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A review by purstiltski
Brain Jack by Brian Falkner
2.0
2.5 stars.
Overall, the story is entertaining, but not extremely believable. As a story that follows a huge battle between human intelligence and artificial intelligence, it lacked a feeling of plausibility and importance. [(SPOILERS) I especially have trouble believing that, at the end of the book, Sam would have been able to withstand all of the knowledge of every person using neuro-headsets in the world. Yet, still, he can implant ideas of human compassion into the minds of world leaders in their sleep. I don't believe it possible to wake up from all of this knowledge without a brain resembling a steaming bowl of vegetable soup. (/SPOILERS)] But it was still entertaining at many parts, and I found the action sequences particularly enjoyable.
I was disappointed with the character development. It was great in the beginning, but the characters all sort of fell back and... disappeared.
I did not like the writing at all. Falkner explains things that don't need explanation and under-explains other things (like computer coding); basically, I felt like I was supposed to be an idiot. In writing, less is often more, but I may stand corrected if I read some of his other work.
It is unnecessarily wordy. There are huge chunks that can be (and seem to beg to be) completely skipped over.
If you're into computer stuff (which I am not) and want a semi-robo-mind-control-apocalyptic novel, this is for you. If you are an English nerd, it probably is not.
"Live your life as if it matters how you live it.
Because it does."
Overall, the story is entertaining, but not extremely believable. As a story that follows a huge battle between human intelligence and artificial intelligence, it lacked a feeling of plausibility and importance. [(SPOILERS) I especially have trouble believing that, at the end of the book, Sam would have been able to withstand all of the knowledge of every person using neuro-headsets in the world. Yet, still, he can implant ideas of human compassion into the minds of world leaders in their sleep. I don't believe it possible to wake up from all of this knowledge without a brain resembling a steaming bowl of vegetable soup. (/SPOILERS)] But it was still entertaining at many parts, and I found the action sequences particularly enjoyable.
I was disappointed with the character development. It was great in the beginning, but the characters all sort of fell back and... disappeared.
I did not like the writing at all. Falkner explains things that don't need explanation and under-explains other things (like computer coding); basically, I felt like I was supposed to be an idiot. In writing, less is often more, but I may stand corrected if I read some of his other work.
It is unnecessarily wordy. There are huge chunks that can be (and seem to beg to be) completely skipped over.
If you're into computer stuff (which I am not) and want a semi-robo-mind-control-apocalyptic novel, this is for you. If you are an English nerd, it probably is not.
"Live your life as if it matters how you live it.
Because it does."