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Summary: The Mystery of H. F. Saint Isn't Too Much of a Myster
Review: H. F. Saint is, in fact, not the pseudonym of another writer, but is a shortened version of the author's real name. I first spoke to Mr. Saint in 1990, while interest in MEMOIRS OF AN INVISIBLE MAN was still quite high in the media. I was working on an interview book with influential authors in the SF, Fantasy and Horror fields. At the time, he was quite accessible, and if you can believe it, was actually listed in his local telephone directory! My understanding from Mr. Saint was that the financial rewards from MEMOIRS were immediate and significant; taken utterly by surprise, Mr. Saint essentially took the money and ran. He no longer lives in his home state (as far as I know), and has relatively little interest in writing and publishing anything else. Like everyone else who's read his work, I too wish he would write another novel. But I doubt it's likely. I think he's in Europe or somewhere else equally exotic, enjoying his massive royalties and living off the principal of his reported multi-million dollar advance--a record at the time for a first novel. If you enjoyed MEMOIRS, a smaller novel which received far less acclaim, but is nearly as good, is JUMPERS by Steven Gould.
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Summary: Classic
Review: H.F. Saint has got to be a pseudonym of someone. Nicholson Baker, perhaps? "This is his first novel" is printed in the "about the author" blurb. Like we're supposed to believe that. If 26 five-star ratings aren't enough for you to find this book (check your library) then I give up. I've been waiting for years for somebody to clear up the mystery of this book. Who wrote it? Why didn't they write more? This is a delightful book--and as other readers have stated, it's a book that is impossible not to share with everyone you know.
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Summary: A book like no other...
Review: Have you ever noticed how every bestseller seems to be about murder or sex... or both? This one breaks the mold. Saint tells us the story of man who becomes invisible and he is painstakingly careful to give us the details of how it happens and of the after effects. The joy of this book is that the illusion of believability is never broken.Saint has considered every aspect of the invisible man's existence. How would he eat and remain invisible? How would he get money? Would the government take an interest in him and, if so, why? The story never lacks for suspense or humour either. In the end, you can't help feeling for our invisible hero. Things start off a little slowly as we learn just how a man becomes invisible, but this early preparatory work helps to set the tone of plausability, so don't put the book away. I won't tell you what happens, but suffice to say that you'll probably find out the answer on the same day you start the book. Unless you want to be reading all night, start this one at about noon! Oh, by the way, they made a movie out of this one (...). That's all they had in common. Don't bother with the video!
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Summary: Another piece of info on Mr. Saint
Review: He is in fact writing under his own name, not a pseudonym. He graduated from Haverford College in PA in the early 80's - I remember reading reviews of the book in the student newspaper (I went to Bryn Mawr College, nearby). I have the hardback copy I bought when it was published; it's really about the only book I will not loan to anybody for any reason. Although I want to share it, it's so good that I don't want to be stuck without a copy! Everyone else has already covered the ground of what an amazing, original, startlingly intelligent, engrossing novel this is, so I'll just say 'ditto'. It's a shame he hasn't written another.
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Summary: One of the all-time best books!
Review: HF Saint is a brilliant writer who portrays an entire set of problems of living in an invisible world. HS Saint joins the ranks of Roberson Davies, John Gardner, Susanna Vance and Gabriel Marquez as a true magic realist.
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Summary: One of the best I ever read!
Review: I actually read this book back in '89 or '90. So many years have past but I still think of it often. It's one of the best I ever read! The first chapter was a little bit slow, but after that the pace picked up. Believe me (and the others who had reviewed this book here), you will LOVE it!!!
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Summary: Why is this book out of print?I
Review: I am re-reading this book for the 3rd (or perhaps 4th time) and I am enjoying it just as much as the 1st time. I had to purchase my current copy second-hand ($2, plus postage; $11!-worth every cent), as I'd lost my previous copy (probably lent and never returned). Why is this book out of print, when the DVD of the very bad John Carpenter film is available?
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Summary: 48 five-star out of 48!
Review: I cannot remember seeing a book which had as many as 48 Amazon reviews and every one was 5 stars! I am impressed by that, and I will not break the string. I found this book fascinating and found myself eager to get back to my reading of it. And I practically never read sci fi--if this is ci fi--but this is a winner. I don't think you will regret spending the time it takes to read it. I did not.
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Summary: Brilliant, immaginative. Whatever happened to the author?
Review: I chanced on this book a couple of days ago when I ran out of new books and was desperate. I remembered it from yonks ago as a great, great book and I wasn't disappointed. Years later I appreciate it more. A fabulously imaginative and very credible story, with just the right touch of --how can I put this "I'm so smart and you will never be"-- that marks the writer as someone who could only live in New York. Now that I look at it again after a ten+ year absence I appreciate the writing even more. What a shame to see it out of print when I can buy the latest P. Cornwell garbage without a problem.
Rating:
Summary: Brilliant!
Review: I couldn't put the book down. It was one of the most engaging books I've ever read.
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