Members with This Book
Most Helpful Reviews
see all reviews
Liked It “Lives up to its subtitle "an eco thriller". Re-read this for nth time and I still really enjoy it. It's fast paced and witty with zero fluff. There's a lot of jargon thrown around but not enough to impede following the plot. |
Newest Reviews
see all reviews-
“An enjoyable, fast-paced eco-thriller.”
Dale W wrote this review Friday, September 4 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No“The hero, Sangamon Taylor or S.T. (Stephenson has a thing for characters who go by initials), is a maverick environmentalist whose job and calling in life is to track down toxic polluters, engage in some creative sabotage and property damage, and expose them in the news media. He walks a thin line between mainstream environmental groups and eco-terrorism, willing to break property law but not hurt people. The stunts that he and his organization pull over the course of the book tend towards the intentionally absurd, such as blocking the outflow of a toxic chemical dump with jury-rigged devices built around salad bowls and toilet seals, or hanging a nylon banner of a giant neon arrow to point at a concealed outflow pipe in a waterfall. The best part of the book are the creative exposures of arrogant corporate polluters in the public and the press, partly through a genius for timing and public relations and partly (to be honest) via mild authorial cheating. The greed and disregard for the law on the part of the corporations and the worthlessness of the government are realistic; the success of a small maverick environmentalist organization (with enough of an office and nationwide presence that they could be sued) with a habit of property damage isn't as much.
Wendy B wrote this review Thursday, May 14 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
”
“It started out well, a sort of Spenser for science geeks but about halfway through it just got too complicated. I couldn't keep track of who was who anymore and the various plot machinations seemed to just go on and on with very little focus. It also was not clear to me how much the author knows Boston, it sounded pretty good but I wasn't convinced the way I am with Spenser.
Amy M wrote this review Friday, April 17 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
I'm bookcrossing this.”
“I've heard mixed results for this book. That they didn't like it and it was a bit too technical. Okay, it's a bit technical. But it's a good eco-thriller. Another reason I read this book was for a challenge and for research for my second thriller I'm currently writing to finish on chemical spills and toxic waste dumps. I took notes. This took me 3.5 days to read. So it's pretty fair in my book. ”
Kristen H wrote this review Tuesday, December 30 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No“Lives up to its subtitle "an eco thriller". Re-read this for nth time and I still really enjoy it. It's fast paced and witty with zero fluff. There's a lot of jargon thrown around but not enough to impede following the plot.
Megalion wrote this review Wednesday, October 1 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
I would imagine, people who love watching Mike on Dirtiest Jobs would love this book.
What makes this my favorite of my top 3 Stephenson books (others being Diamond Age & Snowcrash) is the ecological bent to the story. But this is no Greenpeace tale.”
“one of my all-time favorite books, whenever i cant find something to read, this is the book i pick up. it has everything i love, Action, Adventure, comedy, sideline love story, inflatable rafts, everything important!”
Kelly A wrote this review Thursday, September 25 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“This is a great book. You learn lots of scary things about what we may be dumping into the environment, and have a lot of fun along the way.”
Mark K wrote this review Saturday, May 31 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“This is the greatest eco-thriller I have ever read. I haven't read that many, but I love the way Stephenson writes, and the main character is someone I wish I knew.”
Jeff Buehler wrote this review Tuesday, April 29 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
