Home :: Books :: Science Fiction & Fantasy  

Arts & Photography
Audio CDs
Audiocassettes
Biographies & Memoirs
Business & Investing
Children's Books
Christianity
Comics & Graphic Novels
Computers & Internet
Cooking, Food & Wine
Entertainment
Gay & Lesbian
Health, Mind & Body
History
Home & Garden
Horror
Literature & Fiction
Mystery & Thrillers
Nonfiction
Outdoors & Nature
Parenting & Families
Professional & Technical
Reference
Religion & Spirituality
Romance
Science
Science Fiction & Fantasy

Sports
Teens
Travel
Women's Fiction
A Million Open Doors

A Million Open Doors

List Price: $19.95
Your Price: $19.95
Product Info Reviews

<< 1 2 >>

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: A "cultural SF" novel
Review: A Million Open Doors is a well-crafted "cultural science fiction" novel in the vein of Jack Vance. The protagonist Giraut is a young epee-wielding "jovent" from Nou Occitan. Jovent culture apparently lies somewhere between that of 18th century aristocracy and that of Alex and his droog buddies in A Clockwork Orange.

Dissatisfied and dishonored, Giraut leaves his world through a "springer" (an instant teleportation device) to become an Ambassador for the Thousand Cultures. The world on which he lands contains two polar cultures: Caledon, where money becomes a holy arbiter of value, and austere St. Michael. Both cultures are deeply religious and theocratic although opposite in just about every other respect.

When the springers come for the first time to each of the Thousand Worlds, a "Connect depression" ensues. Giraut and the other ambassadors are there to help Caledon and St. Michael re-enter interstellar human culture ... but it turns out to be a challenge.

A Million Open Doors doesn't have a well-defined linear plot, per se. At the least, it is a coming-of-age story for Giraut, who grows out of his jovent ways as the story progresses. If you like atmospheric science fiction with interesting scenery and well-developed characters, you should find this book to your liking.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: A "cultural SF" novel
Review: A Million Open Doors is a well-crafted "cultural science fiction" novel in the vein of Jack Vance. The protagonist Giraut is a young epee-wielding "jovent" from Nou Occitan. Jovent culture apparently lies somewhere between that of 18th century aristocracy and that of Alex and his droog buddies in A Clockwork Orange.

Dissatisfied and dishonored, Giraut leaves his world through a "springer" (an instant teleportation device) to become an Ambassador for the Thousand Cultures. The world on which he lands contains two polar cultures: Caledon, where money becomes a holy arbiter of value, and austere St. Michael. Both cultures are deeply religious and theocratic although opposite in just about every other respect.

When the springers come for the first time to each of the Thousand Worlds, a "Connect depression" ensues. Giraut and the other ambassadors are there to help Caledon and St. Michael re-enter interstellar human culture ... but it turns out to be a challenge.

A Million Open Doors doesn't have a well-defined linear plot, per se. At the least, it is a coming-of-age story for Giraut, who grows out of his jovent ways as the story progresses. If you like atmospheric science fiction with interesting scenery and well-developed characters, you should find this book to your liking.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Still John Barnes' most engaging book
Review: Although "Mother of Storms" and "Encounter with Tiber" are no doubt more popular, this book contains his most interesting characters. The main character begins as a dilettante whose only concerns are women, defending his ego, sharing a laugh with his friends, and sharpening his swordplay. Soon he is drawn into the real world, where his actions have permanent consequences and people depend on him for survival. Barnes made me care about Giraut and his friends. And, for a culture in which young women are treated as exhalted (but brainless) objects of chivalry, Barnes' female characters are strong, smart, and witty

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: What's All the Hubbubb, Bub?
Review: Even though the book is a fair read, good for a rainy weekend, or putting one to sleep of a night, I don't find it the award winning fair that so many critics' opinions say it is.

If you like a bunch of dandies waltzing about, drinking and wenching, then having the hero throwing himself into an altogether stange, socialistic society in the aftermath of a romantic betayal, this is your book; but I found it lacked enough action to keep the storyline moving, and to hold this reader's attention.

I am waiting to read "Earth Made of Glass", in hope that it is more attention keeping than "A Million Open Doors".

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: What's All the Hubbubb, Bub?
Review: Even though the book is a fair read, good for a rainy weekend, or putting one to sleep of a night, I don't find it the award winning fair that so many critics' opinions say it is.

If you like a bunch of dandies waltzing about, drinking and wenching, then having the hero throwing himself into an altogether stange, socialistic society in the aftermath of a romantic betayal, this is your book; but I found it lacked enough action to keep the storyline moving, and to hold this reader's attention.

I am waiting to read "Earth Made of Glass", in hope that it is more attention keeping than "A Million Open Doors".

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Not his best, but still a good book.
Review: I don't think this is his best book, and I think many of Barnes' fans would agree with me. It simply doesn't have the mind-bending, conviction-chalenging edge that his others do. But, having said that, it is probably a safer first-read as many of the reviews of his other books show that a lot of people can't handle his edgier novels.

It is an enjoyable story hiding a theme of cultural conflict and the characters are well writen. Though not his best, you can't loose on it because if you have read one of his harsaher novels and like him, this is still a good read and you won't be too disapointed, and if it is your first Barnes experience, it is much easier to enjoy superficially than his other books.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Getting better, but...
Review: I hated the first John Barnes' book I read - 'Kaleidoscope Century'. It was with some trepidation, then, that I picked this out of the bargain bin of my local bookshop.

Luckily this was better, both in terms of writing style and characterisation. The overall metaphorical device is quite neat; it is bascially quite a simple morality tale about the impact of communications and transport technologies on isolated societies. The main contrasting cultures were nicely drawn and fairly believable.

However it suffers from some of the same faults as his earlier work: he still appears to be plundering Heinlein's back-catalogue for ideas (which wouldn't be so bad if Heinlein was actually any good...); he relies too much on the juvenile adventure story to carry the plot along; he is too impressed by sadistic violence; and he seems to regard women with a rather misogynisytic eye.

Still, it is an improvement, and enjoyable enough to ignore some of the faults, and to make me want to see if he has improved still further with the sequal.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Where it all started...
Review: I just happened to read the book that follows this one, so for me, to read this book was to go backards in time, to see how Giraut and Margaret first met, to see his home world and her home world first hand, to see the merits and flaws of both characters and cultures and maybe gain more understanding of the universe John Barnes has designed. The book brings out the wonder and fear of contact, not between alien races, but human cultures. While the novel was published in 1992, it is very much a valid warning for today's readers. The world is much smaller than before, we can't stop that, but maybe we can limit the damage to ourselves, to our culture and to our souls.
As for the story, once again, it was a wonderful ride. Seeming to go one way, it jerks off the rails and goes another, as if the very characters and the world in which Mr. Barnes has created had a life of its own. A surprise ending, yes, but also a realistic and even sad one.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A Million Open Doors
Review: I'd recommend to anyone who feels like reading older-feeling hard sci-fi novel that is still modern enough for one to not be embarassed by the author referring to events of the late 20th century that obviously never happened. One review on the actual book cover calls Barnes "one of Heinlein's spiritual descendents" and that review is very accurate. I also saw another review here on Amazon.com that called this a "cultural sci-fi novel." All true. Barnes does something very rare among modern sci-fi writers (that I have seen, I must admit I haven't had time to read a lot recently)...he makes a story based on cultures interesting and truly engrossing.

When I was reading the book I couldn't decide when it was written. It feels like a 50's era sci-fi novel because so much importance is placed on the culture. But then there would be a reference to a technological idea that was obvious very current (such as "growing" buildings using nanomachines). I guess the true beauty of this novel is the refreshing way that technology--while believable and realistic enough--is not the centerpiece, instead it supports and compliments the plot. Very refreshing to read a novel about the integration of technology and culture that doesn't spend time belaboring the internet and information technology.

Finally, a quick plug for Amazon.com. Although I did buy this book at my local Barnes & Nobles store, their Internet site was clueless on John Barnes. Glad to see that Amazon.com has a better selection so I can explore other works by this author. I can't wait to do so (apparently there is now a sequel to "A Million Open Doors").

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: Read John Barnes' other books instead!
Review: If I had not read any other John Barnes novels before this I might not have bothered and would have missed the brilliance of Mother of Storms, Orbital Resonance & Kaleidascope Century. This is a dull reworking of the 'Moon is a Harsh Mistress ' plot, with a bit of Charles Sheffield's 'Heritage' series thrown in at the end. Don't miss his other books - don't bother with this one.


<< 1 2 >>

© 2004, ReviewFocus or its affiliates