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sangsara's review against another edition
3.0
Good fun, and it's fitting there's a Lee Child quote on the cover, because this is the same kind of pulpy action guilty pleasure as a Jack Reacher novel, just a little smarter. Would make a good film.
ingo_lembcke's review against another edition
4.0
Amazon-Prime-Lending (one book per month, this is for September 2014), so did not buy it. Read other books which interested me more, in between so I did not finish it in September and had to struggle to finish it on the last day (Halloween, October 31st).
While the book is straight forward, it reminds me of a [a:John Brunner|23113|John Brunner|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1336955014p2/23113.jpg] Novel like [b:Stand On Zanzibar|325502|Stand On Zanzibar|John Brunner|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/book/50x75-4845f44723bc5d3a9ac322f99b110b1d.png|2184253] or [b:The Shockwave Rider|41070|The Shockwave Rider|John Brunner|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1386921650s/41070.jpg|868164] or a film by Paul Verhoeven like Robocop or Totall Recall. Like these books&films there are short fake news and short ads for fake books. But unlike Brunner, there is only one story, and with only few twists, the main one I guessed early on - what would happen to the hero and John Smith, so I do not count that as a spoiler, I will not go into details.
Around the time after 60% (train-platform / meeting Shannon) the search for John Smith began and the book started to drag for me, I had trouble to get over that point, guessing how it might play out, not in detail - that was nicely done and very well written, saved this book getting 3.5 rounded to 3 stars. In some places it gets 4.5 stars, but as a whole and for being predictable (nearly from the beginning) 4 stars it is.
Recommended to fans of a believable alternative future, where in the past 9/11 has not happened, instead, part of population was gifted.
I will certainly read at some point the next book in the series (probably all, but the third is not published yet).
While the book is straight forward, it reminds me of a [a:John Brunner|23113|John Brunner|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1336955014p2/23113.jpg] Novel like [b:Stand On Zanzibar|325502|Stand On Zanzibar|John Brunner|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/book/50x75-4845f44723bc5d3a9ac322f99b110b1d.png|2184253] or [b:The Shockwave Rider|41070|The Shockwave Rider|John Brunner|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1386921650s/41070.jpg|868164] or a film by Paul Verhoeven like Robocop or Totall Recall. Like these books&films there are short fake news and short ads for fake books. But unlike Brunner, there is only one story, and with only few twists, the main one I guessed early on - what would happen to the hero and John Smith, so I do not count that as a spoiler, I will not go into details.
Around the time after 60% (train-platform / meeting Shannon) the search for John Smith began and the book started to drag for me, I had trouble to get over that point, guessing how it might play out, not in detail - that was nicely done and very well written, saved this book getting 3.5 rounded to 3 stars. In some places it gets 4.5 stars, but as a whole and for being predictable (nearly from the beginning) 4 stars it is.
Recommended to fans of a believable alternative future, where in the past 9/11 has not happened, instead, part of population was gifted.
I will certainly read at some point the next book in the series (probably all, but the third is not published yet).
bookph1le's review against another edition
5.0
This book was awesome, with a delicate, delicious awesomesauce, and served with a side of awesome. In other words, I loved it. A LOT. More complete review to come.
ham_jansen's review
5.0
I picked up this book on a whim from an ad on my kindle. The thriller turned out to be a page turner with hints of current events and Atlas Shrugged. Glad that I picked it up, and i am interested to see where he will go in book 2.
devonforest's review against another edition
5.0
I was recommended this book by a friend and it sounded interesting so I figured I'd check it out. It was a great concept of people developing "super powers" but in a "realistic" way. I'd like to think that it might be possible in the future (albeit distant future) to develop gifts that are just enhancements of our senses. I also thought there was a lot of hidden (or maybe not so hidden) commentary about today's society. Basically it was a great mix of sci-fi, action, spies, betrayal, love, and everything else.
sophiem262's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
nathanielgregg's review against another edition
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
joshhall13's review against another edition
3.0
Fun, light reading. Nothing memorable here, but I won't count out the series in the future... In case I want an x-men like light read.
jacksontibet's review against another edition
3.0
Definitely not brilliant. A disappointing run of the mill future cusp-of-dystopia kind of thing where smart people are the gays/blacks/women of the modern world. Pedestrian.