Beyond the Fall of Night

Rating:
Summary: Good book but could be way better
Review: The first half of the book which was written by Clark was very good and entertaining. But I found it most of it as a fun read and it truly didn't make think much (unlike other Clark books). But the second half takes a u-turn and it makes Clark's section a slight prologue to very much larger and complex story. This is where it fails because Benford gives a storm of ideas and comlplex conversations that didn't really give you much time to understand before the next complcated development comes right along which I think he needed to do because of the first part's lack of depth. It is still a good read but you'll be reading two very different stories with one being a bit simple and fun while the other being a tad complex and dark at times.

Rating:
Summary: Classic story and horrible sequel
Review: The first half of this book is Clarke's absolutely wonderful "Against the Fall of Night" which easily deserves a "10" rating. The second half, a sequel written by Benford deserving a "1" rating, is completely devoid of a plot or characterizations, barely has anything to do with the earlier work, is really not very interesting and ruins the beauty of Clarke's half.