Customer Reviews

Race Against Time

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Although somewhat controversial topics are raised on the subject of racial differences (main character is one of only 2 "purebred Caucasians" left in the world and later finds there are only 2 purebred Chinese and 2 purebred Africans while the rest of the world is "Standard," apparently an amalgamation of all races and who apparently hunted down and killed all other races for the most part), the book is nonetheless a very interesting bit of pulp fiction from the early 1970s. I much prefer Anthony's earlier works, such as this one and "Shade of the Tree" to his later efforts, where he enters into long series and the books become repetitive and silly. But hey, track down this book if you can and find out for yourself what you think. It may take a bit of work, but I think you will agree that it is worth the effort.

When I read the other review I just had to comment. This WAS an interesting book, but it was a bit childish. It is as if Piers Anthony had several interesting ideas, but didn't really know how to write a novel about them - the results seems confused and unconvincing. I think it's a book to read when you REALLY have nothing else to read.

One of his best, and often overlooked because it isn't in a series. Piers describes a world of the future where all human beings have "evolved" into one race, and the attempts to create divergent races. VERY thought provoking

This was a great read. I couldn't put the book down. The ending was slightly anti-climatic, but didn't detract from the story. This is definitely a book I would recommend.

Here's the description from the back cover notably missing here:

"John Smith is just a typical teenager growing up in a typical American town in 1960... or is he? He has a dog - that can climb trees and understand very complex comands. He has parents - who watch him constantly, taking notes when they think he's not looking. He has a girlfriend - a girl he's never met, who he has been told he must marry.

John knows that something is wrong, but until he crosses the boundary fence late one night, he realize just how much. For wherever, whenever he lives, it is definitely NOT America, circa 1960."

It's a pretty trippy little story. I like that. You know, the whole walking along through normal reality and then unexpectedly dropping off a cliff into the Twilight Zone. That's exactly what this story does.

If you are a Piers Anthony fan, you are probably not hooked on his writing. You are hooked on his creativity. This man has an imagination that cannot be duplicated anywhere. He can look at a droll, everyday item and turn it into a chapter/story. He not only creates imagery in words, but tends to turn the world upside down and around you. He is very thought provoking. If his technique has you down, back up and look for the real gem, imagination.

The fast paced yet frantically composed novel "Race Against Time" follows a Caucasian male within an enclave of humanoids similar in culture. After uncovering a profound racial difference pertaining to he and his parents, he begins questioning his origins. The ingenious narrative resembles an extended short story, little character and environmental development with instant and sometimes impractical answers to encountered problems by those obviously unskilled in such unusual technologies.

Ultimately the premise raises interesting issues concerning the direction and leaving questions whether as a society the human species are heading towards the "Standard" outcome. The tale may be exceedingly controversial and rather provocative as a debatable subject by anthropologists or those in the development of humankind.

Thank you.

Piers Anthony has the capacity to set up such a good intrigue at the beginning of his books that the denoument cannot live up to. Still worth the read.

An impressive view of the future. Life on Earth will not be wiped out by some outside force beyond our control... no, Humans in their petty struggles shall be the end of all things.


Not that surprising really. Who says we need a Devil to be a source of evil? Man is quite capable of it on it's own.

I think that Piers Anthony has really outdone himself! This is a great book for adults and youngsters alike!