Rating: 
Summary: The most Fun I've had since Jose Phillip Farmer's Riverworld
Review: Just short of perfect for a difficult book to write. Bounding between the modern 1999 time space and the fantasy world that is Cyberscape Role Playing, made for a speedy, entertaining read. The insight offered on global conscience was a real hoot; if there is ever going to be a human-thinking computer program, the only way I can see it becoming a reality is the Mark Fabi way. Thanks for making Science Fiction/Fantasy fun again. I can barely wait for these MUD's of the future!
Rating: 
Summary: A high concept without a high dedication to clarity
Review: Wyrm seems to have been written with the novels Snow Crash, Foucalt's Pendulum and Silverlock in mind. What this means is that it takes one part high-concept social science fiction, one part conspiracy theory and one part sly reference to every book the author has ever read, and mixes it up into a very well-intentioned book. However, as the reader journeys to hell in this book, he will be walking on the many good intentions the author conceived of but never fulfilled. My main problem with this book is that the first half of the book is riddled with vague clues and plot hooks, which, later on in the novel, are either forgotten, blown off, or lamely explained away. Also, as mentioned in other reviews, the RPG elements presented in the book alter the writing style significantly, and cause the book to develop a schizophrenia that clashes, rather than compliments.
Rating: 
Summary: Mark Fabi doesn't miss a beat -- This book delivers!
Review: If you are the kind of person who can sit around with a group of friends and talk about Star Trek, Role-playing games, computers, the Internet, the future of technology ... if those conversations include a lot of "wouldn't it be cool if ...", then Mark Fabi's WYRM is for you! I loved this book ... it read like something I'd write, or something one of my friends would write ... that is, if we were as brilliant as Mark Fabi! Don't turn to this book for flowery prose or deep characterization, but please do turn to it for rollicking good fun! Thank you, Mark Fabi, for a great read!
Rating:
Summary: A bit of a hodge-podge really
Review: I never quite decided whether I liked the book or not. Too many times I felt like I had read the stuff before, but other times I got caught in the storyline. Mark Fabi borrows shamelessly from "The New Hacker's Dictionary", but that's probably OK, since that particular book probably reaches a narrow audience. He also takes quite a few ideas from Douglas Hofstadter's book "Gödel, Escher, Bach - An Eternal Golden Braid" (although I suspect he acknowledges the fact in the name he has given to one of the corporations mentioned in the book).Quite a bit of the action takes place in a MUD-game the characters are playing. I found the description of it quite boring and tedious. It's more fun to play a MUD than to read about it. The book is littered with references to other works of SF, to psychology and mythology, and I often enjoyed these references more than the story itself. To sum it up: If you're interested in humourous stories and legends of hacker folklore, read "The New Hackers Dictionary". For interesting ideas on machine intelligence, read Douglas Hofstadter, for great SF, read Dune, for mythology, read Bulfinch. If you'd like a combination of the above that's not taking itself too seriously, Fabi's book does the trick, but it doesn't offer much in the way of originality.
Rating: 
Summary: Slow, meandering and pointless.
Review: The only positive aspect of Wyrm is Fabi's thoughts on intelligence and sentience. It's a real shame that the plotline spends so much time on the ludicrous RPG/D&D game; a childish one-dimensional Hobitt/Lord of the Rings rip-off. BUUUUUHHH! The characters are also weakly developed. If you are not extremely interested in SF, stay away! Fabi has nothing to offer whatsoever in the technical insight/innovation department either. Trust me, I have a masters degree in the field.
Rating:
Summary: Let it go....
Review: I read the first 150 pages of this book in an hour. Turned the page and I thought I was in a different book! The technical aspects of the book were very well written, but it was very disjointed with the on-line gaming portions of the book. I thought I was the type of person that would enjoy a techno-d&d book. But this one was written in such a way that it was like reading two separate books. Beer and chocolate are two of my favorite foods, but not together. I feel the same way about this book. Get this one from your local library.
Rating:
Summary: Wyrm is lacking in good execution, it's slow and stilted.
Review: Mr. Fabi reminds a little of Melville, going off on tangents that really shouldn't be part of the story. The descriptions of the world aren't very even, there seems to be a large disparity between the technology that's available and what is used. The writing is very hodge-podge, meandering through descriptions of things and seemingly bump into actions of importance. Overall a mediocre read If you want good cyberpunk stick William Gibson, Neil Stephenson, Bruce Sterling, and Rudy Rucker
Rating:
Summary: One of the best suspense, sci-fi books out there!
Review: Mark Fabi's "Wyrm" is one of the greatest books I have ever read. Using a unique and original story he manages to captivate the reader. The plot is presented in a way that is quite realistic making the novel seem more than a suspense story rather than sci-fi. I loved the fact that although there is a plethora of technical terms used, they are all explained clearly and are easy for the reader to follow. I recommend the book to everyone who has had even a little computer experience and a great sense of adventure!
Rating:
Summary: WYRM - The best Sci-Fi in a LONG time
Review: Wyrm, by Mark Fabi, is simply put one of the best novels I've ever read. I don't say that lightly, either. Wyrm combines romance, technology (complete w/ computer jargon, and explinations!!!!), fantasy, and action. Some of the most interesting parts of the story take place INSIDE a CRPG (computer role-playing game)!!! All of the characters (which, by the way, are fanstastically developed) become characters in a RPG played over the internet, much like a AD&D game. Wyrm is an excellent book. While it is Sci-fi, it reads as quick as a adventure book. I couldn't put the thing down. Now - where's that sequel? An excellent first novel by Mark Fabi. I'd reccomend it to anyone.
Rating:
Summary: Wyrm Rules
Review: If you enjoy Rudy Rucker and Neal Stephenson then you will enjoy Wyrm by Mark Fabi. I should have been doing homework but instead I was battling Beelzebub and the dread Ouroboros. It was worth it.
|
