jkusters's review against another edition
4.0
I've been a fan of the "Jon and Lobo" books since finding the first one. As others have said, this one wasn't as action-packed as others in the series, but it does dive much more deeply into Jon's background, and explores what drives Jon the way that he's driven. It doesn't give all the answers, but the way in which his background parallels the story of the child soldiers in the book was very illuminating. If you've been following the series for a while, this is a must-read. But if you're new to the series, go back and start at book one. This books presumes you know enough of the background of the setting, and probably won't make as much sense without that grounding.
pjonsson's review
2.0
This book was certainly not the best one in the series. I still classifies as okay (barely) as far as I am concerned but I did indeed hope for something better.
As with the other ones in the series, the book is well written. The dialog (bickering) between Jon and Lobo can be quite entertaining although sometimes a wee bit tiring. It could have been a really good book.
Unfortunately it suffers, at least from my point of view, from the same fault as the previous books. Jon have these powerful nano-machines in his body and he never really gets around to use them. The book just talks about them and constantly harps about how he does not wont anyone to know about them.
The same goes for Lobo. One of the most powerful and sophisticated combat machines around but all he ever does is sit around doing surveillance work, argues with Jon and talks about how sophisticated he is but he never gets around to fire his weapons even once.
In addition most of this book is spent in a captured camp where the story circles about the captured children with some occasional visits buy the bad guy senator. Apart from the initial capture of the camp itself it is not until the very end of the book that something really happens.
Unfortunately the end is somewhat disappointing as well in that the senator which have been worked up as the really nasty bad guy actually gets to walk away. Sure, there’s some hints that Jake, Jon’s con-artist friend, will take him to the cleaners but I was really hoping to read about this guy getting taken down.
Thus, I rate this book as just okay…barely.
As with the other ones in the series, the book is well written. The dialog (bickering) between Jon and Lobo can be quite entertaining although sometimes a wee bit tiring. It could have been a really good book.
Unfortunately it suffers, at least from my point of view, from the same fault as the previous books. Jon have these powerful nano-machines in his body and he never really gets around to use them. The book just talks about them and constantly harps about how he does not wont anyone to know about them.
The same goes for Lobo. One of the most powerful and sophisticated combat machines around but all he ever does is sit around doing surveillance work, argues with Jon and talks about how sophisticated he is but he never gets around to fire his weapons even once.
In addition most of this book is spent in a captured camp where the story circles about the captured children with some occasional visits buy the bad guy senator. Apart from the initial capture of the camp itself it is not until the very end of the book that something really happens.
Unfortunately the end is somewhat disappointing as well in that the senator which have been worked up as the really nasty bad guy actually gets to walk away. Sure, there’s some hints that Jake, Jon’s con-artist friend, will take him to the cleaners but I was really hoping to read about this guy getting taken down.
Thus, I rate this book as just okay…barely.
vidholf's review against another edition
5.0
Mark Van Name's Children No More is a hard, heavy book. I'm not sure I can recommend it enough. It's one of those books that makes me re-think things and stay in touch--deeply in touch--with how I feel. I'm not sure, just now, if I'll ever be able to fully say why I like it so much, why it moves me as it does, but here's a stab at that. I hope you pick it up and give it a read, and I hope you find it moves you to a depth worthy of taking the trip.
I say the book is hard and heavy because that's how I experience the emotional impact of the story. Van Name pulls few punches in the beginning and the end of the book. He doesn't shy from the awful truth even when he does spare the reader some of the horrors of what child soldiers face and what other survivors, in other contexts, struggle to cope with. I picked up Children No More because I found out just enough about it, and about Mark's personal connection to the book, to be drawn to it. I kept reading because his writing is both honest and compassionate, facing down trauma with the committment to do the right thing, to remain human in spite of inhumanity.
This is the fourth novel in Van Name's Jon & Lobo series, but the first of his books that I've read. I'm looking forward to reading the earlier books because Children No More gives you a prequel-style look at Jon's past, why he is the way he is, while telling a story set after the first three books. It's going to be fun to read how he got to this part of his life, all while knowing where his story started. You get hints of those earlier novels here and there, and a few characters from them reappear. But Van Name gives you just enough info to understand those characters, and those past stories, without needing to have read the earlier book--and without giving away what happened.
I find myself not wanting to summarize the story arc - not just to avoid spoilers, but because what kept me reading was the emotional story within the events. What held me to the page - especially during the last half of the book - was the uncertainty of how Jon, the main character, would handle the situations he was in. The plot of the story is good, serving up developments that the reader expects while offering a few well-considered surprises. But the heart of the story is Jon's heart: why he decides to do what he does, how he feels about it, and how his choices influence his relationships with those around him, both past and present.
In structure, the story is two inter-related stories. The prequel characteristic comes through via memories from his childhood, well over 100 years from the present in Jon's life. Most of the story is focused on current events, but Jon's memories haunt him. Reading the memories, you gradually understand, and anticipate, the bind he will be in as present events unfold. As the book nears the end, the two stories become intertwined in Jon's mind, clearly showing how his past influences his present--and how his present can influence his past.
Children No More is a joy to read--if one is willing to understand "joy" in a weighty and profound way. Van Name brings Jon through a crisis that touches raw nerves and ressurrects memories Jon would rather be free of. That crisis, and Jon's response to it, will hold your attention, I believe. And the ending delivers on the promise of the story, though I won't say how in this review.
If you like science fiction, tortured heroes, or a really good read, go get this book and read it. Better yet, if you like a story that has real emotional impact, makes you think about your own choices, and leaves you feeling changed, not wanting the catharsis to end, then go buy it and read it. And recommend it to your friends.
I say the book is hard and heavy because that's how I experience the emotional impact of the story. Van Name pulls few punches in the beginning and the end of the book. He doesn't shy from the awful truth even when he does spare the reader some of the horrors of what child soldiers face and what other survivors, in other contexts, struggle to cope with. I picked up Children No More because I found out just enough about it, and about Mark's personal connection to the book, to be drawn to it. I kept reading because his writing is both honest and compassionate, facing down trauma with the committment to do the right thing, to remain human in spite of inhumanity.
This is the fourth novel in Van Name's Jon & Lobo series, but the first of his books that I've read. I'm looking forward to reading the earlier books because Children No More gives you a prequel-style look at Jon's past, why he is the way he is, while telling a story set after the first three books. It's going to be fun to read how he got to this part of his life, all while knowing where his story started. You get hints of those earlier novels here and there, and a few characters from them reappear. But Van Name gives you just enough info to understand those characters, and those past stories, without needing to have read the earlier book--and without giving away what happened.
I find myself not wanting to summarize the story arc - not just to avoid spoilers, but because what kept me reading was the emotional story within the events. What held me to the page - especially during the last half of the book - was the uncertainty of how Jon, the main character, would handle the situations he was in. The plot of the story is good, serving up developments that the reader expects while offering a few well-considered surprises. But the heart of the story is Jon's heart: why he decides to do what he does, how he feels about it, and how his choices influence his relationships with those around him, both past and present.
In structure, the story is two inter-related stories. The prequel characteristic comes through via memories from his childhood, well over 100 years from the present in Jon's life. Most of the story is focused on current events, but Jon's memories haunt him. Reading the memories, you gradually understand, and anticipate, the bind he will be in as present events unfold. As the book nears the end, the two stories become intertwined in Jon's mind, clearly showing how his past influences his present--and how his present can influence his past.
Children No More is a joy to read--if one is willing to understand "joy" in a weighty and profound way. Van Name brings Jon through a crisis that touches raw nerves and ressurrects memories Jon would rather be free of. That crisis, and Jon's response to it, will hold your attention, I believe. And the ending delivers on the promise of the story, though I won't say how in this review.
If you like science fiction, tortured heroes, or a really good read, go get this book and read it. Better yet, if you like a story that has real emotional impact, makes you think about your own choices, and leaves you feeling changed, not wanting the catharsis to end, then go buy it and read it. And recommend it to your friends.
jmoses's review
3.0
I read this pretty much right after I watched "Beasts of No Nation" so it was extra topical. They make a good pair.
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