I had this book on my to-read list, and then saw the second book in the airport while waiting during a delay. Bought it, read it, regretted buying it. It's nothing really special, and it's a lot more "tell" than "show" and GAH. It was one of the first books I reviewed on Goodreads.com and it just did not deserve the praise heaped on it...
If remember correctly, someone used John Twelve Hawks as an example of how NOT to market yourself. The guy's been virtually unapproachable to maintain this "off the grid" image, or so I recall. Not the way to draw in readers if you ask me.
Or that might be the perfect way to "market yourself," (ughhhhhhhuhhh) considering I only picked this book up because of the "mysteriousness" of the author. I bet it actually is Dan Brown or someone writing under a pseudonym.
But, like, who cares about the "marketing," (bleeeechhhhccchhh) my problem with this book was that it was horrendously written. I've only read one "writer" worse than John Twelve Hawks, and that's the guy in my old writing group who wrote an epic saga about lesbian vampires in Pittsburgh. I sort of wish I still had this book because it might be hilarious to reread under certain substances. Oh yeah and it's a lot of fun to read 300 pages of a horrible novel only to not find out until the END that it's part of a series. At least give me some closure, man!
I've heard that Hawks has repeatedly denied Dan Brown, and frankly, Dan Brown does a few things better than Hawks: 1) Brown knows how to end his chapters with cliffhangers and 2) he knows how to withhold information from the reader in a maddeningly infuriating way to keep the reader turning the pages. :)
Did you finish the whole thing, or did you end up giving up? If you finished the whole thing, does Hawks continue with the whole SCIENCE IS BAD thing?
Yes and no. At the end Team Traveler winds up at this commune where they talk about a "Third Way of Being," they live off the grid but use technology, especially solar panels and things, and they are the future of civilization blah blah. This is all told in expository dialogue and is dumb.
(Spoilers)
Then the Traveler and his brother both travel to the Fourth Realm (I can't believe I remember this book so well, what does that say about me) and meet up and they are the only ones to be surprised. Then the book ends. It should be noted that the version of the book I read (I think it was the blue one) did not say this was part of a series or else I wouldn't have read past the first two chapters. I can only believe this is intentional on the publisher's part as there will be some readers who will need to know what happens next despite the sucktasticness of the writing and so will buy the next two books anyway. Nobody would read this crap if they knew they'd have to read 1000+ pages of it to get the whole, lame, story.
This was one of the few books I couldn't finish either. It sounded awesome but I got bored with the didactic sermonizing about technology and society and I lost interest in the characters. Good to know I'm not the only one.
One thing that struck me odd about Twelve Hawks' books, at least at the Borders where I work, is how heavily they were kept stocked for an unknown author, particularly in the SF genre. SF bestsellers tend to be ordered in lesser qualities than mystery-thrillers from branded authors like Patterson, Cussler, et al. So that's interesting to learn that Twelve Hawks is probably someone far better known.
I've not read these books and have no inclination to do so. Still, I want to argue your points about Big Brother and what the concept means to current society. I'd have to put some thought and time into it though and can't afford to distract myself with a philosophical discussion.
Well, while you're letting your thoughts simmer, I will point out that I'm not saying Big Brother doesn't equal violation of privacy AT ALL, it's just that nowadays, it's the only aspect of Big Brother people refer to when they throw it out there. Hell, just look at the television show.
Pen & Teller did an interesting episode on BULLSHIT! about how Big Brother is used in current society. Damned if I can't remember the specific point they were arguing though.
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But, like, who cares about the "marketing," (bleeeechhhhccchhh) my problem with this book was that it was horrendously written. I've only read one "writer" worse than John Twelve Hawks, and that's the guy in my old writing group who wrote an epic saga about lesbian vampires in Pittsburgh. I sort of wish I still had this book because it might be hilarious to reread under certain substances. Oh yeah and it's a lot of fun to read 300 pages of a horrible novel only to not find out until the END that it's part of a series. At least give me some closure, man!
Reply
Did you finish the whole thing, or did you end up giving up? If you finished the whole thing, does Hawks continue with the whole SCIENCE IS BAD thing?
Reply
(Spoilers)
Then the Traveler and his brother both travel to the Fourth Realm (I can't believe I remember this book so well, what does that say about me) and meet up and they are the only ones to be surprised. Then the book ends. It should be noted that the version of the book I read (I think it was the blue one) did not say this was part of a series or else I wouldn't have read past the first two chapters. I can only believe this is intentional on the publisher's part as there will be some readers who will need to know what happens next despite the sucktasticness of the writing and so will buy the next two books anyway. Nobody would read this crap if they knew they'd have to read 1000+ pages of it to get the whole, lame, story.
Reply
Reply
Reply
I've not read these books and have no inclination to do so. Still, I want to argue your points about Big Brother and what the concept means to current society. I'd have to put some thought and time into it though and can't afford to distract myself with a philosophical discussion.
Reply
Pen & Teller did an interesting episode on BULLSHIT! about how Big Brother is used in current society. Damned if I can't remember the specific point they were arguing though.
Reply
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