Ben Saufley
Coming up with an engaging premise is only part of writing a book, and while it's not easy, it's certainly the easiest part. I thought this book was pretty interesting and asked a lot of interesting questions right up until it became clear that it would hand-wave them all away in the resolution. By that point, a lot of the flaws of the book – the constant, clichéd "in English, please?" between scientists; the cartoonish villain; the less-educated style of speech of a supposedly brilliant protagonist (plausible, sure, but just one more thing) – went from things I'd forgive for an interesting premise to signs that it was never going to wrap up the way I'd hoped. Disappointing, in the end.
Coming up with an engaging premise is only part of writing a book, and while it's not easy, it's certainly the easiest part. I thought this book was pretty interesting and asked a lot of interesting questions right up until it became clear that it would hand-wave them all away in the resolution. By that point, a lot of the flaws of the book – the constant, clichéd "in English, please?" between scientists; the cartoonish villain; the less-educated style of speech of a supposedly brilliant protagonist (plausible, sure, but just one more thing) – went from things I'd forgive for an interesting premise to signs that it was never going to wrap up the way I'd hoped. Disappointing, in the end.