Children of the Thunder [Mass Market Paperback]

John Brunner (Author)

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback
• Publisher: Del Rey; First Edition edition (December 13, 1988)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 034531378X
• ISBN-13: 978-0345313782
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 3.9 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 0.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 2.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,247,225 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Promises a lot but doesn't deliver the goods, June 3, 2000

By 

Kali "bengaligirl" (United Kingdom) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Children of the Thunder (Mass Market Paperback)

Okay so I only spent 50 cents on this book at a thrift store but I expected more from it. The plot seems simple enough, Britain is on the verge ecological disaster, a Fascist government is in power, and to make things worse a group of children are getting together, children born with a strange power that enables them to manipulate adults to do what they want. The children are led by David who has worked out that the same unknown man has fathered them, and it is to him they owe their unusual gift. Enter a curious reporter called Peter and a sociologist Claudia whose investigation leads them to some astounding theories about genetics and the children's heritage. Put this all together and you should have an exciting science-fiction thriller that keeps you constantly on your toes. Sadly this book does not do that. The plot which is sound in itself becomes nothing more than a spring-board for the various sexual adventures of the gifted youngsters, who turn out to be promiscuous as well as talented. The adult characters aren't much better, and it is almost impossible to visualize the main protagonists because they are so one-dimensional. I was sorely disappointed with this book, especially as it promised so much from the synopsis. Reading it was like reading a manuscript written in treacle, it was messy and sticky, and I felt quite sick after I'd finished it! It gets two stars instead of one simply because the cover and the synopsis were eye catching, but other than that the book is a real dud. Sad but true.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wow, I'm actually reading again!, April 15, 2011

By 

Karl Burnett - See all my reviews

This review is from: Children of the Thunder (Mass Market Paperback)

I'm actually a fan of this book. Let me start by saying that I'm not a big reader... a book has to be pretty darned encapturing to keep my nose within its pages. Children of the Thunder has something about it that has kept me hooked... I haven't finished it yet, but unlike every other book I have attempted to read in the last few years, I'll end up reading this from beginning to end.
The story is original and the setting for this dismal UK "future" is quite disturbing. Obviously not everyone's cup of tea but I'm finding it a bloody good read!

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars A waste of time, falls very short, January 24, 2006

By 

leggylady "Book Worm" (San Franciso) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Children of the Thunder (Mass Market Paperback)

YUCK. The only reason this did not get zero stars is because the premise is a very interesting one. Famous researcher, Claudia Morris discovers disturbing patterns in children's crime in a not-so-far-in-the-future England. Enter reporter Peter Levin who smells a ripe story to help booster his rapidly sagging career. The two soon discover much more than they bargained for as the dig in the children's histories, genetics, and the strange powers the kids appear to posses. Were these kids manufactured to save mankind or to destroy it? And by whom?
Plot had more holes than swiss cheese. Characters were never fleshed out. Writing was very dry. I kept reading HOPING that it would turn itself around (while kicking myself the entire way). I guessed the "BIG SURPRISE TWISTS" about a quarter of the way into the book. The ending was one of the most far fetched things I've ever read. I was very disappointed in myself for wasting my time on this.