Rating: 
Summary: Stylish, pacy, highly intriguing... and dolphins
Review: An unassuming university professor and his research team are awarded an unexpected and thrilling opportunity: to program a cogniscent supercomputer: one with such awesome processing potential that its powers seem almost magical.The team's intent is simple - the results are beyond imagining. In a spate of events that leave the reader breathless, the computer eschews human communication in favour of talking with dolphins, reveals mysteries of the sea hidden for generations, then lets its human questioners into the biggest secret of all: the origin of human life on earth. It would be too much to expect that such an earth-shattering mystery should remain exclusive to one small group of academics (and the dolphins), and darker forces emerge, intent on the abuse of the supercomputer's power and the destruction of its ill-prepared stewards. This is no ordinary Science Fiction novel. Stylistically, it resembles hard and dirty American cop fiction in the Ed McBain mould more closely than it reflects Hoyle, Asimov or Banks. Realistic, unstilted conversation, plenty of action, the hint of authorial knowledge and authority beyond that of a mere civilian all provide a unique vehicle for such cosmically challenging themes as the history of Man, the future of technology, the secrets of the ocean and the enigmas of the universe. An ambitious precept, stretching credulity at times, yet masterfully executed. The result is a thoroughly enjoyable, stylish, pacy, highly intriguing reading experience. Big questions, daring answers, and a message from the dolphins that we ignore at our peril.
Rating: 
Summary: Wonderful book.
Review: Cabrillo University in San Diego was granted Simon, the world's most powerful super-computer, for their experiment. Professor Ross Erricson and his graduate students did their research in a small subterranean computer lab that USED to be an auxiliary storage area. One wall was constantly damp due to the Ocean Park dolphin tank being on the other side of the wall. But the heat Simon generated would take care of that and no one worried. No one could have foreseen the unintended consequences that would follow! After all, humans are not the only intelligent species on this planet. ***** This is an astounding novel that I found hard to put down. Every time I believed nothing else could happen to surprise me I was proven wrong. Highly recommended reading!
Rating:
Summary: Suspense at the Speed of Light
Review: From the secret labs of a small San Diego college campus, to the dangerous sea depths off the Greek islands, to a dramatic car chase down California's rugged Route One, The Delphinus Chronicles moves with heart-stopping speed. Ross Erricson and his small group of researchers, while experimenting in communication with the dolphins, have made two incredible discoveries. Not only do these intelligent mammals understand human communication, the dolphins also hold the secret to the beginnings of human civilization on Earth. R. G. Roane sweeps the reader along on this suspenseful journey with vividly drawn characters, stylish narration, and non-stop action that moves through several plot twists at breakneck speed. A fast, intelligent thriller that leaves the reader safisfied, yet hoping for another ride on Roane's roller coaster.
Rating:
Summary: A fun read
Review: If you are the sort of person who can suspend their disbelief a bit and enjoys dolphins, wild science, conspiracy theories, Atlantis, aliens and the such, this is the book for you. Take the core elements of the book, and admitedly they sound a bit silly, but read the whole thing and what you get is a tale that just keeps going, full of twists, surpsies, humour, conspiracy theories, and of course, dolphins. It is truly entertaining to read. Salman Rushdie it isn't, but then, not everyone wants Salman Rushdie. The plot is based around a supercomputer that's learning language, but has not been told what language it should learn. Consequently, there are some interesting results, as 'Simon', the computer, starts translating messages from other intelligent life forms. The results lead to some truly interesting places, and with a fair amount of flair, the book ties together some of the most popular Atlantian myths with a few other good conspiracies. Much of this is familair ground, we all know the popular myths on which it is based, but that adds to the enjoyment, and the entertainment of watching well known pieces being assembled into new shapes. This is a book you can really enjoy, without having to take it too seriously. The plot is perhaps a little far fetched, but that's part of its charm. I will agree with other reviewers that there could have been a good deal more characterisation, but in the book's defence, there are some truly wonderful pieces of writing, especially around Simon and those he is talking to. I can be quite a cynical soul, but the idea of communicating with dolphins, and the way in which it was written, both moved and inspired me. In many ways, this novel is a tribute to pulp fiction and b-movies, referencing the kinds of bizzare twists you get in both, the kinds of solutions you get in b-movie alien films, the kinds of conspiracies you get in dubious thrillers, the world history you'll find in new age fiction. If you know how to enjoy this stuff, as the author clearly does, you can have a lot of fun reading this book. It's knowing, funny, well thought through and the moment following the question 'so who shot JFK?' is brilliant indeed and made me laugh out loud.
Rating: 
Summary: TO READ OR NOT TO READ...THAT IS THE QUESTION
Review: Professor Ross Erricson and his computer research team from Cabrillo University near San Diego, California, have won a grand prize: Simon. A cognizant supercomputer with the ability to learn. Simon is installed at the University in a small, dungeon-like basement where Ross and his cohorts have decided to see if the computer can learn the English language (anyone who knows anything about language knows that English is EXTREMELY difficult to learn). What Ross and his eager band of computer enthusiasts hadn't counted on, though, was how sensitive Simon could be. One of the walls in the computer basement abuts against a large holding tank for dolphins. And before Professor Erricson and his team can begin to see how intelligent their new computer is, Simon begins to communicate with the clicking and whistling dolphins. And what Simon learns and passes on to Ross and his team is startling. Too much so for this reader. Being a lover of fiction, one has to suspend belief when you're reading a novel. But not totally. For instance, in this novel: First, you'd have to believe that Professor Erricson and his rag-tag team could win this supercomputer over such colleges as Yale and Harvard. Not impossible. Second, you'd have to believe that - after winning the competition - they'd be allowed to store this incredibly expensive and delicate piece of computing hardware in a damp, dank basement. Okay. Thirdly, you'd have to believe that dolphins understand and communicate using the same spatial terms humans do (time in years, distance in feet or miles, names of places, etc.). Umm...okay. ... ... ... Okay, I've gone on far enough with this tangent. Some of you may be asking, "So why three stars?" Mainly because I have the audio version of this book. The audio version is done exceptionally well. Professional sounding, good voice-overs and special sound effects add to the enjoyment of the storytelling; I listened to this during a long trip I was taking. But even with these fine qualities, the glaring unbelievability of the story smacked me in the face (or mind, if you prefer). The initial flow of the book was well done (thus the three star review). We had character development and plot points all lined up. Nicely done. But by the time we get 3/4 of the way through, many characters fall away, new one's are introduced (quite distracting), and old plot threads are left dangling while new one's are thrust upon us. Some serious editing help might have been beneficial here. The one question that lingered in my mind when I finished listening to this audio CD was, "Would I have been able to finish reading this if I'd picked up a printed copy?" I still question myself on that but am not brave enough to purchase the book, too. Still, if you like books on tape (or CD), you might enjoy this book during a long car trip. C rating.
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Summary: Somewhat Flawed: The Delphinus Chronicles
Review: Professor Ross Erricson and his small team from Cabrillo University in San Diego are thrilled when they win a competition involving Simon, the world's most powerful supercomputer. Originally created by the Defense Department to study nuclear explosions, the computer contains a neural network, which allows it to learn instead of just being programmed. Therefore, the computer can evolve and think for its own and it is now up for grabs to the group that comes up with the best project for it. Somehow, Professor Erricson's idea of having the computer learn languages in the same way as a child would, with English being the first, claims the prize. With space on Campus at a premium, they soon have Simon installed in a little used damp basement room. The room is adjacent to Ocean Park, which among other things has a large tank holding Dolphins in captivity. Quickly after Simon is activated, not only does it learn English, but also manages to teach itself the pips and squeaks of Dolphin language. Then it begins to communicate with the Dolphins in the tank. What Simon learns and passes on to his human handlers in the form of Dr. Ross and others is simply amazing and triggers a cascade of unforeseen events. Like a lot of science fiction, this novel has very little character development. And what character development is done is stereotypical and at times exaggerated. This is further compounded by the fact that a significant part of a secondary storyline that seemed very important considering its prominence in the first half of the book suddenly stops in the middle of the book. Those events are not explained or dealt with for the remainder of the book, which becomes a glaring omission. Equally glaring are some typos that float throughout the book. At the same time, like in most science fiction, the focus is on unintended consequences of technology and action sequences and these areas are handled well. The novel moves steadily forward at a rapid pace. Overall, the work flows well, except for the previously discussed inconsistencies and provides the reader with some unexpected storyline events. For what it is, a science fiction adventure novel, this book works fairly well. The author uses a standard premise that is very common in the genre but at the same time, manages to twist it into a new direction. Along the way, the novel raises a few interesting questions as well as holding the reader's interest. At 280 pages, it is a quick read that provides a fair amount of enjoyment as long as it is not taken too seriously.
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Summary: Wonderful and Fascinating Reading!
Review: The Delphinius Chronicles is a highly imaginative and awe inspiring literary gem that should be read with the open mindedness of a child, the faith of a saint, and the soul of a poet. I recommend this book highly to anyone who is interested in and given to the concept that human beings are not the only intelligent life in the Universe... Stacey Allen McGee, Founder and Director, The ARC ~ Alternate Realities Center online @ AlternateRealities.orG.
Rating:
Summary: well-written & enthralling!
Review: THE DELPHINUS CHRONICLES grabs you by the short hairs & drags you headlong into suppositions about our world that are both new & truly exciting. Mr. Roane has produced a classic in the genre of intra-species intelligence. I devoured THE DELPHINUS CHRONICLES at one sitting, I could not put it down! Very well done & memorable too!
Rating:
Summary: An exciting and enthralling read
Review: The Delphinus Chronicles is a suspenseful read, promising you the answer but instead giving you another question to ponder, all while combining some of the greatest elements of science fiction. You want to rush to the end to find out what happens, yet find yourself slowing down to savor the artful storytelling. By the time you finish you feel almost as if you've lived the story yourself, and you find yourself wondering "What if?" Put aside a long weekend to read the book, once you start, you won't be be able to put it down. The Delphinus Chronicles promises to be a classic in its own right.
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