Rating: 
Summary: EXTREMELY DECEPTIVE AND MISLEADING
Review: I FELT ABSOLUTELY CHEATED BY THIS BOOK. IF YOU READ THE BOOK JACKET THERE SEEMS TO BE AN FASCINATING MYSTERY REGARDING THE CHRONOLITHS. THIS CAUSED ME TO BUY THE BOOK. A GOOD WRITER AND A GOOD STORY WOULD THEN RESOLVE THE MYSTERY AND TIE UP THE LOOSE ENDS. HOWEVER, THE BOOK NEVER TELLS US WHAT THE CHRONOLITHS ARE, WHY THEY WERE SENT, OR WHO "KUIN" IS!! I DO NOT FEEL THAT MY REVEALING THIS FALLS UNDER THE RUBRIC OF "SPOILERS" BECAUSE THERE SIMPLY IS NOTHING TO SPOIL HERE. ALSO, THE BOOK HAS ABSOLUTELY NO ENDING! I FIND THIS TYPE OF WRITING TO BE BE DISHONEST. THE READER IS HOOKED IN WITH A CREATIVE MYSTERY,BUYS THE BOOK, AND THEN FINDS OUT THAT THE WRITER DOES NOT HAVE THE SKILLS TO RESOLVE THE MYSTERY OR EXPLAIN ANYTHING IN A RATIONAL MANNER. THE ONLY THING THAT "HAPPENS" IN THIS BOOK IS THAT CHRONOLITHS MYSTERIOUSLY APPEAR VARIOUS TIMES IN A MAELSTROM AND NO ONE KNOWS WHY THEY APPEAR. THE PROBLEM IS THAT WE NEVER FIND OUT THE ANSWER TO THIS QUESTION.
Rating: 
Summary: Refreshing plot, good science....
Review: I once read an interview with Peter F. Hamilton (author of the Night's Dawn Trilogy) where he stated that the trick to writing good science fiction was including enough detail to make the story plausible, but not enough that it evoked serious criticism from the reader. "The devil", the common wisdom goes, "is in the details."In "The Chronoliths", Robert Charles Wilson demonstrates an understanding of that balance. Moreover, he has artfully wrapped it in a refreshing plot and sprinkled it with characters that seem to be underappreciated by other reviewers who have written here. The details surrounding the space-time concepts and exotic particle physics seem plausible enough for the near-future genre, but the crisp ideas that give this book strength lie not in the hard sciences, but in sociology. Wilson firmly grasps one of the most fundamental concepts in sociology - the concept of reification. As the chronoliths appear, marking sites where Kuin is victorious in battles 20 years into the future, the idea of reification emerges as the backdrop of the novel. Though Kuin is unknown, posses no army or resources, he comes to be recognized as the unstoppable conqueror in the minds of people who begin seeking to join him - it is the monuments that created Kuin. The central question becomes, "How is it that an idea that exists in the minds of people becomes external to them and coercive of them?" Despite what some reviewers have submitted, I think Wilson demonstrates talent for character development; the problem is that he doesn't seem to favor these characters consistently. Scott is undeniably developed, anyone can relate to his inconsistencies, his loyalties, his fears and his needs. Sue - a respectable soul, heroic in action and personality - had all of the right ingredients for a great character, but these ingredients just didn't bake long enough. Wilson is to be credited, however, in developing Sue as a gay character whose sexuality was no more remarkable than that of her straight counterparts - notable, if not deep. Still, Wilson introduces literary devices which excuse these problems, even if the story does not completely recuperate. The story is refreshing, strong in science and deftly leveraging concepts in social dynamics that sociologists and marketing executives will envy. You will not be disappointed!
Rating:
Summary: Interesting science, strong plot: Will not dissapoint!
Review: I once read an interview with Peter F. Hamilton (Night's Dawn Trilogy) where he said that the trick to writing good science fiction was including enough scientific detail to make it plausible, but not enough detail that it begins to draw serious critique. "The devil", to borrow the quote, "is in the details." Robert Charles Wilson has found that balance - and he has mixed with it an interesting plot and sprinkled it with decent character development. You've read other reviews and understand the general outline of the plot, so I won't go over it again except to say this: It was fresh and plausible, but best of all he accurately grasped the very root of the field of sociology - the concept of reification. That is, "How does an idea or concept that exists soley in peoples' minds become external to them and coersive of them?" While the "Chronoliths" plot could serve in an undergraduate sociology course as a well-illustrated and interesting example of social reification, the character development was inconsistent. Scott was a mixture of contradictions and apathy to which anyone can relate. He is the narrator and the act of him recording his memories on the entire Chronolith event as a old man structures the entire story. Sue, single-minded on her work, was a respectable gay character - a hero. Congratulations to Wilson for introducing a gay character where her sexuality is not her overriding attribute, no more notable than the sexuality of other, straight characters. The inconsistency is introduced by other main characters who could have benefited from more of Wilson's obvious strength in this area. This was the books only real weakness and it was far from fatal. In all, this was book was well done. You will not be disappointed!
Rating: 
Summary: Excellent, character-driven science fiction
Review: The strength of Robert Charles Wilson's latest book is not in the time travel per se, but rather the response of a group of fully-developed, sympathetic characters to the phenomena they are encountering. To my delight (and unlike so much literary fiction these days), Wilson's protagonists DO SOMETHING. It may not always be the right course of action, but there is an understandable human motivation when it is the wrong course of action. Scotty, the protagonist, is strong yet flawed, and his fascination with The Chronoliths is kept in proper perspective. Sue Chopra, the brilliant physicist, is handled gingerly by an accomplished author. The time travel theme -- the appearance of "artifacts" from the future -- is not new but is integral to the story. And this latter point is crucial to good science fiction. The science (regardless of what you think of time travel dynamics) is consistent and interesting and becomes a de facto character in the tale. The only area where the novel could've been strengthened was the development of Scotty's relationship with his father, and indeed, development of the father's character in general. Nevertheless, this is an entertaining and thought-provoking book with a broad scope, engaging characters and a very interesting ending. It is also an optimistic allegory to the hope and renewel that always follows tragedy, like the euphoria following World War II. It is well worth the read. Wilson is going to be a major force in speculative fiction in years to come.
Rating:
Summary: Great book, intriguiging ending
Review: This was a very interesting novel with an original premise. The ending was very intriguing, and even uplifting. However, based on some of the reviews and on the "New York Times Notable Book" sticker on the cover, I believed it would be fundamentally different in style from most sci-fi, but it was still pretty similar. Mostly plot driven, decent if a bit 2-d characters... Worth the [money], for sure.
Rating: 
Summary: An interesting science fiction idea, unattractive characters
Review: In this novel, Wilson describes a remarkable phenomenon: huge, obelisk-like monoliths begin appearing at many sites around the Earth, destroying their immediate points of touchdown. Inscriptions on the monoliths praise the achievements of a future leader named Kuin. Is he sending these colossal objects back in time to influence the course of history? How can present day people stop him? The male narrator, a somewhat degenerate and irresponsible techie, is drawn into the effort to counter the chronoliths. The female scientist leading this campaign comes across as brilliant but weird. Beyond the scientific concept, the most interesting aspect of the story is the semi-religious pro-Kuin social movement that emerges. These true believers oppose those who want to disrupt the arrival of the chronoliths, leading to a violent confrontation in the Dakotas. Great concept, but it's difficult to care about these characters.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent read - ignore those confused by not thinking
Review: I just went through this book in 4 days - a personal best (300 pages/96 hours). If you like the concept of space-time, you may like it. It's a fairly quick read but don't plan on doing anything else. The author writes in first-person, excitedly and without pause, adding to the book's urgency. There are a few brief lulls, so break while you can. I've read some other people's reviews and anyone left confused by the ending, or the overall premise, just didn't think about it enough (i.e. the "secret" in the end). While some may not think it's a book that ravels up nicely, if you think in terms of tau-turbulence discussed in the novel, every thread is accounted for and seamlessly sewn together. I loved the lingering idea of positive feedback (and also that of what's-his-name's Ice) in terms of space-time. But more importantly, the characters dancing around the plot keep the book in motion. While I would've loved to get a feel for the author's ideas and beliefs on space-time in general, I DID pick up a sci-fi novel, afterall. I think I read somewhere that Wilson plans on expanding this novel (or at least, writing something in relation to it). I await it's arrival excitedly.
Rating:
Summary: One Of the Best
Review: Thoughtful, suspensful, and about as deftly written as any sf novel I've read. The characters alone are worth the price of admission, but the ideas and plot are also top-notch - this is the freshest variation on the classic time-travel theme in many years. Does the resolution make sense? Yes, if you read carefully. (It not only makes sense, but it puts the theme, plot, and character threads together in a truly unique way.) An excellent book.
Rating: 
Summary: Great Premise....no staying power
Review: Giant obelisks of an unfamiliar form of matter sent from 20 years and three months in the future to the past to announce great military victories of a messianic leader named Kuin. These obelisks have the annoying tendency to obliterate great cities like Bangkok and Jerusalem. Wow! What an imaginative start to a story. Whoops. That's all you ar going to get. Nothing more happens. No character development. No plot development. Some wierd little diatribes about anti-smoking laws, gun control, pacifism and custody issues. There is a twist at the end that was obvious, oh, about two hundred pages earlier.
Rating:
Summary: This Story Just Lagged on and on.
Review: I almost didn't finish this one. It has a great plot - obelisks that pop up everywhere with no explanation, other that they are from the future. In the end the story doesn't hold together. Too much time was spent on people that didn't hold your interest, while the real story was about the these "chronoliths," which I felt was under-discussed or treated in the story. The author tried to make the characters have intensity of emotion, etc., but I felt it was too contrived. It's your gamble on this one. But if your like me and what a fast paced and interesting sci-fi story, skip this one.
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