Customer Reviews

The big eye

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

 

 

I was given this book by my high school English teacher in 1972 as a graduation present. I read it in one night and have been re-reading ever since. I have this book to be almost prophetic in rose colored sort of way. It united the world when all seemed lost and held the unity even after the truth was learned.
I would love to see this book made into well directed and acted movie. Thank you.

This book belonged to my grandmother; I remember reading this when I was in 6th grade, and now at 38, I vividly remember it and am grateful I finally remembered the name so I could find it here.

This is the book I credit for introducing me to the sci-fi genre - something that's stayed with me all these years. I've never forgotten the haunting choice that the main character made that made such a huge impact. Interesting in reading the other reviews that this book has touched other people similarly. ;) Highly recommend this read!

I read this book years ago when I was a teenager. And like the previous reviewer, this book was given to me. It was very special as it was one of a collection that belonged to a grandfather I never got to meet. The memory of that story has stayed with me, even haunted me all these years. Unfortunately I don't know what happened to my copy and even my local library system doesn't carry it so I will have to track one down to read it again. I do agree that it would be great to see this book made into a movie.

The theme of this book comes back to me periodically over time. The myth that the world was going to be destroyed by the Big Eye is similar to the Myth of Anthropogenic Global Warming that was tried more recently. In practice, there are too many people to be able to pull the wool over everyone's eyes. China, for example, has evaluated the AGW myth and found it wanting. Nevertheless, it is nice to pretend and enjoy a good story like the Big Eye.

In this entertaining but earnest story, the world is going to be destroyed by a planetary impact and in the course of events people make peace, stop wars and settle down to the good life. The twist ending is a surprise. The lead scientist has fudged his calculations so that the Earth survives with a close miss. The lesson is that if people are scared enough they may do the right thing. But it is fiction. One can only hope we can change at all. As one can expect, others have covered the same topic and even Heinlein had a go at it. He was more cynical. As it is, anyone who doubts the global warming theories can use this an example of scientist who lie to do good.