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Title: Trapped by James Alan Gardner ISBN: 0-380-81330-0 Publisher: Eos Pub. Date: 01 October, 2002 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $6.99 |
Average Customer Rating: 3.88 (8 reviews)
Rating: 3
Summary: Fun, fast-moving, not quite convincing, science fantasy
Comment: Trapped is James Alan Gardner's sixth novel. All are set in a future (about 500 years from now) dominated by the League of Peoples. Humans have a number of colonies, but only "sentient" humans (non-murderers) can travel to other stars. Earth itself is ruled by the "Spark Lords", humans who have been given considerable tech by aliens in exchange for keeping tabs on the remaining humans on the planet. The aliens have also seeded Earth with nanotech that can be used by some people in ways that closely mimic traditional magic. The upshot of this setup is that Earth is a nice setting for quasi-fantastical adventures.
The hero of the book is Phil, a science teacher at a college in Feliss (roughly Ontario). When one of his students dies, he and several of his friends find themselves on a magical quest, to track down the murderer of the student and to save another student who has special powers. They also hope to give their lives some meaning.
The story is fun, often funny, often clever, and quite full of action and adventure. On that level it is well worth reading, and I enjoyed it. But it is also burdened by the overly convenient way in which the author seems to arrange for just the right powers to be available at just the right time, and the overly convenient way in which various folks' motivations dovetail with the needs of the story at the right time. That is, it's a pretty fun book, and a nice fast-moving read, but it is not at all convincing. This isn't his best work, but it's not bad. Gardner's novels as a group are well worth seeking out. They are full of decent adventure, cute SFnal ideas, and plenty of humour.
Rating: 4
Summary: It sparkles
Comment: "Trapped" will likely ensnare you for a few happy hours. An Arthurian fantasy overlaid with wild speculations about the possibilities of nanotech, and with a cast of characters who are affiliated with what resembles a third-rate British boarding school, James Alan Gardner's book takes a look at a future in which 'old tech' no longer works (electricity is a museumpiece; lightbulbs are made by hand), and the Earth is under the supervision of the 'League of Peoples' and their enforcers 'The Spark Lords.'
The party--led by the narrator, Philemon--goes off on a quest to solve a murder mystery (as much out of boredom with their lives as any sense of duty), and runs into a buzz saw.
Sometimes touching, often funny, and with sparkling prose, Mr. Gardner provides a surprise turn in just about every chapter--and you'll very likely keep turning the pages eagerly.
A fine effort
Rating: 5
Summary: Not My Father's SF
Comment: James Alan Gardener has become one of my favorite Fantasy authors. Engaging characters, cool aliens, interesting situations, and knowing plots kept me 100% into this one.
Though there are no explorers in this one, there is a lot of fun in this book.
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Title: Hunted by James Alan Gardner ISBN: 0380802090 Publisher: Eos Pub. Date: 01 July, 2000 List Price(USD): $6.99 |
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Title: Ascending by James Alan Gardner ISBN: 0380813297 Publisher: Eos Pub. Date: 30 October, 2001 List Price(USD): $6.99 |
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Title: Vigilant by James Alan Gardner ISBN: 0380802082 Publisher: Eos Pub. Date: 01 March, 1999 List Price(USD): $6.99 |
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Title: Commitment Hour by James Alan Gardner ISBN: 0380798271 Publisher: Eos Pub. Date: 01 April, 1998 List Price(USD): $6.99 |
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Title: Expendable by James Alan Gardner ISBN: 038079439X Publisher: Eos Pub. Date: 01 May, 1999 List Price(USD): $6.99 |
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