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.
Rating:
Summary: Sorry, Not As Starry-eyed As Other Reviewers.
Review: While I found Vulcan's Forge to be entertaining, I cannot bring myself to mimic the other reviewers' comments upon Mr. Du Brul's research. There were many flaws found throughout the story. Two glaring examples are that Mr. Du Brul still refers to the Russian intelligence agency as the "KGB" and the carrying of a Heckler & Koch VP70 pistol by an agent of the FBI (which is expressly forbidden). I also found Mercer to be a painfully cliched character reminiscent of a 1940's dime novel hero (cold, calculating, forceful, borderline alcoholic, genius, devastatingly handsome and rich to boot). Mr. Du Brul's descriptiveness was almost overbearing in some cases which almost caused me to put the book down in impatient exasperation. In all honesty, I did find the plot intriguing with an interesting twist at the climax. Mr. Du Brul does seem to show promise and I suspect that he may soon be nipping on the heels of some of the more well-known suspense writers when he gets a little more "life experience" behind him.
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