Rating: 
Summary: Mediocre for Dan Simmons
Review: First off, I am a huge fan of Dan Simmons, but I felt that 'The Hollow Man' fell far below his usual standards in storytelling and writing. Although it begins and initially proceeds well, towards the end it becomes confused and it seems that Mr. Simmons doesn't really know how to end the story and resolve all the questions it ultimately poses. I'd recommend skipping this novel altogether and reading his other excellent novels, especially the Hyperion series.
Rating: 
Summary: Hollow Man should be read on its own terms
Review: Hollow Man may not be for everyone and may not be Simmons' best, but neither objection warrants a negative review of the novel. Simmons writes in different genres, or perhaps better: he disregards genre stereotypes. Hollow Man itself uniquely mixes horror, sf, and other elements. The book should be evaluated on its own terms. Don't read it with the expectation that the book should have all of the strengths, say, of Hyperion.Hollow Man has its own strengths and weaknesses. The technical stuff about quantum mechanics combines with postmodern (neo-Kuhnian) ideas about solipsism and paradigm shifts. These details may be distracting and unnecessary for some readers, but for those even mildly interested in such issues, the speculations will likely be thought-provoking. The jargon is balanced too, since one of the main characters (Gail) always asks the jargon-monger to explain the point in simpler terms. There are some moving, disturbing scenes, especially those involving Robby, a deaf, blind and retarded boy, and the flashbacks to a happy marriage. The middle section dragged a little, but while reading most of the second half I couldn't put the book down. In recommending the book, I agree with much of what one of the other reviewers says, the reader from Pennsylvania, March 5, 2000.
Rating: 
Summary: A Smart Read!
Review: I adored this book! It's funny, scary, and exciting in a "quiet" sort of way; you can really believe the story could happen to someone in real life. I was saddened by the first third of the book, terrified in the middle, and gratified in the end. All in all, it was well worth a couple hours of my time. I will continue to read Dan Simmons - hopefully for many years to come!
Rating:
Summary: disappointing and disjointed
Review: I bought this because Hyperion was excellent and was very disappointed. I couldn't identify with the characters, the narrative jumped about too much, the science didn't interest me, the plot didn't interest me and I'm glad I picked it up second hand rather than paying full price!
Rating:
Summary: disappointing and disjointed
Review: I bought this because Hyperion was excellent and was very disappointed. I couldn't identify with the characters, the narrative jumped about too much, the science didn't interest me, the plot didn't interest me and I'm glad I picked it up second hand rather than paying full price!
Rating:
Summary: Dan's Bomb
Review: I enjoyed the Hyperion series. Children of the Night was OK, but with Hollow Man, Dan Simmons has bombed out. This book should not have passed editorial muster: the "plot" is incinsistent and never clear; the "science" fiction never comes alive; events do not follow logically, nor do they build upon themselves; even the chapter titles do not relate to the book. I found this a tough, disappointing read, and the final page and "plot" resolution, topped off the experience. If written by a no-name author, this book would never have been published (and should not have been).
Rating:
Summary: Dan's Bomb
Review: I enjoyed the Hyperion series. Children of the Night was OK, but with Hollow Man, Dan Simmons has bombed out. This book should not have passed editorial muster: the "plot" is incinsistent and never clear; the "science" fiction never comes alive; events do not follow logically, nor do they build upon themselves; even the chapter titles do not relate to the book. I found this a tough, disappointing read, and the final page and "plot" resolution, topped off the experience. If written by a no-name author, this book would never have been published (and should not have been).
Rating:
Summary: Great
Review: I liked this better than the Hyperion novels. Probably nobody else does, but I don't care. This guy can really write.
Rating:
Summary: Dan Simmons phones it in
Review: I loved Carrion Comfort, and feel that the Hyperion books are among the best science fiction I've read. That said, this book was a thorough disappointment. Midway through I kept thinking he must have had a contractual obligation with a publisher to come up with a manuscript, because this novel was just a pretty good short story inflated to a few hundred pages
Rating:
Summary: Different, yet enlightening.
Review: I read this after reading the Hyperion books, wondering what else Simmons had to offer and found that this guy thinks big thoughts and communicates them well. I did find parts of this book disturbing (in a good way) when things began to happen that I did not see coming. An excellent read indeed!
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