Customer Reviews

Oracle

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

 

 

Oracle is only the second Ian Watson book I've read, but I am very glad to have found this visionary sci-fi author. Like "Flies of Memory", "Oracle" is written in a very inventive and sometimes startling style. It also rattles along at a cracking pace and is an almost perfect blend of thought-provoking time travel yarn and political thriller. Let's face it, all sci-fi devotees love the time travel theme, and this one is better than most. The attention to detail is exceptional - one of Marcus' biggest problems is coping with lower case letters and non-Roman numerals for example. I also felt an immediate empathy with our reluctant hero Tom, who drinks real ale and knows which bridges have speed cameras on the M1! My only adverse criticism would be at the occasionally heavy-handed politics, which some may find irritating. Overall though, an extremely entertaining read, which leaves the way open for a fascinating sequel (please Ian!).

A tremendous roller-coaster ride from the quiet midlands of England to the cosmopolitan heart of Brussels. When you first pick up this book you wonder if the science or the story is going to take precidence. Actually the shear tension and excitement -, the booing at the villans, the hooraying at the good-guys - keeps you addicted until the tremendous finale, regardless of the hows and whys. The Kirkus review tells it all, but the energy and *reality* of the settings makes this a triumph of storytelling. Buy it and enjoy it, you won't be disappointed.