Rating: 
Summary: Fool's gold in the pot at the end of the Reading Rainbow
Review: Evidently, in the real aftermath all of the truly talented writers have perished. This book was painful to read, to the point my penance for once again allowing myself to be mesmerized by name recognition was to finish it at any peril. I can only hope the target audience is the age group most likely to be familiar with Mr. Burton's work on the PBS show.The storyline, set in the not too distant future under internal conditions of civil war, economic collapse, and impending natural disaster was promising. Unfortunately, the text was presented in as primordial of fashion as I can recall for any work of Science Fiction. Character development was minimal, the science largely contrived, and the flow unpleasant to follow. On the other hand, Octavia Butler, to whom the book was dedicated, would probably be an actor of only elementary skill.
Rating: 
Summary: Incredible Reading for a First Effort!!!
Review: I have been a fan of Sci-Fi most of my life. When I was scanning the collection of my local library, I ran across this book and was thrilled to see that Mr. Burton had written his first effort! Upon opening the book late that afternoon, I found it hard to put down. It was addictive. I finished it the next day (which is odd - I almost never read a book this size in less than 24 hours). Even though some of the story line had a bit of cheese to it (such as Dr. Reynolds not knowing if 200,000 volts would kill a person and the rather late reception of the phychic voice by little Amy Ladue), the plot was good enough to overlook some of the minor knocks and pings that rattle any first effort. Overall, Mr. Burton's view of the future was insightful and racially fair. Although I feared that it might be a novel only for African Americans, I did not set the book down at the end and walk away feeling as if it was unduly prejudicial toward any race. I do look forward to seeing Mr. Burton's next book. I would definately recommend this book to anyone looking for a science fiction novel without the typical shoot 'em up space battles that plague the genre. Bravo Levar!
Rating: 
Summary: Disappointing
Review: I think that Levar Burton had a good theme to build on. He was trying to say that we should correct the schism between the races, which is a wonderful endeavor. However, times it came out a little too much against "the white man" and that disappointed me.
I don't think the book was too badly written, although there was one page where a paragraph was almost word for word repeated in the one below it, but it didn't really capture my attention or my sympathy. I kept reading hoping it would get better, but it really didn't.
Rating:
Summary: You can't even call this worthless book sci-fi!
Review: If you want a perfect example of the way black, Democrat, new age minds operate, then read Levar Burton's fictional book, "Aftermath: A Novel of the Future." He details how a great race war will wipe out the US as we know it. Unfortunately for people like Burton, racism is ending. He must be trying to bring it back with this book.? In the "aftermath" only the black people and the remnants of Native America will be able to save the day against viciously evil rich white people. The main character was a meterologist working for NASA before the war. You won't believe what Burton comes up with as this guy's "scientific accomplishment" for the "betterment" of mankind. How could any rational, logical mind come up with something so utterly stupid as to say that space shuttle launches are causing violent weather patterns around the globe and are upsetting the "fragile" balance of the Earth's atmosphere? That's absurd! Obviously Burton can't even begin to understand how science works. That's like saying cutting grass releases deadly chemicals that hurt the ozone layer (Burton's ilk has said this). If you can stand the first few pages it's worth it just to get Mr. Burton's outlook on our world. I couldn't take it after that. I skimmed through the thing and got the general idea of what was going on. Only Oprah Winfreys and Woopie Golburgs could read this book without... on it. Burton paints a picture of a world so far out of touch with reality that it goes even beyond fantasy. Save your money for Starship Troopers and Bitter Legacy.
Rating:
Summary: You can't even call this worthless book sci-fi!
Review: If you want a perfect example of the way black, Democrat, new age minds operate, then read Levar Burton's fictional book, "Aftermath: A Novel of the Future." He details how a great race war will wipe out the US as we know it. Unfortunately for people like Burton, racism is ending. He must be trying to bring it back with this book.? In the "aftermath" only the black people and the remnants of Native America will be able to save the day against viciously evil rich white people. The main character was a meterologist working for NASA before the war. You won't believe what Burton comes up with as this guy's "scientific accomplishment" for the "betterment" of mankind. If you can stand the first few pages it's worth it just to get Mr. Burton's outlook on our world. I couldn't take it after that. I skimmed through the thing and got the general idea of what was going on. Only Oprah Winfreys and Woopie Golburgs could read this book without vomiting on it. Burton paints a picture of a world so far out of touch with reality that it goes even beyond fantasy. Save your money for Starship Troopers and Bitter Legacy.
Rating: 
Summary: Its ok
Review: In an America ravaged by a racial civil war four people will come together to save the world. 1. An old indian medican man
2. A street child living in St. Louis
3. A homeless man living an an Atlanta ravaged by war and divided into waring sectors
4. Most importantly there is a doctor who has discovered a may for the body to heal itself. So ok at the begining when the backgroud is explianed I found that to be very good and well thought out. After that things get a little messy. I love Reading Rainbow, but as far as being a good author Mr. Burton falls flat. My biggest problem is that the charecters repeat themselves saying past comments agian and agian. Not that I didn't like the book Overall-If you can find it, this is a very good read
Rating:
Summary: Didn't like it!
Review: Let me preface by saying that I really like Levar Burton. His work on Star Trek and Reading Rainbow is great. I love to watch him act. BUT! Levar should spend some more time practicing before he publishes any more books. Levar has an *excellent* idea with this book. He is a very creative individual, but his writing is too choppy and plain. I was unable to relate to the characters, and topics were introduced to quickly. If this book had been several hundred pages longer, I would have been able to read the whole thing, as it would have necessitated more descriptive language and more attention to detail. Burton should not give up hope. His ideas are fascinating, just presented without enough detail and character development. I will buy one of Burton's books in a few years, because I believe that writing experience will improve his style. Possibly you will see a rave review from me for a future Levar Burton novel.
Rating:
Summary: Uhmm . . .
Review: Okay. When I first saw this book I was intrigued. It was by Levar Burton, so that had something to do with it. The premise of the story also sounded pretty good. And let's face it, the only reason I bought the thing is because it was in the bargain section for five bucks. After reading this book, though, I went and got my five dollars back. I have nothing against Mr. Burton as a person, but as an author, well, let's just say that I don't see how on God's green earth this book got published. I couldn't even finish it, even though I tried. His descriptions of the characters were just too cut-and-dry, and the whole deal with the Indian magic and stuff was just so overdone. Some of his visual imagery was too cliched (a little girl running through a sunny field flying a kite, when suddenly the sky grows dark and her childhood world comes crashing down around her). The writing was really unimaginative, and he needed a bigger vocabulary of metaphors; I can't count the number of times he used the term "ground to a screeching halt," and in one case he used it several times on the same page. I just had to take this book back to the store. It wasn't worth my time or money, and the reading was simply beneath my intelligence. Sorry, Mr. Burton, it was a decent effort on your part, but come back after you've had a few writing workshops.
Rating:
Summary: A decent first novel with some first-rate ideas
Review: SF has always been about the ideas more than the prose. Many authors have built solid reputations while neglecting character development or using the sort of sentence structure that makes Hemingway look like a romantic poet. _Aftermath_ is not great literature, but it's decent SF and an admirable first novel, one of the few by known "stars" which seems *not* to have a ghost or co-writer. The background is presented rather quickly (and would lend itself well to revisiting in future novels), and Burton tries to flesh out his characters. He doesn't always succeed, but he *has* paid attention to providing personal histories which contribute motivation for the actions he constructs, and if the characters fail to come alive, they are at the very least acceptable companions for the duration of the novel. Burton's optimism is tempered by realism about human nature and the lessons of history, and he has come up with a plausible and horrifying idea about how years of civil rights struggles could all disappear in the name of a market economy. Anyone who thinks race problems have been solved in the US is probably a white male who doesn't care to think too deeply and anyone who thinks what's once been won is won forever hasn't been watching the Taliban. Philip K. Dick once said "if it is good SF the idea is new, it is stimulating, and it sets off a chain-reaction of ramifications in the mind of the reader". At least one of the ideas Burton presents here does that -- and from a beginning writer, that's a pretty good record.
Rating: 
Summary: Levar Burton takes a "STAND" on the world's end
Review: Similarities can be found between this first effort by the former "Star Trek" performer and the classic novel by Stephen King. It is also obvious that Burton wishes to tread waters covered by sci-fi literary icon(and fellow African-American) Octavia Butler. The book is easy to read, the plot development adequate, and the occasional "action scenes" hold true to a person familiar with episodic television. "Aftermath" may not belong in the category of great literature, but it is an entertaining and engrossing story. I recommend it.
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