Thomas F. (hardtack) -
While some of the concepts and plot points in this book are interesting---for example, it takes place in Brooklyn where I was born---I really didn't like the over all story. This is the author's first book, and I hope his work got better... much better. The DJ states he is a highly regarded film and TV writer. Some people in his profession successfully make the move to writing novels. He didn't.
The author expects you to believe anything he tells you, as TV and movies do. In that media, you often don't have the time to consider what you seen on the screen. However, in books you do have that time.
I'll give you just two examples of the author's belief that we can accept whatever he throws at us. First, how many 19th century Brooklyn girls were experienced in jujitsu? Maybe that's not such a big deal, but consider my second example.
Mary---the female protagonist---enters a dark room---remember it is dark. Then, to quote the author, "A gunshot rang out, its flash piercing the darkness... She watched carefully as the bullet ricocheted off the cement floor and stone pillars, flashing again with each hit and making a pinging sound as it bounced her way. At the last moment, she rolled over to avoid it."
This continues for several shots, as she moves out of the way of the bullet. Remember, it is dark in the room. Later, when the shooter is revealed as a drunk, she watches as he fires more bullets and she follows the bullets' flight around the room. Then, when one bullet is headed back to the shooter---how the hell could she tell?---she knocks him to the ground to save his life.
Obviously, Mary has super powers. Or the author just has contempt for the reader. Add in all the other convenient plot 'jumps' and I won't be reading any more of his books.
The author expects you to believe anything he tells you, as TV and movies do. In that media, you often don't have the time to consider what you seen on the screen. However, in books you do have that time.
I'll give you just two examples of the author's belief that we can accept whatever he throws at us. First, how many 19th century Brooklyn girls were experienced in jujitsu? Maybe that's not such a big deal, but consider my second example.
Mary---the female protagonist---enters a dark room---remember it is dark. Then, to quote the author, "A gunshot rang out, its flash piercing the darkness... She watched carefully as the bullet ricocheted off the cement floor and stone pillars, flashing again with each hit and making a pinging sound as it bounced her way. At the last moment, she rolled over to avoid it."
This continues for several shots, as she moves out of the way of the bullet. Remember, it is dark in the room. Later, when the shooter is revealed as a drunk, she watches as he fires more bullets and she follows the bullets' flight around the room. Then, when one bullet is headed back to the shooter---how the hell could she tell?---she knocks him to the ground to save his life.
Obviously, Mary has super powers. Or the author just has contempt for the reader. Add in all the other convenient plot 'jumps' and I won't be reading any more of his books.
