Rating: 
Summary: Truely a masterpiece
Review: Over the last six months i have reread Manta's Gift over four times. The book takes place many years in the future in the atmosphere of Jupiter. The plot is nothing amazing as far as Sci-Fi goes, but the potreyal of the characters and situations are beautifuly written. One of the more interesting points of the book is the Culture Clash that takes place between the human mind of Manta and rules that govern an inherent prey race, vs a hunter race like humans.
One of the things that set this book apart is Zahn's style of "tricking" you into thinking the book is almost over. Time and time again he brings up situations when most other authors would leave the book off there.
But at its heart, the book is a timeless story of culture clashes mixed with despairing romance unlike the happy endings found in most books today. Zahn combines his knowlage of science with an extremely creative imagination to creat a fantastic read, highly recomended
Rating: 
Summary: Trans-species Sci-Fi Thriller
Review: A quirky but fascinating story of a near-future transition from man to mammal. Unbelievably, haunting and well-written, Zahn captures the essence of modern bio-sciences in a science fiction tale that could be true today or tomorrow. Zahn has written dozens of books including two Star Trek tomes but this one is special. Don't miss it!!!!!!!!
Rating:
Summary: Bizarre concept, but excellent book
Review: Even though I have been a fan of Zahn for years and have read most of his books (Star Wars and non-Star Wars) I waited until this one came out in paperback because the concept for the story seemed so bizarre. Suffice it to say that I wish I hadn't waited. Manta's Gift is brilliantly told. Although the lead character (Manta) is an otherworldly Manta Ray-ish creature for about 99% of the story, Zahn does such a fantastic job of character development that you are able to actually buy into the storyline. As always, Zahn is able to take science fiction to a level of enjoyment that few others in the genre can. He does this by mixing elements of other genres (mystery, fantasy, etc) into his story. Overall an outstanding novel.
Rating:
Summary: Mantas Gift an intriging page turner
Review: I couldn't put this book down once I started. Timothy Zahn does it again with this great Sci-fi adventure. Once you think you know what's going to happen, Zahn twists the story and you just never know the ending. An unbelievable tale that every sci-fi reader must read.
Rating:
Summary: Mantas Gift an intriging page turner
Review: I couldn't put this book down once I started. Timothy Zahn does it again with this great Sci-fi adventure. Once you think you know what's going to happen, Zahn twists the story and you just never know the ending. An unbelievable tale that every sci-fi reader must read.
Rating:
Summary: Great book
Review: I thought this book was very good. It kept me far too interested (and up too late). Despite what the official review says up above, I thought the characters were reasonably well developed and I liked the unique premise of the book.
Rating:
Summary: action-packed futuristic tale
Review: Jakob Faraday is part of an expedition exploring Jupiter when intelligent animals Qanska apparently attack his Skydiver 7 bathyscaph. Jakob fears his vessel will be crushed, but he fortunately escapes back to the mother ship. Twenty years later, the Five Hundred fund a project involving the Qanska want Jakob to arrange for college student Matt Raimey, a quadriplegic due to a skiing accident, to be placed inside the womb of a Qanska. When Matt is reborn, he will retain his human consciousness inside the body of a Qanska. Thus Matt, who felt he had nothing to live for before this opportunity, would serve as a bridge between the two species. As the Five Hundred and the Qanska each have hidden agendas, Matt now known as Manta, finds himself pulled in two directions that test his loyalty to his former life and to his current family. MANTA'S GIFT is an action-packed futuristic tale that also coaxes the reader into deep thinking about biological issues that are not easily resolved unless you are a die hard a democrat or a republican. The key characters make the worlds of the future seem real, but especially critical is that the audience believes the human Matt essence was indeed reborn as the Qanska Manta. The criticality works as the conscience center of the novel that leads to the audience wondering what the biological possibilities of today's technology can achieve tomorrow. When creative Timothy Zahn goes for all out action, he succeeds with a powerful adventure, but also takes the audience away from the biological debate that makes this a gift to those fans who relish a thinking terse thriller. Harriet Klausner
Rating:
Summary: Best one yet!
Review: Manta's Gift blew me away when I read it. It exceeds my expectations of Zahn. The worst part was when it ended.
Rating:
Summary: Best one yet!
Review: Manta's Gift blew me away when I read it. It exceeds my expectations of Zahn. The worst part was when it ended.
Rating:
Summary: Great book! Zahn in top form!
Review: Thankyou Timothy Zahn for such a wonderful book! One of his most original stories in years, Manta's Gift is about a young man, Matt Raimey (that's the name, right?), who, through an unfortunate skiing accident, becomes paralyzed. He thinks his life is over, until a mysterious man offers him a second chance: be born again as a manta ray-like Qanska.
It follows Raimey being born in an alien womb, all through his younger years, and into adulthood, when he finds out that he was really put there by Earth to spy on the Qanska for some reason (I won't give it away). Mr. Zahn has created a unique alien species here, even more than in Conquerors' Heritage. What makes it more difficult is that they are so less advanced, and bear no resemblance to humans at all. He had to invent how they moved, what food they ate, their social structure, and their interdependence with their natural predators. It has nothing to do with technology, and a lot more to do with biology. It all seems amazing to me that he did it at all, let alone make it so interesting. Though slightly longer than I expected (in pages), it is very fast-paced, much more than Angelmass. Although that book had its flaws (few as they were), Manta's Gift comes to near perfection. If I have anything bad to say about this book, it would be that Mr. Zahn left the book open for a possible sequel, then went off to write the Dragonback series (which I am very much looking forward to). Will there ever be a sequel to this excellent book? Even if there isn't, Manta's Gift is a book that should be on any self-respecting sci-fi fan's shelf.
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