Customer Reviews

The Human Disguise

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Before I review the more typical story elements like characterization and plotting, I want to take a moment and declare that I feel author James O'Neal has been done a disservice by his editor(s). Throughout this novel I kept stumbling over poor syntax, sloppy punctuation, run-on sentences, and even spelling errors. Did no one at Tor read this before it went to press?

Here's a sentence from page 90:

"She pulled her small Fonda pistol named after the actress from the twentieth century and pointed the short barrel of the gas-powered automatic pistol that made a noise like someone coughing, at the door to the office."

Huh? Here's another sentence from page 245:

"The supposedly self-sealing tires not closing the hole as large as the combat knife left in them, so the rubber and polymer tires having just enough tread to screech when the car stopped."

Do these read awkwardly to anyone else but me? On page 99 his narrator notes, "This was gong to be fun." Gong? And it's not the only time it happens; "gong" appears again on page 201. On page 264 the short phrase "were Effected" should clearly have been "were Affected," (caps added), and so on...

Before anyone says I'm being too picky, try to imagine a movie with continuity errors, or repeated sightings of boom mikes, or similar blunders--faults like these would certainly detract from the viewing experience. It certainly did here. And by no means have I exhausted the examples I could display... they're all over the place.

Despite these blemishes, there was much to like about "The Human Disguise." I gave the novel three stars because it moved quickly, the plot was complex and enjoyable, and I was compelled to read on. The characters were not overly deep, but I did feel sympathy for the protagonist.

The sci-fi elements were handled fairly decently, but there were times when I became impatient. While it's no secret that authors like to keep readers in suspense, some of these elements were telegraphed so early that I couldn't help but feel frustrated by how long it took the characters to grasp what I knew chapters earlier.

(As for whether the book had clear parallels to "1984," as the quote on the back of the book states, I don't see it. Again, that's not the author's fault...I mention it here only for the potential customer.)

In terms of the plot, there were times O'Neal tried to pack his novel a bit too densely--the approaching alien ship alluded to throughout the story did little but distract the reader, and was almost entirely absent from the book's second half. It was, in truth, little more than a wild goose.

Still, O'Neal's dystopian future is an interesting one, and O'Neal has some fun with it. In a world fragmented by continual global unrest and terrorism, the police have their hands full, to say the least. As in many other futuristic stories, the police are often stymied by the lack of funds or unwilling civil servants, but making Disney World practically the only place with a functioning DNA lab was a clever ploy. What's more, the very fact that our protagonist survives the multitude of full-on brutal bashings that he does--at the hands of his obviously superior foes--gives him something akin to an Indiana Jones-like charm, and even his practically invulnerable enemies wonder what keeps him going.

"The Human Disguise" has a satisfying conclusion, and it's safe to say the author has left a clear path for a sequel.

Will I read that sequel? Perhaps. Regardless, I certainly hope Mr. O'Neal, who publishes crime thrillers under the name James O. Born, pushes for a little more polish his next time out. His story and his readers deserve it.

I understand James O'Neal is an author who has published other somewhat successful books, but The Human Disguise reads as if O'Neal once read a book on "How to Rite a SF Novel" in five easy lessons.
His premises; constant-war, enviro-breakdown, government collapse, endemic plagues, and zone trooper more-than-humans, contradict each other whenever the plot seems to require it. New York and Florida are in ruins, yet great hospitals, major constuction projects and more or less continuous wars would require a bigger tax base than we can maintain today. Sadly, a sort of police mentality is pervasive where laws must be obeyed, unless it's really, really necessary to break them. Some sort of talismanic electronic circuit board is the major plot mover, which, if used, would spell doom to the good guys, but every character from every faction tends to handle it like a hot potato, without ever seeming to realize they could just take it out of their pocket, drop it to the ground and stomp on it. Yet the hero continually goes around, telling all and sundry just where he is going to hide it next. Quarantine zones abound, guarded by rough-and-tough troops, but the characters continuously pass through them as if they are as porous as swiss cheese.
Aliens hover in the Solar System, planning to land (when, who knows,) and quasi-human/quasi-vampire affinity groups hatch plots to destroy/save poor feckless humans. Germany attacks Poland and Israel seems to nuke Iran, but wait, it's OK, they all make up at the end of the book, without any help from the characters, which is only fair, because the other wars mentioned are irrelevant to the actual plot, and seem to be devices just to ratchet up tension.
The protagonist is an ex-marine cop whose strength is as the strength of ten because, I kid you not, his heart is pure. The antagonist is a five-hundred-year old superbeing who is blown up in the climax at the end of the book, but mysteriously survives, (presumably in case some sad-sack publisher is interested in a sequel.)
James O'Neal, you have got to be kidding!

Please note that this review discusses certain key plot elements. Beware. James O'Neal is obviously a capable detective writer given that he is an award winning writer who writes crime thrillers under the name James O. Born. Thus, the book is a quick and exciting read made to be a cross between a detective story and a science fiction story. Sadly, in wanting to be all things, it fails in both respects. As a detective story, it is a bit predictable (albeit one certainly is made to care for the characters), albeit very interesting nonetheless. Readers looking for a Christi or noir type detective story should look elsewhere. As far as the science fiction story (warning warning turn back if spoilers you fear), the novel falters due to the author's (a self-described science fiction fan) desire to put everything he could that's even remotely science fiction related into the book (everything but the kitchen sink). Let's see: some things included are aliens and alien threat/friendship idea; apocalyptic future with various themes associated with that (i.e., nuclear explosions, bio warfare, resurgence of various deceases included bubonic plague, as well as the creation of new highly infectious deceases that make people look very close to what we know off as zombies); vampires and werewolves themes (i.e., alternate species with all the speed and agility of vampires or werewolves who have been killed though the ages in all manner associated with killing of vampires and werewolves); nations in constant war with each other; Germany again in expansionist mood, Africa closed off from everyone else, etc. Also, a plot to detonate a nuclear bomb as well as there being multiple reservations of those infected by various diseases in U.S. Oh, and guess what, global warming/massive climate change has also happened. So, any main science fiction idea that's out there, it's in this novel and all within the space of 365 pages. Combine that with the fact that at heart, it's supposed to be a detective novel, and you get a very odd mix of the two genres. It seemed that some science fiction plot points were just put in to try to keep us off track (like the alien invasion/body snatchers type scenario) but failed, at least with me, especially coming off the greater exposure of various superhero/mutant comic book heroes. The only thing that saves this is quick pacing and the ability of the author to keep the suspense aspect going long enough to get you involved with the characters to want to find out what happens in the end, despite the main mystery plot point being fairly predictable.

I read the reviews and thought maybe I would give this book a try. Sadly, I found it lacking in all major modern novel elements; regardless of what genre this book found itself in I don't think it should be lauded for much of anything.

The characters are very thinly drawn, there isn't a lot of depth. The author seems to use sex to try and stir up some excitement, I found it heavily laced with sexual comments and everyone wanting to sleep with everyone. A very low quality tool used by the author to try and create something that wasn't there.

The plot was thinly drawn - we knew the large sweeping guidelines of the plot by page 50. The author didn't leave much up to the imagination.

This book in no way represents 1984 as one of the reviewers on the book cover suggests. 1984 is a classic, and exceptionally well fleshed out and written. There are probably 10 other examples of post-apocalyptic america I could point to in modern fiction that have done better at using this sub-genre.

All in all a drab story, somewhat spruced up by a little detective work; but mostly lacking in most major components of science fiction and post-apocalyptic sub-genres. I would not suggest you buy this book.

I've been away from Science Fiction reading for a while and came back to it when I'd read some reviews of this book, The Human Disguise by James O'Neal. I read books set in all different locations but really like a good Florida placed story and this book gave me that, the Future as it (shudder) could be, and a strong current of Crime Fiction all in one. The book flew by in a single sitting that went late into the night. When I was done I Googled around and saw that O'Neal has a new book out, The Double Human. I bought the first one at my local Independent Book Store and will likely do the same for The Double Human, but I've always valued reviews seen here on Amazon and so I'm sharing my take on the book. It is dose of worthwhile escapist fiction for people of all ages, just what some of us can use these days.

The idea for this book is excellant! However, poor sentence structure and many grammer errors were a repitious distraction. Perhaps the author's native language is not English?

In just a few decades from now, the world is teetering on the brink of annihilation. The United States has become Fortress America closing its borders to keep out people who are carriers of the bio-plague, a man made disease that has killed millions across the globe. Carriers already inside the country are placed on reservations or dumped inside the quarantine zone that has become what was once Miami; NYC is a nuclear wasteland. Iran has been nuked back to the Stone Age and Germany is marching towards Poland.

Unified Police Officer Tom Wilner is spying on his soon to be ex-wife Svala and her lover Tiget Nadonich when he observes guns being fired. A man is injured and not expected to survive; evidence is taken to the station. The man recovers and walks out of the hospital the next day and the evidence vanishes. Tom ends up with it, but to extended family groups, the Hallecks and the Simolits want what he has for radically differing reasons. Tom distrusts both families who seem more than human to him. Each has an agenda with the Simolits wanting to expand the Miami Quarantine zone so that his people can roam free of persecution. Tiget kidnaps Tom's children to force him to hand over the evidence. Now it is personal as Tom must stop both sides while rescuing his kids.

James O'Neal describes a near future that is bleak and civil rights have become extinct except in fairy tales. Central government is weak and corrupt while convicts are sent to labor camps or front line military fodder. The world is excited about the coming of the Uralian aliens who have made contact and are coming to earth. The premise is riveting and the story line lives up to that theme with a deep mystery, plenty of intrigue, and action starring a former hero beaten down by the human collapse but not out as proven by his reactions. THE HUMAN DISGUISE is on a par with the works of Whitney Strieber.

Harriet Klausner

I usually don't enjoy science fiction, but really enjoyed this book. Set in the realistic future, I could visualize the world as James O'Neal set in his book. Fast moving, easy read, very highly recommend.

In a not too distant future, Florida is a bankrupt entity, except for the Orlando entertainment district. But this book is not set in Orlando, it is set in a gritty, struggling, infested shadow of what is today South Florida. Oneal's hero, Tom Wilner, is a career cop, part of the now statewide police agency, that tries to keep its head above water. He is forced to cross ethical lines and investigate a crime that occurs in his presence, and involves his estranged wife. To his agency, acceptable, just clear it and move to the next problem. But what he encounters digs him deeper than he ever expected,into secrets that have remained hidden for thousands of years.

The secrets he encounters change his entire life, and his views of life. But in this life changing trip, he also must be the good cop, putting together the details of a hidden threat to south Florida, even as he and his partner watch other events, in other parts of the world, possibly threaten cataclysmic events they can have no impact on.

The police procedural is good, basic cop 101. The science fiction is not over the top - indeed, the aliens Wilner deals with may not be so alien. The future Oneal draws is dark and depressing, an economically diminished US, fighting wars in various theaters, and fearing the resurgence of Germany. Damn, sounds like tonight's CNN feed...

The Human Disguise entertains and gives one thought...or perhaps a variety of thoughts...

This is not a book of ideas. What ideas it expresses are bad "The FBI did too little in the way of violating Civil Liberties to protect us".

Pedestrian writing, formula plot. Yes, some SciFi aspects "Aliens who heal from incredible wounds overnight and walk out of hospitals", but nobody is very curious about that.

I don't throw many books in the trash after 83 pages, but would hate to have anyone I know waste their time. Good QA, preventing low-quality outcomes.