|
|
LuLu Review by Neil
March 5, 2006 6:54 PM
Humans Reborn is compelling, exciting and suspenseful. It develops characters
quickly and thrusts them into an exciting mystery almost immediately.
It could be described as a merger of teen soaps
like Dawson’s Creek and One Tree Hill with sci-fi movies like Aliens and X-Men.
Merging those two disparate
sources could create something terrible, but author Michael Loyd handles the task with aplomb.
Suspense is one of
the books strongest suits. The pages fly by as you race to find out what will happen next. Another strong suit is the sympathy
he evokes for the characters. You really want to know how they will resolve their problems. This is a fast, fun read.
Scene
descriptions are easy to visualize. I felt like I was watching the story as much as reading it. There are a number of violent
scenes with powerful imagery. These seem to be rendered directly from the video games and computer generated movie graphics
the author has grown up with.
Many subtle themes and metaphors pervade the book. They serve to advance the plot and
don’t distract from it. There are also a number of delicious narrative circles which richly reward a second (or third)
reading.
The reader does have to step over a few small gaps in plot and characterization, and some aspects and statements
reach a bit beyond plausibility, even for sci-fi. However, nothing derailed the story or the amount of fun I had reading the
book. The last chapter, for example, is just exquisite!
This is a preview of the literature of Generation Y. If you
want to know how leading authors will be writing in 20 years, look here. The themes of identity, society and perception voiced
in Humans Reborn have been with us for a while, but Michael Loyd has brought them into a new, fresh and fun context.
Treat
yourself. Read this book. It’s great!
MySpace Review by Neil
Jan 25, 2006 12:53 PM
As others have said, this is a really compelling
book. I did not expect 246 pages to go so quickly. I probably could have read it all in one sitting if I would have had the
time all in one stretch!
The strongest aspects of the book are the suspense and the skillful use of motifs.
The
book starts with a dramatic scene, then flashes back to an idyllic point in the past. Almost instantly, however, dread and
fear begin to close in. As the story unfolds, the fear and danger grow and situations shift in unpredictable directions. Throughout
the book, you wonder how and if the characters will survive. I even wondered this about the major characters. In most books,
like Harry Potter, you know Harry will survive to the end. Not here - everything is up for grabs! This is certainly not a
book where you can predict the end based on the first chapter. That makes it an enjoyable read!
A number of motifs
are skillfully woven throughout. I'll probably talk about them in other threads in this group, so I'll specifically name them
at that time. But for now I'll say that they are quite well used - they fit naturally into the story and don't call attention
to themselves as you read. It's really only after more reflection that you see the themes starting to gel and adding another
layer of meaning to the story.
I'm a big fan of the "narrative circle", and this book had a number of little ones
that were quite pleasing to me. They reward a second reading.
Teenage love plays in the background, and is skillfully
and sometimes vividly portrayed.
The story also raises a number of thought provoking questions about the nature of
humanity, science, the quest for perfection and God.
While reading, I did occasionally wonder "why did she...? ",
and, "why didn't he...? and "why don't they ....?" But these are questions we can all discuss here in the forum [groups.myspace.com/humansreborn] and
I look forward to hearing all the readers' ideas and reactions (even Michaels ha ha!).
Overall, a great book - an entertaining
way to see what the authors of the future will be writing about!
Review by Chip
Jan 22, 2006 1:10 AM
I actually received the book about a week ago but
had too much going on to get started until a couple days ago.
Almost from the first page, the story draws the reader
in. Michael shows great skill in spinning a rich, detailed storyline in which the characters have depth and complexity that
serve to further connect the reader to the story as well as to augment the storyline.
The book is a true page-turner
with constant twists and turns in the plot, lots of action and excitement, and psychological tweaks and twists. It also weaves
in a subtle social commentary on how we as a society view technology and the limits to which technology can or should take
us.
Once I got into the book, it totally engaged me, and I pretty much read it nonstop from beginning to end. I'm
sure I'll go back and read it again at some point in a few months just to see what I missed the first time through.
The
book is a little on the violent side, and being the pacifistic/gentle type, I found it a little bit difficult to get through
some of the more grisly and violent parts, but I also understand why those elements are necessary in the story and how they
enrich the overall storyline.
All in all, "Humans Reborn" is an exceptional first effort from a young novelist, and
a strong, highly credible contribution to the sci fi/horror genre. I highly recommend it.
Review by Spenser
Jan 14, 2006 4:13 PM
Humans Reborn is a very well written and compelling
book. It follows the story of Cory, a teenager who is just trying to live his life despite the things about himself he must
hide. One day his life is turned upside down and he is thrown into an adventure that kept me reading every chance I had. Michael's
writing style creates a world using great visualization and detail that make me feel as if I am watching the events as they
unfold. The characters are so detailed that I often found myself feeling emotions as if I were right there. Humans Reborn
is an thrilling adventure that will keep you guessing and keep you coming back for more.
|
|
|