Rating: 
Summary: wilson does it again
Review: there's no one like RCW. i was put off by the cover art. as my friend pointed out, cover art is really something W needs to work on. as for the premise of blind lake, i just wasn't interested. the jacket summary didn't grab me. but, diehard fan that i am (and i'm tremendously picky about sci fi--the only other sf author i read is dan simmons)i picked up a copy. i figured i'd at least enjoy RCW's ultra-realistic characterizations, ratcheting tension, and great prose. but, it turns out, there are some fantastic ideas driving this book. especially the technology itself: an orbital telescopic interferometer array starts to lose signal strength and a new, poorly understood, self-evolving quantum computer is employed to "breed solutions" for ways to boost the signal strength and thus continue to pull forth images of extrasolar worlds from the background noise, as the system gradually fails. the goal is: milk it, till it dies. but then the telescope does die, and goes offline. the computer not only keeps providing images, but has developed the ability to resolve individuals on the planets' surface. but can the images be taken at face value? how is the machine doing this? if you know anything about quantum computers, this is just a great new twist...seems quite original. and it only gets weirder from there. startling ideas. the book, like some of wilson's others, is thematic. it asks questions, is more than a mindless read. i haven't finished yet, and wouldn't want to reveal too much in an online review. but if you want good, thoughtful SF, this guy delivers. also check out 'the chronoliths,' 'a hidden place,' and, if you can find it, 'the divide.'
Rating:
Summary: Blind Lake
Review: This is one of those novels difficult to review because it has both strengths and weaknesses. Overall, however, I enjoyed it because the characters are well drawn and interesting.
Blind Lake is a federal research installation that through a quantum computing device can observe life on another planet. Suddenly, the installation is quarantined and nobody trapped at Blind Lake knows why. The quantum computer appears to have become self-aware and it, or another alien form, is also watching us by following around a key character in the book. The plot device itself is a little thin and the mystery pretty remains by the end without a clear denouement. In the context of this novel that is okay and makes sense. Wilson provides a bit of unique take on quantum computing, artificial intelligence, and life on other planets.
I certainly wouldn't call this a great novel but it is entertaining.
Rating:
Summary: Humane Science Fiction
Review: Transformation is a classic theme in science fiction, and of the Old Masters, few wrote about it with as much humanity as Clifford Simak. "Blind Lake" evokes that same approach--not just because of its Minnesota setting--in a very satisfying story that is suspenseful without blockbuster-type special effects. Wilson's last novel, "Chronoliths", has echoed in my mind for two years, seeming especially relevant in the post-9/11 world. I expect "Blind Lake" to linger on, too. I'm not sure "Blind Lake" is quite up to its predecessor's 5 stars, so call it 4 1/2.
Rating: 
Summary: Not What I Expected
Review: Unlike most sf novels, more character development here. Unfortunately that is about all I can say for this book which was a great disappointment. We are presented with the existence of an alien being early in the novel and then not much happens and the ending is unspectacular.
Rating:
Summary: Disjointed, trite, predictable...
Review: Yet another case of a great idea mangled in the presentation. The notion that we may be able to view other worlds in incredible detail is not new, but the idea that the method for doing so involves an evolving, "living", machine may be. The blurb sounded convincing even if a little vague.
Where to start? First of all, the "literary" qualities are, how to say this, lacking at best. I'm not asking for "Dune" or "Shore of Women" or "Infinity Beach". I would perfer, though, that the book not employ size 14 font and use only half the first page of each chapter (for unexplained reasons). Dialogue is fakey, like what people say in books instead of real life. The romance (quote unquote) is strictly amateur stuff. There are so many characters that individual detail is impossible and all are superficial stereotypes. ..troubled girl, vengeful, divorced dad, cynical reporter, sneaky secretary, religious fraud. Not one stays with the reader after the last page. The occasional and gratuitous use of the "F" word sounds phony and forced - shock value that is not shocking.
The "shutdown" (the cored of the story) is handled clumsily, never fully explained and the science, particularly "Mirror Girl" & Starfish, is just plain hokey. In fact, the relationship between the star, Mirror Girl, Tess and telescope remains fuzzy at the end. This is a case of the plot determining events - exactly opposite of what it should be. Of course there is a happy ending yet the introduction of aliens to our planets is greeted with a yawn. Their presence, even their existence, is about as noteworthy as a bad storm. The people in the story seems as confused by them as the reader is.
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