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Summary: Loved the book and want Palmer to write another one
Review: I just finished reading this book and could NOT put it down. It captured me from the first page and I loved Palmer's writing style. I would love it if someone could get in contact with him and persuade him to write another book, preferably a sequel to Emergence. I know a lot of people who would want that!
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Summary: A keeper
Review: I read this not long after it was first published, which I think would put me at about 15 at the time. I've been looking for a copy for the last few months, and finally came across one online. It actually made my day.It's not common to find a heroine in young adult fiction (if that is indeed the classification of the book) who isn't a noxious combination of sass and pluck. And even though Candy *is* a combination of the two, she isn't precious or preachy. She's smart, curious, oftentimes scared, and entirely likeable. Granted, things get stretched a _little_ far by the end of the story, but once I have this book back in my library, I'll be reading it at least once a year, just like Ender's Game.
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Summary: One of my all time favorites
Review: I've got over 3000 (really) science fiction and fantasy books in my collection and have been reading these genre for over 30 years.
Emergence is a beautiful piece of work and like others here, I have read through more then one copy - in fact I came here looking for yet another, and felt I had to add my words of praise for this book.
Mr. Palmer, if you ever read these reviews, please write more! We are poorer without your contributions.
Buy it. Read it. You'll understand how we feel.
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Summary: Wonderful Gem of a Book
Review: If there is such a thing as an unknown classic, then "Emergence" would qualify. The writing style is funny, moving, and exciting. The protagonist is wonderful. The storyline is interesting. I can only compare it to "Podkayne of Mars" by Heinlein for the story's tone and style.</p>
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Summary: It's a darn shame he quit writing SF.
Review: Last I heard about him, he'd quit writing SF - it just didn't pay enough. Which is a damned shame - I thought he was an excellent writer!
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Summary: Hard SF without the nuts and bolts
Review: Meet Candidia Maria Smith-Foster, the most compelling female protagonist in modern science fiction since Friday Jones and Podkayne Fries (both Heinlein characters). Candy's unique outlook on life shines through in her journal which chronicles the aftermath of a bionuclear war, a war which has eliminated 99.4 percent of the people on Earth. The remaining .6 percent -- well, let's just say that they have very unique abilities. Candy is one of these, and as she sets off from her hometown in search of other survivors, the meaning of the book's title becomes clear -- Emergence, the emergence of a new species, a new society, and a new world. Full of engaging characters, compelling scenes and a love-to-hate antagonist, this book rates in my top ten list, any day of the week.
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Summary: Note to self: Re-read this book - it's great!!
Review: Most of the book is written as if in a journal - stream of consciousness style. Given that the protagonist of this book is a twelve year old girl, I originally thought the story would be unbelievable or annoying. It was neither. I read the book at one sitting when it first came out and have read it several times since. Each time, I am surprised at how good it is. I just wish Palmer had written a follow-up or two. As far as the story line, the other reviews have done a good job. The only thing I have to add is: This book is a must read!! Enjoy, Jay.
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Summary: I never get bored by this one
Review: No matter how often I read this book, I find it fresh and vital every time. Others have cataloged the details of this book; let me just add that I am a writer and editor myself, and an extremely picky reader. "Emergence" is one of the few books that I find captivating enough to read over and over. Buy it. Read it.
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Summary: One of the great "prodigy" books
Review: Of course all teenagers feel alone and misunderstood some or perhaps much of the time, but as a child prodigy myself I found several books that resonated especially strongly with the feelings of my childhood and adolescence. Slan of course, Macroscope, and several Heinlein books, but the one that came out on top was Emergence. It appeared in shorter form in Analog magazine (if memory serves); I was told about it by a friend and wound up reading it on microfilm. Later I snatched the book from the bookstore shelves, and somewhat after that read the sequel Threshold. It is an honest and compelling book written with an incredibly clear, lucid viewpoint. Although I realize that everyone has felt alienated at one point or another, it is also enormously powerful to those of us who have felt alienated by our gifts or talents in childhood.
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Summary: On my all-time 10 best
Review: Only a 9?! I couldn't agree more with the other reader/reviewers. The form of the narrative is not for everyone. I LOVED it (it is so refreshing, creative and unique), but I have read favorite passages to family members and friends, and though they rolled on the floor laughing (take that literally of my high school aged son), most said they couldn't read the entire book in its shorthand style ("it would drive them nuts"). Palmer very cleverly turns the narrative over to one of Candy's companion's in one chapter, or uses other devices to break into normal speech for occasional chapters, but then returns to Candy's special way of recording her story. He keeps the reader aware of the uniqueness of the book in hand. I have recommended this book to several students (I'm a high school librarian), especially girls. Some just can't get into its unique style (Palmer has done something TOTALLY different here), but those who do, LOVE the story, love Candy, and love Palmer's approach to conveying the story. I have one girl who has re-read the book every year because she loves it so much. This is one my all-time favorite reads and I can't recommend it highly enough. Maybe if we push the publisher we can get it printed again. It's one that should never be out of print. Try to get it from your library or through inter-library loan, or go ahead and ask Amazon to try to find you a copy. If you can enjoy the style, you won't regret it.
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