68 of 71 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent solo debut, January 2, 2003
After seven great novels (and one in the can) with Douglas Preston, Lincoln Child decided to stretch his legs as a solo writer with "Utopia". As a long time fan of the two, I couldn't have been more impressed with the result. Like his collaborative efforts, "Utopia" offers a genuinely original story wrapped up in all kinds of neat technology. What makes "Utopia" shine, though, is the excellent back-story and the superb characters.
"Utopia" is set in an amusement park of the same name, but this isn't just any amusement park. It is an enormous glass dome in the middle of the Nevada desert. Inside, one can find astonishingly realistic recreations of Victorian England, a turn of the Century American seaside boardwalk, Camelot and a futuristic spaceport (and, Atlantis: Coming Soon!). Of course each area includes the most fantastic rides one can imagine, as well as restaurants, live shows, reasonably priced forty dollar t-shirts and...casinos. Moreover, Utopia is the owner of hundreds of patents relating to holograms , robotics and computing.
As one might imagine, all of this money and technology makes for a tempting target, and right on cue, John Doe appears to insert chaos into this little piece of paradise. At the same time, Andrew Warne, the creator of the park's robots, arrives to troubleshoot some strange problems that have been occurring (with daughter in tow). As mayhem breaks loose in the park, Warne struggles to decipher Doe's plan, and stop him before it's too late.
The story is unlike anything I have ever encountered before; a rare unique effort in a world of rehashed ideas. But it was the characters that impressed me the most. In addition to capturing their current concerns and fears beautifully, Child is constantly dropping little hints about their pasts: where they came from, what they do, who they love, etc. At the same time, he never let's himself get distracted; he doesn't diverge from the story, but rather inserts little asides to flesh out the characters without delving into reams of details. He is particularly successful with John Doe in this regard, and the result is a compelling, but mysterious character.
"Utopia" is a fast paced thriller with a lot of heart. Wrapped in a high-tech wonderland, there are characters with believable, rich lives. The pacing, structure and use of language are all likewise excellent. I have to admit, having been a long time fan of Child's joint work, I was concerned about his decision to go solo. I needn't have been, as "Utopia" is an excellent novel by any measure. Now I just have to wait eagerly for Preston's solo effort later this year!
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21 of 22 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
It's "Die Hard" in a theme park!, January 1, 2003
Fans of popular writing duo Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child will not be disappointed with Mr. Child's first solo attempt. The futuristic theme park "Utopia" is attacked by terrorists who have infiltrated the intricate robotic, holographic, and computerized infrastructure of the park. Roller coaster riders' worst fears come true in the exciting opening chapter that draws the reader into this imaginary world. Mr. Child's inticate imagination comes alive in his detailed descriptions of Utopia's four worlds--Gaslight, Camelot, Callisto, and Boardwalk. You'll find yourself wanting to book a flight to Las Vegas to drive out into the desert and visit "Utopia" as it all seems so real. In a break-neck pace, Child takes us through a day of terror as the heroes of the story, Dr. Andrew Warne, engineer of the park's robotics, Angus Poole, an ex-military specialist visiting the park with his family, and "Wingnut", a robotic dog all race to save the park from destruction. If you enjoy "edge-of-your-seat" thrillers and sleepless nights, this book is for you. Readers who enjoyed this book should also try these other Preston/Child best sellers: The Cabinet of the Curiosities, Riptide, The Ice Limit, Thunderhead, The Relic, and Mount Dragon. Utopia certainly stands tall amongst its companions. I've already pre-ordered my copy of Preston/Child's "Still Life With Crows" (scheduled for release July 2003) simply based on the strengh of Utopia and these other novels. Enjoy!
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21 of 23 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A fun read, February 3, 2003
If you are in the mood for a fast, fun piece of escapist fiction, then "Utopia" is the book for you. Start with a futuristic theme park on a scale with Westworld or Jurassic park, where historic realism mingles with next generation robotics and holography. Add a string of mysterious problems with park robots and rides. Then throw in a techno-savvy band of terrorists that threaten the lives of the park's 65,000 attendees. The result is an edge-of-your-seat thriller that has future movie written all over it.
Lincoln Child has produced an admirable solo effort in depicting the four fantastic worlds of Utopia and their systematic sabotage. He deftly mixes fast-paced action, a peek behind the scenes of a large theme park, a colorful cast of characters, and some comic relief through a lovable robot pet named Wingnut. Unlike many thrillers in the recent past, this one has a satisfying ending that left me smiling.
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