Rating: 
Summary: Typical Clarke imagination
Review: Science fiction has never been any good at producing novels with characters which are more than two-dimensional, and this book is no exception. SF revolves around its ideas and concepts (which is probably why it has always been looked down upon by literary critics - you know, the people who write to show how clever they are, rather than inform the public). This book is typical Clarke - it takes ideas at the cutting edge of science/technology, extrapolates them and follows the consequences of doing so. The result is a marvellous bit of imagination which kept me intrigued as Clarke progressively revealed more facets of his ideas. But for SF fans only!
Rating:
Summary: An engrossing tale.
Review: I liked this work of Clarke and Baxter (alright, I've never read anything by Clarke that I didn't like). I must admit I tend to enjoy Clarke as a sole author, I feel that he is more concise than with a co-author, however this book was a pleasant surprise. The physics is wayyyy out there, even for Clarke...I can't specify without giving it away, but let's just say that this one is a stretch ! I thoroghly enjoyed what they did with it though.I most enjoyed the very descriptive passages regarding historical observations (looking backward), I felt engrossed during the narrative. As usual, Clarke/Baxter speaks to the social changes induced by the advanced technology they postulate, however, I found this book to be lacking in believability in this respect. This one aspect of it was disappointing. The rest was very enjoyable. Notice how I haven't told you what the story is about, well I can't without taking away from the surprise elements. If you're an Arthur C. Clarke fan, I think you'll find this book worthwile (however it's no Childhood's End).
Rating: 
Summary: Technological Consequences vs Compelling Characters?
Review: Science Fiction, from its earliest days, has been decried by its critics as immature, pulp fantasy. Often this has been a well-deserved comment, as all too much science fiction is neither good science nor good fiction. Take an intelligent twelve-year-old to the movies with you and you are likely to hear, "Well, the alien was cool, but space is a vacuum and you couldn't hear the explosion, and the fire wouldn't have burned like that cause there's no atmosphere to burn, and anyway, why weren't they all floating around, cause everyone knows there's no gravity in outer space!", or some such. But many modern day science fiction writers, following the lead of such giants as Arthur C. Clarke and Issac Asimov, now incorporate good science into their works--thus the term "hard science fiction." Stephen Baxter is one of the hardest of these hard sci-fi writers, and his co-authorship with Clarke of "The Light of Other Days" fulfills its potential as the book is rich with the consequences of a speculative technology. In this case, we have, not time-travel, but time-vision and omni-vision. With the development of the "WormCam", a videocamera that can see macroscopic images anywhere in the universe and anywhere in the past, humanity faces a crisis of self. Compounding the issue is the impending crash of a gigantic asteroid into the Earth, which seemingly cannot be averted and which will almost surely destroy all intelligent life. (That the asteroid is called the Wormwood, the camera is the WormCam, the place the camera was developed is the Wormworks, and the phenomenon on which the technology is based is the Wormhole is all a bit much, and leads to some confusion on the part of the inattentive reader. But that's another can of worms...) Clarke and Baxter relentlessly pursue the consequences of the total loss of privacy, the abuse of power, the subsequent counter-measures, the demise of society's most cherished myths, the effect on religion, and so forth. I can easily imagine a brain-storming session between the two writers--it must have been quite exciting, with ideas and their consequences flying fast and furious. Hard sci-fi fans will love this book, and as an exploration of ideas, it is very good indeed. But there is another side to science fiction, and that is the personal side, the fiction more than the science. And here, frankly, like so much "hard sci-fi" writing, I feel that Clarke and Baxter have let their readers down a bit. It is one thing to say "society will be affected this way by this development" and another thing entirely to write a tale with characters who are caught up in those developments that the readers care about. The first is *telling,* and it is the domain of dissertations, newspapers, science journals. The second is *showing,* and it is the true ART of fiction writing. There are so many good writers of fiction now, who create very compelling characters that truly grip us with their dilemmas--James Lee Burke, James Hall, Michael Connelly (none of these are sci-fi writers, admittedly) to name but a very few. It seemed to me a great shame that the ideas of this book, which were very interesting and well-thought out, were hung on such weak characters. Indeed, at times the story-line, such as it was, was abandoned just for such "telling" writing as "quotes" from books and journals, etc. published about historical or sociological research. I should have been prepared for this when the first character to appear apparently dies of a heart attack at the end of the first chapter and no mention of him is ever made again. Although I often decry the lack of good editing, as so many of today's writers seem to me to "over-write", and a compact book of 200 pages or so is a rarity today, in this particular case I think the authors simply needed more space to tell their tale in a more compelling way. If this had had the characterizations of Robert Heinlein's Stranger in a Strange Land it would have been an instant classic. But I'm afraid that in its current state it will not gain a wider appeal beyond hard-core hard sci-fi fans.
Rating: 
Summary: Hard-science fiction fans. This is for you!
Review: I really enjoy reading this book. One of the most interesting time travel SF I have read. The way wormholes are applied as a camara into the past is very clever (and available to everybody). If you liked M.Chrichton "Timeline", you will enjoy this novel even better. The ride into the past is not limited to one jump. Besides, the philosophical consequences of peeking your neighbors and into the past are very good, and tell you a lot about the true nature of humankind. One Warning: If you are a very religious person, the book is not for you or skip Chapter 21. You probably might be offended by the fiction abuout J.C.'s life. Clark's couldn't resist charging against religion again. P.D: To other fellow reviewers. Please don't tell the story's plot in your review. Let the new readers enjoy the book.
Rating:
Summary: Man becomes god
Review: This book has two sides to it. One is the well-imagined physics of the Worm-cam, and the sweeping implications of being able to look into the past. Many of the depicted consequences are very likely and believably rendered. However, I strongly doubt that humankind will simply give up privacy without resistance. Privacy, and secrecy, are indeed the keys to successful power machinations, and those in power would certainly push an invisibility technology of some kind: wars would continue. The second side to this book is its flagrant, over-optimistic humanism. For starters, the authors take much joy in debunking everything in every way, even to the point of debunking a future "debunked history" of Abraham Lincoln. (The only person who escapes debunking is the "Father of Debunking", Charles Darwin.) After doing away with all ancient "superstitions", Clarke and Baxter finally elevate humanity in its newfound oneness to the true god, with immortality and nearly unlimited power. This unreflected optimism in our human race and its technology very much tarnished the pleasure I found in what was otherwise an intelligent, vivid account of a new world order. I also missed a description of the transition between the two world orders, the turmoil of which is hard to imagine. Looking back, I should have been warned. One of the first uses of the Worm-cam was to peek at nude Ginger Spice - elevated to the office of UN Secretary General...
Rating: 
Summary: Not Mad - Just Disappointed
Review: While not a bad read, I think the book tried to cover way too much ground in 300 pages. The treatment of issues was superficial and the authors seemed to be trying to cram as many interesting topics as possible into one book. As a result the characters were underdeveloped and their relationships were not well defined.
Rating:
Summary: A good thought provoking read into the near future possible
Review: I enjoyed this collaborative piece of work very much but it did remind me of Richard Halperin's "Truth Machine" . In fact , as I recall , they even mentioned the wormCams acting as a truth machine.
Rating:
Summary: Too many subjects with too shallow a treatment
Review: When I purchased this book, I thought that the idea of a "time viewer" was very interesting, and that a novel based on this idea should be captivating. After having read the book, I am still convinced it is a very interesting idea, but not as treated here! First, I don't see the point of mixing the "time viewer" story with other developments(the Wormwood, the head implants) that have nothing to do with it. Second, the book looks more like a first draft of a script rather than a book. Characters are shallow at best. There is no real story, only a minimalist plot designed to cover as many consequences of the "distance/time viewer" as possible. I am wondering whether the two authors have even tried to put their ideas together and to select the best among them, rather than each adding his first thoughts on this novel. Don't waste your time and money on this superficial SF script!
Rating:
Summary: The Light of other days
Review: The Light of Other Days, was a book about how much technology has engrossed itself into the American Public's lives and it also dealt with how much we love to be voyeurs and watch other peoples lives but we never seem to care too much about our own. Therefore, we think our live is too dull and boring while any other persons is well worth watching! Just as long as its not our own. It centers on 3 main characters, Hiram Patterson, the lonely, currupt, billionaire who sits in his Ivory tower wondering how much money he can make tommrrow. Hiram one day comes up with the wild idea to develop worm holes that allow everyone to see everyone else anytime they want. Hirams cockiness shows through at his introduction party to the worm cams with this quote "My gadge is going to top them all! Just wait untill you see how much money it makes!" Therefore, the WormCams are introduced and society goes nuts for them. The following quote describes what happened all too well. "With the release of the worm cams, came obssesiveness to watching anybody all the time and people being to become hermits in their homes. The streets always seemed to be empty and desolate. It seemed the whole world was so awe struck by the Worm Cams it was almost too much to bear." Then, the two other main characters, Hiram's sons Bobby and David find a way for the worm cam to see into the past which raises even more controversy and arguements. The following quote shows what happened all too well. "They found a way to see into the past. Bastards. Now anyone can see, past unresolved fights, unresolved murders, accidents, places of lost loves ones. The possibilies were endless. The question was, "Was society ready for this." The rest of the story is built around what happens to society as a result of the Worm Cam and how Hiram and his family get treated because of it. This book is a very easy read and the science in it does not become overwhelming too many times. Baxter and Clarke keep it at a minnimum so the whole book won't turn into a report on worm holes and quantam physics. Which I think is a job well done. This book also had hilarious satire of our society and Bill Gates which I thought was incorpoarated well into the book and made it quite fun to read. Some problems I did find were, when a surprise was revealed about a main character I was remotely surprised but I was not at all astonished. Like in the following scene where Bobby and Kate are making love, "Kate ran her fingers through the back of his hair, touching something metal and metallic. It was a brain stud." To me there wasn't enough build up to it. To make me care as much about it and actually be really surprised. Therefore, Baxter and Clarke could have spent a bit more time on that. IN on part where David explores space with the VR helmet the descriptions go on for at least 3 pages. To me that made the book slow down considerably and it made me want to stop reading and put it down. Baxter and Clarke need to work on limiting some descriptions to a few lines and not pages of it! I would recommend this book to anyone who likes any sci-fi books, loves to see authors intrepratations of how our society may turn out like in the following quote, "The sreets were dark and empty. Not even a rat moved down the road. Deadly quiet because it seems the whole world had become hermits. Addicts to the worm cams." Also, if they like to see huge Corporation CEO'S made fun of and their worst characteristics brought to life like in the following quote, "Hiram waved a hand at the technicians. Look at these guys. They're working for a promise: for dreams of their youth, aspiration, self-fulfillment. If you can tap into that, you can get people to work like pit ponies, and for pennies." To me it is scary how badly that rings true in our society. All in all The Light of Other Days was a great read and I will make a point to check out more of Baxters and Clarkes work's!
Rating:
Summary: The Light of Other Days is thought-provoking!
Review: This book really made me look at my everyday perceptions of life. It made me examine the concept of privacy & how that privacy cocoons my thoughts & actions. I found this book a bit of a slog as most all of Arthur C. Clarke's books have been but the concepts were absolutely riveting. Would I read this book again? Yes! Do check out my full review at [my website].
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