Customer Reviews

The Dark Fields

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This debut from Irish writer Glynn is both a solid page-turning thriller, as well as a decent neuropsychopharmacological update of the Icarus myth. Set in pre-9/11 Manhattan, the story revolves around pudgy middle-aged schlub Eddie Spinola. He lives a depressing and uninteresting life in his squalid Avenue A apartment, barely making a living in a dead-end job as a copywriter for a no-name publishing company, with few friends and fewer prospects.

Eddie's long downward slide into oblivion is interrupted when he runs into his former brother-in-law on the street. Vernon was a coke dealer in the '80s, and after a few drinks and catching up, turns Eddie onto his latest product -- MDT48. This illegal designer drug is sort of like Viagra for the brain, providing superhuman powers of concentration, retention, learning, focus, ambition, charisma, etc. (as an example, Eddie is able to learn a foreign language in a few days). After his first pill, Eddie is hooked and goes back to Vernon for more -- only to find him dead. Fortunately, Eddie finds his stash and thus has plenty of pills to propel him through the coming weeks.

The story then more or less charts the metamorphosis an average person might experience under such a transformative drug. A minor triumph at work segues into wildly successful day trading, and from there into high level M&A finance. Of course, along the way, Eddie ups the dosage and also starts to experience disconcerting blackouts. Eventually, he also realizes he needs to figure out a source for more pills, figure out how what's causing the blackouts, deal with the Russian loan shark he's in debt to, and maybe, just maybe, try and reconnect with his ex-wife. There are a lot of threads going at once, and as they converge in the final third of the book, the results aren't always as compelling as the journey.

There are a few elements of the plot that are kind of sloppy. For example, Eddie gets involved with the Russian loanshark because he wants a quick infusion of cash to up his day trading capabilities. However, at his rate of success, he could have made the same amount of money in a matter of days. Secondly, it's not until rather late in the story that Eddie starts to think about how to secure a permanent supply of MDT48 -- but it seems like the focusing power of the drug would have put that on his front burner, rather than the back. The old Eddie was a procrastinator, but not the newly enhanced Eddie. There's also a whole background thing about the US possibly going to war with Mexico that doesn't seem to serve any purpose. Finally, the book is littered with Anglacisms that simply wouldn't be said (or thought) by American characters. This is a pet peeve of mine because all it would take is one relatively eagle-eyed American reader to flag these for the author or editor.

These problems aside, it's a relatively enjoyable slick thriller that is easy to connect with. Even though Eddie isn't a particularly likable or interesting character, most readers will find no problem placing themselves in his shoes and wondering what they would do if they stumbled across MDT48. And there's a certain amount of pleasure to be had racing through the final third of the book to learn if Eddie's MDT48-fueled brain has somehow managed to find a way out of the corner he's painted himself into. Not particularly deep stuff, but reasonably entertaining -- not surprisingly, it was reported in 2008 that the book is supposed to be made into a big budget film starring Shia Lebouf.

This is an excellent first novel -- a gripping and unpredictable plot, interesting characters and so on. I was lucky to gain an early preview of the new movie "Limitless" and I was blown away by it.

I then read the book, so it could be the order in which I did it, but I found the movie to a noticeable improvement on the book.

Better storyline (well-crafted by Leslie Dixon), more fleshed-out characters (de Niro!) and a far better ending (which they apparently changed during re-shoots anyway).

But I did enjoy reading the book immensely, so I do recommend it.

I found this book on the subway, and as an avid reader, I couldn't help my self. I couldn't put it down. I have not been so pleasantly surprised before. I have since bought this book for friends and they all have enjoyed it. I love it...can't wait for his next book!

Glynn knows how to construct a thriller -- his writing is literate, evocative and really gives you a sense of the world in which the story is set (with the exception of it's attempt to convey a world in which the U.S. is seriously considering invading Mexico, which was laughable).

On the plus side, the story weighs serious moral issues of drug use, and digs deep into philophical musings about the nature of human addiction. Twists and turns abound and he knows how to build suspense by teasing readers with tantalizing fragments of information and doling them out in controlled, expertly measured rations.

However, after withholding the goods for 300+ pages, when we finally want to know what the heck has been going on and who's behind all this, Glynn gives us the same thing he's been giving the entire novel: a few tantalizing morsels, which quickly turn to frustating morsels because they resolve so little. Actually, if one thinks about it, the final "phone conversation" in which he's supposed to find out what's really been going on creates many more gaping holes and questions than it answers.

This book was one of the fastest reads I've ever had, but Glynn's editor should have told him that his set-ups need a pay-off, and simply ending on a seriously bleak note does not a complete story, or literate novel, make.

Wow! What a debut novel. I'm not normally a fan of thrillers but this one had me hooked from the very first page. You can literally feel yourself being sucked into the unreal world of Eddie, as the allure of the drug takes control of his life.

Quite apart from the sheer pace of the novel, there is a very serious subtext to this finely written book. Roll on Glynn's next offering.

I began reading it that day, and read through it all in two. Definitely a page turner, with an amazing message. I could completely empathize with Eddie (The main character) and could understand all of his actions, definitely an author I'll be keeping an eye on.

I'd never heard of this book, but picked it up a few years ago based on the jacket copy - probably one of my best impulse buys ever. I loved it. And have re-read it at least four times since. The concept is so intriguing and Glynn explores it with good writing, pacing and characters. Highly recommend.

Saw the movie trailers,was intrigued and purchased the book. The concept is fascinating and of universal interest. Who hasn't thought about what it would be like if we could use all of our brain? I give the author high marks for credibly describing the experience of an immensely powerful mind altering drug and to radically change your life in a few days. The plot has some curious flaws and a disappointing resolution. I'm hoping that the movie will expand this idea and fine tune the plot. Given my criticism of the novel, it was enjoyable, I recommend it, and look forward to reading other books by this author.

... and I'm normally a very slow reader who doesn't get wrapped up in books. This one is amazing. Alan Glynn doesn't waste page after page prattling on about irrelevant details -- every single page is crucial, although you often don't know it until much later....

Realy enjoyable book and very easy to get into it and not be able to put it down. Great desscription just love it looking forward to more from this wrighter