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jhoffmann's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75
jobatkin's review against another edition
2.0
Picked this up because I love the Ender series so much, but was mostly disappointed. The author says he was inspired by a screenplay based on a short story by Orson Scott Card, so it's not technically by the same author, and they really have nothing in common. The book itself wasn't too bad, with an action-packed story that made for quick and easy reading, but it didn't have any of the same depth or thoughtfulness that I was looking for. The story revolves around a fairly unbelievable tale of a mad scientist using viruses to mutate genes and some unlikely medical, military and homeless heroes who save the day. I didn't hate it but certainly didn't love it either.
kghdodge's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.75
craftingrama's review against another edition
3.0
I don't know I can't make up my mind if I liked it or not, it was ok ... different but am glad I got it from the library and didn't pay for it
iggymcmuffin's review against another edition
1.0
This story was terrible. First off the characters were wooden, the motivations were transparent and predictable, the love story that was forcibly inserted into it was insipid. The story betrays Card's lack of knowledge on everything from policy procedure to medical ethics to research to biology. It was absolutely inane. It wasn't even particularly well written, with many of his fictional acronyms for non-existent government organizations either never been explained or being explained three chapters after they were first introduced. Very poor editing.
An example of what's wrong with this story: The protagonist (the good guy... the super doctor... the virologist) goes ahead and shoots an experimental drug into a human subject on orders from a superior without even batting an eye, even though it's never once before been given to a human before. Can anyone else say unethical?
Another example: Two agents go off into the woods following a blood trail to an abandoned nursing home. They decide that it's a waste of resources to tell anyone that they're out here on their own and don't call it in. Worse once inside the separate. Predictable they are captured. Can anyone else say stupid?
Another example: Card at one point goes off on a moment of explanation of what DNA is and how it works, but his explanation is greatly over simplified and in at least one case down right wrong. He betrays a junior high level biology knowledge, which is jarring and makes me think he never should have written this book in the first place.
Had this been targeted at young adults I may have rated it slightly higher, but as it stands it's one of the worst books I've ever read.
An example of what's wrong with this story: The protagonist (the good guy... the super doctor... the virologist) goes ahead and shoots an experimental drug into a human subject on orders from a superior without even batting an eye, even though it's never once before been given to a human before. Can anyone else say unethical?
Another example: Two agents go off into the woods following a blood trail to an abandoned nursing home. They decide that it's a waste of resources to tell anyone that they're out here on their own and don't call it in. Worse once inside the separate. Predictable they are captured. Can anyone else say stupid?
Another example: Card at one point goes off on a moment of explanation of what DNA is and how it works, but his explanation is greatly over simplified and in at least one case down right wrong. He betrays a junior high level biology knowledge, which is jarring and makes me think he never should have written this book in the first place.
Had this been targeted at young adults I may have rated it slightly higher, but as it stands it's one of the worst books I've ever read.
kittarlin's review against another edition
3.0
A cautionary tale about genetic engineering. Perfectly respectable and predictable, down to the almost-love-interest and the action movie pacing.
kalischertz's review against another edition
2.0
It was fast-paced and entertaining, but kind of unbelievable. It wasn't very predictable, though!
bstanga's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75