Rating: 
Summary: Another Brilliant Philosophical Allegory
Review: This is a very intriguing book that follows the formula of all Hogan's other novels. The plot is used as a tool to examine what ails our society. "The Legend That Was Earth" and "Thrice Upon a Time" are good examples of this technique. The characters are for the most part very interesting. Zambendorf is in constant conflict with Massey, until they realize that their real goals coincide(i.e., preventing corporate greed from exploiting and destroying an alien race). The book was entirely enjoyable, although the periphery characters were a bit one dimensional. All in all, a great read.
Rating: 
Summary: One of the best science fiction novels ever.
Review: As someone with a background in biology and computer science (my degree was in cellular biology, but I work in computer software), I found Hogan's Code of the Lifemaker awesome. The world he creates, where machine intelligences evolve self-awareness, is unlike anything you've ever imagined. Yet his understanding of evolution makes it completely plausible.
Rating:
Summary: Proves even robots believe in evolution
Review: From the prologue about how this mystical world came about I was completely hooked. Also loved the robots 'reversed' scientific abilities and the reason behind it.
Rating: 
Summary: Ugh.
Review: I discovered this book while flipping through a copy of "The Immortality Option" and immediately added it to my summer reading list, anticipating a good time. It didn't exactly turn out that way. While this story has some good moments, I didn't feel any better for having read it. The most annoying thing about it is its narrative structure - in the prologue, where the necessary story background is provided, the author uses an omniscient viewpoint that works very well: complex, but flowing. Later in the book, however, instead of using the same viewpoint, the author has the characters carry out ridiculous and boring discussions in order to provide plot exposition, the kind of discussion that begins "Tell me again why we're here..." or something akin to that. Plus, I feel that by providing so much information in the prologue, the author ruined the chance for the rest to measure up - once you've been given a fantastic set-up discussing the evolution of a race of robots, why would you want to go back to reading about a bunch of boring humans??? This book could have been so much better, but hey, I haven't published anything, so I'll shut up.
Rating:
Summary: Ugh.
Review: I discovered this book while flipping through a copy of "The Immortality Option" and immediately added it to my summer reading list, anticipating a good time. It didn't exactly turn out that way. While this story has some good moments, I didn't feel any better for having read it. The most annoying thing about it is its narrative structure - in the prologue, where the necessary story background is provided, the author uses an omniscient viewpoint that works very well: complex, but flowing. Later in the book, however, instead of using the same viewpoint, the author has the characters carry out ridiculous and boring discussions in order to provide plot exposition, the kind of discussion that begins "Tell me again why we're here..." or something akin to that. Plus, I feel that by providing so much information in the prologue, the author ruined the chance for the rest to measure up - once you've been given a fantastic set-up discussing the evolution of a race of robots, why would you want to go back to reading about a bunch of boring humans??? This book could have been so much better, but hey, I haven't published anything, so I'll shut up.
Rating: 
Summary: Good...but not great
Review: I liked Mr. Hogan's prologue. Interesting primise with the alien creators. I felt the characters come alive through the book and this made it a nice read. I would have liked to seen the author go into more detail on the theological and philosophical points. I think the other readers who gave this book really low ratings missed the whole idea of the book which was about the crimes committed in the name of religion. This point was made clear on the back cover. That being said the book was a nice but simple diversion.
Rating:
Summary: I guess I missed the point...
Review: I'm surprised at the number of good reviews for this book. The premise is VERY intriguing: humans making contact with a "race" of evolved robots. The intro gives an interesting (if somewhat overwhelming) account of how the robots came to be, but from there on, the book gets pretty flat. It's crammed with cardboard characters, both human and robot. I really looked forward to reading this, but it sure didn't pay off.
Rating:
Summary: Fascinating
Review: James Hogan is the only modern author I know that makes a person thing so deeply while telling such a fascinating story. This is the same thing that makes writers like Tolstoy so memorable. And of course him being this good means that I'm the only one whose hear about him.
Rating:
Summary: Fascinating
Review: James Hogan is the only modern author I know that makes a person thing so deeply while telling such a fascinating story. This is the same thing that makes writers like Tolstoy so memorable. And of course him being this good means that I'm the only one whose hear about him.
Rating:
Summary: Another Interesting Work by Hogan
Review: James Hogan's usually blends solid scientific ideas with action paced stories and "Code of the Lifemaker" is one of his most succesfull achievements. The central character, Karl Zambedorf is highly ingenious and likely to be liked by readers. Around him and his travel to Titan, Hogan builds an attractive plot, using ideas from the evolution theory which he seems to address on a basis of strong conviction. Paradoxically enough, in more recent articles, Hogan has revised his ideas on the topic, revealing a reflective man capable of going back some steps and reconsidering his positions. Of course, there are some things that are less convincing in the novel. The trilled (and recurrent in Hogan's work) theme of a confrontation between science and religion is handled quite superficially and some characters in the "wrong" side are defintively cartoonish. All in all, an entertaining ride well worth reading. Watch out for the superb prologue and yes...there is a sequel ("The Inmortality Option").
Rating=3.5
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