways of regarding food. This stuck with me so much that I still remember this book and it's been a good five years since I read the book.

The Dream Park series is one of the best around, and it pays to hunt them out. The future is Mars, and the park owners / managers / etc. know this. The book centers around this and getting man on Mars. Also sets up aspects of the book Fallen Angels.