Customer Reviews

Design for Great-Day

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I hesitated a long time before buying this book, doubting that it could add anything to the great short story by Eric Frank Russel it was based on. Eventually I decided to buy it anyway because I loved the short story so very much and in years of searching had not been able to get a copy of the original which I had borrowed from a friend.

Though all elements of the orginal story where there, what I feared was proven right, the extension from short story to novel became boring. The lengthening of the story without really adding anything to it made it awkward rather than captivating and in the end I paged to the latter fourth of the book, no longer able to finish it.

The sad thing about it all is that it's not a bad story, just one that does not manage to capture the grandeur of the original. My advice: If you read the orginal story, don't read this one, try to get hold of one of the `flinx' books instead which are far more worthwhile.

*grin*....well, don't be deluded by the wonderful synonpsis.

i picked this novel, attracted by the bluburb on its back. but it proved to be a disappointment. supposedly, we have a tale of james lawson who is sent to singlehandedly stop an intergalactic war. but the novel turned out to be quite unlike the space sci-fi adventure i was expecting.

the first half of the story is written from a third person viewpoint so i felt very removed from the james lawson character. the next half, an abrupt shift occurs in the story and we start getting to know the characters better.

this seems to me to be a book full of great ideas but poorly written. perhaps the fault of the collaboration.
try this book if you really wish, and with lower expectations, this tale can be better enjoyed.

Riveting from the first page. Top read, Alan Dean Foster at his finest. Read half of the book in one day, couldn't put it down. Will there be a follow up? I hope so.

The title says it all, really. It's definitely not a Foster book; it's an _Eric_Frank_Russell_ book. Russell was a great read back when he was first published, and it's great to see it expanded! Think space-opera-ish when you read this. Also remember that while some of the ideas may seem cliched, odds are that Russell is the one who created them the first time. A very (sardonic is a good word) hero, one man against a bureaucracy.

A true joy to read, but please remember that Alan only added on to Eric's story. If you like Alan's ideas, rather than his style, you'll love it. If you like this, please scour used bookstores for any of Russell's others; Alan Dean Foster and Jack L. Chalker managed to get several reprinted in the 80's. All are great.

I have been a avid fan of Foster's older works and bought this book despite the poor reviews posted here. I wish I would have paid attention to them. Try any of Foster's books published before 1995 instead of this one.

The story covers what sorts of things might happen when different cultures, er "species", encounter each other. War, obviously, is one possible result. The really interesting aspect that Foster delves into is fanatical narrow-mindedness. The antags in this story can't really see how to make use of their resources to prosper. The protags very much can, and do. Also, the protags are very open-minded - in more ways than one. Plus they are quite intelligent and quite well-equiped to deal with intergalactic relations. Prosperity in this book, doesn't come from power or wealth but in a state of mind, a noble pursuit, and the willingness and ability to communicate and cogitate.

The plot is very upbeat and yet at the same time not without its share of suspense. The characters are interesting and likeable.

Slightly entertaining, but the plot is old and weak. There are no surprises here. This novel a real bomb, and is not worth the time it takes to read.

I found the protagonist to be unappealing, justifying his interference in the affairs of others as 'might makes right'. Nice, bland, warm, fuzzy, universe, not up to Mr. Fosters better works.

I have enjoyed Alan Dean Foster since first discovering his Spellinger and Flinx series' and make it a point to look up any recent arrivals in the bookstore with his name on it.

Here he depicts our future, or rather his desire for what our future SHOULD become. He takes a page from the American Foriegn Policy playbook concerning the policing of lesser developed countries and looks ahead to the far distant future and applies it there.

We are no longer squabbling amongst ourselves, but are policing is just the same. Instead now, we are members of a great "Solarian" Galactic consciousness and we now police the lesser developed Galaxies. Its a fun read, and the main character (James Lawson) is a delight to see in action. If you are a foster fan, I recommend it highly.