Rating: 
Summary: A one sitting read
Review: In the twenty-first century, American expatriate Scott Warden wastes his life enjoying the pleasures of a Thailand beach community while ignoring the needs of his wife and daughter. However, his wastrel life abruptly ends when the monolith suddenly appears in the nearby forest, destroying trees and dispensing high levels of radiation. On the artifact is an inscription celebrating a military victory that happened sixteen years into the future. A second pillar lands in downtown Bangkok, destroying the city and killing many of its residents. Once again a military victory that occurred in the future is commemorated with a plaque. Other Chronoliths land all over Southeast Asia, causing havoc and sending Scott and his peers fleeing across the Pacific back to America. In Baltimore, Scott meets physicist Dr. Sue Chopra, who is studying the Chronoliths. She believes that the future is reaching back through time to create its past. Scott, now working for Sue, wonders whether the linear inevitability of the future with its conquering warlord Kuin can be stopped by the present choosing the path to the future? When it comes to a thinking person's science fiction novel, genre fans know Robert Charles Wilson is one of the best. His latest tale, THE CHRONOLITHS, is a strong story focusing on the time-space continuum with the future seemingly stretching its hand into the present. Mindful in many ways of the basic theme behind The Terminator, readers will accept the time travel premise and not care that it appears conceptually flawed. Mr. Wilson provides a powerful appealing story line that hypnotizes the audience into a one sitting read. Harriet Klausner
Rating: 
Summary: Interesting Idea, Less Interesting Story
Review: The premise of this novel is great. I won't waste your time repeating it here - undoubtedly you've already read about it in the other reviews here on Amazon. Suffice it to say, the premise hooked me into buying this book. The story is less so. One of my gripes is that Wilson has the same small set of characters interact through a series of "coincidences" over two decades as the story unfolds. He explains these away as a time-related side-effect of the chronoliths. Now, I might buy this, except that he never really gives a clear explanation of what the twisted causality is that he refers to. I don't mean that I expect him to give a scientific explanation. But some examples (outside of the coincidental character interactions in the book) to illustrate his idea would lend it credence. Without this, these coincidences come across almost as laziness on the part of the author. I have a hard time putting my finger on what else I didn't like about this book. The story moved along well and the main characters were fairly well-written. Perhaps it's the uneasiness that arose in me as the unfolding story told of a progressively bleak future for the world and the resulting degeneration of the American political scene. We Americans always seem to think of the future as better and brighter, and The Chronoliths points out that this might not always be the case. In the end, I would like to give this story a better rating, but I can't. I might not recommend it, but on the other hand, you wouldn't be wasting your time if you chose to read it.
Rating:
Summary: Where's the SF?
Review: A science fiction story with a great premise: giant monuments, commemorating a conqueror's future victories, start appearing in cities all over Earth, creating social and political chaos--perhaps the very chaos that led to him to power in the first place. It's an original idea, and I love time travel, so I had high hopes for this book. Unfortunately, the story never lived up to its potential. The mechanics of the Chronoliths and the associated time travel were never explained, he barely touched on the potentially fascinating aspect of how politics and culture would be affected, and the story had a very vague and unsatisfying ending. It barely even qualifies as science fiction; Kuin and the Chronoliths were pushed far in the background in favor of the extremely boring relationship between the father and daughter. You could have taken the Chronoliths out of the story completely, and it wouldn't have made much of a difference at all--definitely not a good sign in a science fiction novel. I was enormously frustrated by the wasted potential in this book. Loved the idea, disappointed with the execution. Gorgeous cover art, though.
Rating:
Summary: Stirring, thoughtful SF
Review: In "The Chronoliths," Robert Charles Wilson depicts a world on the brink of disintegration. Capably and sensitively told from the viewpoint of an alienated computer programmer, this unsettling novel begins with the inexplicable overnight appearance of a gigantic monolith from the near-future. As more of the enigmatic structures arrive across Asia (accompanied by tell-tale rises in radiation that allow mystified scientists to predict when the next "Chronolith" will make its appearance), political alliances crumble and the world gradually falls into a sort of apocalyptic stupor. For the "Chronoliths" appear to be victory monuments dedicated to a Hitler-like warlord who rises to power in a mere twenty years. And then things get weird: those unlucky enough to witness a Chronolith "touchdown" find themselves victims of "tau turbulence," an acausal phenomenon that casts severe doubt on the reality of "coincidence." Like M. Night Shyamalan's "Signs" on a planetary canvas, "The Chronoliths" is intellectually fascinating and distinctly human; there's not a wasted word or misplaced scene in the whole book. "The Chronoliths" is a masterpiece by a writer who knows precisely what he's doing, and certainly one of the very best SF novels of the decade.
Rating:
Summary: Grand SF concept, wonderful human protagonists
Review: This is, quite simply, one of the best SF books I have ever read. This book made Wilson my favorite SF author. It starts with an intriguing SF concept: what if a giant pillar appeared in Bangkok, marking the victory of a future warlord? What would be its impact on society? How could such an event come about and why must people in the future send mementos to the past? On this premise, "The Chronoliths" fully deliver in intrigue, surprise twists and clever, thoughtful SF. But what makes this novel a masterpiece in my eye is how every bit of clever SF is actually wrapped in very human events. The protagonist of "The Chronoliths" is a normal guy living in a fantastic time. He suffers marital difficulties, insecure, lacks confidence. That is not to say he wallows in self-pity, far from it; but his choices, whenever they are made, are rooted in believeable, poignant humanity. Robert Charles Wilson is such a great author, in my opinion, because even though he writes about grand concepts, he never loses sight of his characters. Too often SF authors are so lost in their grand SF plots that they end up propping cardboard cutout characters against their fantastic stories. Wilson not only outdoes them in the scale of his ideas, but his concepts resonate so much more that we see them happening through very human eyes. I cannot recommend this book enough. If you like it, know that Wilson's style is consistent, and that other novels of his (I recommend "Blind Lake" and "Darwinia") are filled with the same sense of wonder and deep humanity.
Rating:
Summary: What a clever concept.
Review: I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The concept of a future conqueror sending back victory monuments to influence public opinion and smooth his way for conquest is just brilliant. I also found the characters interesting and the social upheaval in the aftermath of the arrival of the Chronoliths fascinating and believable. If I have any complaint about this story, it would be that it raised a lot more questions than it eventually answered, particularly questions about how Kuin originally developed the Chronolith technology and how his scheme changed the future that was. Still, it was an extremely well-written and compelling story, and I would highly recommend it.
Rating: 
Summary: Not for simple reading.....
Review: If you like nice tight simple stories with everything laid out for you to follow then this book is not for you. The Chronoliths is a tale where our protagonist Scott Warden is reluctantly drawn into the confusing world of theoritical Physics as the world slowly collapses with the appearance of a gigantic monolith from 20 years in the future. A monument dedicating a great victory by the Warlord Kuin. The first one simply creates confusion and questions. The second one creates fear as it touches down and destorys a city. Scott's child is hurt, his wife leaves him and the only way home is to do a "favor" for a drug dealer. He returns home and trys to win back his wife but as always everything continues to fall apart as society slowly falls apart as more Chronoliths appear. Then an old College Professor Sue Chopra appears; talking about solving the riddle of the monuments and how to detect them! Is she wack nut or a genious? Scott enters a world he thinks he does not belong and has to deal with the collapse of society and the rise of the Kuinists. There is more but it should be a surprise also it is not a "typical" ending! Scott is a character that takes awhile to start liking. He is a screwup and yet the reluctant hero. In time he grows on you. Especially, as he tries to set things right in his life and he comes through in times of need. Sue Chopra is definatly a fun character as you will wonder if she is missing a few screws or if she has the answer for everything. I am going to look into his other books now!
Rating:
Summary: A "Science Fiction Writer" Who Can Actually WRITE
Review: I won't add much to the positive reviews this book has already gotten. I first got hooked on Robert Charles Wilson by his wonderful novel "Darwinia," then read his first book "A Hidden Place" and finally "The Chronoliths." I intend to read everything by him I can get my hands on. He's that rare science fiction writer who can actually WRITE. His characters are well-drawn and their motives understandable. Yes, his books can be depressing. They don't tend to come to neat, upbeat conclusions, but isn't the way things are in real life? I would suggest this book to those who are tired of science-fiction "junk food" and want to graduate to real CUISINE.
Rating:
Summary: An intelligent, quick read
Review: This is the third book by Mr. Wilson that I've read and all three were intelligent and interesting, although not exactly action packed. "Mysterium," "Darwinia" and now "The Chronoliths" all deal with people suddenly discovering that their reality is but one of many possibilities, a notion that pretty much would rock anyone's world! Some people have complained about the ending of this book, but I enjoyed it and it adhered to the internal logic of the story. His books tend to be a bit depressing, but are well worth reading. Think of them as literary versions of the "Twilight Zone."
Rating: 
Summary: Pretty Good Writing, Pointless Story
Review: I tried to read Darwinia, an earlier novel by this author, and put in down due to its inability to interest me in what was a most intriguing plot. Chronoliths was much better written, but the ending left me cold and disappointed. Why this novel was chosen as a "best book" is beyond me. There are much better sci-fi novels and collections out there, you just have to look harder to find them.
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