Most Helpful Customer Reviews
|
|
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
fast-paced read from a great new author, April 1, 2008
I had the chance to read this book pre-release & what a ride! It begins with two friends from opposite sides of the economic divide in a down-trodden, future America. I enjoyed Walton's technological innovations, especially his vision of high fashion cosmetic alterations.
Whenever the work seemed to take a predictable turn, instead it revealed a new layer of character and goal, increasing tension between the unusual cast. A lapsed Amish girl, expert hacker, and not-so-mindless thug provide opportunities to explore human interaction with this future world.
I did find the antagonist a bit too straightforward, but even his motivation, when it becomes clear, gives the story another twist. The book builds on some familiar ideas from science fiction--a devastated land fragmented by war, the anger of a lower class left behind, nasty uses of medical tech, the melding of man and computer--but includes a rich and complex emotional life for the characters, something that many classic SF works neglect.
Overall, an enjoyable read--by turns exciting, moving and thought-provoking.
|
|
|
4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Cybernet meets class warfare and brain scanning, April 2, 2009
In short, the book is a near-future society dealing with class warfare, allocation of technology based on class, and the introduction of brain scanning into cyberspace, (the ability to read the brain and imprint it into cyberspace as a personality).
The book held my interest and it provided an interesting view into a future where cyberspace and biology merge, while the same old class problems are addressed. Since there are still class wars, some have fewer or worse technology implants, while the elite class gets the best.
I thought the book would follow the view from the working class, and deal with the "evils" of the elite class, but the story line matures to deal with both class evils, which is important; without the balance in view, the book would have taken on a socialistic taint. Finally, the book takes care to close out the key plot threads, (which I appreciate). While the book does not hint at a sequel, it could be developed based on the ending revelations.
The story line and characters are well developed. So I recommend this book if you enjoy SciFi in a near future setting.
|
|
|
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Much enjoyed, June 20, 2008
SF is not my genre, but I must say I enjoyed this book. The idea of living at Philadelphia Crater is intriguing. I felt helped into the world of the book, and was quite caught up with the adventure. There was a point where I simply had to stop doing anything else and read that book. Looking for more from this young writer.
|
|
|
Most Recent Customer Reviews
|