- Hardcover: 316 pages
- Publisher: Tor Books (May 29 1997)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 0312854730
- ISBN-13: 978-0312854737
- Product Dimensions: 20.8 x 14.5 x 2.5 cm
- Shipping Weight: 499 g
- Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #959,372 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Details |
Product Description
From Amazon
A suspenseful example of an emerging subgenre, the homage to Heinlein's young adult fiction, this novel will satisfy readers of all ages. Eighteen-year-old Charlie Newell has inherited a ranch from Uncle Max, who is missing, presumed dead. Hidden behind a pile of old hay in the barn is a tunnel that doesn't lead to the airstrip but to a pristine, uninhabited parallel Texas stocked with extinct megafauna. Charlie recruits four friends to help him exploit the wild side of his ranch, but the project becomes wilder than they expect, and they find themselves in danger not from saber-toothed tigers, but from their fellow Americans.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
From Publishers Weekly
With adept storytelling, Gould, in his second novel (after the well-received Jumper, 1993), weaves the tale of Charles Newell, who discovers a gateway on his late uncle's farmland that leads to a "parallel" earth that is an ecological paradise of extinct species and lands unmarred by human presence. Charlie, who narrates, captures some passenger pigeons that he sells to major zoos and conservancy groups for a small fortune intended as seed capital for his master plan: to drill the alternate earth for its untouched gold. To help in this venture, Charlie reveals his secret to four of his friends, recent high-school graduates all. Working together, the five learn to pilot planes; but in time, their alliance and friendships are tested. The stakes become increasingly higher as well, climaxing in the arrival of government operatives. Ultimately, the financial considerations of the gateway prove no more important to Charlie or his pals than ecological and familial concerns. Adolescent readers will identify with the young heroes and heroines here, while older ones will be charmed by a yarn in which even the evil characters are intelligent and clever. Several loose ends cry to be tied up in a sequel; hopefully, Gould will oblige.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Inside This Book
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First Sentence
Clara drove a motorcycle. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt | Back Cover
Clara drove a motorcycle. Read the first page
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Concordance
Browse Sample PagesConcordance
Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt | Back Cover
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Customer Reviews
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Most helpful customer reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
wonderful novel,
By A Customer
This review is from: Wildside (Mass Market Paperback)
I loved this book, I mean normaly when people write about alternate universes and stuff like that, I have no idea what the heck they are talking about because they don't describe it at all. But Steven Gould has written a wonderful, fast paced, UNDERSTANDABLE novel and the descriptions blend perfectly with the plot. This book has it all: sci-fi, action, romance, and thrills. It is beautifuly wriiten and well described, and maybe not entirely bealievable but what the heck, right? The charac ters in this story were very well detailed, but not so much as that it slows down the plot with useless descriptions. All in all this was a great book and you should read it. Oh, by the way if you liked Jumper, (another book by Steven Gould) Steven Gould is writing a sequal to it called Reflex and it will be released Nov. 1, 2004.
3.0 out of 5 stars
THOROUGHLY ENJOYABLE,
By
This review is from: Wildside (Mass Market Paperback)
Charlie and his small group of friends have a secret. In the barn on a farm left to him by his missing and presumed dead uncle is a very special door, a door to another earth, the Wildside. An earth where man never evolved! So what would a group of teenagers do with such a secret? Why go for the gold naturally! After all no there are no men, therefore there's all the gold in them thar hills just waiting to be scooped up. The problem is they're in Texas and the gold is in California so what do you do? Simple, fly!Wildside is a fun story, although not very believable (forget about the inter-dimensional travel how about two kids, 18 years old, getting certified as airplane mechanics is less that 4 weeks!) But does it have to be believable to a good, enjoyable read? I don't think so. Quell your stunned disbelief and let the story take you for a ride. It is a relatively unique plot with strong, well-developed characters. Explore with them a Texas without man and root for them against a government willing to do just about anything to get the secret of Wildside. It's one that I have read more than once and have enjoyed it every time. For certain I RECOMMEND it for anyone looking for a relatively quick, uncomplicated but thoroughly enjoyable read.
4.0 out of 5 stars
Smart Fantasy !,
By R.Parklane (Tokyo, Japan) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Wildside (Mass Market Paperback)
This is an intelligently written fantasy with an innovative plot. The characters are well developed and the interplay among them enough to keep me interested in their own stories minus the fantasy aspects. The narrator is a likable hero and come through smarter than his age. The only complaint I have is too much descriptive technical jargon which tends to slow down the pace of the story. A few times I just skiped how a certain object is built or how a plane is flew! More effort could have been invested in the wildside itself and the characters. A pity!
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