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alexthealdrich's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
pjonsson's review
3.0
I’ve read quite a few books by John Ringo and I think it’s safe to say that I’ve liked pretty much all of them. This one however, I was not as thrilled about as I usually am. Now, it is quite probable that I am somewhat biased from the start.
The author makes frequent references to CERN and more specifically, is basing most of his story on the Higgs Boson. Since I am an engineer at CERN I’m somewhat sensitive to bullshit about these subjects and unfortunately John Ringo’s depiction of Higgs Bosons is indeed utter bullshit. Christ, he could not even get his basic facts rights. For instance, he talks about scientists trying to create Higgs Bosons, specifically, using linear accelerators. The CERN accelerator is a circular one. If you want to create science fiction then create it but do not rewrite known science and facts. It’s just ignorant not to mention arrogant towards the readers.
Okay, so now I’ve had my gripe about this. I understand that for a lot of people Higgs Bosons and CERN is mostly exotic terms and they probably do not have the bias that I have. The book is really still very much in the John Ringo style. The dialogs between people are fun as usual. The action is plentiful and fairly well done. At time I felt it went a bit too much into mysterious la-la land though. Still, if you generally like John Ringo and do not have the bias I have, then you would probably like this book as well. I'm afraid I cannot bring myself to give it more than a, barely, average rating though.
Having said that, although I wasn’t as thrilled with this one as I usually am with John Ringo’s works I will definitely read, at least, the next one in the series as well.
The author makes frequent references to CERN and more specifically, is basing most of his story on the Higgs Boson. Since I am an engineer at CERN I’m somewhat sensitive to bullshit about these subjects and unfortunately John Ringo’s depiction of Higgs Bosons is indeed utter bullshit. Christ, he could not even get his basic facts rights. For instance, he talks about scientists trying to create Higgs Bosons, specifically, using linear accelerators. The CERN accelerator is a circular one. If you want to create science fiction then create it but do not rewrite known science and facts. It’s just ignorant not to mention arrogant towards the readers.
Okay, so now I’ve had my gripe about this. I understand that for a lot of people Higgs Bosons and CERN is mostly exotic terms and they probably do not have the bias that I have. The book is really still very much in the John Ringo style. The dialogs between people are fun as usual. The action is plentiful and fairly well done. At time I felt it went a bit too much into mysterious la-la land though. Still, if you generally like John Ringo and do not have the bias I have, then you would probably like this book as well. I'm afraid I cannot bring myself to give it more than a, barely, average rating though.
Having said that, although I wasn’t as thrilled with this one as I usually am with John Ringo’s works I will definitely read, at least, the next one in the series as well.
wetdryvac's review against another edition
2.0
Fun story, providing one is willing to ignore the utterly inaccurate particle physics. I don't read a lot of books where I've uttered such a blue streak in disbelief, and I've still got 20 pages to go.
booksandghosts's review against another edition
2.0
The odd use of the Higgs Boson as the catalyst and Ringo's odd political ideas poking through randomly make it hard to recommend. Aliens are at least an interesting version of Tyrannids. There was a few story threads I will be interested to see if he follows further but I have a feeling he won't and the second book will have to work hard to keep my attention.
fistofmoradin's review against another edition
3.0
enjoyable brain junk food. fun premise. military sci-fi isn't really my thing. Ringo can't write believable female characters.
dray's review against another edition
4.0
Having just finished a science book on quantum physics I was a little dismayed at the science in Ringo's book. But then the story took over and the ideas presented were worth the read. This is at the top of the category of invasion by alien species/military SF. It is John Ringo's strong suit.
leons1701's review
4.0
OK, I've read this before, but just recently picked up a personal copy. Sure it's silly over the top gung-ho militarism will offend some folks (most of whom could use the occasional offending) and the hero is beyond ridiculous (I know he's based on a real person, but his traits are exaggerated to utterly absurd proportion) but it's still pretty darn good. I think it was the sequel that rather famously inspired an Amazon review claiming "it had too much science", a complaint the author has a good deal of fun with in a later book.
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