One for the Morning Glory

Rating:
Summary: read between the lines
Review: I read this book and loved it. Like the best John Barnes books I've read (e.g. Earth Made of Glass), the author resists the temptation to just give us what we want, which would result in a much shallower book. With Barnes' superb writing and ability to draw the reader in, a shallower book would probably be very entertaining and possibly more popular. I'm glad he went for a meatier treatment, though. I believe that One for the Morning Glory isn't so much about Amatus and the fantastic world he lives in as it is about fantasy and reality and how fairy tales were originally written to instruct rather than to entertain, and possibly about many other themes which I haven't grasped yet. My wife recently read the book, and we had the most amazing conversations afterwards. This is a book to make you think. If you're looking for simple entertainment, read Patton's Spaceship. If you want to be entertained and also inspired to think about the world in new ways, read One for the Morning Glory.

Rating:
Summary: read between the lines
Review: I read this book and loved it. Like the best John Barnes books I've read (e.g. Earth Made of Glass), the author resists the temptation to just give us what we want, which would result in a much shallower book. With Barnes' superb writing and ability to draw the reader in, a shallower book would probably be very entertaining and possibly more popular. I'm glad he went for a meatier treatment, though. I believe that One for the Morning Glory isn't so much about Amatus and the fantastic world he lives in as it is about fantasy and reality and how fairy tales were originally written to instruct rather than to entertain, and possibly about many other themes which I haven't grasped yet. My wife recently read the book, and we had the most amazing conversations afterwards. This is a book to make you think. If you're looking for simple entertainment, read Patton's Spaceship. If you want to be entertained and also inspired to think about the world in new ways, read One for the Morning Glory.

Rating:
Summary: This book is a gem and a keeper
Review: I still can't figure out exactly what sort of book it is. It could be a fun little fairy tale told with a sly wink and sharp sense of humor. It could be a commentary on the power of myth, disguised as a fairy tale. It could be an author's clever joke, where the story itself is not particularly interesting, but instead you turn the pages to see how the author use the rhythm of language to weave a sort of magic spell which transforms the story into something wonderful. Whatever it is, I enjoyed the book very much, and will keep the book and reread it many many times over the years.

Rating:
Summary: It Reads Like Watching the "Princess Bride".
Review: I work in a bookstore and I read quite a bit of science fiction/fantasy. I must admit the art by Charles Vess drew me to this book, so I picked it up and read the back. The idea of a young prince, missing one side of his body, going on adventures with fiendly but mysterious companions intrigued me. About three months after buying it, I finally got around to reading it (as I stated, I work in a bookstore, hence I buy and read many books). After the first page and a half I was hooked. Mr. Barnes writing style was very fluid and much like a classic fairy tale. The reference to the Spinx's riddle and to J.R.R.Tolkien's "The Hobbit" was also very enjoyable. This would have to be the best stand-alone fantasy I have read in at least two years! When I tried to think of a way to describe this book to my friends, the phrase that came to mind was that it reads like watching the "Princess Bride". In closing I'd like to add that three of my friends now own a copy and at least 3 customers I have shown the book to were very pleased with it and have picked up other novels by John Barnes. Thank you for your time

Rating:
Summary: Promising start, disappointing end.
Review: I write this as one who read Barnes' "Orbital Resonans" again and again. "One for the morning glory", which starts very promising as a parody fairy tale with ingenius twists, ends as a dissapointment. Do not bother with guessing who are the four companions and why they are in the story, because you wont get any real answers. It seems that Barnes never knew himself how to finish the story, so he just end it somehow ýand sent it to print. If you know a book by Barnes which equals Orbital Resonans, please tell me about it!

Rating:
Summary: j.poulain.
Review: in the book they eat protons and similies...
how great is that?!

Rating:
Summary: very good - I liked it
Review: One for the morning glory is a very good story , though slightly predictable. It did have a few confusing grammatical errors , but the plot makes up for it . It's sarcasm and the characters embracing the fairy tail like qualities was funny in my opinion . I liked it a lot.

Rating:
Summary: Not typical Barnes, but very delightful
Review: One of the best fantasy fairy tales out there; witty, touching, and self-referential as it consciously tries to define its own fairy tale rules. Though Barnes is much better known for his hard science fiction, I actually enjoyed his quirky foray into fantasy even more.

Rating:
Summary: Witty and entertaining; somewhat disappointing.
Review: Overall, the book was enjoyable and well written. The characters are interesting and there is a witty charm that is sustained throughout the novel. However, it is deliberately predictable which takes away from a level of drama that could have made this a great novel.

Rating:
Summary: Makes you feel like a little child again
Review: The cover art by Charles Vess drew me to this book, but the opening lines hooked me. I bought it, got home, and couldn't put it down for the next day and a half. Reading this charming, smart fairy tale made me feel as though I was little again, my sister reading me a chapter of "Alice" each night before bed... If you enjoyed fairy tales as a child and felt that perhaps you've outgrown them, read this book. You'll be 5 again and in a completely wonderful world.