Downwinders : An Atomic Tale

Rating:
Summary: Where truth and fiction meet.....
Review: If one enjoys being transported in time, to a rarely heard about place of unbelievable actions, deeds beyond reason, the incredible actual events of fifty years ago, then this book is a "must read"! Over 1000 Atomic Bombs were detonated in the name of the Cold War and National Security in the supposedly "uninhabited" area of the Nevada desert. These events, are central to the storyline of this book. The people who's lives were changed, forever, affected by these historic events, call themselfs Downwinders.... The story claims to be fiction, but the honesty and factuality of the description of events, which indeed happened as described, leaves the reader fascinated. It is a mystery plot, taking place in an around Las Vegas, Nevada. A murder triggers the events described and takes the reader on a journey where past and present events meet. The story is intriguing, active and very absorbing. A rancher and his niece, an attorney, a scientist, and various colorful charters make this a truly enjoyable and easy to follow book. Each character is pictured realistically, human in every sense, their actions are not contrived. The descriptions show a clear and deep understanding of the feelings and thoughts of the people who settled in the beautiful deserts of Utah and Nevada. The tale takes us litterally on a journey to Canyons of despair reminescent of the past, to the winding road of the present, and to the hope-filled halls of justice in the future. Given that this historical subject is still mostly hidden from the American public the writers should be highly commended for tackling it in such a truly enjoyable fashion.

Rating:
Summary: Great info, bad fiction
Review: The basis of the book is fascinating, but for the reader (or at least this reader) the execution is lacking anything more than a little hope that eventually the book will get good. The factual information presented is intriguing but it gets lost amidst a cliche love story that reads a little too much like a cheap romance novel. Ultimately the message the authors were trying to present would have been better played out through non-fiction -- they seem to write that well -- or with the help of a stronger editor.

Rating:
Summary: Great info, bad fiction
Review: The basis of the book is fascinating, but for the reader (or at least this reader) the execution is lacking anything more than a little hope that eventually the book will get good. The factual information presented is intriguing but it gets lost amidst a cliche love story that reads a little too much like a cheap romance novel. Ultimately the message the authors were trying to present would have been better played out through non-fiction -- they seem to write that well -- or with the help of a stronger editor.