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Rating: 
Summary: typewriters?
Review: ratner's star is an excellent look at a period in the life of billy, a boy of (it would seem) unequalled brilliance. he's brought to an institute for advanced study-type place to work on a problem that continually changes in its basic character. between billy's basic adolescent nature and his mental abilities, delillo has put together a thoroughly enjoyable story, and if you are the type to go wild with criticism, the book provides and exceptional playground, replete with swings of exceeding height.now as a fun-type book, if you enjoyed the "calvinball" in the "calvin and hobbes," you'll love half-ball, and for fans of "deep thought," delillo's "space brain" provides nearly un-endurable humour (oh, wait, space brain's changed it's mind again. . .). the only way in which i'd fault delillo is that he (as many others have done/continue to do) is under the impression that mathematicians desire to win a nobel prize, but the truth is, not-just-a-few mathematicians see the nobel as a cute prize that pales in comparison to the fields medal. other than this (annoying) hindrence, ratner's star is a truly exceptional book. if you want lighter reading, go with "white noise," but ratner's star is most definitely its equal, and in some ways (that are directly related to how much the book demands of the reader and how much work the reader is willing to put into the book-as-art aspects (i.e. going after meanings not plainly displayed on the surface)) i think it exceeds all of the delillo i've read excepting underworld. basically, read this book, it'll make you're life better. oh, that "typewriters?" things? that's because the book has a remarkable futuristic feel and does an exceptional job of transporting the reader to a pi-in-the-sky/ivory tower research facility, but there are constant mentions of typewriters that do a pretty good job of breaking the flow, but they have the effect of endearing the work rather than trivializing it.
Rating: 
Summary: A HEAVY-WEIGHT LITERARY TRIUMPH
Review: The fundamental problem with Ratner's Star is Delillo's insistence with bombarding the reader in a deluge of menancingly technical language. Sure, he writes beautifully and as ever, his language is precise but it appears that in an attempt to gain recognition, he has forgotten the purpose of writing and instead decided to exhibit his skills with the English langauge. As a result of this, there is the ostensible lack of crystal-clear creativity that is present in his other works. Delillo left what he usually excels in and engaged in this apparently experimental book. I feel inclined to say that I was left frustrated at times. There is so much fluidity and generous portions of classic Delillo in the first half, yet in an attempt to succeed this, the second half finds itself drowning in the abyss. The length of the book is also not totally justified when the almost non-existent plot is put into consideration. Heart breaking also is the absence of his portrayals of the real world, what Delillo really does shine at. Departing from that field, we have here a slightly irritating mix of insane characters and the psychedelic combination of fantasy, mathematics and science. There is imagination here but it appears to be used in the wrong way. If you like Delillo, you will cherish this weighty book, but at the same time you might walk away feeling cheated by this book whose art is so hard to define.
Rating:
Summary: Ratner's Star
Review: This book has quickly become one of my favorites. A beautifully written novel about language, mathematics, the fear of death, and an individuals place within the complexity of reality. There are sentences within this book that made me read them six or seven times they were so beautiful. An exceptional work that i cannot wait to read again.
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