- Mass Market Paperback: 288 pages
- Publisher: Ace; Reissue edition (Jan 24 2002)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 0441008763
- ISBN-13: 978-0441008766
- Product Dimensions: 17.2 x 10.7 x 2.3 cm
- Shipping Weight: 136 g
- Average Customer Review: 2.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (41 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #26,780 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Details |
Product Description
From Amazon
Joe Haldeman plays tag in The Coming, as the narrative is passed from character to character in a seamless, if ultimately disappointing, tale set in 2054. Haldeman, whose honors include the Hugo, Nebula, and John W. Campbell awards, puts Gainesville, Florida, and 20 or so characters under the microscope to study a chain of events in the wake of a local astronomy professor receiving a mysterious message that may be from aliens.
Professor Aurora Bell receives a message from space that simply states, "We're coming." The message appears to be alien, and according to Professor Bell's calculations, the vessel that sent it is headed toward Earth and will arrive in three months. As the local population and the rest of the world begin to examine what a visitation from a superior alien force might mean, speculation looms about whether or not the message is a hoax. The arrival approaches, and Professor Bell and those around her become embroiled in the media circus. The politics and intrigue of the situation take on a life of their own.
Haldeman paints a vivid picture in The Coming of a world on the brink of another world war, where homosexuality is illegal, technology is advanced, and yet, humans really haven't changed that much. The tension in Florida is a microcosm that reflects the larger picture of Earth in trouble. But The Coming doesn't really get interesting until the final third of the book, and even then the ending is disappointing. Every few pages the story moves on to a different character, so most of the them are a bit flat. Haldeman has focused the story so tightly on one city that all the important events take place off stage and the characters have little to do but react. --Kathie Huddleston --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
From Publishers Weekly
Acclaimed Nebula and Hugo award-winner Haldeman delivers a disappointingly weak tale of the turmoil wrought by a message from outer space. Thin on plot, character and suspense, very little about this novel convinces, except details such as the prevalence of Spanish phrases in casual conversation and some techno gizmos. Clear as astronomy Prof. Rory Bell's name, the message "We're coming" is broadcast from only a 10th of a light-year away to mid-21st-century Earth. The message senders will arrive in three short months and will tolerate no attempt to block their "peaceful" landing. While Rory engages in political battles within her university and against the U.S. president's hawkish reaction to possible alien invasion, another, wider-scale battle among the European nations seems destined to launch WWIII. Meanwhile, a local mobster threatens to expose Rory's husband's illegal homosexuality, which would destroy both his and Rory's credibility. Unfortunately, relating the narrative by more than 20 different characters drains any tension from the story and results in disjointed, stalled storytelling. The concluding revelation about the aliens' nature and intentions, threadbare from overuse by other writers, arrives mercifully quickly. (Dec. 11) Forecast: Haldeman's widespread and well-deserved reputation for exciting and thoughtful work plus marketing to his core SF audience will put lots of books on shelves, but fans of the author and newcomers to his work will withhold the positive word of mouth that can help propel titles to major success.
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
Inside This Book
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First Sentence
Reporters. Normally her desk was no neater than it had to be, a comfortable random pile of notes, journals, and books. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt | Back Cover
Reporters. Normally her desk was no neater than it had to be, a comfortable random pile of notes, journals, and books. Read the first page
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Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt | Back Cover
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Customer Reviews
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Most helpful customer reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
1.0 out of 5 stars
Very disappointing,
By A Customer
This review is from: The Coming (Mass Market Paperback)
Haldeman's "The Coming" is going to be a huge disappointment to those in the mood for a science fiction novel. It isn't science fiction. It's a mafia/suspense novel, and a laughably bad one at that.Haldeman rushes through the SF aspects of the story right away. Something's coming from outer space. That out of the way, we get half a dozen or so unconnected plot lines that have nothing to do with "the Coming." Most of the characters are unnecessary and have no bearing on the plot. Was Gabrielle really necessary? Suzy Q? Did these characters have anything to do with the plot? No. Nor, unfortunatly, did most of the main characters. There's a big chunk of the book devoted to one of the character's efforts to divert mafia blackmail, but the solution is far too easy and it's nothing but a side story, again, having nothing to do with the plot. The Coming is a short book, which is good, because it's a total waste of time. It's not a science fiction book, and as a suspense/mafia book, it's laughably weak. This reads like a book an amateur would write, not an author of Haldeman's status.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
2.0 out of 5 stars
Should've been a short story,
By
This review is from: The Coming (Mass Market Paperback)
The Coming takes place later this century in a world wracked by social change. A scientist in Gainesville detects an approaching spaceship, and the news causes some upheaval, though not as much as might be expected. Nothing new, it would seem, but Haldeman keeps the focus almost entirely within Gainesville: very little of the action takes place outside the university town. The novel feels stretched out: it probably would have made a fine short story, but as a novel it left me thinking, "This is it? This is all we get?" Without giving away the ending, it's not a particularly satisfying one. Haldeman doesn't really explain the why of the plot. In fact, the plot feels like just so much baggage while he expounds on a few social themes, like the criminalization of homosexuality and the implications of real traffic control. In the end, Haldeman has many interesting ideas (as always) but it was stretched out far too long. He's a fine author with lots to say - just not here.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Good science thriller,
By A Customer
This review is from: The Coming (Mass Market Paperback)
I won't quite call this 'science fiction' because the typical sci-fi book has more aliens, lasers, and space travel than this book.This book has messages that might be coming from aliens. Not quite sci-fi. But man it's a great thriller. Kind of a science thriller, mixed with a political thriller, mixed with modern character driven fiction. Okay it's an odd mix, but it really works. If you come to the book with an open mind and enjoy the way Haldeman tells the story you will have a really good time. You may have to set asside some assumptions about Haldeman - this is no "Forever War". And thank goodness, that was a great book but who would want to read the same story over and over? I thought this was one of Haldeman's best works. On par with "The Hemmingway Hoax" and far better than "Forever Peace" (yeah, count me in for bagging that one). So I've kind of rambled but I've been up all week studying for finals and this is my idea of a break. What it comes down to is it's a great book if you are willing to mix genres a little. I loved it.
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