- Hardcover: 272 pages
- Publisher: Wildside Press (September 2002)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 1587157004
- ISBN-13: 978-1587157004
- Product Dimensions: 23.5 x 16.2 x 2.3 cm
- Shipping Weight: 630 g
- Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
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Product Details |
Product Description
From Publishers Weekly
Set in a near-future America where outer-space aliens are just another fact of life, Easton's (Alien Resonance) latest SF novel wanders uneasily between satire and seriousness. Several decades earlier, six starships, each bearing a different alien race, showed up in the skies of Earth. In the years since, the aliens have basically played tourist, buying our technology and consumer goods, auditing university classes, but giving humanity little in return. Anthropologist Gabriel Croxford has never had anything to do with the visitors from outer space, so he's somewhat taken aback when two different aliens offer him large grants to pursue seemingly innocuous research projects. He's even more upset when the alien whose offer he's turned down apparently firebombs his office and then kidnaps his teaching assistant. To make matters worse, Croxford's wife, who has been delving into repressed memories of early childhood sexual abuse, suddenly decides that she's been raped by aliens. Then, when Croxford asks for evidence, she demands a divorce. Badgering by both traditional flying saucer fanatics and, worst of all, tabloid journalists, is the last straw for our hero. Though Easton's variation on the traditional "aliens among us" theme shows some originality, a rather ruminative and detached protagonist, flat secondary characters and less-than-compelling aliens don't make for much excitement. The abrupt ending leaves little decided or explained.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.
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Most helpful customer reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Strikes a personal chord,
By A Customer
This review is from: The Great Flying Saucer Conspiracy (Hardcover)
While the conspiracy of the title is, of course, the main theme of the book, I found the personal life of the main character most absobing and even a bit disturbing. Gabe, an Anthropology professor, faces his wife leaving him, making accusations of abuse and assault, possibly fueled by her therapist's leading questions. In the face of such tragedy, he aquires an embarrasment of riches, three women wanting to heal his wounds, a huge grant to think interesting thoughts about similarities between human and aliens and talk about them, and university administrators pleased at the attention he is generating. Then his troubles multiply, fire bombs, computer viruses, and kidnapping to name a few. Through it all, the wife keeps coming back, refusing to be shut out, refusing to get on with her own life, and refusing to let him get on with his. This strikes such a personal chord that I kept putting the book down to digest the emotion of the scene.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Another wonderful unique story by Tom Easton.,
By Kate Savage (Dedham, MA United States) - See all my reviews
This review is from: The Great Flying Saucer Conspiracy (Hardcover)
How often are seminal ideas discovered? Are they discovered at a constant rate? This is one of **two** mysteries Tom Easton manages to weave skillfully into "The Great Flying Saucer Conspiracy". The characters are interesting and very human. The story moves along at a nice clip and is immensely entertaining. I would be dog tired at the end of the day but would struggle to read "just one more page" . Fresh and original also come to mind, which is no small feat in a field full of original thinkers. I like the decidedly cockeyed humor in the story. The aliens are neat. I would heartily recommend this to anyone who likes stories that strike a nice balance between lightness and thoughtfulness. On a side note, it was decidedly odd to hear the recent news stories about the remote control rats being developed for search and rescue work. Back in 1990 Professor Easton published another book I read called "Sparrow Hawk". In it he envisioned animals being genetically engineered organic machines used to replace the internal combustion engines that are destroying our environment. At the time I remember thinking, "Nice idea but way too far out there!" The Robo Rat in combination with some of the odd things being engineered, like the mouse with an ear on its back, make this all seem less far fetched. I would keep eye an eye on this guy!
Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta) Amazon.com:
5.0 out of 5 stars (2 customer reviews) 1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Strikes a personal chord,
By A Customer - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: The Great Flying Saucer Conspiracy (Hardcover)
While the conspiracy of the title is, of course, the main theme of the book, I found the personal life of the main character most absobing and even a bit disturbing. Gabe, an Anthropology professor, faces his wife leaving him, making accusations of abuse and assault, possibly fueled by her therapist's leading questions. In the face of such tragedy, he aquires an embarrasment of riches, three women wanting to heal his wounds, a huge grant to think interesting thoughts about similarities between human and aliens and talk about them, and university administrators pleased at the attention he is generating. Then his troubles multiply, fire bombs, computer viruses, and kidnapping to name a few. Through it all, the wife keeps coming back, refusing to be shut out, refusing to get on with her own life, and refusing to let him get on with his. This strikes such a personal chord that I kept putting the book down to digest the emotion of the scene.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Another wonderful unique story by Tom Easton.,
By Kate Savage - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: The Great Flying Saucer Conspiracy (Hardcover)
How often are seminal ideas discovered? Are they discovered at a constant rate? This is one of **two** mysteries Tom Easton manages to weave skillfully into "The Great Flying Saucer Conspiracy". The characters are interesting and very human. The story moves along at a nice clip and is immensely entertaining. I would be dog tired at the end of the day but would struggle to read "just one more page" . Fresh and original also come to mind, which is no small feat in a field full of original thinkers. I like the decidedly cockeyed humor in the story. The aliens are neat. I would heartily recommend this to anyone who likes stories that strike a nice balance between lightness and thoughtfulness. On a side note, it was decidedly odd to hear the recent news stories about the remote control rats being developed for search and rescue work. Back in 1990 Professor Easton published another book I read called "Sparrow Hawk". In it he envisioned animals being genetically engineered organic machines used to replace the internal combustion engines that are destroying our environment. At the time I remember thinking, "Nice idea but way too far out there!" The Robo Rat in combination with some of the odd things being engineered, like the mouse with an ear on its back, make this all seem less far fetched. I would keep eye an eye on this guy! |
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