Rating: 
Summary: Makes ya think
Review: "Angel Factory" is one of those rare SF stories that focuses less on actual SF elements than on things that actually make you think. It's far from flawless, but Thomas Wisdom's family is nice. Too nice. His parents are models of patience, wisdom and kindness, and his sister is the idealized teen daughter (now dating a boringly perfect surfer). Somehow this all seems unnatural to Thomas, and soon he finds out why: His parents, his sister, his slightly nutty dog, and many other people across the world are humanlike alien constructions called "Angels," controlled by an immensely powerful intelligence from a far-off planet, sent to infiltrate human society and save us from ourselves. He himself is adopted, the son of a jaded but kindly ex-barmaid, and the only family member who is really human. Thomas is at first willing to accept the angels and even help them, but his friend Gip is still suspicious. They uncover evidence that one of their teachers was killed for hacking into secret files about the angels, and Thomas begins to rebel against his parents and what they want for humanity. But who can he trust -- and will he be the next to mysteriously die if the angels think it's all for the best? Terence Blacker raises a lot of questions in his novel. Is it better to give up free will for security? How much free will do we have? Do we need some bad mixed in with the good to be really, genuinely human? And should you not feel bad because that irritatingly perfect neighbor with the perfect kids might really be an angel? In the manner of Lois Lowry's "The Giver," he presents you with these questions without battering your head with them. His writing style is pleasantly evocative, especially the soothing alien voice that tells Thomas what he should do. His angel characters are all quite flat, but that was probably intentional. Thomas is a lot more vivid, especially his growing paranoia and his hysterical response to learning that he was adopted. His buddy Gip is even more colorful, weird and X-filesian and harboring a secret of his own; Thomas's mother is a good foil to the perfect parents -- she's flawed and hardened, in a humiliating job, but she clearly cares about him. The biggest problem is the ending. Blacker twists up a lot of sugarcoated, sinister threads and hints -- we see what the angels will do to protect their secret agenda, including murder of a few troublesome individuals. Basically, they are cold and ruthless underneath the "all-for-the-best" niceness. Yet it seems like he wasn't sure what to do in the final chapters, so wrapped it up in the most convenient way possible. Except it's also the most improbable way, short of having the pod people arrive for a showdown with the angels. "Angel Factory" doesn't get quite as far as it clearly wishes it could, but it's a pretty good SF read. For people who liked "Giver," and "Dark Side of Nowhere."
Rating: 
Summary: The Angel Factory
Review: I rate this book a 5 because it is exciting. For example, when Thomas Wisdom and his best friend, Gip Sanchez, log on to Thomas' dad's computer they find out a secret. It is that Thomas' family is not who you think they are. The secret is that Thomas' family are angels. They live in England, and once a year they go to Santa Barbara, California. Each angel has a birthmark the shape of a circle, and they each have a kewl disc that if you place it on the birthmark it can kill the angel. Mr. Rendle, Gip and Thomas' math teacher, helps them solve this exciting mystery. But then Mr. Rendle gets hit by a car on purpose. The angels have a group called The Project, and Cy Gabriel is the CEO. In this book, humans and animals, such as dogs, can be angels.
Rating: 
Summary: Well written, but troubling message
Review: I've seen this work compared with Lowry's The Giver. I believe this comparison is easy to make but flawed. While both books are addressed at an audience ready to face questions about individuality and society, Lowry's hero faces a society of man's own creation. Blacker's title says it all. While never directly addressing religion, the book cleary suggests that intervention from "above" is evil and to be mistrusted. A Christian parent might want to read this book before giving it to their child. It is very well written, but clearly anti-religious.
Rating:
Summary: A moving and highly recommended story of the future
Review: If aliens invaded Earth with the intention of saving humankind from its self-destructive traits, would humans accept the limits to freedom to destroy? Thomas Wisdom seems to have the perfect family life - until he discovers their real identities and his own key role in helping to save the planet from itself. His one friend can only help him if he betrays his family in The Angel Factory, a moving and highly recommended story of the future.
Rating: 
Summary: Could be better, October 19, 2003
Review: The Angel Factory by Terence Blacker was good but could be much, much better. Tomas Wisdom and his best friend Gip are best friends, when Gip hacks into the Wisdom's computer and finds out that his family are angels. Thomas finds out a lot about his family that he has not known. This is a very well written book but at some spots it gets boring or confusing. The Angel Factory is a great book but is not one of my favorites. Someone who likes to read a book with lots of thing going on this is the book for you.
Rating:
Summary: Could be better, October 19, 2003
Review: The Angel Factory by Terence Blacker was good but could be much, much better. Tomas Wisdom and his best friend Gip are best friends, when Gip hacks into the Wisdom's computer and finds out that his family are angels. Thomas finds out a lot about his family that he has not known. This is a very well written book but at some spots it gets boring or confusing. The Angel Factory is a great book but is not one of my favorites. Someone who likes to read a book with lots of thing going on this is the book for you.
Rating:
Summary: Great Fun, Troublesome Ending
Review: This book is a great read for teens and should be regarded as highly as Lowry's "The Giver". My only problem was the sugarcoated ending that seemed like it was tacked on at the last minute. Had this book had a less happy ending i would have given it 5 stars. My final thought on this book is that it is NOT anti-religious and does not have "atheistic undertones". Parents should not have to read this book before allowing their children to read it. It does, however, encourage thinking for yourself and to think about political and philosophical ideas and issues.
Rating:
Summary: A good book!
Review: This book is good, but I agree- it has very much potential to be even better than what it is. When I first spotted this book, I thought it almost childish- but it is very well worded and it is truly a work of art. Blacker needs to round it off with a sequel.
Rating:
Summary: Exciting
Review: This was a terrific book. The story is about a boy who discovers his parents are from a parallel universe. The boy is caught between the angels from his parent's world, who want to save the human race from destroying itself, and real world with all its good and bad qualities. I read it in one day and couldn't put it down.
Rating:
Summary: It was fantastic!
Review: This was one of the best books I have ever read. You could never guess what is going to happen next. It keeps you wondering until the end. It never gets boring and is exciting all the way through. It makes you wonder about your world and if there are people like angels sent to help us.
I have read this book three times and I have recomended this book to others and they all loved it too.
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