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karyanca's review
This has been on my TBR list for a while as an earlier (but not among the earliest) UF work. It isn't as fresh as it might have been when first published, but interesting for comparison with more current UF. In fact, it feels dated even for 1994, and a bit naive wish-fulfillment.
Good points. The MC is not super-powered. In fact, his primary qualifications are to be logical and have an imagination. The pace is quick. It's an interesting concept.
Bad points. While the concept is interesting, the execution is a little dull. It could use more plot layers and more suspense. The MC feels like the only "real" character, even with the alternate POV.
Good points. The MC is not super-powered. In fact, his primary qualifications are to be logical and have an imagination.
Spoiler
Which makes me wonder why the recruitment ad asks for a "young man". Not HR approved, even in the 1990s. Shame on you, Merlin.Bad points. While the concept is interesting, the execution is a little dull. It could use more plot layers and more suspense. The MC feels like the only "real" character, even with the alternate POV.
grimread's review
1.0
I have an incredible urge to bury this book under a tree to fertilise it in memory of all those trees that were cut down to produce the paper for this piece of shit. Some people should just give the idea to those who can write.
Honestly this one has the laziest writing and ugliest sentences I ever read. It looks like Weinberg read a couple (maybe 3) of fantasy books, had an idea and got the impression that he could be a writer. Well it didn't work. The characters are all over the place and boring. They form a party just because a hero needs his sidekicks and because side characters are so bored they have nothing else to do. Everybody is so trusty just because there is no time for personal development or bonding. Everybody is in danger just because the author said the god was evil. There is no one to care for and since they are all magical all that they do "is in their nature".
The story has no real build up - oh it tries but I was literally waiting the whole book to see what grand modern logical solution Jack would come up after extensive repetitious blabbering about order to fight chaos and light defeating the dark and it turns out we exchanged iron swords with lightsabers. The "quest puzzles" are so unimaginative and Jacks solutions are a hoax.
Jack as a math student is presented as epitome of logical magic but all he does is one little completely unnecessary calculation on who gets to the door first. The answer is the one who runs faster or tries harder to do that.
Other things that bug me:
- I presume a car and an auto aren't the same thing in this book as both word come up in the same paragraphs for the same thing when describing their mode of transportation? Repeatedly.
- Rectangular plastic disc. I thought discs are slim round objects not rectangular. It turns out it was a floppy disk -.- You can't call it a disc until you define it with a proper name and we all know this was dragged out until the battle for suspense.
- "It's in their/my nature." I still can't figure out what that nature is supposed to be but this repeats every 3 pages.
- Cassandra Cole. "Think of her as the cavalry, Captain America, Hulk Hogan, and the Force combined in to one. Cassandra makes Wonder Woman look like a twinkie." Cassandra is an Amazon. ... ... Wonder Woman is an Amazon too. Somebody didn't do their research properly and is undermining one of the strongest female super heroes.
Honestly this one has the laziest writing and ugliest sentences I ever read. It looks like Weinberg read a couple (maybe 3) of fantasy books, had an idea and got the impression that he could be a writer. Well it didn't work. The characters are all over the place and boring. They form a party just because a hero needs his sidekicks and because side characters are so bored they have nothing else to do. Everybody is so trusty just because there is no time for personal development or bonding. Everybody is in danger just because the author said the god was evil. There is no one to care for and since they are all magical all that they do "is in their nature".
The story has no real build up - oh it tries but I was literally waiting the whole book to see what grand modern logical solution Jack would come up after extensive repetitious blabbering about order to fight chaos and light defeating the dark and it turns out we exchanged iron swords with lightsabers. The "quest puzzles" are so unimaginative and Jacks solutions are a hoax.
Jack as a math student is presented as epitome of logical magic but all he does is one little completely unnecessary calculation on who gets to the door first. The answer is the one who runs faster or tries harder to do that.
Other things that bug me:
- I presume a car and an auto aren't the same thing in this book as both word come up in the same paragraphs for the same thing when describing their mode of transportation? Repeatedly.
- Rectangular plastic disc. I thought discs are slim round objects not rectangular. It turns out it was a floppy disk -.- You can't call it a disc until you define it with a proper name and we all know this was dragged out until the battle for suspense.
- "It's in their/my nature." I still can't figure out what that nature is supposed to be but this repeats every 3 pages.
- Cassandra Cole. "Think of her as the cavalry, Captain America, Hulk Hogan, and the Force combined in to one. Cassandra makes Wonder Woman look like a twinkie." Cassandra is an Amazon. ... ... Wonder Woman is an Amazon too. Somebody didn't do their research properly and is undermining one of the strongest female super heroes.
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