Customer Reviews

Borrowed Tides

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(9)

 

 

This really isn't any good. The story itself had possibilities, but the book falls prey to two major problems: Levinson doesn't write very well, and he doesn't know what he's talking about.

The first problem might be overlooked by science fiction fans of the old school, who don't place terribly high importance on literary style. Levinson's awkward prose and unconvincing dialogue are not particularly bad by space-opera standards.

However, the science in this novel is simply ridiculous. In attempting to use the language and concepts of quantum physics, Mr. Levinson is obviously living far beyond his intellectual means.

Furthermore, I am assured by Native American friends that the "Iroquois" material is even more wildly wrong than the alleged science. And as for the philosophical "profundities", words fail me. It is too bad they did not fail Mr. Levinson.

The Silk Code, despite a silly premise and a tortuous plot, did have its moments. Borrowed Tides is simply awful.

The local library had this book because it is by a local author; my wife gave me a copy to take on a business trip. I found Borrowed Tides a slow and unfocused read and if I hadn't been stuck in backwoods North Carolina for a couple days I probably wouldn't have finished it.

The characters were not very well developed for the most part -- especially the "kid" with strange power -- and it looks like one character got killed off more for the convenience of the author ( who couldn't figure out what to do next) than for the needs of the plot.

Worse, the ideas seemed borrowed from a lot of new age sources but they were strewn about right and left and they didn't quite connect. ... In fact the ending was the biggest disappointment -- it is definitely a cheat -- almost as bad as one of those "it was all a dream" things.

They tell me the writer is a college professor; perhaps that's why the book is as dry as it is. Fun the book isn't. RH, NY

Levinson's quality is slipping in this disapointing second novel. He doesn't seem to know what to do with the story and quickly losses the reader's interest in this novel which could use severe editing.

OK OK I confess, I only to got to page 80, and I also have to admit, hard science in SF novels is not that important to me, nor are the mechanics of interstellar spaceflight. But to make the mechanics of space flight, apparently using contemporary science, the main interest of the first 30% of your novel and then be so ludicrously ill informed about it really is an acute embarassment. Its reminiscent of someone who was a techical advisor to star wars. Characterisation and plot development were also weak areas, in fact the novel had no strengths, unless you count the fact the author seemed in a cheerful mood throughout and quite unaware of his own shortcomings. Avoid.

Imagine a novel set in the near future where mankind is on the verge of attempting the stars--or falling back on itself. Imagine a heroic scientist, a dash of Native American legend, strange psychic abilities, an alien space hulk, and a time warp. Clearly Paul Levinson has assembled all of the ingredients of a great science fiction novel.

Unfortunately, Levinson falls far short of this promise. His science is a bit bizarre--his plot depends on the ability to turn around halfway to the destination. The idea of a halfway point with a space ship (whether under continuous drive or especially with inertia) is scientifically suspect. With inertia (as with the U.S. travel to the moon), it takes just as much fuel to reverse direction no matter how far you've traveled. With continuous acceleration, you would have to turn around far closer to the starting point than the end.

Readers can forgive suspect science if they're given interally logical stories. Here too, Levinson lets us down. We have long discussions about the impossibility of sending a human to the new planet--and then we send one. We have other long discussions about increasing the biomass on the ship (cool--use the time warp to overcome conservation of mass/energy, I like it) and then we never see what happens. The characters decide to have a baby for its presumed psychic abilities--did it have any? Who knows, Levinson never tells us.

Levinson can write. Maybe he needs a critique partner to help him make sure everything sticks together.

Borrowed Tides is a good title but as a book it is an unfortunate mix of ideas. I'll try not to spoil the book with details, but the science is weak at best and the attempt to get metaphysical seems like a feel-good way to overcome a lack of knowledge of basic physics. For example the so-called "boomerang effect" is nothing new for space travel -- Jules Verne predicted it! -- but is presented as something far out. Dr. Levinson's background in media and internet (check his amazon list!)turn the book's "hero" into a kind of wishful thinking "Mary Sue". It is diffcult to imagine a less likely (or less competent) mission leader! The cover promised me a rip-roaring space adventure, but that's not what I got. Some interesting ideas here, but it doesn't gel.

The writing is good, story REALLY bad... It was one of those books that I finished reading just because by the time I realized how bad it was it was well too late... So I finished it anyways, hoping the book would redeem itself, but all in all it is not very plausible story, full of weird random events that never get adequatly explained... Chapters and Chapters of nonsense events, all strung together to finally make a bad book.

I liked The Silk Code -- it was good detective, science fiction stuff. But I like Borrowed Tides more. It has a depth, a view of the universe, that you don't come across too often in a novel. Sort of like, the human struggling against an immensity that we can't quite understand. That's like life, in a way, to me. I wanted to be on that ship, because it seemed so real, and not real, at the same time. Five stars for originality.

This well-written story pulls you in with its characterizations and a general atmosphere of "the unknown". It reminds me of the sf writers of the late 60's/early 70's that focused more on the psychology, sociology, philosophy of their characters - i.e. Silverberg, Sturgeon, Ellison. You don't read alot of sf like that today. Read it without any expectations of what a sf novel should be, and you won't be disappointed.

Other people have detailed the plot.
I really liked the silk code. I enjoy fantasy mixed in with my science fiction. I completely lost it when he said:
1) Making a return trip will cost twice as much fuel as a one way trip.(try many times)

2) Tea brewed at 0.78G is so much better than tea at 1G because of the different pressure. (how much water in the cup has a much bigger impact on pressure)

This part wasn't supposed to be fantasy. I have no problem with rudders on space ships in Stanislaw Lem. I have no problem with elves and return of the dead in Peter Hamilton. I can't deal with stuff that's supposed to be physics that isn't. Why couldn't he have asked someone to proofread his book?

The story telling and language wasn't grabbing me either. I found the dialog implausible. I didn't finish. I finish about 100 books/year, so this was unusual for me.