Charisma

Rating:
Summary: Barnes is writers writer
Review: As an avid SF reader for over 30 years I wholeheartedly recommend reading this one! Barnes is the kind of writer whose brilliant use of language and characterization add rich layers to an already great story concept. Hard core SF readers will find this to be more of a psychological thriller in the vein of Phillip Dick than a hard science focussed work.

His central premise of using the essential nature of a hyper sucessful person as a template to be transferred a group of young "at risk" children is described a bit vaguely. However as the cornerstone of the story it does have impact as he unfolds all the clever twists that expose the flaw in the template's character. As we follow several of the children through several harrowing experiences the dark truth unfolds in a fine example of the thriller mystery form.

His acute observations of character details and inner emotional dialog draw you inside each of the central characters very rapidly. Each character - particularly the children have story arcs that pull you relentlessly forward. This is a true page turner, very hard to put down!

Rating:
Summary: Barnes is writers writer
Review: As an avid SF reader for over 30 years I wholeheartedly recommend reading this one! Barnes is the kind of writer whose brilliant use of language and characterization add rich layers to an already great story concept. Hard core SF readers will find this to be more of a psychological thriller in the vein of Phillip Dick than a hard science focussed work.

His central premise of using the essential nature of a hyper sucessful person as a template to be transferred a group of young "at risk" children is described a bit vaguely. However as the cornerstone of the story it does have impact as he unfolds all the clever twists that expose the flaw in the template's character. As we follow several of the children through several harrowing experiences the dark truth unfolds in a fine example of the thriller mystery form.

His acute observations of character details and inner emotional dialog draw you inside each of the central characters very rapidly. Each character - particularly the children have story arcs that pull you relentlessly forward. This is a true page turner, very hard to put down!

Rating:
Summary: Nature VS. Nurture
Review: Charisma is, insofar as I am aware, the ninth solo SF novel by Steven Barnes. He has also collaborated with Larry Niven (and others) in seven other SF novels.

In all his novels, Barnes focuses on the realization of human potential. Initially, such realization was based on the principles of martial arts and continues to do so to some extent, as witness the prominence in this book of the Nine Principles of Musashi. In his later works, Barnes draws more upon the discoveries and speculations of psychology.

In Charisma, a behavioral research laboratory has developed a series of treatments that can impress a person's personality unto the mind of a young child. Moreover, this regime can be applied en masse -- i.e., to many small groups of children -- by relatively unskilled personnel. With secret funding from another group, the laboratory precedes to test these procedures on selected, but uninformed, children throughout the country.

One of the test groups is involved in an infamous childcare abuse scandal in Claremont, Washington. Renny Sand had covered the case and met the family of Patrick Emory, one of the allegedly abused children. He was impressed by all three, but greatly stirred by the poise and beauty of Vivian, the mother. Six years later, the now down and almost out reporter stays overnight in Claremont, asks a few questions, learns that Otis, the father, has left his wife, and almost decides to visit the family, but instead sends a friendly email to Vivian.

Now 13 year old Patrick Emory, and his buddies from Claremont Daycare, are small-time entrepreneurs, earning money for themselves and helping Vivian increase the profits from her shop, Costumes, Period. The local dopers are having trouble with an outside motorcycle gang who intend to take over the drug trade. The outsiders beat up Manny, the dopers' youngest son and Patrick's friend, and then call out the locals to a meet by throwing a brick with a note through the front window. Since the locals are not home, Patrick and associates find the note and then throw the brick, note and all, through the front window of a local gay gym. When the outsiders get to the meeting place, the overdeveloped ironpumpers work them over so bad that several gang members leave town.

Patrick is fated to have other contacts with the motorcycle gang and to learn more about his nightmares and other oddities.

This novel tackles the old question of nature versus nurture and illustrates how both influence behavior. While the central premise -- impressing personality traits -- is probably not possible at this time -- except maybe in CIA labs -- it could well become feasible. How far should it be used? Other books have addressed this question -- see Phoenix Ship by the Richmonds -- but Barnes has approached the subject in a different way.

Barnes keeps getting better with each book. If you thought Blood Brothers was good, read this one. Recommended for all Steven Barnes fans and anyone who likes deep psychological thrillers, honest and hardworking heroes, dirty scumbags getting their just deserts, and a touch of romance.

Rating:
Summary: Nature VS. Nurture
Review: Charisma is, insofar as I am aware, the ninth solo SF novel by Steven Barnes. He has also collaborated with Larry Niven (and others) in seven other SF novels.

In all his novels, Barnes focuses on the realization of human potential. Initially, such realization was based on the principles of martial arts and continues to do so to some extent, as witness the prominence in this book of the Nine Principles of Musashi. In his later works, Barnes draws more upon the discoveries and speculations of psychology.

In Charisma, a behavioral research laboratory has developed a series of treatments that can impress a person's personality unto the mind of a young child. Moreover, this regime can be applied en masse -- i.e., to many small groups of children -- by relatively unskilled personnel. With secret funding from another group, the laboratory precedes to test these procedures on selected, but uninformed, children throughout the country.

One of the test groups is involved in an infamous childcare abuse scandal in Claremont, Washington. Renny Sand had covered the case and met the family of Patrick Emory, one of the allegedly abused children. He was impressed by all three, but greatly stirred by the poise and beauty of Vivian, the mother. Six years later, the now down and almost out reporter stays overnight in Claremont, asks a few questions, learns that Otis, the father, has left his wife, and almost decides to visit the family, but instead sends a friendly email to Vivian.

Now 13 year old Patrick Emory, and his buddies from Claremont Daycare, are small-time entrepreneurs, earning money for themselves and helping Vivian increase the profits from her shop, Costumes, Period. The local dopers are having trouble with an outside motorcycle gang who intend to take over the drug trade. The outsiders beat up Manny, the dopers' youngest son and Patrick's friend, and then call out the locals to a meet by throwing a brick with a note through the front window. Since the locals are not home, Patrick and associates find the note and then throw the brick, note and all, through the front window of a local gay gym. When the outsiders get to the meeting place, the overdeveloped ironpumpers work them over so bad that several gang members leave town.

Patrick is fated to have other contacts with the motorcycle gang and to learn more about his nightmares and other oddities.

This novel tackles the old question of nature versus nurture and illustrates how both influence behavior. While the central premise -- impressing personality traits -- is probably not possible at this time -- except maybe in CIA labs -- it could well become feasible. How far should it be used? Other books have addressed this question -- see Phoenix Ship by the Richmonds -- but Barnes has approached the subject in a different way.

Barnes keeps getting better with each book. If you thought Blood Brothers was good, read this one. Recommended for all Steven Barnes fans and anyone who likes deep psychological thrillers, honest and hardworking heroes, dirty scumbags getting their just deserts, and a touch of romance.

Rating:
Summary: Check out the book's cover
Review: Look carefully at the cover. It shows a stylised face in red light. If you read the book, the main character is a Negro male. Yet can you tell the race or ethnicity from the cover? If it depicts any character, surely the most appropriate is the main persona? Though perhaps the figure is meant to be an abstraction.

The alternative is that Barnes is again having problems with a publisher being reluctant to show a Negro on the cover. Now if you have never read any of his books, or you have read little science fiction, you might think this is absurd. But experienced readers may know what I mean. Barnes' first novel was Streetlethal, published in the early 80s. It was quite well received.

But within some SF circles, it was wryly cited as another example of residual racism in the publishing industry. The lead character, as here, was a Negro. But that cover showed a bare chested man, facing the reader. His upper body was in shadow. He looked more like a dark skinned European than a Negro. As a result, in the Los Angeles SF Conventions of the late 80s, you could incite an argument by mentioning Streetlethal.

Perhaps here, we are seeing a subtler example. Now don't get me wrong. I'm not accusing the publisher of racism per se. After all, it published Charisma, where many characters are Negro, and so is the author. But there still seems to be a perception by publishers that putting a Negro on a cover can diminish sales. (Look for example at the covers of Steve Stirling's Nantucket trilogy. The lead character is a female Negro, but the covers show white Americans.)

Rating:
Summary: Look out James Patterson
Review: Plan, by the time you are halfway through this book, to allot all your time to reading it. You won't want to put it down.

Steve Barnes is quite an extraordinary writer having co-authored best-selling science fiction with top-seller Larry Niven, and having written episodes of Outer Limits, Star Trek and Baywatch. Baywatch? Yes, he's blended all these different genres together here, in this book to provide a superb read.

This is a very smart book that does a great job including touchstones from contemporary life-- little details that we all live, experience and touch. They make it more real, more immediate, so we connect better with the characters, the scenes where the action unfolds.

It's hard to define the genre, but I'd compare it to James Patterson's Where the Wind Blows, which also used a plot about an experiment to build better children, gone awry. Call it mainstream fantasy with a slightly science fictional touch.

There are five or six different interwoven story threads that Steve Barnes does a beautiful job tying up neatly by the books suspenseful end. Each one develops characters we get to know and love or hate.

I had a chance to meet Steve Barnes recently. He is an amazing bundle of positive energy. This shines through in the writing. He's a disciplined, passionate writer, martial arts black belt, loving father and principled good guy. Yes. He made a good impression on me. There's a lot of character and integrity that shines through in the book, plus just enough sexuality to make it an adult book.

What blows my mind is the premise for the scifi aspect of the story-- that you can record behavior patterns and train others to reproduce the patterns of special people-- fits very nicely with some research I presented in 1981, using ski biofeedback to train beginners to move like experts. My model back then theorized that "template athletic biofeedback" could be used to teach average people to perform like great experts. Steve Barnes has taken this idea (obviously something he independently came up with) and woven it into a great story.

Rating:
Summary: www.SFReader.com Review
Review: Review by Lynn Nicole Louis

Steven Barnes has been around a while, having penned some collaborations with Larry Niven in 1981 and 1982, with Stretlethal, his first solo out (at least according to his web site) being released in 1983. Other books of his I've read and enjoyed include Gorgon Child, FireDance, and Blood Brothers. Lately though, it seems he's been very busy, with numerous book being released over the last few years. You can find reviews on www.SFReader.com of his recent novels Lion's Blood and Zulu Heart.

Well versed in martial arts, Barnes characters are often unique and intense individuals caught up in violent struggles. He's one of the best action/fight writers out there, with a special ability to create characters that are at once strong and vulnerable. His books reflect the abundant energy that Barnes obviously possesses. He also seems fascinated with the concept of the Japanese term Bushido, or The Way of the Warrior; that undeniable Warrior Spirit that pushes some people to the peak of their potential, be it for good or evil. I've enjoyed everything of his I've read, and Charisma is no exception.

The magic of childhood, the gritty reality of growing up, love, honor, ambition, redemption.... You'll find all that and more here in a book you won't want to put down.

Lynn Nicole Louis
Read the full review at www.SFReader.com