Reviews

The Fourth "R" by George O. Smith

michaeljmccann's review against another edition

5.0

I came to love this novel in the 1968 edition entitled "The Brain Machine." A science fiction Bildungsroman in which little Jimmy Holden, a boy genius thanks to a machine invented by his late parents, learns about life and human nature the hard way: by knocking his nose against it. I re-read this novel every few years just for the sheer pleasure of it.

babblingbooks's review against another edition

3.0

My copy is titled 'The Brain Machine' which was the reason I bought it. Quaint and amusing. The blub says: 'Jimmy was five years old, but his secret knowledge could turn all men into superbeings- or destroy them!'

I would say that is an overdramatization of what is essentially a story about an orphan who becomes really smart but realises nothing can make up for life experience. It was nowhere near as crazy and science-fiction-y as I hoped, and it has quite a sweet happy ending.

I wouldn't recommend this book, but it will make an amusing addition to my collection of vintage sci-fi.