Rating: 
Summary: Excellent solo debut
Review: After seven great novels (and one in the can) with Douglas Preston, Lincoln Child decided to stretch his legs as a solo writer with "Utopia". As a long time fan of the two, I couldn't have been more impressed with the result. Like his collaborative efforts, "Utopia" offers a genuinely original story wrapped up in all kinds of neat technology. What makes "Utopia" shine, though, is the excellent back-story and the superb characters."Utopia" is set in an amusement park of the same name, but this isn't just any amusement park. It is an enormous glass dome in the middle of the Nevada desert. Inside, one can find astonishingly realistic recreations of Victorian England, a turn of the Century American seaside boardwalk, Camelot and a futuristic spaceport (and, Atlantis: Coming Soon!). Of course each area includes the most fantastic rides one can imagine, as well as restaurants, live shows, reasonably priced forty dollar t-shirts and...casinos. Moreover, Utopia is the owner of hundreds of patents relating to holograms , robotics and computing. As one might imagine, all of this money and technology makes for a tempting target, and right on cue, John Doe appears to insert chaos into this little piece of paradise. At the same time, Andrew Warne, the creator of the park's robots, arrives to troubleshoot some strange problems that have been occurring (with daughter in tow). As mayhem breaks loose in the park, Warne struggles to decipher Doe's plan, and stop him before it's too late. The story is unlike anything I have ever encountered before; a rare unique effort in a world of rehashed ideas. But it was the characters that impressed me the most. In addition to capturing their current concerns and fears beautifully, Child is constantly dropping little hints about their pasts: where they came from, what they do, who they love, etc. At the same time, he never let's himself get distracted; he doesn't diverge from the story, but rather inserts little asides to flesh out the characters without delving into reams of details. He is particularly successful with John Doe in this regard, and the result is a compelling, but mysterious character. "Utopia" is a fast paced thriller with a lot of heart. Wrapped in a high-tech wonderland, there are characters with believable, rich lives. The pacing, structure and use of language are all likewise excellent. I have to admit, having been a long time fan of Child's joint work, I was concerned about his decision to go solo. I needn't have been, as "Utopia" is an excellent novel by any measure. Now I just have to wait eagerly for Preston's solo effort later this year!
Rating: 
Summary: Worth reading but not remembering
Review: Hard to rate this book, honestly, especially without half stars. I disagree greatly with several of the reviews here. For one, comparing it to Die Hard is a completely unfair way to sell this to a potential buyer. Die Hard was a game of cat and mouse, full of action. There isn't much action in this book, nor any hiding. In fact, there's only one true gunfight, and it lasts 3 bullets. More bullets are fired in other areas of the book, but it's against unarmed, unknowing people. It's also unfair to compare this book to Jurassic Park. Jurassic Park was a book about technology and action within a theme park of sorts. This is a book involving some technology and action within a true theme park, but it's a different breed. The action is limited, and the technology isn't explained or even described much, just presented as something that exists. There are also some groaners. Most notably is the Wingnut character mentioned in other reviews. From his first appearance you know here's there simply to be sacrificed. No surprises there, but to the authors credit he downplays the convenient behavior trait that leads to his usefulness, and incorporates it more as part of a whole rather than a way to exploit. You may see Wingnut's usefulness coming, but Child doesn't get lazy and leave it at that. Another issue is the terrorists themselves. At one point it's mentioned that people would be shocked if they knew the true face of the ringleader, yet nothing comes from it after he's stopped. A shame, but only due to that line. So I've told you what this book isn't really, and that it has problems. Is it worth reading? Yes. The book is essentially a crisis book within a theme park, a difficult concept to make realistic. Child takes great effort to make it so, giving reasons why obvious answers must be ignored, and taking into account how a corporation would likely act. Nothing is too unrealistic, and none of the plot will make you groan very hard at all. This is arguably Child's greatest accomplishment within the book. It's interesting, the characters have some depth to them, and you'll keep reading. The full potential is never realized, but there are no falls off the edge, so you'll read with a smile. A solid effort. Not amazing, but solid enough that I look forward to Child's next solo effot.
Rating:
Summary: A fun well-written adventure
Review: I bought this book simply by the description but I thouroughly enjoyed it! This is an inventive world that the author places you in w/ engaging characters. Some might argue it is a bit predictable but I did not feel led along. I enjoyed getting to the end. The format in using time for each chapter was a nice touch.
I highly recommend this book. What a fun read.
Rating:
Summary: An egrossing read, certainly a master of the thriller
Review: I have just finished reading Utopia - and, as a fan of the Preston and Child duo, I feel that this beats certain favourites including Relic ! The story is well thought out, although I was worried it was going to be another "westworld" - but it certainly isn't anything like it. As a fan of theme park mechanics I am amazed how much research Lincoln Child put into this. I have to complain that the depthness of the main characters are not as good as when he teams with Doug - but its certainly not important as the story takes you along a rollercoaster thrill ride (excuse the pun) from page to page ! Just like all of the Preston/Child books - you get half way through, second guessing what is about to happen, and confused at the remaining hundred pages or so ! But suddenly, the story twists and you're immediately back in the plot, running through a fantasy world of intrigue and close disasters ! Lincoln Child is writing a second book - yet he still co-writes with Douglas Preston - at the rate they are starting to churn out these awesome stories, my only hope is that the quality remains and continues to keep me in suspense !
Rating:
Summary: Cheap Thrills
Review: I'm a big fan of the Preston/Child writing team - Relic, The Cabinet of Curiosities, Still Life with Crows, Mount Dragon, Riptide, etc. - all great examples of rapid-paced modern fiction with enough research and technical detail to make them believable. This was my first read of Child going solo, and while perhaps not up to the standards of the duo, "Utopia" will certainly not disappoint. Set in Utopia, a futuristic theme park under a massive dome in the Nevada dessert, our unlikely hero, Dr. Andrew Warne, is a robotics designer and former professor from Carnegie Mellon. Summoned to Utopia to help solve apparent bugs in the extraordinary advanced and complex systems network he has created, Warne soon finds himself caught up in a terrorist plot in which the park's 65,000 visitors are unknowing hostages. There is nothing special or endearing in the characters - no "special agent Pendergasts" in this Child installment - though "Utopia" has more than its fill of suspense and adrenalin, and the right balance of technology between credibility and tedium. But while reading "Utopia", it is impossible not to recall "Die Hard" - the impossibly urbane chief villain, the accidental hero, the sinister scheme a mere diversion to the ultimate objective, the peril in which the protagonist's loved ones are placed. While this is not necessarily a bad thing, the familiarity of the plot and predictability of the ending prevent Utopia from earning a four or five star rating. Notwithstanding, this is an entertaining thriller, and a fascinating glimpse into the complex behind-the-scenes operations of a major theme park. It is quite evident that Child likely spent considerable time in the Disney World underground as preparation for Utopia. Preston/Child fans will find this comfortable ground, while the uninitiated can expect in "Utopia" a journey right up there with some of Michael Crichton's better techno-thrillers.
Rating: 
Summary: Child Offers Up Good Solid Fun
Review: I'm a fervent fan of Child and Preston and am happy to report that when Child wanders off on his own to write a yarn, he does NOT disappoint.
I'll admit when I first read the book's blurb I wasn't exactly bowled over about the idea of a theme park tucked away in the Mojave Desert for a setting. Frankly I would have been happier if Child had opted to place his novel in a Reno casino setting, or maybe even a glacier off the Arctic. The theme park idea seemed hokey. Well, I was wrong.
Child took the theme park, gave it a futuristic sci-fi kinda feel, tossed in some of the best now-you-see-'em-now-you-don't thugs (with brains), plopped in a memorable robot dog, a nice, but a little slow sometimes, hero, an excellent unexpected side-kick, and . . . this is the best part . . .
a plot twist that actually surprises the reader.
I don't mean to sound jaded, but after reading action/thriller/horror/mystery novels for over 25 years I can basically count on figuring out a book's ending way too soon. And predictable spells boring.
Well folks, Utopia is NOT boring! Read the book.
Rating:
Summary: For a thrill ride!
Review: Just finished reading Utopia written by Lincoln Child, 1/2 of the co-writing team (the other one being Douglas Preston) that brought us the excellent horror novel Relic (one of my favorite chillers). I like a good chilling and thrilling page turner, and these guys know how to write em. Utopia is the name of a mega theme-park built in the desert outside of Las Vegas. The place is so high-tech that a cabal of super stealthy thieves plot to steal the computer codes that run its infrastructure (as well as rob its vault). Child (and Preston) know how to vividly create a whole world and populate it with interesting characters and Utopia is no exception. The action starts right from page one and you won't be able to put it down. I actually put the book in my pocket and took it with me so that I could read a page or two while waiting on line in stores! Next I plan to start Dan Brown's Angels & Demons, the book that preceded The Da Vinci Code. After that, The Codex written by Preston.
Rating:
Summary: Utopia is a thrill ride that you will find hard to put down!
Review: Lincoln Child's first solo novel is fantastic. If you have read any of the Preston/Child books in the past, this will not disappoint! Utopia takes place in a futuristic theme park in Nevada. It is filled with futuristic rides that blast you into zero gravity and filled with holographic surprises around every corner. The park, named Utopia, is completely shut off from the outside world, and thus makes for a fascinating setting to an action packed day. The story basically takes you through Dr. Andrew Warne's first visit to a theme park that he in a way helped create. He is there to help fix a computer program that he created to control all of the parks robots. But this is no ordinary day as John Doe (who we know very little about) is in the park to pull of the crime of the century. The story is fast paced as Warne others try to stop Doe from pulling of the crime and killing the innocent people in the park. From the opening chapter to the last page there are twists and turns that will keep you turning the pages. We meet interesting side characters like Wingnut, a robot dog, and are taken along on the rides in the park that are described in a way that makes you feel like you are sitting next to the person in the book. There are some technical aspects of the park in the book, but I think that this adds to the overall story! All in all a wonderful novel and a great solo work by Mr. Child. I highly recommend this book, and all other Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child books!
Rating:
Summary: Sounds Familiar
Review: The story of this book is good, but the desciptions of Utopia sounded so familiar to me until it dawned on me that it sounds a lot like Disney World. There are two many similarities. The building facades creating the second and third stories are just like Disney. The underground (can you say Utilidors?) is just like Disney. Utopia being its own community with its own government is just like Disney. Even the fact that the creator died before it opened is just like Disney. I love the story the way it is written out, but it would have been nice if it wasn't so similar. It didn't make me want to fly to Vegas to see a park called Utopia. It made me want to drive to Florida to get another glimpse of Mickey Mouse and see the wondrous parks collectively called Walt Disney World.
Rating:
Summary: Sounds Familiar
Review: The story of this book is good, but the desciptions of Utopia sounded so familiar to me until it dawned on me that it sounds a lot like Disney World. There are two many similarities. The building facades creating the second and third stories are just like Disney. The underground (can you say Utilidors?) is just like Disney. Utopia being its own community with its own government is just like Disney. Even the fact that the creator died before it opened is just like Disney. I love the story the way it is written out, but it would have been nice if it wasn't so similar. It didn't make me want to fly to Vegas to see a park called Utopia. It made me want to drive to Florida to get another glimpse of Mickey Mouse and see the wondrous parks collectively called Walt Disney World.
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