An Unusual Angle [Hardcover]

Greg Egan (Author)

Product Details

• Hardcover
• Publisher: Norstrilia Press; First edition. edition (1983)
• ASIN: B000HK3RYO
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #7,872,372 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I am a science fiction writer and computer programmer. You can find information, illustrations and interactive applets that supplement my books at www.gregegan.net

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This book changed my life!, April 28, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: An Unusual Angle (Paperback)

Seriously! As an impressionable young teenager I read and reread this book, and I'm quite certain that it did something (good) to my brain. The protagonist is a high school student with the ability to film through his eyes. Unfortunately, he is unable to get the film out of his head to show anyone. I noted with interest that Egan has re-used the notion of being able to film through the eys in "Distress".

The book is not exactly a conventional narrative, rather it is a series of episodes that allow Egan to make witty, thought provoking and at times poignant observations about (the Australian) school system, and life in general.

In short -- I recommend this book for anyone, but _especially_ for younger readers (say 12 - 16). I am now 26, and have never forgotten the brain-twisting joy this book brought me.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A must for Egan fans -- his first published novel., May 2, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: An Unusual Angle (Paperback)

This was Greg Egan's first published novel, and the early promise of the younger Egan is evident. Unlike his more recent work, it isn't science fiction (although it would be possible to read it as SF if you really wanted to). The work is less hard-hitting and a little less polished than his more recent writing, but it shows a character more sympathetic and believable than many (in fact most) of his more recent characters.

The plotline effectively shows the daydreaming of a suburban schoolboy (but it's better than that makes it sound).

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A funny debut about Australian school-life, July 23, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: An Unusual Angle (Paperback)

Greg Egan wrote this book in the summer holiday at the end of school. It is light-hearted, satiric, and nostalgic. Sort of a Catch-22 about high school, and Egan's affection for The Catcher In The Rye is also evident.