Rating: 
Summary: Just Not My Cup Of Tea
Review: This book has received quite a few 4 and 5 star reviews, and it probably deserves every one of them. Were I to review this book solely upon the quality of Wilson's writing, I would have also given it a higher score. But unfortunately, I must also take into account that this was simply not my cup of tea. It was very original, but as I read on, I found myself less interested in the story and more interested in picking out my next book.The year is 2020, and a massive world war is coming. Nobody knows this until one morning, when a 200-foot tall monument shows up in Thailand- Announcing that someone named "Kuin" has conquered the country-Twenty years in the future. As more and more of these Chronoliths (victory monuments from the future) arrive in other countries and cities- the world erupts into panic. There's not much more to the plot than this, but Wilson does a fine job choreographing the world's reaction to this bizarre attack from our future. With an expert understanding of sociology, Wilson depicts the way people might react to this kind of chaos, from the viewpoint of the government, the military, the economy, different generations and more. The book's atmosphere feels like the Cold War, or Vietnam as they were viewed from home. You can imagine yourself in that future world, glued to the TV- stunned and fearful of the news. I love Sci-Fi, but I guess I needed something a little more fantastic or attention grabbing than this. Maybe I need more action or suspense. My main problem was that Wilson gives us many questions early in this book, but never really delivers any answers. The idea of the Chronoliths was neat. The setting was realistic and engaging. But the characters were merely decent, and the story itself... left me unsatisfied.
Rating: 
Summary: Refreshing time paradox discussion
Review: 'The Chronoliths' is my first R. C. Wilson book (have not read Darwinia). The main character, Scott Warden is haunted by his apparent deep bonding to the mysteriously appearing monuments called 'Chronoliths'. Some of the monuments have strange carvings that imply they come from some years in the future, as a celebration of future war victories, of conflicts yet to come. Everybody assumes that they really come from the future, though that should not necessarily be the whole truth. Scott Warden feels the stones influence his present, future and even his past. He and the multidimensional main characters try to live their 'normal' lives, struggling and sometimes failing to escape the influence of Time and paradoxes of things to come. Two things are interesting on this book: first, it successfully conveys the feeling of the fragility of our present way of life and civilization. One strange event beyond our understanding could radically change everything in a day. And secondly, the characters are humane and have very humane failings, which is a good thing and gives the reader some well deserved refreshing moments, away from all-knowing all-doing heros.
Rating:
Summary: Not what I expected...
Review: I am a sucker for time-travel novels and always love a good mystery. Mr. Wilson's book, quite obviously, grabbed my attention with it's premise of mysterious monoliths appearing to commemorate a battle that won't happen for 20 years. This is NOT your typical time-travel novel. It is, however, a very interesting and well-written story concerning the characters that are affected by these events and how they are drawn together for a purpose. Some people have pointed out the unsavory characters in the novel, and yes there are quite a few of them. However, given the effect the chronoliths have on the world, and the social breakdown that occurs, it's not beyond reason to expect this. In fact, the author shows a deep understanding of how events like this can affect mass amounts of human beings. I read the last 2/3 of the book in one sitting because I had to find out how it all ended. This book is highly recommended because it's well-written, has an intriguing story and characters and can really make you think.
Rating:
Summary: Absorbing novel
Review: The first book I had read by Wilson was _The Perseids,_ a _very_ strange collection of his short stories. _The Chronoliths_ isn't
nearly as strange as his short stories, but like them, it looks on the dark side of things. He's an absorbing writer, I'll say that. This novel is about what you could call "psychological feedback." The Chronoliths appear, and appear...and appear. They
affect many people's perception of things; many come to believe the future military victories they represent cannot be prevented. It's feedback from the future to the present, which changes the present so that it conforms to the future. The psychology is really what this novel is about, although Wilson does throw in just enough science to make things kinda sorta plausible. As reviewers below have noticed, the main character, Scotty, is not exactly sympathetic, although he does grow on you. Sue Chopra, on the other hand, is pretty engaging. Wilson is a fine writer, and a fine stylist...he just seems to have problems not takng an H.P. Lovecraft view of everything.
Rating:
Summary: Pretty cool concept!
Review: Robert Charles Wilson (whose impossibly long three name moniker will now be reduced to RCW) has crafted a truly unique and fascinating novel. But then I'm a sucker for time-travel, sub-atomic physics, and chaos theory. Told as a first person retrospective of "the whole thing", RCW sucks us into a tale of some future dictator sending monuments of future victories, back to our own present. I swear at times it seemed like the narrator was telling the story over a drink and a cigarette down at the bar. Usually with a tone saddened with loss and regret. The narrator, Scott, tells us about the first appearance of the Chronoliths, of the ensuing chaos, and the eventual attempts to fight the dictator that does not yet exist. It is an intriguing story filled with characters whose lives are inexplicably linked to each other, and the destruction of that dictator. Time/Space theories abound as the scientists ponder a means to achieve that destruction, and how causal feedback could have lead to the situation in the first place. One must always consider which came first, the chicken or the egg. Once again I have digested a novel that played the Daddy/Daughter heartstrings with consummate skill. Scott must learn to deal with being a father from a distance, and learn to deal with his daughter's growing up with a pinch hitter in his place. Only downside of this one is that the level of writing is a little too simplistic for some of the content. Meaning that I'm not sure it's 100% tenth grade material, even if it is written at that level. Still it was a good read, and one that I will recommend to my friends.
Rating: 
Summary: Why is it I've never heard of this author?
Review: For pure science junkies Chronolith's theme is nothing if not compelling. This is what good science fiction begins with, a piece of revolutionary technology or some earth-shattering event. But though the author must explain the technology to ensure realism, the focus of the book is always on the people affected by this technology. Wilson fulfills both requirements with this book, merging his interesting, if critically flawed, science with an obvious understanding for characters and their evolution. A big part of the appeal of this book, at least for me, was the concept of "tau turbulence" proposed by Sue Chopra, the scientist inextricably married to her work. And time travel is always a touchy and controversial, but most of all confusing aspect of science, if it can be so dignified with inclusion in that category. To be honest, I stopped trying to understand it halfway through the book because it seemed that the more the characters attempted to explain the concept, the more utterly confused I became. I'm quite convinced that most of the "science" of tau turbulence is mere fantasy, but fantasy, after all, has as much involvement in science fiction as science itself does. Wilson's ability was such that it didn't matter whether I believed his concept was plausible, I was content to enjoy his book in the realm of the hypothetical.
Rating:
Summary: Great idea, poor execution
Review: The basic premise behind this book is one of the best I've read in awhile. Unfortunately, the actual writting is ok at best. As other's have said, the plot skips around. The main character never seems to change, for good or bad (and he doesen't start out well to begin with). I didn't care what happened to any of the charcters, with the exception of 2 - his daughter and Ash, neither of which get much "page time". The sad thing is that this concept in another writer's hands could have been truly GREAT. It's a nice read if you have nothing else to do.
Rating: 
Summary: Dragged, and then floundered.
Review: I thought the reviews would lead me to a wonderful book. Instead I found one where the premise was just compelling enough to get me to buy it, the intial plot lines enough to get me to read it, and an ending so bland that I skimmed through the end of the book just to finish it and then threw it in the garbage. Nice beginning... fair middle... lousy ending. If I had it to do over again, I wouldn't buy it.
Rating:
Summary: Best Novel I've Read In a Long Time!
Review: What can I say. In terms of "near future" Sci-Fi this is a great piece of work. Loved the characters. Loved the story. Looking forward to checking out some of the author's other works.
Rating:
Summary: A thoughtful, fast-paced SF novel
Review: When the list of nominees for the 2001 Hugos came out, I was surprised to see this novel on it. I'd not heard a lot of buzz about it, but after reading the premise, it sounded rather intriguing. I picked it up and decided to give it a try. And was pleasantly surprised by the novel. The basic premise is simple--30 years in the future, a future warlord named Kuin is sending back massive statues to himself and his victories in an attempt to ensure that his rise to power is inevitable. The premise is an intriguing one and brings up some interesting questions about the nature of time travel and the role of cause and effect should such a thing be employed in such a way. But what sets the Chronoliths apart from other such books is the fact that Wilson chooses to focus on on a first-person narrator named Scotty who relates who the appearance of the statues and their subsequent effect on the world of the future, effects he and his family directly. Scotty's first-person narration makes this novel incredibly readable and fast-paced. The only point at which the story bogs down is when Wilson jetissons his fast-paced narrative approach in an attempt to try and explain how the Chronoliths might work. Overall, this is an enjoyable book and one of the better premises that I've seen in a SF book in a while. Whether or not the premise and the great storytelling is enough to garner it a Hugo remains to be seen. But it is one of those books that leaves you considering the implications of the ending of the novel long after the final page has been turned.
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