Official Review: Artificial Absolutes by Mary Fan
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Official Review: Artificial Absolutes by Mary Fan
[Following is the official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Artificial Absolutes" by Mary Fan.]
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Book Description
Artificial Absolutes is a sci-fi adventure taking place in a future where humans have populated the galaxy. It centers on the lives of Devon and Jane Colt, a brother and sister duo who are a little aloof with each other at the start. Their bond expands over the course of their journey.
Devon is a mindless drone in the everyday society he has been forced back into until he discovers something or someone is amiss in his life. As he looks further into his suspicions, it doesn't take long for his younger sister to stumble into her own trouble. Devon, ever the big brother, jumps to her defense and is framed for a brutal attempted murder for his trouble. On the run, his sister is the only one who believes him without a doubt, even though there is a lot about his past he's hidden over the years, from her sister more than anyone.
Fighting against everything from killer drones and to an easily corruptible justice system the duo race around the galaxy to figure out mysteries that present themselves and attempt to rescue people they care about who've gone missing.
About the Book
The story is about a few things but the main ones seem to be:
1. How people do what is expected of them versus who they really are. Which way will win out; who we are or who we're expected to be.
2. It's about faith and whether or not you have it and how that makes you who you are.
3. About the progress of technology in society. Do we depend on it too much? Is it too much an intricate part of our lives? Are we letting it have too much power?
Personal Opinion and Rating
I really enjoy the story even if I do not agree with the writing all the way through. The beginning is extremely hard to get past.
I give this book a three out of four stars. I really enjoyed the story once I got into it. I didn't give it 4 stars as the writing was not very well done. I didn't enjoy how it started off as I found it redundant. It starts and then it repeats with much better detail. It would have been better if the two were combined into one.
I didn't want to give it less stars as I really enjoyed the story once I got into it. I look forward to seeing what else this author can do with the story. It was a very good story even if weakly written.
The beginning paints a weak man but he's not, he's repressed. I found the jump to his alter self too extreme without enough transition. I understand wanting to paint Devon Colt as a drone but shouldn't his internal thoughts rage against who he's forced to be before the indecent with his sister occurs.
Even if the meek to outgoing personality is overlooked I found it difficult to keep track of where the story took place. One paragraph it would be the present (for the story) and the next you would be visiting a memory of the past with no real indication or transition. I had to read parts several times to figure out where it had suddenly transported me to.
I also found the story to be almost too predictable. I get that as an author you need to hint at what is to come to make it more believable. As a reader I appreciate a bit of surprise. When you can see everything coming long before you get to it...it gets boring. There is no twists to make you want to know what's happening next.
The last real complaint I have is a word used in the thoughts of an office worker, Zenevieva, watching proceedings in Devon's fathers office. She comes across as jealous, petty and mediocre. So why would she only think one single word of increased intelligence? Especially one that needs to be looked up. I get it that the character things she's smart. If that were true, why would she think so simple minded if she was? She thinks slang terms like dabbled like the dark side and had a squeaky clean past and then jumps to nepotism. I can accept conformity as it is regularly used but why not just say bias, discrimination, inequality, preference, preferential treatment or any other number of words that would fit more accurately with the rest of her thoughts? A few larger words placed sporadically throughout the course of the novel does not make the author sound more intelligent.
Anyway, as a whole, I really enjoyed Mary Fan's story even if I disagree with with some of her storytelling techniques. If you can muddle through the first part of the novel, you get to the interesting story. Albeit a little predictable it is a good story and worth reading. I can't wait to see what is in store when the new novel, Synthetic Illusions, comes out in 2014. I look forward to seeing if Mary Fan can grow as an author.
***
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Artificial Absolutes is a sci-fi adventure taking place in a future where humans have populated the galaxy. It centers on the lives of Devon and Jane Colt, a brother and sister duo who are a little aloof with each other at the start. Their bond expands over the course of their journey.
Devon is a mindless drone in the everyday society he has been forced back into until he discovers something or someone is amiss in his life. As he looks further into his suspicions, it doesn't take long for his younger sister to stumble into her own trouble. Devon, ever the big brother, jumps to her defense and is framed for a brutal attempted murder for his trouble. On the run, his sister is the only one who believes him without a doubt, even though there is a lot about his past he's hidden over the years, from her sister more than anyone.
Fighting against everything from killer drones and to an easily corruptible justice system the duo race around the galaxy to figure out mysteries that present themselves and attempt to rescue people they care about who've gone missing.
About the Book
The story is about a few things but the main ones seem to be:
1. How people do what is expected of them versus who they really are. Which way will win out; who we are or who we're expected to be.
2. It's about faith and whether or not you have it and how that makes you who you are.
3. About the progress of technology in society. Do we depend on it too much? Is it too much an intricate part of our lives? Are we letting it have too much power?
Personal Opinion and Rating
I really enjoy the story even if I do not agree with the writing all the way through. The beginning is extremely hard to get past.
I give this book a three out of four stars. I really enjoyed the story once I got into it. I didn't give it 4 stars as the writing was not very well done. I didn't enjoy how it started off as I found it redundant. It starts and then it repeats with much better detail. It would have been better if the two were combined into one.
I didn't want to give it less stars as I really enjoyed the story once I got into it. I look forward to seeing what else this author can do with the story. It was a very good story even if weakly written.
The beginning paints a weak man but he's not, he's repressed. I found the jump to his alter self too extreme without enough transition. I understand wanting to paint Devon Colt as a drone but shouldn't his internal thoughts rage against who he's forced to be before the indecent with his sister occurs.
Even if the meek to outgoing personality is overlooked I found it difficult to keep track of where the story took place. One paragraph it would be the present (for the story) and the next you would be visiting a memory of the past with no real indication or transition. I had to read parts several times to figure out where it had suddenly transported me to.
I also found the story to be almost too predictable. I get that as an author you need to hint at what is to come to make it more believable. As a reader I appreciate a bit of surprise. When you can see everything coming long before you get to it...it gets boring. There is no twists to make you want to know what's happening next.
The last real complaint I have is a word used in the thoughts of an office worker, Zenevieva, watching proceedings in Devon's fathers office. She comes across as jealous, petty and mediocre. So why would she only think one single word of increased intelligence? Especially one that needs to be looked up. I get it that the character things she's smart. If that were true, why would she think so simple minded if she was? She thinks slang terms like dabbled like the dark side and had a squeaky clean past and then jumps to nepotism. I can accept conformity as it is regularly used but why not just say bias, discrimination, inequality, preference, preferential treatment or any other number of words that would fit more accurately with the rest of her thoughts? A few larger words placed sporadically throughout the course of the novel does not make the author sound more intelligent.
Anyway, as a whole, I really enjoyed Mary Fan's story even if I disagree with with some of her storytelling techniques. If you can muddle through the first part of the novel, you get to the interesting story. Albeit a little predictable it is a good story and worth reading. I can't wait to see what is in store when the new novel, Synthetic Illusions, comes out in 2014. I look forward to seeing if Mary Fan can grow as an author.
***
Buy "Artificial Absolutes" on Amazon
Buy "Artificial Absolutes" on Barnes and Noble
When you're wrong, your really wrong. When you're right, you're a pain in my a$$.
- by Me said originally to my hubby
- by Me said originally to my hubby
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