karfol

Don't do it -- you'll be disappointed if you do.

Revisado: 11-14-21

Something's terribly wrong with this story. It's the meandering prose, written by someone who likes to create "atmosphere" with 100 words when 10 will do, if any are really needed. The endless descriptions of things -- walls, doors, floors, pictures, trees or whatnot, totally takes over the story, such as it is, and probably makes the book half again as long as it should be. Here's an example of just one scene:

“The entrance opened into a wide rectangular lobby. There were dark wood panels on the walls. Most had cracks and peeling varnish. There were terracotta tiles on the floor. Some were plain. Some had intricate patterns in shades orange and brown. A chandelier hung from the ceiling. It looked like real crystal. It was cut into elaborate shapes, but the pieces were dull and cloudy with age and dust. More than half the bulbs were out. Maybe they were broken, or maybe that was some kind of economy measure. The reception desk was directly opposite the main door. It was 5 yards wide and also made of dark polished wood. A guy was behind it. He had his boots up on the counter. They were long pointy things made of snakeskin. There were holes in the soles. They guy had faded jeans, a blue paisley shirt, a black leather vest – it was unfastened. His arms were folded across his chest, a wide brimmed hat pulled down over his face. I didn’t disturb him.”

TOTALLY superfluous to the story. One more example should you doubt me:

“Whoever built the place knew what they were doing. The walls were thick made out of some incredibly dense material. The structure could absorb a tremendous amount of heat making it comfortable during the day, and it would release it during the night making it comfortable then too.”

TOTALLY unneeded passage. And there are SO MANY.

Sorry, will miss Jack, that's for sure. But, this ain't him.

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Sorry, but keep your credit for a good story

Revisado: 03-23-15

What would have made The Martian better?

This is a long walk in the weeds listing to math problems about growing potatoes, how much protein you'd need if a 'sol' day is 25 minutes longer than an earth day and you want to last 4 years, chemical concepts, engineering concepts, tertiary comm systems, co2 filters (for 1500 hours), how many kilograms of Hydrogen to generate a kilo of fuel, and on and on. For example "...I can get 50% higher yield using these tactics and with 126 sq. meters of farmland, just over double the 62 meters I now have it works out to be over 850 calories a day..."

What was most disappointing about Andy Weir’s story?

The reviews were so good I was really looking forward to a compelling, exciting, tension-filled story about being stranded on Mars. I ended up just not caring.

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I've been ripped off -- change of title only

Revisado: 12-24-14

What disappointed you about A Clean Kill in Tokyo?

It'was formerly named "Rain Fall" and I didn't know it. Not advertised as a re-titled only. For shame. Done with Eisler -- guess he'll have to re-title his own name to slip by me again.

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Terrible disappointment

Revisado: 08-28-11

Nothing like what I expected. A very, very long and convoluted story with explicit sexual acts between a wealth of (idiotic) people throughout. I made myself finish it because I paid for it and this writer is supposed to be so talented. Leans too heavily on the tragedy of 9/11 and sex, which is an awful way to make money. Anti-climatic ending, though that's probably the only thing that doesn't climax. Save your money. Maybe some of his earlier stuff is better. I gave it 1 star because I like George Guidall, though why he did this I couldn't say.

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Anna Pigeon fans will be very disappointed

Revisado: 10-02-10

This story is more about someone else than Anna P. The narrator is just not B. Rosenblat -- and I couldn't get over that. It wasn't like the other, wonderful, national park based books in the series. A great disappointment to a real fan of this N. Barr character.

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