Link

Rating:
Summary: Super adventure novel... that does stretch some science
Review: I agree with one of the reviewers who said that they have been to Tiahuanaco, and it isn't quite as remote as the author depicts. However, I thought Mr. Becker did a wonderful job keeping it as true to life as possible. At least as true as Micheal Crichton or any of the other adventure writers (who write about dinosaurs existing on a small island off Costa Rica, for instance.) Frankly, some things must be stretched in science fiction for purposes of the story I feel. As to the other science in the book, I felt it was all right on-- though perhaps from less orthodox sources. At any rate, I agree with the reviewer that the book should get five stars as an adventure tale! It was one of my favorite books of the year.

Rating:
Summary: Great Read!
Review: Loved this book. Would recommend it to anyone and everyone as great, entertaining commercial fiction!

Rating:
Summary: Good adventure, but illogical silly sloppy science
Review: This is a hard book to review. As an adventure novel, it deserves five stars. However, it is really sloppy when it comes to science, especially since it contains an afterword that claims that many of the details of the book are true and reflect real science. The author obviously does not understand the first thing about natural selection and evolution, even though he has the "scientists" in the story talk about these subjects at length. Also, he obviously has not researched the sites in this story. While I have not been to Mali, I have spent time as a tourist in Bolivia. Tiahuanaco, while a bit off the beaten path, is essentially right off the Pan-American highway and has tourist buses passing through the area on a daily basis. It is probably the major tourist site in the country. Nor is Lake Titicaca anywhere near as primitive as depicted(it is also a ways away from the major drug producing areas). The author really should do some research if he wants to use real locations and science in his novels.

Rating:
Summary: A JEWEL OF A STORY
Review: I found LINK to be a fascinating and exciting adventure. I agree with some of the other readers that the book should be read as entertainment-- not science. But as far as entertainment goes-- this book was a dandy. Reads fast. Definitely recommend it!

Rating:
Summary: An Entertaining Premise!
Review: It just so happens that I read this novel after reading a wonderful non-fiction book, COSMIC TEST TUBE, which details all of the theories ever proposed about extraterrestrial visitation. Becker skillfully wove several of the ideas described in that book into this stimulating novel, which you will enjoy if you keep repeating this mantra over and over: I am willing to suspend disbelief, I am willing to suspend disbelief.

Rating:
Summary: link takes a particular kind of reader
Review: There are people bashing and there are people praising. The bashers probably aren't the type of people who are looking for a different, no matter how far-fetched, explanation for the missing link. The praisers most likely enjoy theory and adventure. This FICTIONAL NOVEL, may I remind you, is for enjoyment. It is probably not firmly based on any serious scientific research or theory paper. If you allow your mind to stretch beyond the horizons and find the topic of this book appealing, pick it up and prepare for a suspenseful thriller! If not, find somethin' else.

Rating:
Summary: Someone please muzzle the sluggard who's author-bashing!
Review: Shame on the reader from Hollywood. Something is tragically wrong with a person venemous enough to write such attacks about ANY author. LINK was a brilliant novel, from what I perceived was a talented, first-time author. The writing is solid throughout-- and doesn't presume to be anything but commercial fiction. It is particularly irksome to me when unintelligent people try to berate someone else's work because they disagree with its theme. The author has obviously written a book of FICTION-- which is why for you "less-read" folks-- it is found in the FICTION section. The characters in the book are just that-- characters! They have their own views, independent of our world and our reality. What a pitiful place this would be if every fictional character in every fictional story held our exact same views on life. Kudos to Mr. Becker on a fine work-- and shame on the spiteful chap who needs to demonstrate how truly ignorant he is. A helpful hint: try looking up the distinction between fiction and non-fiction in any dictionary...

Rating:
Summary: WONDERFUL STORY WELL TOLD!
Review: This was just a fantastic book! I really couldn't put it down. Mr. Becker is a talented wordsmith-- and I can't wait for his next novel. If anyone enjoys adventure stories or science-fiction, they will probably enjoy this.

Rating:
Summary: A HEAD LIKE A BOX OF ROCKS
Review: I find it very interesting that so many reviewers have commented on the fact that this poorly written book reads like an adaptation of a lousy movie script. Very few people know this, but that is EXACTLY what it is! Walt Becker first wrote a screenplay-version of this insipid story, but it was too poorly written even for those Hollywood cokeheads who make movies these days. So Becker adapted this into the awful novel we have before us. How do I know this? I had the misfortune of going to a lecture by this author. He's a creationist who puts down Darwinism without understanding the first thing about it. He holds, like ignorant people since Scopes, that Darwin claimed that man is descended from apes. Darwin NEVER claimed this. Instead, Darwin theorized that apes and humans had a common ancestor. Becker sticks that bibliography at the end so that he can fool people into thinking he is "smart." The man is anything but. He believes the Bible is literally true and claims it contains stories about space aliens! He's just not very quick--he's about as slow as the pace of his writing--he has a dithering, big-tongued way of talking, as though he were on medication of some sort, and listening to him is like being lectured by a guy with a head full of rocks. So everybody who gave this book one star is right, and everybody who gave it five should take a freshman composition course at the local JC to learn what a sentence is!

Rating:
Summary: This is for everyone who bashed this book...
Review: Hey, I already wrote in praise of this book, but after reading all the other reviews, I have to clear something up for everyone who gave it a "1" This is a work of FICTION. The author does not claim it's true. The big bibliography is supposed to make you wonder. And another thing: If he really does believe this, it's his right. We live in America, the land of the free. If he believes we are all aliens, and you don't, then don't talk to him. If you would just read the book for what it is, an entertaining piece of literature, and suspend your belief for the day or two it takes to read, you might find yourself enjoying life. If you want nonfiction, read nonfiction. Idiots.