Top Dog

Rating:
Summary: An old story line, but well told
Review: I almost didn't complete this book. It started very slowly, and seemed to wander back and forth. When it finally got into the real meat of the story it became interesting and finished up fascinating. Bogey Ingersol not only had it all but had it all his way. Now he is caught up in the "never ending" battle of good and evil. He must must make a choice between his own selfish desire and what life and the true meaning of it is. The dog hears from both sides, and they present interesting points of view about what they represent. Will the dog be a "pointer" or "retriever". This was a much better book than I thought it would be, good job Jerry Jay Carroll.

Rating:
Summary: No Top Dog ... but fun!
Review: Many readers were wondering how Jerry Jay Carroll would follow up on his magical and mystical Top Dog.

Inhuman Beings almost seems to be a parody. Carroll utilizes surely one of the most threadbare sci fi plots ... aliens land on earth and take over human beings with an eye to taking over the planet. The alien-occupied humans seem almost like themselves but there is a giveaway that sets them apart. However, the aliens learn and adjust. Having taken over many of the people in power, their plan seems sure to succeed.

Throw in a likeable hero, a love interest, some engaging bit players. Conclude with an improbable, miraculous plan that thwarts the intruders and saves earth. And there you have it.

To say this for Carroll, he did make the tale engrossing and fun.

But next time, I want Top Dog!

Rating:
Summary: An excellent book
Review: Starts off running (literally) and doesn't stop 'til the end. I wanted it to continue at the end (always a good sign). The "hero" is continuously challenged as to whether to follow good or evil, and responds in a sensible rather than altruistic fashion. The side story of him as a very intelligent dog trying to guide a "master" away from danger had unique differences from the standard dog tries to help master plot.

Rating:
Summary: Barely scratched the surface
Review: The metamorphosis from Al Dunlap to Gandhi requires the hero to visit Fantasy-World, not in his human body but as a dog which turns out to be a great advantage in his mission to lead the good boys to a victory against the bad guys, headed by the devil who prefers to impersonate Marilyn Monroe or Elvis (even Adolf Hitler!) instead of taking care of his troops. How original.

It takes regular bottom-line managers not more than a common heart attack to learn that money/power isn't everything. It seems to me that this book is written for "the rest of us" who always yearn for a confirmation that being poor has its charm.

Bad story, well told.

Rating:
Summary: Really loved this book!
Review: This is a book that makes you step back and re-evaluate your priorities, while entertaining you at the same time. I enjoyed the mixture of fantasy and "real-world" settings, though the comparison made me wonder which world is in fact the more fantastic. For anyone who enjoys a little off-beat fantasy or even a morality tale, this is a worthwhile read.

Rating:
Summary: LOVED THIS BOOK
Review: This is a witty book which delighted me from cover to cover. I found myself missing Big and the other characters in the book long after I finished. I'm thrilled Jerry Jay Caroll has come out with a sequel.

Rating:
Summary: Vasty entertaining morality play
Review: Vastly entertaining tale. Very amusing, which is often a rare commoidity in the SF/Fantasy genre. I identified with the dog. I enjoyed his ability to communicate with animals and through mental telepathy with the powers that be, but not with the Two Legs. I liked the concert of a human trapped inside an all two real dog's body. I would recommend this to anyone, just not a SF/Fantasy fan.

Rating:
Summary: Great Read!!
Review: Very entertaining. The author appears to be the Carl Hiassen of SF/Fantasy. Meaning, reporter for a metropolitan newspaper writes something both witty and profound.

Rating:
Summary: Entertaining, tho not deep
Review: You'll have fun with this one. Generally very well written by an imaginative author. You'll meet trolls and worse.

Rating:
Summary: Entertaining, tho not deep
Review: You'll have fun with this one. Generally very well written by an imaginative author. You'll meet trolls and worse.