Review Summaries

• The novel has been praised for a structure that repeats small details to reveal its central narrative, and for using virtual reality to examine the experience of violence.

Reviews

• Contains many of the worst characteristics of Priest's work

  The needless repetition or focus on banal details that seem an almost autistic quirk of Priest's work is present here with almost no attempt to restrain these tendencies. A major part of the plot involves the MC entering virtual reality scenarios of crime scenes in order to train for these scenarios in real life or to perform investigative functions for ongoing criminal investigations. Every time she enters a particular scenario Priest tediously repeats the same details, the same thoughts, the same descriptions, the same dialogue, even if the scenario has already been described many times previously. Priest seemingly does not know how to summarize events or pace his narrative properly, instead obssessing over certain things with an almost autistic or aspergian inability to understand what details are relevant or interesting and what details need to be summarized instead. Overall a weak attempt at replicating the reality-bending feel of a Philip K. Dick novel.

• is our world a story we are telling or reading or both?

  Any Christopher Priest book is always highly anticipated and often requires multiple readings where you will finds lots of quiet silent twists you have missed. He is one of those writes whose ideas and visions linger in your mind long after you have turned the last page. Love him or hate him, you cannot ignore his works and the power they have to beguile you. Highly recommended.

• Excellent

  Every time I pick up a Christopher Priest novel I know I will enjoy it. This one was no exception. Please write some more Mr. Priest.

• Five Stars

  Chris always gets your mind working.

• Three Stars

  Not one of his best.

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