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Summary: How Better Angels Relates to Lightpaths and Standing Wave
Review: Better Angels is both the first and last book of the Tetragrammaton series, which includes Lightpaths (1997) and Standing Wave (1998). As 'prequel' to the other two books, it covers the thirty year period prior to the events of Lightpaths. I wrote it to help me figure out how exactly it was Jiro Yamaguchi ended up in a Box and Michael Dalke (aka Hugh Manatee) ended up in a Tank, among many other things. First in terms of story chronology and last in terms of publication chronology, the publication of Better Angels both opens and completes the series -- and, like Lightpaths and Standing Wave, can also be read as a stand-alone novel.
Rating: 
Summary: A Hothouse of Ideas
Review: I think I can explain the negative reviews. First, this is actually the first book of a trilogy. Second no matter how Hendrix's publishers bill him, he's writes a novels of ideas--and not 'hard sf'. So if you want is fiction about consistent plausible science then read Benford, but if you want your mind stretched read Howard.
Rating:
Summary: A Hothouse of Ideas
Review: I think I can explain the negative reviews. First, this is actually the first book of a trilogy. Second no matter how Hendrix's publishers bill him, he's writes a novels of ideas--and not 'hard sf'. So if you want is fiction about consistent plausible science then read Benford, but if you want your mind stretched read Howard.
Rating: 
Summary: Weakly done
Review: I was really bored with the people in this book. I read mysteries and some science fiction and neither the mystery or the "science fiction" grabbed me because the chracters were all cardboard and so was the dialog. I did finish the book but I never liked it; if you want fun and adventure don't try this.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent work
Review: It starts when Professor Fabro finds a human shoulder bone in the La Brea Tar Pits. Surprisingly, or perhaps not so surprisingly, the bone contains evidence that it is not a natural substance. Jiro Yamaguchi is consulted to help with the analysis. The media inevitably gets hold of the story, and concocts a brilliantly twisted theory that the shoulder blade is the bone of an angel, which does more to legitimize its veracity than a hundred serious stories would have.In an alternate USA of the next millennium which has been thrashing in the throes of its second civil war, rebelling against a tyrannous theocracy, and wheresuch scientific pursuits as archeology, anthropology, and paleontology are banned, the disappearance of the brilliant scientist Yamaguchi causes all sorts of rumors and questions and fears. In a book he himself describes as the prequel to his astonishing prior novels, Lightpaths and Standing Wave, Howard Hendrix explores the outer limits of human imagination and religious fervor. Hendrix's claim that one can enter his universe from any one of his three books, may be a bit optimistic. He suggests, if you haven't read them, to read Better Angels first, then Lightpaths, then Standing Wave. But he doesn't insist. Mr. Hendrix is adept at placing humanity within science, or perhaps science within humanity. He is well-versed in high concept scientific principles, and has an incredibly awesome imagination, which he puts to good use as he explores what might happen if there were scientific proof of such things as angels. For those who have already read Lightpaths and Standing Wave, some questions and confusions may be answered. Others may be created by this ambitious prequel. There is no doubt that Howard Hendrix is a brilliant writer. Better Angels brings his Lightpaths universe full circle. One can only imagine what his next universe will be like. Rickey R. Mallory
Rating:
Summary: Excellent work
Review: It starts when Professor Fabro finds a human shoulder bone in the La Brea Tar Pits. Surprisingly, or perhaps not so surprisingly, the bone contains evidence that it is not a natural substance. Jiro Yamaguchi is consulted to help with the analysis. The media inevitably gets hold of the story, and concocts a brilliantly twisted theory that the shoulder blade is the bone of an angel, which does more to legitimize its veracity than a hundred serious stories would have. In an alternate USA of the next millennium which has been thrashing in the throes of its second civil war, rebelling against a tyrannous theocracy, and wheresuch scientific pursuits as archeology, anthropology, and paleontology are banned, the disappearance of the brilliant scientist Yamaguchi causes all sorts of rumors and questions and fears. In a book he himself describes as the prequel to his astonishing prior novels, Lightpaths and Standing Wave, Howard Hendrix explores the outer limits of human imagination and religious fervor. Hendrix's claim that one can enter his universe from any one of his three books, may be a bit optimistic. He suggests, if you haven't read them, to read Better Angels first, then Lightpaths, then Standing Wave. But he doesn't insist. Mr. Hendrix is adept at placing humanity within science, or perhaps science within humanity. He is well-versed in high concept scientific principles, and has an incredibly awesome imagination, which he puts to good use as he explores what might happen if there were scientific proof of such things as angels. For those who have already read Lightpaths and Standing Wave, some questions and confusions may be answered. Others may be created by this ambitious prequel. There is no doubt that Howard Hendrix is a brilliant writer. Better Angels brings his Lightpaths universe full circle. One can only imagine what his next universe will be like. Rickey R. Mallory
Rating:
Summary: From little spores does universal consciousness grow...
Review: Once again, Dr. Hendrix weaves technology and metaphysics into a spectacular tale of people trying to understand the world around them, and their ultimate confrontation with a Universal Consciousness that refuses to understand itself -- until its options run out. From the corporate and governmental greed and lust for power at the heart of the evil Tetragrammaton project to the (hopefully fictitious) rise and fall of the Christian States of America, we see how the events of the characters lives (and by implication, our own) are intertwined with cosmic destiny. Can the unvierse ever truly become conscious? Yes, but even after becoming fully conscious ourselves, there is yet one more demon to fight. The interplay of action and ideas in that final battle, so spectrally protrayed in the last chapter, challenges us to think to the limits of what can be thought -- and beyond. If you want a compelling story that will leave you thinking, this is your book. Oh yes, this is definitely a book you will want to buy for your children. I can guarantee that, having read it, they will NEVER give hitch-hiking another thought.
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Summary: NOTE TO REVIEWERS
Review: Please use the published hardcover edition of BETTER ANGELS for review, not the advance uncorrected proofs. Numerous and highly significant changes were made between the uncorrected proofs and the final galleys. Thanks
Rating: 
Summary: from ok to babbling nonsense
Review: The book starts off with a very creative set of suppositions. With a little imagination, the beginning goes off very well and sets a stage for an exciting book. Unfortunately, the author cannot hold the force for long. The various subplots don't tie together very well and actually get boring. Then it goes downhill after that. The last part of the book reads as if Timothy Leary wrote it on a particularly incoherent day. Too bad - given the start, it was a disappointment.
Rating:
Summary: ending goes to pieces
Review: The book starts off with a very creative set of suppositions. With a little imagination, the beginning goes off very well and sets a stage for an exciting book. Unfortunately, the author cannot hold the force for long. The various subplots don't tie together very well and actually get boring. Then it goes downhill after that. The last part of the book reads as if Timothy Leary wrote it on a particularly incoherent day. Too bad - given the start, it was a disappointment.
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