1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Cyberpunk Aborigines - what's not to like?, August 7, 2009
This review is from: Death Cry (Outlanders) (Mass Market Paperback)
Okay, this is not the best action-adventure I've ever read - or even the best Outlanders I've ever read - but it actually has a lot going for it. For a start, suggesting that the Aborigine Dreamtime, alternative dimensions, and the cyber world are interconnected and interchangeable is a smart, provocative idea that's surprisingly plausible in context. The Russian super-weapon frozen in time is a nice way of contrasting the Cold War with the current conflict with an alien race - though the eventual detonation of the weapon, against a lesser enemy, is a slight anti-climax. The characters take a back seat to the action, and the settings are a little bland (too many underground bunkers), but there are still some fun ideas in this creditable entry in the Outlanders series.
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3 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
Death Knell of a series!, November 26, 2008
This review is from: Death Cry (Outlanders) (Mass Market Paperback)
Newcomer writers are seemingly flocking to the Outlanders series since the originator started running out of steam, as one must after writing the same thing steadily after a decade.
The latest writer is Rik Hoskin, a comic-book writer of your friendly neighborhood Spideyman. But his 1st foray into action/adventure novels is sub-standard at best. Doing the Ellis rehash is a good way to dive bomb into forgeful Book Land. And going furhter and giving a poor storyline is the bullet in the head.
Sorry Mr. Newcomer Hoskin, but decent concepts and standard rote will not do. (See Dougie, we don't just pick on you!) We call it like we see it.
We don't know where to start to tell you ALL of the things wrong with this one. So, we'll make it short and sour. (Nothing sweet about this book)
There is another dimension that is hidden away. OK, that's pretty cool. Nothing new, nothing old here.
But in this dimension is a HUGE weapon of ultimate desruction, guarded by old-school Soviets from 1928. But time has stood still here, so they don't know jack about reality. OK, another good concept.
But the problem is Hoskin can't write solid action sequences, along with any furthering of our beloved characters that have grown stagnant for about 5 years and 25 books ago. Shizuka is still not around, and she must be the best girlfriend to have, because she doesn't visit nor care where Grant is. (Yeah, right!)
And frigid Brigid and Eunuch Kane still don't do ANYTHING to further their supposed anam-chara, star-crossed crap that goes nowhere. Absolutely stagnant characerization. Same as Ellis. Nothing new here, folks.
But of course Brigid is still the smartest woman who ever lived. She knows absolutely EVERYTHING, in each and every book and circumstance, no matter how old or forgotten. (Hoo-hum.)
But she can go into this alternate dimension - and on the 1st try! - while meditating. Something she just picked up here, folks! (You see how hard we are laughing?)
And folks, it just gets better and better. The Soviet head guy is a goon, and without any solid reason, he hates hot chicks with red hair and a great bod, because he chains Brigid up and beats the crap out of her. People, this just comes out of nowhere, and rivals those B-movies that some of you might love.
This book, however, has one of the best covers that the cover artist has done in quite some time. And the next one is even better! (Thank God the cover art is good!) But Mr. cover artist! Grant is NOT bald! Nor does Brigid dress like a superhero dominatrix.
Is this the series' Death knell...?
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