Reviews

Los Angeles ei vastaa by Fred Hoyle

bungaku_shoujo's review against another edition

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4.0

Much more interesting than I expected

abetterjulie's review against another edition

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2.0

Memorable, yes. Odd, yes.

The concept here is interesting. The bizarre music element keeps you riveted because you want to see where that unusual hook might take you, but the payoff let me down.

I kinda want someone to make a weird Sunday afternoon matinee movie using this book as the template. With cheesy wardrobes and bad mustaches.

lawrenceevalyn's review against another edition

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2.0

More fun as a time machine to 1966 fiction than as a satisfying novel in itself... the premise ought to have been fascinating, but instead the most enjoyable parts of the book were the long discussions of the protagonist's work as a composer.

traveller1's review against another edition

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4.0

I read this novel so long ago, most likely while I was in High School, not studying the boring stuff the teachers wanted me to, but reading what I wanted (it made me the man I am today!).

I don't believe Hoyle was a great SF author (maybe a good editor would have helped), but he was always entertaining. I only recall scenes from the novel. The pianist, the jumble of historical eras, references to WW1, and the debates. I would like to re-read, if I can find a copy.

I would recommend this book to those interested. An insight into the mind of a great man, and an example of writing from the 60s.

jaycatt7's review against another edition

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3.0

Classic SF with big ideas

This wasn't the book I expected. It started slow and kept piling on the surprises. The ideas are the strongest aspect, with weaker plot and characters. I could see the ideas and broad strokes as the skeleton of a trilogy in alternate history, but this was not that story.
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