just_fighting_censorship's review against another edition
3.0
3 1/2 Stars
I read Virtual War around 5th or 6th grade and it's what really got me into science fiction, I absolutely devoured it and the story was branded on my brain. Fast forward about 18 years and I discover that this is a series. WHAT!? I jumped at the chance to re-enter the world created by Gloria Skurzynski and picked up this second instalment.
It is always strange to pick up a book that you read as a child, there is a certain amount of nostalgia and there can really be only two results. Either 1) the book is as great as you remember or 2) it's not, and you walk away a little disappointed, the memory tainted. This was slightly different since I read the sequel and not the original, but I must say I was slightly disappointed despite still enjoying the book.
At 10 years old Virtual War was mind boggling amazing, at 28 years old its sequel was a little drab. After 18 years of reading science fiction I've been around the block a few times and am rarely boggled. Still this sequel maintained a certain uniqueness, with a jungle set up and a "Good Son" vibe.
The writing style is sparse, which I actually don't mind, plus it is appropriate for the target audience. The pacing is a little off, at times it feels like nothing is happening for pages and then someone will die within the length of a sentence. The world building is a little generic and the dialogue can be stiff at times. This was a simple quick read that made me feel like a kid again, and that's worth something, at least to me.
Part of my 2015 Special 50 Book challenge- A Book from your childhood
I read Virtual War around 5th or 6th grade and it's what really got me into science fiction, I absolutely devoured it and the story was branded on my brain. Fast forward about 18 years and I discover that this is a series. WHAT!? I jumped at the chance to re-enter the world created by Gloria Skurzynski and picked up this second instalment.
It is always strange to pick up a book that you read as a child, there is a certain amount of nostalgia and there can really be only two results. Either 1) the book is as great as you remember or 2) it's not, and you walk away a little disappointed, the memory tainted. This was slightly different since I read the sequel and not the original, but I must say I was slightly disappointed despite still enjoying the book.
At 10 years old Virtual War was mind boggling amazing, at 28 years old its sequel was a little drab. After 18 years of reading science fiction I've been around the block a few times and am rarely boggled. Still this sequel maintained a certain uniqueness, with a jungle set up and a "Good Son" vibe.
The writing style is sparse, which I actually don't mind, plus it is appropriate for the target audience. The pacing is a little off, at times it feels like nothing is happening for pages and then someone will die within the length of a sentence. The world building is a little generic and the dialogue can be stiff at times. This was a simple quick read that made me feel like a kid again, and that's worth something, at least to me.
Part of my 2015 Special 50 Book challenge- A Book from your childhood
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