Rating: Summary: certainly not a classic Review: While I admire Larry Niven's conceptual genius, his writing of late has left me wondering. Destiny's Road had a subject that could have developed into a classic, instead it entered into a trivial and most confusing dialogue, I found myself frequently reviewing earlier parts of the book in order to grasp the intent.
Rating: Summary: Pretty Good Review: I have never read a Larry Niven book. I really enjoyed this, he reminds me of Jack Mcdevitt. I always enjoy books about different people trying to make their way in their own interesting world.
Rating: Summary: Good SF. Average Niven. Review: Destiny's road is indeed a nice book to read. Definitively not the best of Niven but nice anyway. The theme of the colonization is again brilliantly mastered while the "Otterfolk" issue has not been enough depicted. It lacks however some suspense and drive due to the lack of credible, dangerous threat.
Rating: Summary: A Space Western with "Horse Whisperer's" plodding pace.... Review: This is probably not the first Niven novel I should've read..... Is it just me or are the Speckles (plants) and the Chugs (animals) more interesting than the people???? Jemmy's motivations are fuzzy at best, sort of blowin' in the wind until near the end where he turns Johnny Appleseed on us....I don't buy it....Jemmy never has the strength of purpose.....
Rating: Summary: A very different Niven work, but one I enjoyed Review: I do not find it surprising that the opinion other reviewers have of this work appears to vary inversely with their familiarity with Niven's other books. The book differs sharply from what we've come to expect from the author in two respects. First, there is little of his trademark technology speculation (such as Ringworld). In fact, Jemmy Bloocher's world differs little from late 18th century America. The technology that does appear in it is only surprising in the context of how little of it exists. Secondly, Niven adopts a straightforward narrative style where the reader must infer the emotions and motivations of the characters from their actions. I found this style compelling, and Niven uses it expertly to craft complicated characters. The 27 year hiatus (that has been bemoaned by many) exists because nothing extremely relevant to the story occurs during it. I think the disorientation that many have complained of feeling when encountering this time-warp was intentionally created, beautifully executed, and highly realistic. This is a very different Niven, but one I strongly recommend.
Rating: Summary: Destiny's road- - great book Review: I liked the mystery and discovery cycle that Jemmy goes through. I too was disappointed with a couple parts, the narrative did get disjointed (perhaps becuase Jemmy became slightly insane). Anyone that's read Legacy of heorot and Beowulf's Children...did you notice the Tie-in? Why does Niven say that Avalon lost touch with Earth? In Beowulf's Children, they said that it was the other way around..Earth quit communicating. Any ideas?
Rating: Summary: Good - but not what we have come to expect from LN Review: The story line has potential and the plot is well founded - but the execution disappoints. There are too many holes in the narrative and an unacceptable number of errors - did anyone actually read this before it was published? Niven says in his introduction that this book has taken him a long time to write and it certainly shows.But you will find likeable characters in here and you will come to care about some of them. There are flashes of the Niven we know and love all the way through this. With more care and craft I am sure this would have become a great Larry Niven.
Rating: Summary: Such a disappointment!! Review: Do not waist your time on this. Larry Niven has written many other wonderful novels. Pick any other one by random choice and you will have a better read than this disgrace.
Rating: Summary: A captivating read Review: I very much enjoyed "Destiny's Road" - it's one of the better SF novels I've read this year. The novel focuses on adventure and discovery rather than on "whiz-bang" science. Destiny's Road may not push the envelope like Niven's past works (Ringworld, ...) - and this may disappoint some fans. However, it is a captivating read, with just the right pacing - making the book hard to put down. I stayed up past my bedtime a few times just to see what Jemmy would discover next down Destiny's road. I'm looking forward to a sequel.
Rating: Summary: Careless writing and poor characterization mar effort Review: I found this book nearly impossible to finish, an amazing feat for somebody who reads 50 novels a year. I kept thinking I would pick up the writing style of Niven, but that never happened. The book has several major blunders in the text, confusing the two main cities of (Spiral Town and Destiny) on more than one occasion. The 30 year lapse in the story where the protagonist simply sat around and raised a family is unbelievable for any style of fiction. I kept thinking that Jeremy (or someone) would reveal his fundamental understanding of the economics and social experiment in progress, but alas, that seems to have never been fleshed out by the author. I assume Niven has an editor but i wonder if anybody read the book carefully before it went to press. A good editing and some rewrite would have improved the book greatly.
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