Far-Seer : Book One of the Quintaglio Ascension

Rating:
Summary: DINOSAURIAN GALILEO!
Review: This is quite simply one of my all-time favorite books. A parable of the conflict between science and religion, Sawyer managed to create a world of such startling believabilty (and familiarity) that there is no need for the suspension-of-belief that most SF/Fantasy novels require a reader to make. You simply step into this world of sentient dinosaurs as naturally as you step out of your door each morning. Within the pages of this book I found myself reliving many of the struggles I have gone through as I sought to understand the world around me. The process of discovery that leads Afsan to conclude that much of what he was taught about the world is wrong (even dangerously so) unfolds over the course of a rip-roaring, high adventure tale. How many other books take you on a thrilling Sauropod hunt and then a few pages later force you to ponder gripping questions of existence, faith and ultimate meaning? The first and easily the best of the "Quintaglio Trilogy," no one interested in dinosaurs, evolution, philosophy and religion should miss this. Do what it takes to get it!At the risk of overstatment I have to conclude by saying that "Far-Seer" is in my opinion one of the finest dino-themed adventures EVER! May it be back in print soon!

Rating:
Summary: Midwest Book Review - great story from the sci fi master
Review: To borrow a phrase from an earlier review of Far-Seer, Robert Sawyer is the "master of biological speculation." After reading five of this author's books, I'll add my spin on that statement by saying he is the sci fi master, period. Far-Seer is a parable without equal.

Afsan is a simple country saurian, chosen as apprentice to Master Astrologer Tak-Saleed. Afsan enjoys the tranquility and peace of the night sky, entertains solitary thoughts of mysteries, and faces life with gentle humor despite his hunter's instincts. Afsan's world is one of landquakes and erupting volcanoes. His species is Quintaglio - meat eating dinosaurs. Afsan's destiny is set long before his birth.

If you believe it's impossible to sympathize with a dinosaur, think again. You'll be drawn into Afsan's life as I was, experiencing each rite of Quintaglio passage: the thrill of the hunt; his first ocean voyage to see the Face of God; his first encounter with a female. And you'll share his wonder while examining the heavens through a far-seer (telescope); his joy at proving the earth round; his horror when all signs point to the destruction of the world Quintaglios call home.

Robert Sawyer makes it all so real. This is a touching story, personable and intimate and thrilling. The saurian characters are believable as they struggle with the hypocrisies and territorial instincts of civilization. I can scarcely wait to read Books Two and Three.

Rating:
Summary: Midwest Book Review - great story from the sci fi master
Review: To borrow a phrase from an earlier review of Far-Seer, Robert Sawyer is the "master of biological speculation." After reading five of this author's books, I'll add my spin on that statement by saying he is the sci fi master, period. Far-Seer is a parable without equal.

Afsan is a simple country saurian, chosen as apprentice to Master Astrologer Tak-Saleed. Afsan enjoys the tranquility and peace of the night sky, entertains solitary thoughts of mysteries, and faces life with gentle humor despite his hunter's instincts. Afsan's world is one of landquakes and erupting volcanoes. His species is Quintaglio - meat eating dinosaurs. Afsan's destiny is set long before his birth.

If you believe it's impossible to sympathize with a dinosaur, think again. You'll be drawn into Afsan's life as I was, experiencing each rite of Quintaglio passage: the thrill of the hunt; his first ocean voyage to see the Face of God; his first encounter with a female. And you'll share his wonder while examining the heavens through a far-seer (telescope); his joy at proving the earth round; his horror when all signs point to the destruction of the world Quintaglios call home.

Robert Sawyer makes it all so real. This is a touching story, personable and intimate and thrilling. The saurian characters are believable as they struggle with the hypocrisies and territorial instincts of civilization. I can scarcely wait to read Books Two and Three.

Rating:
Summary: I LOVE THIS BOOK!
Review: When I picked Far-Seer off the shelf I didn't know what to expect. I thought it might be interesting because it had dinosaurs, and I was in a Jurassic Park trance at the time. I bought the book and took it home. It was more than I had ever imagined. What seemed to be just another book was really a story about my life, or what I wish it could have been. The story of a young man living by the rituals of his kind, following his religion and valuing the pride's morals, only to want something more. Afsan would always look up to the sky and dream of what might be out there, as have I, and wonder why we're here. For these same questions I have been looked down upon by people. I have been called too controversial and no one would understand my point of view. It is for these same questions Afsan comes to his fateful ending...a life without sight. Through him I finally understood the persecutions of other scientists and also of what I seem to be going through. In the end the truth must be told. The bright orb in the sky is not God, it is merely a planet. Sometimes religion will not stand for science, and visa versa, but I still wait for the day that these two unfriendly bedfellows can walk hand in hand and at least cherish the understanding that we are here.

Rating:
Summary: The story of a scientist.
Review: When I picked Far-Seer off the shelf I didn't know what to expect. I thought it might be interesting because it had dinosaurs, and I was in a Jurassic Park trance at the time. I bought the book and took it home. It was more than I had ever imagined. What seemed to be just another book was really a story about my life, or what I wish it could have been. The story of a young man living by the rituals of his kind, following his religion and valuing the pride's morals, only to want something more. Afsan would always look up to the sky and dream of what might be out there, as have I, and wonder why we're here. For these same questions I have been looked down upon by people. I have been called too controversial and no one would understand my point of view. It is for these same questions Afsan comes to his fateful ending...a life without sight. Through him I finally understood the persecutions of other scientists and also of what I seem to be going through. In the end the truth must be told. The bright orb in the sky is not God, it is merely a planet. Sometimes religion will not stand for science, and visa versa, but I still wait for the day that these two unfriendly bedfellows can walk hand in hand and at least cherish the understanding that we are here.

Rating:
Summary: Best dinosaur SF novel ever
Review: Yes .... I mean that. Better than Jurassic Park or either Chrichton's or Doyle's The Lost World or Swanwick's estimable Bones of the Earth. Sawyer knows his paleontology .... but he also knows the Age of Englightenment and intellectual history .... and he combines them both in a great tale .... or should that be tail :-) .... of a dinosaurian Galileo. High adventure, hard science, beautiful attention to detail. A wonderful book.

Rating:
Summary: Best dinosaur SF novel ever
Review: Yes .... I mean that. Better than Jurassic Park or either Chrichton's or Doyle's The Lost World or Swanwick's estimable Bones of the Earth. Sawyer knows his paleontology .... but he also knows the Age of Englightenment and intellectual history .... and he combines them both in a great tale .... or should that be tail :-) .... of a dinosaurian Galileo. High adventure, hard science, beautiful attention to detail. A wonderful book.