Rating: 
Summary: Non-stop Adventure !!
Review: Vulcan's Forge is not your average first-effort novel. It's much better!
The story is a breathtaking bullet-train ride with multilayered conspiracies. Jack came up with brilliantly schemed triple crosses in his debut novel -- Hawaii's claims of independency, an agonizing diplomatic deadlock in Thailand, a fifty-year-old shipwreck mystery, and a freighter that is not what it appears to be...
Great stuff, something anyone will regret missing!
Rating:
Summary: Du Brul's First Book!
Review: Vulcan's Forge is the one that started his career! Definitely a must-have for any Du Brul fan.
Rating: 
Summary: Bad Science Passing for Entertainment
Review: When I first picked up this book I thought it was another Star Trek novel. However, after reading the liner notes I thought I would give it a try anyway. I was surprised to find that Du Brul's first novel waa fast moving with many twists & turns in the plot. His writing style is easy. The plot was interesting and intricate without being overwhelming. The only negative feeling I got from the book was Du Brul's liberal use of four-letter words. Contribute it to my Southern, Bible-belt upbringing but I think almost any story can be told without an excessive amount of those types of words. That being said, however, I would recommend the novel to anyone willing to overlook this shortcoming. Had it not been for the language I would have rated it a solid "five-star" novel.
Rating: 
Summary: Fast Moving Story
Review: When I first picked up this book I thought it was another Star Trek novel. However, after reading the liner notes I thought I would give it a try anyway. I was surprised to find that Du Brul's first novel waa fast moving with many twists & turns in the plot. His writing style is easy. The plot was interesting and intricate without being overwhelming. The only negative feeling I got from the book was Du Brul's liberal use of four-letter words. Contribute it to my Southern, Bible-belt upbringing but I think almost any story can be told without an excessive amount of those types of words. That being said, however, I would recommend the novel to anyone willing to overlook this shortcoming. Had it not been for the language I would have rated it a solid "five-star" novel.
Rating: 
Summary: Du Brul's no Clive Cussler ... yet!
Review: When I first sat down to write this review I stopped after a few sentences because I realized I was being overly harsh toward a brand-new author. It's really unfair to compare Du Brul to Clive Cussler because, while he shows promise, he has a long way to go. Maybe it's a little like comparing Kobe Bryant to Michael Jordan. Flashes of brillance yes, but not the consistent performance of the seasoned veteran!So, with that in mind, let me say that "Vulcan's Forge" is for the most part an enjoyable read. It is uneven in spots and somewhat hard to follow in others. The characterization is fair, but the action is intense and shows Du Brul's potential. And, while I can't give the book more than 3 stars, I am willing to give Du Brul's next offering, "Charon's Landing" a shot without giving up completely on him. Maybe you should too. If you're willing to slosh through some slow parts and put up with a "rookie" effort, then give it a try. Just don't expect to find the "magic" of Clive Cussler in Du Brul's writing.
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