Rating: 
Summary: Rich collision of characters and their stories
Review: The Tesseract offers a rich and diverse assortment of characters that collide in a novel that is original and intense. The setting in Manila provides the location whereby fate brings them together in the climax of the story, yet Alex Garland expertly weaves their past and futures intricately throughout the novel to grip the reader in a book not easy to put down. I anticipate more unique work from Garland.
Rating: 
Summary: Good, but not Great
Review: This was a good book, however, its message was rather obscure. It takes true literary genius to convey a message without blatantly stating it, and Garland comes close, but just misses. Overall, it was a fun read. I liked the unique style, jumping back and forth through time and such. I'm not sure yet whether the story lines would have more or less impact if they were written simultaneously, rather than divided into their separate parts. I'm definitely going to read Garland's "The Beach".
Rating: 
Summary: A travel trough faith
Review: If you are religious you`ll not like this book. It is about the fact that the reason that we are here or that we are unhappy is that we were lucky enough to not die and you never found your truth love because you didn`t look to the left side at the bus station. Other peoples bad actions will affect YOU some day and there is nothing you can do about it. The book is also amazingly thrilling and it made me look at life a bit different. Let things happen, and just relax. I read it on my way from Norway to Italy in one evening, I didn`t stop reading before the end. I am not sure if I enjoyed it as much as "The Beach", but it is the best book to this date, and I`ve read many great books....ALex Garland, you`re a genious.
Rating: 
Summary: A Magic Show
Review: Alex Garland is a magician of language, dissecting and constructing words to unravel layers of stories and emotions that, like the geometrical figure, he assembled and rotated before the audience's eyes, revealing marvels and yet keeping a lot in secret. It is only a pity that the show was not long enough to allow all the wonderment and thrill to sink in, and we see only surfaces of this mysterious tesseract. Coming from the city where he chose to hold such a show, and reading somewhere that he liked Manila better than the other cities he visited abroad, it's a pity that he never seemed to like it that much get to know it better. Alex Garland claimed he never had to do background research for this book -- having lived in Manila for a long time -- and that he never considered culture relevant in the story; that culture was incidental. That was a big mistake, because culture was not only not incidental but pivotal. I always had troubles with foreigners who have lived a year or two in another country and write about it as if they know the soul of its people inside out. Maybe he should have just stuck with the perspective of a total stranger, dazed, caught in confusion; the way he did in The Beach. The trouble is not with the story, not with the characters, maybe not with Alex Garland even. The trouble is all with the show, because just like the magic act, after pages and pages of enchantment and explosions, one really gets and understands nothing. Not the intent, not the characters. When Garland had one of the characters muttered "A Tesserract is something you can not understand..." the reader wonders if he is not just excusing himself.
Rating:
Summary: Fun read, but not much more
Review: This book is well-written, and has an interesting enough story that it would make a great read at the beach, in an airport, or on a long weekend. Descriptions of Garland's place in literature tend to be overstated. He is no Graham Greene (at least not yet), as the publishers would have us believe. The book reads surprisingly fast, an easy 270-plus pages. Definitely worth the time it would take to read, but be wary of those trying to sell this book as "the best" anything. Buy it, read it, and have fun.
Rating:
Summary: Tries to be intricate, but comes out convoluted instead
Review: I thought The Beach was great, and was hoping for something similar, in depth and thoughtfulness at least. But I found The Tesseract a mish-mash of characters, peppered with irrelevent dream sequences and semi-random characters. It wasn't BAD mind you - just not great, which is what I was expecting. Everyone else seems to think this book is another masterpiece, and maybe I'm just missing something - but I found it convoluted and choppy.
Rating: 
Summary: Could I please get my money back?
Review: I was extremely disappointed with Mr. Garland`s second novel. Apparently he is a victim all the premature praise heaped upon him for his first novel "The Beach", which although I found interesting, was essentially merely a retelling of "Lord of the Flies". In "The Tesseract" Mr. Garland attempts to write in a style far beyond that which he is capable of. The unfortunate result is a "novel" which is is not only poorly written but actually painful to read. One gets the feeling they are reading a 12-year old`s first meandering attempt at writing fiction. If Mr. Garland decides to continue writing, I hope that he realizes that his talent is not great, and that he would be best served to write in a simpler style. All in all, I very much regret having wasted my time reading "The Tesseract" and would warn all others to stay away from this worthless drivel.
Rating:
Summary: Thrilling and Intelligent
Review: I loved to read that book. When I read it I did not put it down a single time until I had finished it, though at first everything seems to be very strange. I read that Alex Garland did not do any research in advance which is really extraordinary for a book that plays in a foreign country. The characters are described with great accuracy and the plot is brilliantly designed. While reading you fear with each of the three parallel described main characters for each of their fates and wish you could change some things. Since the book has so many facets you should never stop thinking while reading the book because there are lots of subtle remarks you would miss. Since the author is still very young the book is also, and especially interesting for young people. I think even though the reviews by papers differ a lot from each other that this book is even better than his first novel "The Beach". By reading The Tasseract your heart is going to break not just once but lots of times with every character you get attached and even identify yourself with.
Rating:
Summary: He's done it again
Review: The Tesseract is one of those books you can't put down until your finished reading it. In the beginning I got a bit confused with all the character changes and found myself looking back a couple of times just to check the facts but it didn't take long to get used to the way the book is written. Sometimes, though, i did feel as if the book wasn't going anywhere and kind of rabbled on but all those thoughts disappeared when the extremely violent but extremely satisfying ending came about. The difference in this book though is that the characters are much more believable and you can really connect with them. I didn't think this book was going to very good but i'm pleased to say i was 100% wrong. I wouldn't be surprised if this book got turned into a movie in the near future, lets all hope it is a bit better than disappointing movie version of the beach. Pro's - The characters are much more belivable as is the location of where the book is set. Cons - The constant change of the characters perspectives.
Rating:
Summary: what a lot in such a short novel
Review: this man really is something special. the rashomon format (telling one story from multiple perspectives) is not new, but the novel as a whole, to my mind, glistens with originality. unlike in the beach where every character was an unlikeable smelly hippy, here garland makes you feel a close attachment to every single character. which is interesting, given that many of these people are in conflict with each other. with the tesseract, garland has created something which for me is all too rare--an edifying, intelligent, literary piece that is accessible and enjoyable to everyone.
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