Rating: 
Summary: Another great book!
Review: I was caught by suprise when I found this book. I was not aware Ms. Friedman had written another book. I have read her previous work and took this book with me while on vacation. The book kept getting better and better. I couldn't wait to discover how it ended. Great characters, story, and plot. I'm waiting for a sequel. This is one great book to read!
Rating:
Summary: Wow. Just...Wow
Review: I've never read anything quite like it. It's complex, but understandable. I think Friedman must have taken special care to keep her storyline organized so that her readers could keep track of the many characters, mysteries and conflicts. She is good at indirect characterization, and the idea of multiple minds inside one is purely original, and incredible that she pulled it off so well.
Rating:
Summary: A Post Gibson Masterpeice
Review: I normally can not stand the typical futuristic apocalyptic view shared by most sci-fi writers when writting about the future of the Net and society. Friedman is different. She stays away from net related jargon, and wirtes a very believeable story about the evolution of network technology. I would give this book 4.5 stars due to the lackluster ending but a five is a closer approximation than a four. It is a worthy read, even for those of you (like myslef) who could not stand Jhonny Mnemonic.
Rating:
Summary: Best Science Fiction I've read in years
Review: I'm an old Science Fiction fan, but I haven't finished an SF book in years--they all seem to tell the same old story. But I couldn't stop reading this book. I cancelled my weekend plans and locked myself in my room until I'd finished it. How nice it felt to regret reaching the last page! Absolutely wonderful.
Rating: 
Summary: Very good book - good characters, 2 mysteries, & politics
Review: A very good book. The characters are engaging, the 2 mysteries (one whodunit, one howdunit) are kept going til the end, and the politics are believable. For a 565 page armbuster, it reads fairly quickly. The author keeps away from long digressions, but gives a good feel for the backstory. The ending (on reflection) is a little "and now the jigsaw puzzle pieces all fit together-ish", but not grating or unbelieveable.The story, in brief, is that of 2 characters, a young girl from Earth with multiple personalities, who may hold the key to breaking a guild's monopoly on interstellar travel, and a computer security expert hired by the Guild to find the cure for and creator of a dangerous computer virus which threatens the Guild's pilots. Many of the story elements are reminiscent of the work of Cordwainer Smith. After reading this book, I had the strange desire to planoform, kill some rats and dragons, visit some Scanners and Underpeople, and have tea on Alpha-Ralpha Boulevard with Lord of the Instrumentality Jestocoast and the 'Lady Who Sailed the Soul'. Reading this one should go fairly high on your list of things to do. my stars: 1, don't bother; 2, maybe from the library; 3, wait for the paperback; 4, read it; 5, a classic.
Rating:
Summary: A great story and book
Review: I have to agree with the other reviews. It's a great book, great story, not so great ending. Even with the not so great ending, it's still well worth reading.
Rating:
Summary: Exciting, entrancing book with extrordinary new ideas.
Review: Being a hard core science fiction fan and Pyschiatric Nurse for the last 25 years this book blew me away! Making Jamisia a multiple personality disorder and giving people with mental health disorders credit for their originality and creativity was heart warming for me to read. The story is fast paced and full of great ideas of future computer and internet technology. I'd love to have some "brainware" of my own. 5 stars. I hope she writes a sequel.
Rating:
Summary: Not quite as good as I'd hoped but still worth four stars
Review: Freidman had a great start but too bad she fizzled at the end. There wasn't a whole lot of climax or closure which dissapointed me but this was a good deal better than alot of the crap I've read through lately. She still has that creative spark that drew me into the coldfire trilogy though it was dampened somewhat in this novel. The few minor failings aside, it was still complex and intersting read.
Rating:
Summary: Friedman (almost!) does it again
Review: C.S. Friedman is one of my favorite authors ever since I picked up IN CONQUEST BORN a few years ago...I almost wish I'd found out about her a few years from now so there'd be more material out there for me to find! (Does that make sense?) Her new book is truly mind-blowing science fiction, especially the dealings between the hackers and the government. The idea of humanity going straight to technological implants for 'Web' access has a real ring of truth to it! It doesn't quite measure up in the final conflict to, say, Stephen Donaldson's GAP series, but it sure is a wonderful read. Ms. Friedman, keep it up...and hurry!
Rating:
Summary: Gripping, Powerful, A true work of art
Review: "This Alien Shore" is a fantastic book. It is a rare treat in these days of monolithic 8 book sagas with no ending in sight to read a book written in such a robust, yet concise manner encompassing a complete story. As usual, her attention to detail and careful crafting of the story brought this work of art alive in my imagination.
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