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felinity's review
3.0
Interesting concept, but read like an expanded short story or something intended for the young adult audience. The characters were two-dimensional, and very few seemed to have any but the most cursory of motivations. In short, disappointing for Niven but at least it was a quick read.
thestarman's review
3.0
VERDICT: 2.85 suns, rounded UP to 3 because: unusual concept, illustrations by Boris Vallejo. Feels like a novella that needed more action and 50+ more pages to truly satisfy. As-is, I liked it more than I disliked it.
Be aware the actual 'Olympiad' occupies only a few scant pages; this was disappointing. And there's a Other than that, it was a moderately interesting read, but not as satisfying as it could have been.
Quote from book:
"...So they marched in their pockets and rows, carrying their banners and singing their songs, saluting the crowd that overflowed the stands and spread out across the world. They were best of the best, three thousand of the finest minds and bodies that had ever strode the planet. Within seven years,
If you're an athelete, a fan of stuff that's sorta like Logan's Run, or if you dig Boris Vallejo's art, then this may be a book for you.
Be aware the actual 'Olympiad' occupies only a few scant pages; this was disappointing. And there's a
Spoiler
James Bond "villain" style sudden evil-plan-reveal that destroys any hope of realism or further suspense.Quote from book:
"...So they marched in their pockets and rows, carrying their banners and singing their songs, saluting the crowd that overflowed the stands and spread out across the world. They were best of the best, three thousand of the finest minds and bodies that had ever strode the planet. Within seven years,
Spoiler
ninety-eight percent of them would be dead."If you're an athelete, a fan of stuff that's sorta like Logan's Run, or if you dig Boris Vallejo's art, then this may be a book for you.
lasairfiona's review
3.0
The idea that a few can win or die in the future isn't a new idea and it wasn't new even when Niven was writing this. I am of the opinion that Niven is just an idea man. His writing just isn't that good. However, this quick little story was fun to read even if the writing and story had a few holes. I read bits and pieces before bed since it was so uncomplicated and clean in both story and writing.
The future Olympics isn't based on body strength alone, mental strength and ablity are also measured. The only was to truly compete is to be boosted, a process that turns the body up to high and cannot be sustained unless the person wins and is hooked up to the network. But perhaps there is trouble even within the winner's circle. The heroine must figure out what is going on while the winner's circle tries to criple her research (one of my favorite parts - a dedicated AI that grows with you starting from when you are a kid. It is an extention of yourself and your best friend. I want one). Oh, and she has to win so she doesn't die.
Simplistic but a good, very quick read. I associate it with high school and good times so perhaps my rating is a bit high but the story might be worth reading while sitting around in the library for an hour or two.
The future Olympics isn't based on body strength alone, mental strength and ablity are also measured. The only was to truly compete is to be boosted, a process that turns the body up to high and cannot be sustained unless the person wins and is hooked up to the network. But perhaps there is trouble even within the winner's circle. The heroine must figure out what is going on while the winner's circle tries to criple her research (one of my favorite parts - a dedicated AI that grows with you starting from when you are a kid. It is an extention of yourself and your best friend. I want one). Oh, and she has to win so she doesn't die.
Simplistic but a good, very quick read. I associate it with high school and good times so perhaps my rating is a bit high but the story might be worth reading while sitting around in the library for an hour or two.
tjoliverbooks's review
4.0
I purchased a first edition, hardback copy of this book and I loved the illustrations by the phenomenal Borris Vallejo (not only his cover art but several black and white illustrations within the text). Larry Niven and Steven Barnes managed to produce a marvelous vision mixing extreme body modification, invasive technologies (both of the body and mind), predicted big-data collection and then took it to one extreme conclusion, and pulled this off without boring the reader to tears. This is high-concept all the way.
My only bitch-point is that by leaving little room for characters in the round, this story left little time to "get to know" or even sympathize with the main character (let alone secondary characters).
For example, I was ticked off that the main character basically allowed her digital "nanny" to be utterly destroyed just because she wanted access to classified data. The excuse that she believed she had another "copy" of her "nanny" available doesn't take her off the moral hook of treating her digital "nanny" disrespectfully. After all, this "nanny" was a surrogate mother and father to her, built an entire digital world with her, and raised her within it. As a highly developed AI, the ethical implication of her being destroyed (even temporarily) by her "child" is incredibly morally wrong. When this sort of behavior by the main character is shown early, my ability to sympathize with her evaporates. My thought was that it only served her right to get cut off from the "nanny" when she discovers her backups fail and she's left all alone for the first time in her life. I would have preferred to see her grieve more. It would have made her seem more human.
My only bitch-point is that by leaving little room for characters in the round, this story left little time to "get to know" or even sympathize with the main character (let alone secondary characters).
For example, I was ticked off that the main character basically allowed her digital "nanny" to be utterly destroyed just because she wanted access to classified data. The excuse that she believed she had another "copy" of her "nanny" available doesn't take her off the moral hook of treating her digital "nanny" disrespectfully. After all, this "nanny" was a surrogate mother and father to her, built an entire digital world with her, and raised her within it. As a highly developed AI, the ethical implication of her being destroyed (even temporarily) by her "child" is incredibly morally wrong. When this sort of behavior by the main character is shown early, my ability to sympathize with her evaporates. My thought was that it only served her right to get cut off from the "nanny" when she discovers her backups fail and she's left all alone for the first time in her life. I would have preferred to see her grieve more. It would have made her seem more human.
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