Rating: Summary: Stunning! Review: The Truth Machine was the most strongly moving book I've read since The Diamond Age, or even since Rama. A cast of believable, deeply personal characters is followed as the world is irrevocably changed by one man's stunning creation: a foolproof lie-detector. With dishonesty no longer figuring in politics, the justice system, or personal relationships, the world will never be the same; and none too late, as nuclear terrorism and releases of genetically-engineered viruses take their toll on human life. Few other books provide such an excellent seed for deep philosophy, in combination with such superb writing and character development. I especially recommend this book to anyone who has read the Rama tetralogy and/or Neal Stephenson's The Diamond Age, and vice versa, as these three books (The Diamond Age is a sort of sequel to Snow Crash) provide a stunning glimpse of future life that will make the reader laugh, cry, and be moved.
Rating: Summary: The Truth Machine is an good book. Review: The Truth Machine, by James L. Halperin, is a good book, but the book is long and there is a lot of extra information in the beginning of each chapter that's in italics, talking about important stuff that has happened to the human race on a certain day. If I knew what this book was going to be about I probably wouldn't read it, but it wasn't that bad because I love computers and technology. I suggest you read the book if you're interested in what the world would be like if everyone had to speak the truth and what would happen to YOU if you lived in a world like that. Although the book wasn't the best in the world, I want to praise Halperin for what he has created. It is an unbelievably good book and it has creativity oozing out of it. Halperin created an intriguing plot that I was unable to predict.
Rating: Summary: Exciting, Stimulating, Believable. Review: I found it totally convincing. I now believe that if completed in my lifetime (I'm a 24-year-old computer designer), a truth machine would let us reap the benefits described in the story.
Rating: Summary: Hook the author to the Truth Machine Review: This book is crap! Great premise, but there's more characterization in a Nancy Drew mystery. The plot clunks along ridiculously ("Mr. President, I want to build a Truth Machine. It will take 20 years and cost 300 billion dollars."
"Okay, here's your money. " I've seen better writing in a Choose Your Own Adventure book. Skip it.
Rating: Summary: All right, but . . . Review: I enjoyed this, but I'm still reeling from another truly great book I just finished which may be tempering my perspectives here. Halperin's is a good premise and fairly well executed, but it pales in comparison to Glenn Kleier's THE LAST DAY. If you're looking for a truly mind-boggling story, pick up this book. After three weeks, I still can't get it out of my mind.
Rating: Summary: This was honestly the best book I've ever read. Review: The Truth Machine offers readers of all tastes something to enjoy. It was well thought out and completely engrossing. I would recommend this book to anyone.
Rating: Summary: Enthraling Review: I finished this book in a single day, it was so good. I could not bear to close it and separate it from my hands. Halperin creates the world so incredibly well, you fell as if the events are progressing around you. If you read one science fiction novel in your life, this should be it.
Rating: Summary: An intriguing and well written book Review: The premise draws you in and the writing keeps you there. highly recommended-- also check out R. Doherty's Area 51 series of Steiger's Alien Rapture
Rating: Summary: "What is Truth?" - Pontius Pilate Review: "The Truth Machine" is the most honest, self-searching novel I have read for a long time. Halperin portrays the incurable selfishness and deceit of human nature as the root of all the world's problems. I cannot disagree: surely to say otherwise is mass self-delusion. Just look how often we have announced a great new era of peace - and how often the injustice has continued unabated. That's the problem; what's the solution? Halperin's fast-moving, addictive novel gives an optimistic account of the stamping out of all lies, deceit and hidden motives by means of a perfect "Truth Machine." The gradual elimination of all crime ensues as the world rids itself of the worst of its criminals, and countries co-operate in new-found harmony. It is a deeply encouraging story - and that, for me, is why it is also profoundly empty of hope. For in reality, no truth machine could ever be 100% infallible, just as no human being or society ever has been. Sadly the book's solution would not work: something much more far-reaching is required. Congratulations, Halperin, you are on the right track, and your book is brilliant. But keep searching: there IS a solution...
Rating: Summary: Terrific! Review: Just finished the TRUTH MACHINE, and I loved it! I think Mr. Halperin did a very good job portraying a possible "what if?" future. And I loved the character of Peter Armstrong.
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