Rating: 
Summary: A very uninspired book for Pohl.
Review: The few books I've read by Pohl have always been better then this. The plot moves along at a plodding pace, particularly in the middle. During this time, everything takes place in a small cell in which Pohl documents each and every time one of the character has to relieve themself. This is occasionally broken up by visits from their alien captor, but these visits do nothing to break up the monotony. The ending, once I forced myself to read that far, seemed rushed and there was no closure. It felt like Pohl just decided to cut the book off at that point. A few more chapters could have easily been added. Also, I didn't find my self liking any characters at all. Pohl does manage to paint an interesting picture of the future and bring up a few thought provoking topics, they're just buried under piles, and piles of garbage.
Rating: 
Summary: The first in a sleek and addictive trilogy
Review: The first novel in Frederik Pohl's Eschaton trilogy, "The Other End of Time" sets the stage for an engrossing--if philosophically underdeveloped--sequence about a near-future invasion of Earth by a duplicitous alien race that calls itself "The Beloved Leaders." Pohl's future Earth is entirely believable, his orbital hijinx spooky and plausible, and his aliens thoroughly enigmatic. Continued in the addictive "The Siege of Eternity" and concluded in the breezy, exciting "The Far Shore of Time," Pohl does an admirable job of revising the cliched theme of alien invasion. There are some minor let-downs in the plot--the most obvious being the nature of the alleged "Eschaton" the invading aliens are fighting over--but I found myself enjoying the trilogy for its knowing, behind-the-scenes portrayal of the world's intelligence communities caught unprepared in a struggle at the threshold of comprehension. Greg Bear has referred Pohl's far-flung adventure as "the thinking person's 'Independence Day.'" I recommend the Eschaton trilogy to anyone searching for a diverting, intelligent adventure about a "first contact" scenario that could actually happen.
Rating:
Summary: nice branches, weaker tree
Review: The Other End of Time had a lot of interesting, if not terribly novel, concepts. The method of transportation via duplication is an interesting one, with clear ethical implications which we haven't as yet had to address. Additionally, the representation of the aliens was provoking -- the story never resolves who are the "good guys" and who are the "bad guys", but then real life is rarely black and white.But despite the positive aspects of the work, the end was a profound disappointment -- too much was unresolved. Normally this wouldn't necessarily be a bad thing, but in this case the reader is left feeling empty; little is learned. So while The Other End of Time has components of interest, overall it's lacking, and the characters, which are established in a promising fashion, descend towards the end into cliche. The interesting discrete elements fail to make a compelling package. Overall, it's hard to recommend this book.
Rating:
Summary: nice branches, weaker tree
Review: The Other End of Time had a lot of interesting, if not terribly novel, concepts. The method of transportation via duplication is an interesting one, with clear ethical implications which we haven't as yet had to address. Additionally, the representation of the aliens was provoking -- the story never resolves who are the "good guys" and who are the "bad guys", but then real life is rarely black and white. But despite the positive aspects of the work, the end was a profound disappointment -- too much was unresolved. Normally this wouldn't necessarily be a bad thing, but in this case the reader is left feeling empty; little is learned. So while The Other End of Time has components of interest, overall it's lacking, and the characters, which are established in a promising fashion, descend towards the end into cliche. The interesting discrete elements fail to make a compelling package. Overall, it's hard to recommend this book.
Rating:
Summary: A page turner and thought-provoker
Review: The Other End of Time had the feel of vintage Pohl, bringing back fond reminisces of The Space Merchants and other such gems. The Other End of Time has a taut, gripping plot that keeps you turning the pages right up to the (somewhat of a cliffhanger...which definitely begs for a sequel) conclusion. What really sets The Other End of Time above other near-future "first contact" type thrillers of which there are countless numbers on the pulp rack are Pohl's probing questions into the very nature of humanity and our existence in the universe. These are the questions that stay with you long after you set the book down--the ones you're still chewing on days, even weeks later. David R. Bunch once commented something to the effect that there are two types of readers: diligent ones and lazy ones. The diligent ones enjoy books that make them think; that make them question the very basis of their beliefs. The Other End of Time was certainly written for that type of reader
Rating: 
Summary: what a let down
Review: This a book I struggled to finnish from the first page to the last. I can not think of one positive thing to say.
Rating: 
Summary: Very original Sci-fi!
Review: This book is one of the most original sci-fi books I have read. It has enough twists and turns to make a pretzel look straight and enough original and funny things to keep the most jaded sci-fi fan happy. I can hardly wait to get the sequel!
Rating:
Summary: disapointing
Review: This book starts out with some great ideas that seem really interesting. The political and economic environment of the book really caught my interest. Then, bang, the story goes completely bizarre and rather unintelligible. A bad take on alien abduction, time loops, pack mentality, and poultry. Try another title!
Rating:
Summary: An engaging, solid SF read
Review: This is a fine book. It hooked me within the first five pages (the first time in a long time that an SF novel has done that) and kept me reading for hours. It's not *the* most thought-provoking work that Pohl has ever done, but (to borrow a phrase) it ain't bad, and the characterization is very well done. I finished the book just last night, and today I went out and picked up both sequels. I'm looking forward to another long evening.
Rating:
Summary: BAD AND BORING!
Review: This is one of the worst books I have ever read. The human characters lack any imagination or resources. As noted by other reviewers, the bulk of the book takes place with these characters being imprisoned. No will to escape; no will to return to Earth. The prisoners are "copied" by the aliens, yet the author fails to explain, at all, the human implications of this. They just seem to accept this as 'normal'. Imagine meeting yourself. Seems to me it would be kinda weird, and worthy of discussion. Nothing here in this book. The lead character, Dan, is made out to be a schmuck in the early chapters, and winds up being not much more in the end. Lack of closure? Try lack of effort by the author. I kept waiting for something to happen, and was still waiting at the end. The concepts, of tracheon particles (which supposedly move no slower than the speed of light), and the eschaton (when all living beings come back to life at the end/collapse of the universe) are interesting, but never given anything more than brief mention. This is my first Pohl "novel". If it is representative of his work......
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