Rating: 
Summary: Nothing to see here
Review: "A Signal Shattered" isn't very good. The story rotates (har har) around a group of scientists and international men of mystery stranded on the moon after a nasty alien named Wheeler destroys the Earth and kills most of the human race. They spend their time hunting for new sources of oxygen and working on new whatsits. If any of them feels lost, guilty, or afraid after the near-extermination of their species, they keep it well hidden. Indeed, characterization is the weakest point in this book. Other than protagonist Jack Potter, there's zero depth. For instance, sidekick Kamal is your comic-strip stereotype of a Buddhist, offering up platitudes and metaphors while apparently having no thoughts or feelings of his own.True to its word, the plot does move pretty quickly, and you never have to wait too long for something to happen. However, that's about the only positive thing I can find to say about this book. As always, computer whizzes clash in a virtual world where elaborate action sequences are presented for our benefit. However, "A Signal Shattered" never comes close to matching the intensity of greats like "Neuromancer" or "Hyperion". There's also the problem that you can shoot Nylund's characters, stab them, poison them, blow them up, and apply weird genetic tricks to them, but they simply won't die. This removes much of the suspense. Jack's hunches also undermine the book's intrigues. He gets a hunch about what almost every character is up to, and they always prove correct. Well I've got a hunch that I won't be reading any more of Nylund's books any time soon.
Rating:
Summary: Nothing to see here
Review: "A Signal Shattered" isn't very good. The story rotates (har har) around a group of scientists and international men of mystery stranded on the moon after a nasty alien named Wheeler destroys the Earth and kills most of the human race. They spend their time hunting for new sources of oxygen and working on new whatsits. If any of them feels lost, guilty, or afraid after the near-extermination of their species, they keep it well hidden. Indeed, characterization is the weakest point in this book. Other than protagonist Jack Potter, there's zero depth. For instance, sidekick Kamal is your comic-strip stereotype of a Buddhist, offering up platitudes and metaphors while apparently having no thoughts or feelings of his own. True to its word, the plot does move pretty quickly, and you never have to wait too long for something to happen. However, that's about the only positive thing I can find to say about this book. As always, computer whizzes clash in a virtual world where elaborate action sequences are presented for our benefit. However, "A Signal Shattered" never comes close to matching the intensity of greats like "Neuromancer" or "Hyperion". There's also the problem that you can shoot Nylund's characters, stab them, poison them, blow them up, and apply weird genetic tricks to them, but they simply won't die. This removes much of the suspense. Jack's hunches also undermine the book's intrigues. He gets a hunch about what almost every character is up to, and they always prove correct. Well I've got a hunch that I won't be reading any more of Nylund's books any time soon.
Rating:
Summary: Nothing to see here
Review: "A Signal Shattered" isn't very good. The story rotates (har har) around a group of scientists and international men of mystery stranded on the moon after a nasty alien named Wheeler destroys the Earth and kills most of the human race. They spend their time hunting for new sources of oxygen and working on new whatsits. If any of them feels lost, guilty, or afraid after the near-extermination of their species, they keep it well hidden. Indeed, characterization is the weakest point in this book. Other than protagonist Jack Potter, there's zero depth. For instance, sidekick Kamal is your comic-strip stereotype of a Buddhist, offering up platitudes and metaphors while apparently having no thoughts or feelings of his own. True to its word, the plot does move pretty quickly, and you never have to wait too long for something to happen. However, that's about the only positive thing I can find to say about this book. As always, computer whizzes clash in a virtual world where elaborate action sequences are presented for our benefit. However, "A Signal Shattered" never comes close to matching the intensity of greats like "Neuromancer" or "Hyperion". There's also the problem that you can shoot Nylund's characters, stab them, poison them, blow them up, and apply weird genetic tricks to them, but they simply won't die. This removes much of the suspense. Jack's hunches also undermine the book's intrigues. He gets a hunch about what almost every character is up to, and they always prove correct. Well I've got a hunch that I won't be reading any more of Nylund's books any time soon.
Rating: 
Summary: Excellent, but what about the last 100 pages?
Review: "Signal Shattered" picks up the ever more complex plot of cross and double cross in "Signal to Noise". It has pace. It does sometimes becomes clogged, but then picks up again in a good way. The end of "Signal Shattered" is almost as if Neylund _had_ to finish it and ran out of ideas, time or energy. The solution the main character finds to get out of the loop he has been manipulated in, was a dissappointment. If you can copy yourself and your pocket quantum supercomputer and multiply your intelligence into infinity and beyond with each copy of yourselve, I believe I would have gone for a different solution, turning the tables in one last and final "triple cross". I blame the editor of Avon.
A little more time, a little more effort could have make this book an absolute masterpiece. Now it gets 4 stars instead of the 6 it could have had.
Rating: 
Summary: a must read, after you read the first one
Review: a must read, after you read the first one - Sitnal to Noise. Though, this one has a bit more action .... I liked the first one a bit better, though.
Rating:
Summary: Wildly inventive!
Review: Action-packed, fast and exciting, this sequel to SIGNAL TO NOISE does not disappoint. On par with and reminisecent of good Zelazny. Check it out.
Rating:
Summary: Darkly Entertaining
Review: At the beginning of this novel, Earth has just been destroyed, but things are about to turn even worse for the protagonist... Although it might at times read a bit too much like a video game, with the protagonist barely warding off one immediate crisis after the other, I found this novel entertaining and the plot ultimately coherent. I haven't read the predecessor yet, but I plan to do so soon.
Rating:
Summary: Very good, fast read
Review: Even though this book is a sequel it can stand on it's own. Howver, reading the original, "Signal to Noise" will add new depth to this read. The mix of Zen and technological problem solving are well done. The characters and plot movement are very good. Eric manages to explain the technology while progressing the plot. This is an uncommon ability and is greatly appreciated.
Rating:
Summary: Very good, fast read
Review: Even though this book is a sequel it can stand on it's own. Howver, reading the original, "Signal to Noise" will add new depth to this read. The mix of Zen and technological problem solving are well done. The characters and plot movement are very good. Eric manages to explain the technology while progressing the plot. This is an uncommon ability and is greatly appreciated.
Rating:
Summary: A Shattering Climax!
Review: I bought this book first. After reading the first page I saw it was a sequel. After reading "A Signal To Noise" ..., I immediately read this one and was greatly impressed. Mr. Nylund's treatment of a rather mystical and spritual approach to problem solving and plot building is indeed enlightening. I highly recommend this book to buy and await any sequel or more of this type....
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