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Book Reviews of Tool of the Trade

Tool of the Trade
Author: Joe Haldeman
ISBN: 53222
Pages: 248
Rating:
  • Currently 2.5/5 Stars.
 1

2.5 stars, based on 1 rating
Publisher: Avon
Book Type: Paperback
Reviews: Write a Review

2 Book Reviews submitted by our Members...sorted by voted most helpful

Zylyn avatar reviewed Tool of the Trade on + 48 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
Interesting read.
reviewed Tool of the Trade on + 55 more book reviews
OK, let me begin this preview by revealing my prejudices:

(1) I was a linguistics major in college; the protagonist of this novel is a linguistics professor.
(2) I'm a guy, I love James Bond. The protagonist of this novel is a spy.
(3) Our hero has a dark sense of humor. I'll let you complete the comparison....
(4) Joe Haldeman is one of my favorite authors and I own all of his books. The one-and-only time we met in person (at a sci fi convention) his wife and mine hit it off immediately. I was so star-struck with hero worship I could barely talk. Mind you, I've got two advanced professional degrees, years of experience with teaching and public speaking and used to make a living arguing before juries.

Now on to the book. This story, like many of his others, alternates between the point of view of different characters as well as an omniscient narrator. I liked that, but I know some people don't. It is a little dated, as it is set during the height of the cold war, before The Wall came down. That was when I was in college, so it makes me nostalgic; younger readers may not be able to relate.

If you enjoy this book, I would suggest reading his other books "The Forever War", ""Buying Time" and the Worlds Trilogy ("Worlds", "Worlds Apart", Worlds Enough and Time".)