Customer Reviews

Hooray for Holopticon

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

 

 

What a fun book! This novel is written in classic sci-fi style. The writing is reminiscent of early science fiction but the story certainly is not. Most of the "sci-fi" technology in this book is still in the future waiting to be created. The story is easy to follow and keeps you interested. For me, this book was a page turner. I couldn't put it down until I was finished. The plot is solid, well thought out, and keeps you intimately involved with the characters. In the end, the little guy wins and sticks it to the tax man. What else could you ask for?

Written with a style reminiscent of Robert A. Heinleins Double Star (Hot Jets!), Hooray for Holopticon is a fun book. It is rich with humor and "romp" does describe it well. Who wouldn't want to get back at the tax system? I give it 4 12" floppy discs.

What a fun, humorous romp through a science fiction world full of crazy, lovable characters in a well-plotted story line. It was so refreshing to read a book without gratuitous sex, language and violence. But then, this book didn't need to rely on those things to keep the reader's attention. A great book for times when you'd like an enjoyable, engaging read.

Even though I typically do not read science fiction, the humor drew me into this book immediately. Each character has an interesting personality--sometimes more than one! At first, the techno jargon put me off a bit, but the story line kept me going until I was so involved that I couldn't put the book down. I am impressed by the fact that this was written 20 years ago when much of this technology was non-existent. A great read, and I highly recommend it.

If you're looking for a book with a moral, or a heavy-handed theme, then Hooray for Holopticon is not the book for you. But . . . if you just want a delightful read with an interesting plot and lots of fascinating characters, then grab a copy immediately! My favorite characters were the Holopticon spy, Sally Randall, while disguised as the blonde bimbo, and Fino, while playing his favorite detective, Lance Nightwalker.

There are however,lots of interesting personalities to choose from including Bertie who loves to shop and wear outlandish outfits, or perhaps you might be drawn to the half-witted terrorist brothers, Eric and Stevie. Regardless who your favorites are, there are plenty of wonderful characters to keep you entertained throughout the book.

From the very beginning of chapter one when Sally and Lady von Braun are suspected of playing a practical joke on their colleagues, the plot begins to thicken and pulls the reader into the intrigue.

Don't pe put off by the technical jargon. It almost immediately starts to fall away as you become more acquainted with the principal characters and the plot.

I always love a book that can make me laugh out loud and Holopticon did it multiple times. Do yourself a favor and pick up a copy and enjoy the journey.

Ron Holleman

This is a light, pleasant romp through a reasonably near-future universe. The heroes are reasonably likable and believable, and the plot, though a bit frothy in spots, does not drag and reaches a satisfying conclusion at a reasonable pace.

The world setting is a bit similar to Elizabeth Moon's Herris Serrano series, with aristocrats and the 'have nots', and the Banji High Speech of one group of the high-born in the book is a hoot, I like the rhyming computer virus too.

No great themes are developed in the book, and it didn't rouse any great passion or excite you with any great fight scenes either, but that's not all bad. There is a spot in the world for a 'cozy', a type of book that soothes rather than riles, while providing a satisfying story.

This book was originally written in 1990; it's interesting to note that, like Orson Scott Card in his Ender's Game series (and others before that), science fiction authors correctly forecast the WWW, and indeed most of our hyper-connected society. Good science fiction is about plot, people, and science ideas (in that order) and this one gets its priorities right.

This is a light, pleasant romp through a reasonably near-future universe. The heroes are reasonably likable and believable, and the plot, though a bit frothy in spots, does not drag and reaches a satisfying conclusion at a reasonable pace.

The world setting is a bit similar to Elizabeth Moon's Herris Serrano series, with aristocrats and the 'have nots', and the Banji High Speech of one group of the high-born in the book is a hoot, I like the rhyming computer virus too.

No great themes are developed in the book, and it didn't rouse any great passion or excite you with any great fight scenes either, but that's not all bad. There is a spot in the world for a 'cozy', a type of book that soothes rather than riles, while providing a satisfying story.

This book was originally written in 1990; it's interesting to note that, like Orson Scott Card in his Ender's Game series (and others before that), science fiction authors correctly forecast the WWW, and indeed most of our hyper-connected society. Good science fiction is about plot, people, and science ideas (in that order) and this one gets its priorities right.