Customer Reviews

Waiting

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(13)
2 star:		(9)
1 star:		(9)

 

 

I would like to start out by saying that this is an exellent novel and I recommend it to anyone. Usually, after I read a book, I check the Amazon customer reviews just to see what other readers thought about it. What I saw about this book was expected, people going on and on about the rediculous environmental propaganda. While the book did mention some environmentalist views, I did not find it at all disturbing. Some of these reviews make it seem as if every page you look at will give you another reason to 'save the environment.' That simply is not true. There would be maybe a few paragraphs of it every few chapters, and even though I hate it when authors include political views in a book, I found it bearable, and anyway it was overshadowed by the book's plot which I found very intriguing.

(This is not a spoiler; it is the equivalent of what you will read on the back of a book.)

In Waiting, the main character, Artie, investigates the death of a friend and fellow "Suicide Club" member. He finds out about the existence of another species of human, dubbed the "Old People," who have the ability to send thoughts into the minds of others, and the plot goes on from there.

In another review I looked at, the reviewer argues that the "Old People" are not superior to humans, that they are just the same, and that even though they are supposedly so worried about the environment, they still drive cars and pollute. Well, the fact is that to Old People are superior; it is essential to the plot of the story. And Robinson, in my opinion, does not try to portray our race as evil, because in the story, both sides kill. It is human nature, and yes though the Old People are a different species, they are essentialy human, and their struggle to take back the Earth from Homo sapiens is also human, and I do not think that it has anything to do with the environment, though they use it as an excuse. It has to do with territory. They think they can run the world better, so they try (again, human nature).

Anyway, this is not a big book of propaganda as some would have you believe. Though this book was obviously written to get the author's "save the environment" message across, it is not the whole thing, and you should not start the book expecting that. It is instead about a war between two species of humans, one which has been waiting to take their world back.

"Waiting" takes place in San Francisco, California, where Artie Baker, a middle-aged TV newswriter, and a handful of his friends (dubbed The Suicide Club since young adulthood--long story) are trying to solve the brutal murder of one of their members. Not only that, but Artie's wife and stepson have suddenly disappeared, just at the crucial moment when someone has been trying to kill him, as well as the people he associates with because of what they know.

After some time, what Artie and his friends soon discover is that a centuries-old species of human (called the Old People) have been waiting all this time for Homo sapiens to exterminate themselves off the planet. But for fear of being revealed and destroyed themselves, the Old People decide to declare a covert war on Homo sapiens in order to reclaim domination of the world.

When I started reading "Waiting," I checked out a few reviews at Amazon beforehand to see what others thought of it. I was only a few chapters into it, but I really liked it so far and was quite surprised by all the low reviews of it. When I picked the book back up, I kept expecting it to get worse like several reviewers had said. However, it didn't. I thoroughly enjoyed it from beginning to end. It's not very high on action, but it is quite thought-provoking on our existence in the next century or so, as possibly the next endangered species on Earth.

"Waiting" reminded me a little of something Dean Koontz would write, minus any sci-fi nonsense, which I kept expecting since it was published by Tor, a sci-fi-heavy publisher. It's a well-written thriller, and if you like such novels, then you'll probably like "Waiting."

Frank Robinson has once again come through with a suspenseful tale that incorporates the best elements of science fiction with those of an action-thriller. His characters, plot and science may each be picked apart--but when Robinson combines them--he creates something that is much bigger than the individual parts.

It is now rare that a novel keeps me up all night reading just for the pure enjoyment of it, but WAITING definitely did. A fun and satisfying read. Highly Recommended.

The basic idea of this book is indisputably neato. I found myself really looking forward to how the tale might unfold, once I got the basic idea of a race of not-quite-human-beings having existed alongside us for 35,000 years. However, there really could have been a lot more research put into this. The science just didn't make sense to me, compared with, say, a Michael Crichton novel. It was very, VERY skimpy to say the least. Anyone with the slightest scientific background will probably feel kind of insulted on that point.

That said, the book isn't without its redeeming features. There is a lot of tension built up, as we wonder which of the hero's friends are human, and which... aren't. There are a few flaws... I think the very last few pages were probably supposed to be an unexpected "twist" ending, designed to give the reader that certain, satisfying jolt, but for me it didn't exactly work. I probably shouldn't go into it here, really, so suffice it to say that it concerns the hero's son.

Read this as a thriller, if you enjoy thrillers, especially thrillers heavy on chase scenes and police work. But the science really isn't too well done, so please be prepared for that if you are in the market for science fiction.

This book received so much positive hype, that I couldn't wait to read it. Alas, the story never lived up to its potential. The characters were FLAT, and the story uneven. I kept reading because the concept was exciting and I kept thinking: "this is going to pick up and all gel soon." It never did. The worst part was the constant thought I had while reading it that it could have been an outstanding reading experiece if someone like Koontz got hold of it! It wasn't a complete waste of time since I read it on a flight from Ft. Lauderdale to Phoenix, but I had hoped for more. I did enjoy Robinson's THE POWER however. Check that one out.

Robinson is a veteran writer who has specialized for many years in exciting novels that take place in the real world, with just a touch of something frighteningly gone wrong. This has been true since his first novel ("The Power") through his collaborations with Tom Scortia ("The Glass Inferno," "The Gold Crew").

The idea that "another human race" evolved alongside our ancestors drives Robinson's latest novel. These people were neither "us" nor the extinct Neanderthals, but someone else altogether. They're a lot like us, they are definitely human, but -- there is a difference.

Robinson's anthropological research is flawless and his veteran craftsman's hand at developing believable characters and constructing a compelling plot never falters.

Once you start reading this book, there's no way in the world that you'll be able to put it down, so you'd better set aside a nice block of hours for yourself.

Incidentally, if you saw any episodes of last year's failed TV series "Prey," and you detect a suspicious similarity to "Waiting," you're right on target. Hollywood scuttlebutt has it that an advance copy of Robinson's manuscript made its rounds of the studios, and "Prey" was an unauthorized adaptation of the novel.

But hey, the book is a thousand times better.

Here's the story: clueless t.v. journalist Archie's friend is killed in an alley by a pack of wild dogs. When this happens, Archie believes his death is NO accident and begins to search for the killer. During the course of his investigation, he learns about the existence of another race of beings which has been living amongst us for centuries. Archie's investigations uncover a vast conspiracy of epic proportions... Can Archie save humanity? Or is it already too late?

Okay, I am as concerned about the environment as the next person. But when I pick up a horror/thriller novel, I don't like to be bludgeoned over the head repeatedly with paragraphs and paragraphs of environmentalist propaganda. The novel assumes that all humans are idiots, care nothing about the environment and live in an ignorant vacuum. Not so. Some of us are scientist, researchers, anthropologist, or just plain concerned people. Robinson goes a bit too far in my opinion with the sermonizing, and , painting humanity with a broad-brush as possible, while portraying his created race, 'the old people' as being 'good, kind, and saintly.' Please. I mean, we get it already, humanity= evil 'the old people' = good. What I don't get is if the 'old people' are so concerned about the environment.... Why do they drive cars? Don't cars pollute the environment? And what about killing people? Isn't that wrong? I mean, come on. This novel practices an alarming pseudo-science. Humans are mammals of the Primate order. So are Robinson's 'old people.' Primates (especially males), of most species are violent. I find it extremely difficult to believe the 'old people' are somehow SO much superior.

While I really liked the characters, and some of the concepts, I got tired with the author's soapboxing. I also found the ending of this novel to be, extremely irritating. I was unsatisfied with the relationship issue between Archie and his wife, and never quite understood, the author's inference about Mark. While I recommend giving this novel a listen, be prepared for long chapters of thinly-veiled neo-malthusian dialog about eco-issues ad nauseum.

This book was mentioned in Stephen King's reading list (as an appendix to his inspirational "On Writing"). The premise of a race of "superior" beings living among us intrigued me. Unfortunately, that was the ONLY reason why I endured the book until the end. I couldn't care less about any of the two-dimensional characters, the corny dialogue, or the repetitious spoon-feeding of plot detail (how stupid is the reader expected to be?). I sped through most of the novel because I was anxious to put it away and move on to a better book. VERY disappointing.

I really enjoyed this book. The beginning is strange but if you can make it to about the middle of chapter 2, you'll be hooked. What I was amazed with the most is the way Robinson created a sense of dread throughout the entire book. It was like hearing the low bass tones in a scary movie that gives you that sense of anticipation and dread. I don't know how he did it with words. Definitely have to tip your hat to Robinson on his writing style.

I had a hard time putting the book down, staying up late at night but not pushing myself like I have done reading Stephen Hunter. The ending was not completely predictable but I did have my suspicions by the middle of the book. The ending was a little bit of a let down, not for anything other than it seemed like Robinson was trying to meet a deadline and rushed to a conclusion, but it didn't ruin the book by any means.

I would definitely recommend this to any one who enjoys minor amounts of science fiction rooted in fact or counterfactual thought. It reads very fast and would be good for travel of vacation. The message regarding our environment is timely also.

For more details, go to aj.huff.org. Thanks.

Someone who picks up a horror novel must, of course, be willing to suspend disbelief, but the concept of another race living among us and maintaining some level of cohesion as a society for 35,000 years without discovery is just a little too far-fetched. Worse than that, it's boring. Toward the end of the story, there were some twists in the plot that I didn't see coming, but by that time I didn't care anymore.