Scan barcode
A review by wynnz
Jury Duty by Peter Cawdron
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
Well, the seventeen or so previous books in this series, I have greatly enjoyed. All my frustrations and disappointments about this book were addressed in the Afterword by the author, so I'm not sure where that leaves me now. He's stolen my thunder. So what's a book review without a review? Well, it's just a book. Well, here's my ten-penny worth anyway. Does the book cover look like a human brain and stem? Do you think aliens carved the Antarctic landmass hundreds of thousands of years ago to look like that? Do you think we should carve a huge thumbs up, out of, say, Greenland, to say, "Look what we've done, are you impressed?" Just a thought.
Firstly, our main character Nick is not a likable fellow. He's angry, selfish, egotistical, abusive, and homicidal. But during the course of the book, he metamorphosed into Socrates, Confucius, Buddha, and the king of common sense and rational thinking.
Secondly, almost all of the first half of the book enlightens us on the inhabitability of the Antarctic continent. He told us it was freezing down there, with violent stormy weather and two-hundred-mile-an-hour winds. It was cold enough to freeze your lungs, with storms that lasted weeks and could kill you in minutes. It's a very dangerous environment to live and work in because it's extremely cold. Additionally, it's difficult to navigate, and the constant daylight and night can be disorienting and psychologically challenging. The constant lecturing on this subject became tiresome very quickly. But it gave the author time to develop the main character Nick into the aforementioned philosophers and teacher, and explore his contrition regarding his past transgressions.
Thirdly, the third quarter of the book was devoted to abseiling and the technicalities of that particular pastime.
Fourthly, last but not least, first contact with the aliens.
Fifthly, a bit of a twist for your perseverance. Sadly, not his best work.
Firstly, our main character Nick is not a likable fellow. He's angry, selfish, egotistical, abusive, and homicidal. But during the course of the book, he metamorphosed into Socrates, Confucius, Buddha, and the king of common sense and rational thinking.
Secondly, almost all of the first half of the book enlightens us on the inhabitability of the Antarctic continent. He told us it was freezing down there, with violent stormy weather and two-hundred-mile-an-hour winds. It was cold enough to freeze your lungs, with storms that lasted weeks and could kill you in minutes. It's a very dangerous environment to live and work in because it's extremely cold. Additionally, it's difficult to navigate, and the constant daylight and night can be disorienting and psychologically challenging. The constant lecturing on this subject became tiresome very quickly. But it gave the author time to develop the main character Nick into the aforementioned philosophers and teacher, and explore his contrition regarding his past transgressions.
Thirdly, the third quarter of the book was devoted to abseiling and the technicalities of that particular pastime.
Fourthly, last but not least, first contact with the aliens.
Fifthly, a bit of a twist for your perseverance. Sadly, not his best work.