Only the last quarter of the book and the writing made me give this book 3 stars. I have liked some of the newer dystopian novels like The Hunger GameOnly the last quarter of the book and the writing made me give this book 3 stars. I have liked some of the newer dystopian novels like The Hunger Games and Divergent and I know they were really YA, this is definitely not. Although some scenes were right out of The Hunger Games, and there were parallels to both the previously mentioned books, this was more epic in nature, grittier, brutal, difficult. Violence and waging war in a battle for supremacy ala Game of Thrones, yet they were students in an Institute sorted into Houses (can you say Harry Potter?) set against each other for a a capture the flag type game. People will get hurt, but aren't supposed to be intentionally killed. There is cheating and favoritism. Sometimes the main motivation for the MC is lost in the Institute's game which is the bulk of the book.
Darrow is living in a universe and world that has a caste system, he is of the lowest caste the Reds, who mine and toil the planet Mars for ultimate colonization. He is "saved" by a mysterious organization who opens his eyes to the reality that a full civilization already exists and the Reds are utilized unknowingly as slaves. He has been chosen to try to infiltrate the top of the caste system, the GOLDS, and plant the seeds of rebellion or make ripe the opportunity for a rebellion. This is his story.
In the universe's vernacular, Too bloody & gorydamn for me. I didn't warm up to many of the characters until almost the end. Although I rooted for Darrow, he was not my favorite character nor did I really like him, I had sympathy for him. I'm not compelled to read on the rest of the series. The most interesting parts for me were the various strategies utilized in their battles/war and how Darrow reinvents his leadership style to gain and keep allies. ...more
This was not what I expected. I suspected something ala Carrie, but this was more akin to thriller with a little sci-fi; if you think psychic abilitieThis was not what I expected. I suspected something ala Carrie, but this was more akin to thriller with a little sci-fi; if you think psychic abilities fall in that category; AND horror as in being manipulated by a shadow government agency.
Andy McGee , college student, needs money & is talked into being part of an experiment. An unnamed drug is injected in the students, not everything goes well for those in the experimental group and the program is set aside. but it is a red flag for things to come. Andy meets another student in the group, Vicky and they eventually get married and settle down to a normal life even though they both have developed some psychic abilities. Although the experimental program was shelved, people who were in the experimental group are surveilled long after the program was shut down. Andy & Vicky have a child (Charlie) and she develops a doozy of an ability - the ability to start fires with her mind. Now the government wants to study her. Andy's wife is tortured & killed and now Andy & Charlie are on the run and the thrill ride is on....more
Definitely lives up to the hype with a MC that I could root for. Among many things the novel asks the question: If you had a chance to live a differenDefinitely lives up to the hype with a MC that I could root for. Among many things the novel asks the question: If you had a chance to live a different version of your life, would you? The path(s) not taken. Crouch wraps up this conundrum with some quantum mechanics, string theory, & the unanswerable question of the true nature of the universe, but it all just adds to the sense of wonder. Truly!!! No geekiness required. The deep questions are not centered in a piece of literature but a rock & rolling ride of a thriller that keeps one guessing, and indeed there is more than one twist to this mind-bending thrill ride! And I am going to leave it at that!...more
MacGyver in space, on steroids!!!! Mark Whatley is pretty amazing. He is stranded on Mars and is able to keep his morale fairly high, stays busy tryinMacGyver in space, on steroids!!!! Mark Whatley is pretty amazing. He is stranded on Mars and is able to keep his morale fairly high, stays busy trying to stay alive, his brain engaged & problem-solving from beginning to end. There is a lot of tech-speak, but interspersed with Mark's sarcastic humor it is bearable for us non-engineers. Although the focus of the story is on Mark, there are some other characters that that come into play and are very important in their efforts to try to rescue Mark once they know he is alive. Great story!!...more
A slow & confusing start but as things coalesced, I found the story interesting and the latter half was a pretty good thriller. Kids and teens are assA slow & confusing start but as things coalesced, I found the story interesting and the latter half was a pretty good thriller. Kids and teens are assessed & identified for a special school that teaches the science of persuasion with the use of words ( not necessarily intelligible) to unlock areas of the brain so the individual can be controlled. A horrible event has occurred and the narrative moves from the retrospective to action in current time. The main characters are Emily Ruff who goes through the program and a character identified as Wil who apparently is immune to the use of the taught persuasive tools. People are out to get Wil, who is "good" & who is "evil" and what they want him for is part of the mystery, along with how their stories intersect with the EVENT....more
The last half of the book is a page-turner! A group of scientists are brought together to investigate a "crash" site in the middle of the South PacifiThe last half of the book is a page-turner! A group of scientists are brought together to investigate a "crash" site in the middle of the South Pacific at the bottom of the ocean. Their exploration yields an astonishing discovery and unleashes an unknown power. They are isolated in the depths of the ocean as a typhoon rages overhead. Strange occurrences place their lives in danger. Can they discover the truth before it's too late?
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