Warp Speed

Rating:
Summary: Keep it coming!
Review: A fun book to read. Lots of action, suspense and a few unexpected twists. Having read several of Dr. Taylor's professional publications I was not surprised to see plots, gadgets and things yet to be that are based on real physics. Makes the book a lot more fascinating to me. This kind of science fiction can lead to science future. I look forward to more of his science fiction with the expectation that he just might make it a reality.

Rating:
Summary: A fun read
Review: Dr. Anson Clemons has always wanted to be an astronaut, but never gets accepted for the program, so continues with his research into alternate propulsion sources, with the assistance of his graduate students. He knows the science says it's possible to create a warp bubble to allow effectively faster than light travel, but how to power it? Then two of his graduate students are inspired by a comment he makes to actually invent the power source he needs, and he's able to get the government funding to continue. And along the way, he trains to fly on the Space Shuttle to assemble their prototype in orbit for a test flight, but others are interested in their work, and not inclined to play nicely...

"Doc" Travis IS a rocket scientist, and that comes across pretty clearly, but this is NOT a science textbook, and the technical descriptions are kept at a fairly high level. I made the mistake of picking up the book fairly late, and had INTENDED to go to bed well before 2am...

Rating:
Summary: Real Science with Fiction
Review: Dr. Taylor does a great job of incorporating real science and realistic life experiences into a fictious story. The events in this book, unlike many best sellers, are pausible and possible. His characters have real strengths and shortcomings. His hero passes the test of being believable as opposed to be too big to possibbly be human.

Rating:
Summary: Fun!
Review: I bought this on the strength of the short story that appeared in the anthology "Cosmic Tales". Taylor wrote a story and contributed an essay with science to back up the story. It reminded me of what Charles Sheffield did with his "McAndrew" stories.

A fun first novel. I read it in two nights; stayed up into the wee hours last night to finish it. I look forward to seeing more from him and seeing how he matures as a writer.

Rating:
Summary: Blah
Review: I didn't finish it, because I figure by the time I'm fifty pages into a book, I should care at least a little what happens to the characters. They're fairly cardboard. Lots of technobabble. If you're a very plot-oriented reader you might like it. It feels Heinleinesque in some ways, except I can read Heinlein without putting the book down out of boredom. The writer seems to concentrate on the science aspects more than the actual *story*, probably because he's really a scientist. (And what's with all the blow-by-blow accounts of karate matches? Yawn.) To be fair, if I was stuck on a desert island with nothing else to read, I'd finish it - it didn't inspire me to throw it across the room, but that's the best thing I can say for it.

Rating:
Summary: Good First Novel
Review: I seldom buy first books by new authors in hardback, but elected to do so in this case based upon the sample chapters I'd read at Baen's webpage. It hooked me enough on the story I was willing to spend the money NOW to buy the hardback, rather than waiting a year for the paperback edition. In my opinion, it was worth the money. Imagine - an SF book with Science in it. (Remember, guys? used to be that's what the S in SF was for.) Note to others - if you're not sure about this, go read the sample chapters at baen.com first, then buy if you like it.

Rating:
Summary: Hmm A modern Classic
Review: I was very strongly reminded of the style of writing that 'Doc' Smith used writing his Skylark series. The main characters would get along famously with Dr. Richard Seaton, the main difference that the female leads are permitted somewhat bolder roles then was permitted when the Skylark books were written (though even back then they were hardly the type of hapless female who would inhabit a bodice-ripper of a romance novel).
The plot does have a couple small holes in it (though they don't ruin the story), but these could well be due to the fact that there are things going on (ie that we will learn in the sequal) that we do not have total understanding of.

If you are a fan of Smith and Heinlein's short stories.. I definately say this book is for you.

Rating:
Summary: An excellent first novel!!
Review: Taylor writes an attention holding, enjoyable novel that reminds me of the days of E.E. "Doc" Smith, Heinlein and Asimov. His science is enough to give one food for thought and his characters are memorable and fun. The novel is fast paced and a little bit jerky in its timeline but still an excellent effort for a first timer!

Rating:
Summary: Taylor does well with First Novel
Review: Though often choppy at time, Warp Speed is a true SF story without the classic scifi blunders and irritation that Taylor admitted that he hates himself. Fast paced, with enough technology in it for you to say "huh? What in the...?" Taylor's novel of a karate expert/mountain biker/physicist who discovers how to break the speed of light (sort of) is mixed with enough political intirgue (though I wonder how a Chinese national gets... well, nevermind. Read the book) to satisfy anyone, Warp Speed is a great first effort.

Rating:
Summary: Wish I could give this 0 stars
Review: Yet another of the fan-fic atrocities from Baen. I cannot believe that a respected publisher, whose backlist includes Bujold, Moon, McCaffrey, Flint, Drake, and Weber is actually paying to print this tripe. To say that the characters are cardboard is to do a disservice to a useful substance. To say that the plot is hackneyed is to slur workhorses. To say that this author is unable to develop a single original idea is an understatement. Even the names of his characters are something pulled out of a bad satire. It's a good thing it's so bad, though, since that means Paramount won't bother coming after him for egregious use of the term "warp speed." This one went straight to the used book store, and I want not only my money, but the time I wasted reading three chapters back.