The Practice Effect: Amazon.ca: David Brin: Books

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22 Reviews

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(1)

Average Customer Review

3.9 out of 5 stars (22 customer reviews)

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3.0 out of 5 stars Amusing....but not great, Jan 5 2003

By	david lykens "mx998" (port matilda, pa USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: The Practice Effect (Mass Market Paperback)

I found this book to be very entertaining, for half of the book. The first half of the book kept me very entertained. Finding a new world, and explaining it, and how it exists was very good, as were the characters. The second half of the book became irritating to me. Every thing could be fixed with the practice effect, regardless that it was something that rarely had ever happened before in the world that the story takes place in. It became a nice easy way to get the characters out of trouble, and was relied on too much. Was the story entertaining none the less...Yes. I could look past those things I have mentioned, I just did not rate the book very high because of it. I am not going to give the plot away, but several of the characters kept the book amusing. I like to read a story and smile every now and then at cute things that put humor into a book even though a tale is being told, and for that I applaud the author. The book left me with several funny images that still run through my head.

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4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting concept, Dec 28 2002

By	atmj (Rochester, NY USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Practice Effect (Mass Market Paperback)

David Brin's earlier work have the show the same beginning skill as his newer novels. Here once again, he masterfully creates a world for his characters and he delivers this world to you in a way that makes the reading easy.

This novel centers around a physicist caught in the middle of office politics in the university he works in. This is not so much the basis of the story but the setting that the story begins with. At the university this physicist has created a device that enables you to explore other worlds on a different plane of existance. However, some minor problems with the use of this device ensue and the initial inventor of this device, who has been brushed aside due to these politics, has been asked once again to help with it.

Totally unarmed with previous information he is thrust into one of these anomaly worlds with only the idea that the physics in control of this world may be somewhat different. What a beginning!

As the main character Dennis Neul explores this world you understand his observations as all from earth would. However, pulling together his various theories based on Earth rules, don't add up and he is forced to adjust his earlier assumptions.

There is a complication that extends his visit and he is thrust in the middle of some hostilities that are currently dominating this world. He interacts with the locals and begins to understand more of the local customs and rules of physics.

This book is classic Brin. His well thought-out science that is so easily portrayed to the reader is a joy.

You will thoroughly enjoy this book.

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4.0 out of 5 stars Great book...terrible ending, Oct 31 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: The Practice Effect (Mass Market Paperback)

I really liked this book alot. The plot was original and the human themes were compelling...heroism, adventure and achievement through understanding the laws of nature (in this case, those laws being a bit different, than usual). I would have given this book 5 stars if the author had left off 10-15 pages before the end, where he cheapens and weakens his efforts by attempting to explain, "The Practice Effect" as an artificially induced phenomena. Also, there is a lead in for a sequel that never happened...

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Most recent customer reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful lighthearted fun
Drama critics have long known that comedy is harder to direct and to perform than tragedy. The same goes for literature: being even slightly off the mark is all that it takes to... Read more

Published on May 27 2002 by Richard A. Lovett

1.0 out of 5 stars I really hated this book
Apparently lots of people like this book judging from the other reviews below, but I found it incredibly shallow and tedious. Read more

Published on April 29 2002 by W. A. Norris

3.0 out of 5 stars Immature, but amusing
This is certainly not Brin's best novel, and he clearly still had a lot to learn in his craft when he wrote it. Read more

Published on Mar 24 2002 by microtherion

5.0 out of 5 stars A delightful contrast
I have all of Brin's books, but the one that finds itself back into my mind time after time is The Practice Effect. Read more

Published on Aug 21 2001 by trey fallon