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Title: A Signal Shattered by Eric S. Nylund ISBN: 0-380-79294-X Publisher: Eos Pub. Date: 01 August, 2000 Format: Mass Market Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $7.50 |
Average Customer Rating: 3.9 (21 reviews)
Rating: 5
Summary: Insanely great!
Comment: I found this book to be one of the best I read by Eric. Great sequel to the first 'Signal to Noise.' The first time I read 'Signal to Noise' I wanted more when I finished it. There was no disapointment in 'A Signal Shattered.' I seriously recommend getting both books.
Rating: 4
Summary: Chemistry, physics, metaphor, with a bit of zen thrown in.
Comment: I think the first thing that you must know about this book is that you should really read the book that came before it, Signal to Noise, also by Eric S. Nylund. Without the backstory, I think that this complex book would become even more confusing, and the first book was a good read on its own.
This book starts with all of humanity reduced to a handful of refugees scattered across space (I did say you should read the first book first, didn't I?). The catalyst who brought about the end of the world is Jack Potter, mathematician, cryptographer, and middle-man. And it is now up to Jack to save what remains of the human race. As if this task wasn't daunting enough, Jack must do this while battling such trifiling details as lack of oxygen, planets with insufficient rotational power to be of use (you'll see), two former best friends who seem to want him dead, a bizarre neurological disorder attacking everyone he knows, one or more fellow refugees who seem to want him dead, and oh yeah, at least one exceedingly power alien who wants him dead... or enslaved.
If you're going to read this book, be prepared to give it a careful read. It's certainly a worthwhile novel, but it demands attention otherwise details will slip by that will prove to be important later. The central theme of metaphor and illusion can make the story confusing and chaotic at times, though I believe that is the intent, and it reflects character turmoil well. I'm not entirely sure how I feel about the ending, but that is something that you'll have to learn about and decide for yourselves.
Rating: 2
Summary: Nothing to see here
Comment: "A Signal Shattered" isn't very good. The story rotates (har har) around a group of scientists and international men of mystery stranded on the moon after a nasty alien named Wheeler destroys the Earth and kills most of the human race. They spend their time hunting for new sources of oxygen and working on new whatsits. If any of them feels lost, guilty, or afraid after the near-extermination of their species, they keep it well hidden. Indeed, characterization is the weakest point in this book. Other than protagonist Jack Potter, there's zero depth. For instance, sidekick Kamal is your comic-strip stereotype of a Buddhist, offering up platitudes and metaphors while apparently having no thoughts or feelings of his own.
True to its word, the plot does move pretty quickly, and you never have to wait too long for something to happen. However, that's about the only positive thing I can find to say about this book. As always, computer whizzes clash in a virtual world where elaborate action sequences are presented for our benefit. However, "A Signal Shattered" never comes close to matching the intensity of greats like "Neuromancer" or "Hyperion". There's also the problem that you can shoot Nylund's characters, stab them, poison them, blow them up, and apply weird genetic tricks to them, but they simply won't die. This removes much of the suspense. Jack's hunches also undermine the book's intrigues. He gets a hunch about what almost every character is up to, and they always prove correct. Well I've got a hunch that I won't be reading any more of Nylund's books any time soon.
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Title: Altered Carbon by Richard Morgan ISBN: 0345457684 Publisher: Del Rey Pub. Date: 04 March, 2003 List Price(USD): $13.95 |
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Title: Quicksilver (The Baroque Cycle, Vol. 1) by Neal Stephenson ISBN: 0380977427 Publisher: William Morrow Pub. Date: 23 September, 2003 List Price(USD): $27.95 |
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Title: Pattern Recognition by William Gibson ISBN: 0399149864 Publisher: Putnam Pub Group Pub. Date: 03 February, 2003 List Price(USD): $25.95 |
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Title: First Strike (Halo) by ERIC NYLUND ISBN: 0345467817 Publisher: Del Rey Pub. Date: 02 December, 2003 List Price(USD): $6.99 |
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Title: Crimson Skies by Eric S. Nylund, Mike Lee, Eric S. Trautmann, Nancy Berman ISBN: 0345458745 Publisher: Del Rey Pub. Date: 01 October, 2002 List Price(USD): $6.99 |
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