The Postman (Bookcassette(r) Edition)

Rating:
Summary: Mystical yet not tacky
Review: The depiction of events in David Brin's The Postman is well-observed, provides great texture, and yet is minimal. Gordon Krantz is studied with care, his inner thoughts communicated very well, yet most importantly his temperament is established through various trials he handles or mishandles. Other characters are touched on, some remaining highly memorable.

Rating:
Summary: Mythology reborn.
Review: The Postman is the Iliad of modern day America. The plot is tight and lean, and one of the most cinematic books I've read (a perfect candidate for a film). The characters are mythological archetypes molded by the (foolish) gods of technology. The Postman explores many aspects of symbols and their social impact, through for example, the mythology of the postman and the ideals of the United States. The book evokes a sense of majesty and magnificence to the technological wonderland that precedes the period of post-nuclear holocaust that the book is set in. It is also remarkably restrained in its usage of the science fiction element. Brin wisely let's us see the technology through the imagined social ramification rather than making it the linch pin of the novel, (there's a scene where the climax involves the sound of space invaders) a mistake I think that many sf writers make. The setting of the book is so well constructed that many disparate theme's are encompassed quite naturally - post nuclear holocaust, genetic engineering, the basis of government and the myth of the nation and the call for moral responsibility. At no point does he let the plot unwind into the realm of the fantastically ridiculous. At the end of the book, you'll be cheering for those inspirational ideals which drive the characters in the book but more importantly, should be a reflection of our pre-holocaust society.

Rating:
Summary: Much better than the movie
Review: Unlike the movie, this book is not only better than the movie, but it doesn't have Kevin Kostner in it ;)

I really liked this book, but then again I have always been a sucker for EOW stories (end of world). If you liked Lucifer's hammer then you will like this book. If you liked Lucifer's Hammer or this book, then you may also want to check out Earth the New Frontier by Adam Celaya (a brand new post-apocalyptic novel that rocks the house!!)

If you like EOW books, then get this one. You will not be dissapointed!

Rating:
Summary: This is a much better story without Kevin Costner
Review: You know, without having to look at Kevin Costner, this is a pretty good story. I haven't seen the movie, but I have read many other books by David Brin, and they've all been enjoyable, so I decided to give this one a try. It's a philosophical story more than anything else, but set in a nice post apocalyspe landscape that makes the abstract issues a little more urgent. Is it wrong to deceive people, possibly into giving their lives, if the myth you are pushing might eventually bring great benefits? Is it possible to have a system where the powerful do not abuse their power? Most impressive of all, this book avoided the standard hollywood ending, and left us wondering if there really was any hope, if the myth was really true or not. It's even aged well, unlike a lot of other science fiction books set in "futures" that are already in the past.