Machine Dreams

Rating:
Summary: A Thrilling Distopian Tale
Review: Machine Dreams presents the reader a futuristic world that seems the epitomy of things gone wrong. Yet, it is a world that we cannot wholely disown for hidden in each scene is a tie to our present. Within this world is an action-filled story with many subplots, twists, and turns, including a horrifying surprise at the end. Machine Dreams is definately a good book for an exciting story and a stimulating perspective of the future.

Rating:
Summary: A Terrific Debut From Joshua Mertz
Review: Novelist joshua Mertz escapes many of the pitfalls of first-time sci-fi writers and creates a surprising and stunning debut with "Machine Dreams." Mertz thankfully knows that charactarization and plot need not be sacraficed for whiz-bang gadgetry and high tech concepts in this genre, and provides the reader with both compelling characters and fascinating ideas. Though some of the premises found in "Machine Dreams" seem familiar from other classic sci-fi works (the corporate political control of Robinson's "Mars" series, the clausterphobic urban sprawl of "Bladerunner," the total sensory technology of "Brainstorm"), Mertz manages to present enough new ideas and interesting twists to make his world of San Frangeles a unique place in the sc-fi lexicon. Anson Hockney, the main protagonist, comes across at first as an uneven and sometimes contradictory character, but what seems like a flaw on the part of an inexperienced writer instead reveals itself as a brilliant plot twist by the end of the book. Packed with action but never at the cost of believability, "Machine Dreams" is an actual page-turning thriller. But the real beauty of this book lies in Mertz' unique vocabulary; in his ability to make his world come alive at a sensual level through his choice of words, metaphor and analogy. Buy this book and enjoy it, and we'll all wait impatiently for Mertz' next offering.

Rating:
Summary: A Terrific Debut From Joshua Mertz
Review: Novelist joshua Mertz escapes many of the pitfalls of first-time sci-fi writers and creates a surprising and stunning debut with "Machine Dreams." Mertz thankfully knows that charactarization and plot need not be sacraficed for whiz-bang gadgetry and high tech concepts in this genre, and provides the reader with both compelling characters and fascinating ideas. Though some of the premises found in "Machine Dreams" seem familiar from other classic sci-fi works (the corporate political control of Robinson's "Mars" series, the clausterphobic urban sprawl of "Bladerunner," the total sensory technology of "Brainstorm"), Mertz manages to present enough new ideas and interesting twists to make his world of San Frangeles a unique place in the sc-fi lexicon. Anson Hockney, the main protagonist, comes across at first as an uneven and sometimes contradictory character, but what seems like a flaw on the part of an inexperienced writer instead reveals itself as a brilliant plot twist by the end of the book. Packed with action but never at the cost of believability, "Machine Dreams" is an actual page-turning thriller. But the real beauty of this book lies in Mertz' unique vocabulary; in his ability to make his world come alive at a sensual level through his choice of words, metaphor and analogy. Buy this book and enjoy it, and we'll all wait impatiently for Mertz' next offering.