Marianne R. (sonnen) - , reviewed on 6/26/2010

Helpful Score: 1

Reviews on this book are mixed, to say the least! I initially saw this book in the library and thought, "Wow--what a huge book :-) I'll never be able to finish that in three weeks, or even six," which is a reflection on how little time I have for reading and how much slower I read nowadays. In any event, judging the book by its cover, title, and end flap synopsis, I checked it out, thinking, "Damn! If I like this book, I'm going to have to buy it just to finish reading it!"

So, is it a long book? Yes. Does the author go into great detail describing (pretty much all of) the characters and the events that happen to them? Yes. Did this bother me? No. In fact, this is now one of my favorite books (never mind that I needed six months to finish it--that's how little time I find to read these days, sad but true).

If you want something very unique, if you are into science fiction with a strong human component (as opposed to aliens exclusively) and you truly appreciate expansive character development, then by all means read this book. I particularly enjoyed the author's use of language--this is one of those truly gratifying reading experiences where syntax, vocabulary, descriptions of thoughts and events, is so cerebrally pleasurable, I wish I had one of those "mini-scanners" to "lift" favorite passages and then retain them all as wall quotes (or something . . .).

It is hard not to fall in love with the three main characters, even the one (for me) that was initially the most bothersome; by the end of the story, you will be rooting for these people and you will find yourself wishing you could personally destroy some of the more vitriolic, loathsomely vile villains (whom I still had to appreciate from the author's character development).

If, on the other hand, you are in the market for a "quick read" and require page after page of excitement, I would stay away from this book. Each page of this book is exciting insofar as there is a great deal of action throughout the story, but it is consistently qualified by the author's detail, so, yes, one either loves or does not love this book!

Also, if you have managed to get this far into my review (and are still awake), you may be a candidate for total submersion into the "dream world" that is Dahlquist's mind.

I will be keeping my copy and reading it again.

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