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scribal8's review against another edition
4.0
I'm pleased to discover Moran however belatedly. I just read Emerald Eyes, The Long Run and the Last Dancer in that order. The Long Run is the tightest and most satisfying of the three. Comments have been made about it as a heist story and and a long chase--yes that's the form of the book but that's not why it's good. There are lots of tightly written genre novels with similar forms and often I don't like them enough to finish or forget them after I do.
The Long Run is good because Moran can write plot, character and idea all at once! There's satisfaction to be had in following the shape of his plot. Trent is an interesting (if slightly inhuman) protagonist that's easy to invest in. And Moran does a very interesting thing with ideas--he keeps the reader unsettled about where he and the characters stand on a lot of issues. The world he creates seems very black and white sometimes, but it always shifts to grey.
This is more evident if more of the Continuing Time series is read. Emerald Eyes and especially Last Dancer are less balanced--Moran doesn't always handle the character shifts well--I didn't invest in other characters as much as Trent and unless the series is going to be continued for a long time (and I hope it is), there was way too much detailed back story that was ultimately left hanging.
The Long Run is good because Moran can write plot, character and idea all at once! There's satisfaction to be had in following the shape of his plot. Trent is an interesting (if slightly inhuman) protagonist that's easy to invest in. And Moran does a very interesting thing with ideas--he keeps the reader unsettled about where he and the characters stand on a lot of issues. The world he creates seems very black and white sometimes, but it always shifts to grey.
This is more evident if more of the Continuing Time series is read. Emerald Eyes and especially Last Dancer are less balanced--Moran doesn't always handle the character shifts well--I didn't invest in other characters as much as Trent and unless the series is going to be continued for a long time (and I hope it is), there was way too much detailed back story that was ultimately left hanging.
jlscho03's review against another edition
3.0
I was gifted this book for Christmas.
Unlike the last book gifted to me (Velocity by Dean Koontz, a non-sci-fi book), this book wasn't too bad. In fact, this book is five stars compared to that book... and this is coming from someone who doesn't care for (spacefaring) sci-fi. If you like sci-fi, and in particular like cyber-punk or electropunk, then this may be a good book for you!
For my actual enjoyment, I'd rate this two stars, but again... sci-fi is (generally) not my jam. This story has a lot of elements of classic sci-fi, though, so it's probably a four-star book if that's your genre.
Overall, I'd describe this as a summer read for sci-fi fans who just want to read an adventure book. A book to bring to the pool, oddly enough (though perhaps the squirt-guns as weapons really makes me think that...). Despite being on the run from the Peace-Keeping Force, the main character in this story (Trent) is never really worried, and the reader gets to follow him all the way through space while being immersed in an alternative future. While the plot is sort of big (as in it should have a lot of tension), I never really felt tense or nervous for Trent in the second half of the book. It was just a fun romp through space. The writing, characters, description, and plot were... good. I really do think sci-fi fans will like this one. While none of those things really stood out as special to me while reading, I think the author did a fantastic job telling the story he wanted to tell, and especially for his ideal audience. As someone who shies away from sci-fi featuring outer space, the one thing that stood out most to me was the author's worldbuilding, which felt far above average. I felt like the world made sense (though it took me a while to get grounded in the first chapters with all the terms, factions, sci-fi concepts, etc.), and the world felt fleshed out with its multiple factions and inter-planetary relationships among them. I think this had to have been the author's biggest strength in this book. The love for his world showed through, and that was really awesome! The book did feel more like a tribute to the rich history of this world he's created, which really hits right for some people. If you're one of them and also enjoy a bit of light-hearted humor, this might be for you!
Unlike the last book gifted to me (Velocity by Dean Koontz, a non-sci-fi book), this book wasn't too bad. In fact, this book is five stars compared to that book... and this is coming from someone who doesn't care for (spacefaring) sci-fi. If you like sci-fi, and in particular like cyber-punk or electropunk, then this may be a good book for you!
For my actual enjoyment, I'd rate this two stars, but again... sci-fi is (generally) not my jam. This story has a lot of elements of classic sci-fi, though, so it's probably a four-star book if that's your genre.
Overall, I'd describe this as a summer read for sci-fi fans who just want to read an adventure book. A book to bring to the pool, oddly enough (though perhaps the squirt-guns as weapons really makes me think that...). Despite being on the run from the Peace-Keeping Force, the main character in this story (Trent) is never really worried, and the reader gets to follow him all the way through space while being immersed in an alternative future. While the plot is sort of big (as in it should have a lot of tension), I never really felt tense or nervous for Trent in the second half of the book. It was just a fun romp through space. The writing, characters, description, and plot were... good. I really do think sci-fi fans will like this one. While none of those things really stood out as special to me while reading, I think the author did a fantastic job telling the story he wanted to tell, and especially for his ideal audience. As someone who shies away from sci-fi featuring outer space, the one thing that stood out most to me was the author's worldbuilding, which felt far above average. I felt like the world made sense (though it took me a while to get grounded in the first chapters with all the terms, factions, sci-fi concepts, etc.), and the world felt fleshed out with its multiple factions and inter-planetary relationships among them. I think this had to have been the author's biggest strength in this book. The love for his world showed through, and that was really awesome! The book did feel more like a tribute to the rich history of this world he's created, which really hits right for some people. If you're one of them and also enjoy a bit of light-hearted humor, this might be for you!
ward_ja's review against another edition
5.0
A Gripping Story
This is the second in the Continuing Time series and I suggest reading them in sequence. I enjoyed this second novel even more than the first. Good character development and skilled writing. Engaging action.
This is the second in the Continuing Time series and I suggest reading them in sequence. I enjoyed this second novel even more than the first. Good character development and skilled writing. Engaging action.
catya's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Diverse cast of characters? No
5.0
el_entrenador_loco's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
scribal's review against another edition
4.0
I'm pleased to discover Moran however belatedly. I just read Emerald Eyes, The Long Run and the Last Dancer in that order. The Long Run is the tightest and most satisfying of the three. Comments have been made about it as a heist story and and a long chase--yes that's the form of the book but that's not why it's good. There are lots of tightly written genre novels with similar forms and often I don't like them enough to finish or forget them after I do.
The Long Run is good because Moran can write plot, character and idea all at once! There's satisfaction to be had in following the shape of his plot. Trent is an interesting (if slightly inhuman) protagonist that's easy to invest in. And Moran does a very interesting thing with ideas--he keeps the reader unsettled about where he and the characters stand on a lot of issues. The world he creates seems very black and white sometimes, but it always shifts to grey.
This is more evident if more of the Continuing Time series is read. Emerald Eyes and especially Last Dancer are less balanced--Moran doesn't always handle the character shifts well--I didn't invest in other characters as much as Trent and unless the series is going to be continued for a long time (and I hope it is), there was way too much detailed back story that was ultimately left hanging.
The Long Run is good because Moran can write plot, character and idea all at once! There's satisfaction to be had in following the shape of his plot. Trent is an interesting (if slightly inhuman) protagonist that's easy to invest in. And Moran does a very interesting thing with ideas--he keeps the reader unsettled about where he and the characters stand on a lot of issues. The world he creates seems very black and white sometimes, but it always shifts to grey.
This is more evident if more of the Continuing Time series is read. Emerald Eyes and especially Last Dancer are less balanced--Moran doesn't always handle the character shifts well--I didn't invest in other characters as much as Trent and unless the series is going to be continued for a long time (and I hope it is), there was way too much detailed back story that was ultimately left hanging.
bozimus's review against another edition
3.0
My rating is based upon having read this book for the first time (on or about) the year 1989. I remember eagerly turning pages as Trent escaped one hair-raising action sequence before entering another. This book was for me like crack is to a crack addict. I am tempted, oh so tempted, to read it again.
UPDATE:
Having just completed a re-read, I find that my previously high regard for this book has diminished over the last 20 odd years. I no longer consider this book to be one of my "all time favorites". The "Long run is still a good book, IMO, but no longer a "GREAT" book. The book is unchanged since my first reading, so the reason for my re-evaluation is a change in the reader...yours truly. I am a different person than I was in 1989. A lot of books have been read since 1989. The "Long Run" has suffered in comparison. IMO, in the year of 2013, the "Long Run" deserves 3 stars.
SPOILER ALERT******
For certain types of adventure literature to be enjoyable (for me), the contests between protagonist(s) and antagonist(s) need to provide a certain amount of tension. The bad guy needs to come close to killing/defeating the good guy. There needs to be a real question concerning the outcome. If your protagonist is freakishly smart and the antagonists are bureaucratic simpletons, there will not be any doubt as to the outcome. No doubt, no tension.
Trent the Uncatchable is this story's protagonist and resident super genius. The PKF (Peace Keeping Force) are the story's simpleton antagonists. Time and time again, Trent effortlessly eludes or evades or outthinks these petty bureaucrats who are collectively the baddest of the bad in our Solar System.
Yawn…after a while, I stopped buying the BS that Trent was in any danger of getting caught or killed. Once that happened, I lost interest and finishing the book began to feel like a chore. It is a shame really, because I had such fond memories..
END SPOILER*******
How in the world did I ever consider this book to be among my “all time favorites”? Maybe I am too jaded to enjoy a story of this type any longer?
UPDATE:
Having just completed a re-read, I find that my previously high regard for this book has diminished over the last 20 odd years. I no longer consider this book to be one of my "all time favorites". The "Long run is still a good book, IMO, but no longer a "GREAT" book. The book is unchanged since my first reading, so the reason for my re-evaluation is a change in the reader...yours truly. I am a different person than I was in 1989. A lot of books have been read since 1989. The "Long Run" has suffered in comparison. IMO, in the year of 2013, the "Long Run" deserves 3 stars.
SPOILER ALERT******
For certain types of adventure literature to be enjoyable (for me), the contests between protagonist(s) and antagonist(s) need to provide a certain amount of tension. The bad guy needs to come close to killing/defeating the good guy. There needs to be a real question concerning the outcome. If your protagonist is freakishly smart and the antagonists are bureaucratic simpletons, there will not be any doubt as to the outcome. No doubt, no tension.
Trent the Uncatchable is this story's protagonist and resident super genius. The PKF (Peace Keeping Force) are the story's simpleton antagonists. Time and time again, Trent effortlessly eludes or evades or outthinks these petty bureaucrats who are collectively the baddest of the bad in our Solar System.
Yawn…after a while, I stopped buying the BS that Trent was in any danger of getting caught or killed. Once that happened, I lost interest and finishing the book began to feel like a chore. It is a shame really, because I had such fond memories..
END SPOILER*******
How in the world did I ever consider this book to be among my “all time favorites”? Maybe I am too jaded to enjoy a story of this type any longer?
cheekimonkey's review against another edition
4.0
This was such a fun read! A lot different from Emerald Eyes, this story focuses on the adventures of Trent the Uncatchable as he tries to escapes the peaceforcers that still hunt the Castanaveras genies. I cannot express how badly I want these novels to be on audiobook.
joannawnyc's review against another edition
4.0
Probably the most fun volume of the continuing time series so far, mainly because it leaves the aliens out of things, mostly, and focuses on Trent the Uncatchable, who's always a lot of fun. Keys Moran is clearly more comfortable with this aspect of his mythos.