gmp@rayssd.UUCP (03/15/84)
I bought the book on Monday at a Waldenbooks. Although it could
almost be renamed "Connecticut Yankee in a Parallel Universe", I
really enjoyed it. If you liked the other David Brin books,
you'll most likely enjoy this one as well.
--
Gregory M. Paris {allegra,ccieng5,decvax!brunix,linus}!rayssd!gmpgiles@ucf-cs.UUCP (Bruce Giles) (03/23/84)
I personally was rather disappointed in the book. After the first half, I'd had it with the "deux ex machina" that was going on, and only continued to see how entropy reveral was created. BIG MISTAKE. I was really upset at how the hero came up with all of the answers to a thousand year problem by reading the computer screen of the robot. The book does feel like it was one of David Brin's earliest books, but still.... If you can practice virtual trash into something useful after a few generations, WHY DID THEY NOT START OUT WITH SOMETHING USEFUL TO BEGIN WITH? As Brin said repeatedly, all of the starters were kindergarten level quality; yet how long much longer would it take someone with talent to create something far better? Is not one month of extra effort worth *years* of practice? If you don't mind frequent coincidences, you'll enjoy this book. But if lightning striking the same spot repeatedly (i.e. the robot!) greatly annoys you, borrow the book, don't buy it. (P.S. After being so negative, I can't wait for "Gorilla" -- The quality of books in the sequence "Practice Effect","Sundiver", "Startide Rising" is analogous to the gamma function!) ave discordia going bump in the night ... bruce giles decvax!ucf-cs!giles university of central florida giles.ucf-cs@Rand-Relay orlando, florida 32816