seblick

As good as it gets

Revisado: 04-22-25

For those who have followed Alan Partridge throughout his "career", this may be the ultimate evolution of that resilient, pathetic, cunning, clueless and hilarious creation. The writing and narration is perfect, with so many genuine laugh out loud moments that I lost count. Simply brilliant.

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Hated the narration

Revisado: 02-20-25

The material is interesting but the narration is seemingly aimed at third graders. I simply could not finish. Knowing your subject matter does not excuse treating your listeners like simpletons.

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All to familiar sci-fi

Revisado: 10-29-24

Like too much of sci-fi, the writing is laughably bad at times.
Actually, most of the time.
Characters are one-dimensional and stereotyped to the nth degree.
Dialogue is stilted and wooden, as well. None of this is helped by the irritating narration, perhaps forgivable given the books flaws.
Military guy? Grunt and sound tough.
Got it?
The story itself is so jingoistic that it is laughable. I swear I could hear USA! USA! USA! in the background.
The aliens themselves are another matter, as their culture is interesting from an anthropological viewpoint. Which is a problem in itself, one shared by most sci-fi.
They are too human.
In this case, baby elephants with exotic human culture grafted on. The story lacks real imagination that the best books of the genre possess.
I tried to muddle through this book in the hope of a redeeming payoff. It was a painful ride.

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Painful

Revisado: 10-01-24

This book is a prime example of science fiction hampered/ruined by bad writing. The characters are poorly drawn and the writing in general is laughably bad at times. There are scarcely believable moments when characters make insights on the flimsiest information,
A waste of time and money, in my opinion.

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A brilliant historical narrative

Revisado: 09-12-24

Extremely well-researched, beautifully written and flawlessly narrated, this is a brilliant book which captures the Chernobyl accident comprehensively from multiple perspectives. It is as fine a record of a significant historical event as one is likely to experience.
Recommended without reservation.

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Time travel + memory. Best forgotten.

Revisado: 04-05-24

I found it unconvincing, overwrought and full of cardboard characterizations. The writing is completely one-dimensional, and for all of the scope in the purported alternate realities that the author tries to convey, he completely fails to capture the complexity of the human personalities on the page. This is fairly common in sci-fi, and the "big" ideas presented can often overcome that weakness, but this variation od the time travel trope managed to bore me. The "memory chair" as presented is one of the weakest sci-fi premises that I have read, and the Antarctic "semi-climax" was laughably ridiculous. I just didn't connect to this novel.

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A sci-fi writer who can do characters. Go figure.

Revisado: 08-05-21

I enjoyed this very much. The characters were actually believable and nuanced, while the world-building was outstanding.

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esto le resultó útil a 1 persona

Bad narration

Revisado: 05-16-21

A classic popular science book absolutely ruined by breathless narration appropriate only for for children's books. I simply couldn't get through it even though I read it in book form and eagerly anticipated hearing the audiobook.
A waste of money.

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esto le resultó útil a 3 personas

Laughable

Revisado: 08-24-20

Hilariously awful adolescent writing. <insert tough-guy patter here> This is a classic "romance of the meat head" novel. Drugs! Racism! Conspiracy! Bloody mayhem!

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Wonderful

Revisado: 09-01-19

By turns funny, moving and profound, this book is a remarkable memoir of a man who has managed to figure it out with clarity and great humor.
A skeptic with great faith, if you will.
The narration is simply great.
Thanks, Craig Ferguson, for a marvelous experience.

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