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Rating: 
Summary: Hard science fiction with lots of twists and turns
Review: "Inside the Rainbow" is a pleasure for someone who loves hard science fiction, as I do. Here's the premise: By the middle of the century, the US is running out of energy sources. A human mutation from carbon to a silicon-based life form leads to the discovery of a virtually unlimited source of energy, touching off a competition for control by several groups of scientists. This revolutionary source of energy seems to be the solution to all our power needs, but there are unexpected consequences.
This premise is fascinating, and author Eugene Goheen takes us on a speculative tour of scientific possibilities intermingled with greed, sex and political power. The science was complex and I had to reread several sections. As I progressed through the pages, I was reminded of "Beggars in Spain", Nancy Kress's wonderful story and Greg Bear's "Darwin's Radio". All three novels explore the rapid evolution of humanity into another species, but Goheen mixes a bit of humor into his brew.
If you enjoy hard science fiction with lots of twists and turns, you'll have a great time with "Inside the Rainbow."
Rating: 
Summary: Carbon-based lifeforms, but NOT as we know them!
Review: As any schoolkid (or fan of sci-fi knows) we are carbon-based life forms. But what if there were, in this universe, other forms of life, say, based on silicon? Remember the Horta on Star Trek? Wait, what if there were life forms based on carbon, but not organic carbon. What about mineral carbon, diamond, as a basis of life?Taking this concept, author Eugene Goheen writes a very amusing sci-fi tale about Avrum Bengel, who loves selling rubber tires and failed to complete law school years ago, burning out when he lost a debating contest "Evolution will never erase the image of Man." Now he's 65 years old (just, it's his birthday) and as a present, he's let go from his job selling his beloved tires. When he sits down at home and polishes off a snack of Fire-Master's best charcoal briquets, you know that this novel is heading straight into not only the funny, but the weird. If you like science fiction with a good dash of humor and speculation, you will not be disappointed by "Inside the Rainbow." I was absolutely captivated by page three. Lots of fun.
Rating:
Summary: Carbon-based lifeforms, but NOT as we know them!
Review: As any schoolkid (or fan of sci-fi knows) we are carbon-based life forms. But what if there were, in this universe, other forms of life, say, based on silicon? Remember the Horta on Star Trek? Wait, what if there were life forms based on carbon, but not organic carbon. What about mineral carbon, diamond, as a basis of life? Taking this concept, author Eugene Goheen writes a very amusing sci-fi tale about Avrum Bengel, who loves selling rubber tires and failed to complete law school years ago, burning out when he lost a debating contest "Evolution will never erase the image of Man." Now he's 65 years old (just, it's his birthday) and as a present, he's let go from his job selling his beloved tires. When he sits down at home and polishes off a snack of Fire-Master's best charcoal briquets, you know that this novel is heading straight into not only the funny, but the weird. If you like science fiction with a good dash of humor and speculation, you will not be disappointed by "Inside the Rainbow." I was absolutely captivated by page three. Lots of fun.
Rating: 
Summary: An Amusing Look at an Energy-Starved Future
Review: Avrum Bengel is the potential savior of humanity. But it doesn't look that way in the beginning. He's just been summarily dismissed from his job of selling tires just before turning 65. He turns his severance pay into a purchase of several tires to put into his living room and heads home. While there, a strange appetite overtakes him. That appetite is the secret to our energy future!
How can running out of energy be funny? Eugene Goheen knows the secret. If you read Inside the Rainbow, you are bound to be fascinated by the scientific speculations about the potential of quantum physics to yield unlimited inexpensive energy. At the same time, you'll roar with laughter at the twists and turns that power-hungry (pun intended) politicians pursue.
The speculative side blurs the distinctions among biology, evolution, chemistry, physics and biotechnology in a thought-provoking way.
The story has lots of sexual spice so those who like a little titillation with their science fiction will feel rewarded, too.
The book's main weakness is that Mr. Goheen's talents as a novelist aren't as strong as his scientific and satirical visions. He uses multiple narrators to gradually reveal more pieces of the story which requires a tremendous amount of duplication in the material. As a result, the story develops very slowly. I also found it a little boring to read so much duplication and found myself having trouble keeping going near page 90. If that happens to you, keep going. It gets better again.
Rating:
Summary: Fascinating and hard to put down
Review: Inside the Rainbow is the story of a future world in which US energy shortages spark a human mutation begins with a bang and doesn't let up: "I had to watch with my own eyes as my brother disintegrated into something not human." Different voices document not only the mutation but the changing nature of reality in an energy-shorted world. Fascinating and hard to put down.
Rating:
Summary: excellent reading !!!...
Review: on recent trip to wa. state i wandered into a bookstore & this book with the captivating cover caught my eye. i picked it up & thumbed through it & i thought to myself," what a different read this is". i purchased the book & went into a coffee shop & started reading it & could not put it down. the writer had me spellbound with detailed accounts which had me so engrossed in the book that i actually felt smarter after reading it. many books do not do this for me. i would highly reccomend this book for all to read...
Rating:
Summary: excellent reading !!!...
Review: on recent trip to wa. state i wandered into a bookstore & this book with the captivating cover caught my eye. i picked it up & thumbed through it & i thought to myself," what a different read this is". i purchased the book & went into a coffee shop & started reading it & could not put it down. the writer had me spellbound with detailed accounts which had me so engrossed in the book that i actually felt smarter after reading it. many books do not do this for me. i would highly reccomend this book for all to read...
Rating:
Summary: Not a Cautionary Tale
Review: This following review stems from a judge in a contest: "Unquestionably, INSIDE THE RAINBOW is among the most imaginative-I might even say 'visionary' novel entries I've read so far. Certainly in the science fiction category it's the entry that best displays the potential of the genre. From 'if this goes on' dystopian speculation to nanotechnology to politics to artificial intelligence to carbocrystalline morphing deep-impact quantum implications to the origins and nature of consciousness itself-holy cow, Goheen's novel packs in more ideas than most sci-fi potboilers on the racdks nowadays. I read it in one sitting and had a great time doing it."
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