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on February 13, 2016
I haven't finished the book yet, so I can't rate it overall, but the writing is fantastic, and I'm deeply engrossed in the book. I've got about an hour left and I'm excited to finish it.
It reads like an action movie, plain and simple. A good action movie, but an action movie nonetheless. This is the intelligent action movie, vs a Michael Bay action movie. This is the one you and your friends talk about afterward, but are surprised more people didn't go see it.
If you think of the series as acts of a movie, this is the third act. This is the part that doesn't have much character development, doesn't have much story development... it's the denouement. It's the epic conclusion. It's where all the action is. This is like a Michael Mann action movie. With a little bit of Ridley Scott. It doesn't cater to the lowest common denominator. It's smart. It's fun. But it's still an action movie.
This isn't Stephen King. Or even Hugh Howey. Marcus Sakey is good, but you need to consider it for what it is, not compare it to what it's not. This isn't Wool, or 11/22/63. This is The Brilliance Trilogy. And it's it's own thing.
It reads like an action movie, plain and simple. A good action movie, but an action movie nonetheless. This is the intelligent action movie, vs a Michael Bay action movie. This is the one you and your friends talk about afterward, but are surprised more people didn't go see it.
If you think of the series as acts of a movie, this is the third act. This is the part that doesn't have much character development, doesn't have much story development... it's the denouement. It's the epic conclusion. It's where all the action is. This is like a Michael Mann action movie. With a little bit of Ridley Scott. It doesn't cater to the lowest common denominator. It's smart. It's fun. But it's still an action movie.
This isn't Stephen King. Or even Hugh Howey. Marcus Sakey is good, but you need to consider it for what it is, not compare it to what it's not. This isn't Wool, or 11/22/63. This is The Brilliance Trilogy. And it's it's own thing.
on June 11, 2016
The Brilliance trilogy, a cross between si-fi and a dystopian thriller is one of the best series I have read. What happens if some people are gifted with mutated , hyper intelligence? If the "normals" hate them for making them feel a second-class, deprived people. If hatred and fear turn violent, with the normals at tacking and imprisoning the brilliant, and if the brilliant strike back, using their super human intelligence to spread horrible retribution against an abusive government.
What happens is you have the Brilliance Trilogy.
I looked forward to reading the final volume and was not disappointed. Thought it was nearly a year since the previous book, the author neatly refreshed previous events without slowing the plot development. Quickly up to speed, I was immersed in the events leading to a final all-out war.
Interesting characters, taut situations and shuddering violence brings and end to the story. Maybe....
Super series and I recommend it highly.
What happens is you have the Brilliance Trilogy.
I looked forward to reading the final volume and was not disappointed. Thought it was nearly a year since the previous book, the author neatly refreshed previous events without slowing the plot development. Quickly up to speed, I was immersed in the events leading to a final all-out war.
Interesting characters, taut situations and shuddering violence brings and end to the story. Maybe....
Super series and I recommend it highly.
on March 28, 2016
Great trilogy even if the "theme" was rather simplistic (society's treatment of a minority). It's Smith vs the US vs the good gifted and Cooper is in the middle of it all. Usual gang is back – Shannon, Natalie, Leahy, The Freehold brothers and our time delayed villain who the author attempts to portray slightly favorable. In fact he does this with most people in the story including Smith and Leahy.
There are moments of good warfare, Street battles, weapons of the future, software design, etc but very little visionary science. The story again revolves around the machinations of Smith and his long laid plans to bring about a final victory for the gifted. It is up to Cooper to stop his attempt at global domination.
Paradoxically the series ended up short, not to give away anything, but a new series canes silly emerge from the epilogue. Quite enjoyable but the writing did become a little formalistic at times. The same people did the same thing over and over. After a while you run out of new ways to say the same thing.
There are moments of good warfare, Street battles, weapons of the future, software design, etc but very little visionary science. The story again revolves around the machinations of Smith and his long laid plans to bring about a final victory for the gifted. It is up to Cooper to stop his attempt at global domination.
Paradoxically the series ended up short, not to give away anything, but a new series canes silly emerge from the epilogue. Quite enjoyable but the writing did become a little formalistic at times. The same people did the same thing over and over. After a while you run out of new ways to say the same thing.
on April 29, 2017
On a whim I grabbed a sample of the first title in the series, "Brilliance," and then had to buy the entire trilogy. Like an engrossed zombie, I read them all from cover to cover in a day and a half, and wanted more when I was finished.
Sakey's story transcends traditional sci-fi, encompassing a level of reality in themes from modern society, and blends them with characters that you admire, loathe, pity, and understand, all with a delicious storyline and unexpected twists (no pun intended.)
I don't often write reviews, but this story captured me completely and I highly recommend it.
Sakey's story transcends traditional sci-fi, encompassing a level of reality in themes from modern society, and blends them with characters that you admire, loathe, pity, and understand, all with a delicious storyline and unexpected twists (no pun intended.)
I don't often write reviews, but this story captured me completely and I highly recommend it.
on June 7, 2017
Clearly this is written from a traditional male perspective. Two women want the protagonist. How can he choose? Regardless, he must save the world. And though he doesn't feel right about torturing, he takes part in the process. As the reader, I had to take in too much violence to get through the series. I liked the premise, but I can't truly enjoy books with so much moral suffering.
on May 3, 2017
The trilogy is excellent. The scary part is how real the story becomes; Creating a division between two groups living in an area, and how they grow to mistrust each other, leading to war. The protagonist is well-liked, and the antagonist is incredibly devious. What kept me glued to the story was that the premise, the gifted vs. the normal, is so real and believable. Sakey also makes use of current technology, and how it can be modified in the future...from TV to tri-d...from ipad to d-pad. All of it makes for a realistic fiction that feels a little prophetic...
on May 22, 2017
1. Enough with the dancing tongues already.
2. Does every book series HAVE to squeeze in a love triangle? It is such a cliched plot device, not to mention a lazy one. This one was especially annoying coming out of the blue with no foreshadowing or sexual tension between the main character and his ex until late in the game.
2. Does every book series HAVE to squeeze in a love triangle? It is such a cliched plot device, not to mention a lazy one. This one was especially annoying coming out of the blue with no foreshadowing or sexual tension between the main character and his ex until late in the game.
on July 4, 2017
Wonderful characters. Very interesting story. Contemporary time. Goofy government. Extremely plausible sci-fi. And the writing is absolutely beautiful. Sakey's descriptive language makes you back up and read it again just so you can appreciate the wonder of it. I highly recommend this series.
on April 27, 2017
Sakey has a talent for manipulating the English language into a 'movie in your mind'. This is the third in his Brilliance trilogy and it's just as exciting as the first two books. I recommend that you read them in order - the story and the characters will flow more smoothly for you. ENJOY.
