Reaper

Rating:
Summary: YOU REAP WHAT YOU SOW
Review: At the tender age of 32, Ben Mezrich is a writer with good skills that have yet to reach their maturity. "Reaper," while an enjoyable diversion, is full of plot holes and stereotypical characters. The leading characters of Nick Barnes and Samantha Craig are so "perfect," they are nauseating. Add to this those crises in their lives that have left them bitter, and you have two heroes that need to grow up! The plot is rather interesting: a biological virus spread through televisions and computers. We also have three over-the-top villains: Marcus Teal, a black billionaire, who wants to use his technology to "CONTROL" who gets ahead in the business world, most notably, of course, minorities and the poor guys; Melora Parkridge, who is like a modern-day Margaret Hamilton, who wants to use her technology to wipe out technology altogether, for some reason the reader is never fully told; and then we have nutso Ned Dickerson who is being "controlled" by the virus. He's a whacko who is the real culprit in this serpentine maze of incredulities. "Reaper" in the hands of a more mature writer, could have been fun, but it ends up being one of those books you would have passed on had the promotion and premise not been so intriguing. Yawn.

Rating:
Summary: YOU REAP WHAT YOU SOW
Review: At the tender age of 32, Ben Mezrich is a writer with good skills that have yet to reach their maturity. "Reaper," while an enjoyable diversion, is full of plot holes and stereotypical characters. The leading characters of Nick Barnes and Samantha Craig are so "perfect," they are nauseating. Add to this those crises in their lives that have left them bitter, and you have two heroes that need to grow up! The plot is rather interesting: a biological virus spread through televisions and computers. We also have three over-the-top villains: Marcus Teal, a black billionaire, who wants to use his technology to "CONTROL" who gets ahead in the business world, most notably, of course, minorities and the poor guys; Melora Parkridge, who is like a modern-day Margaret Hamilton, who wants to use her technology to wipe out technology altogether, for some reason the reader is never fully told; and then we have nutso Ned Dickerson who is being "controlled" by the virus. He's a whacko who is the real culprit in this serpentine maze of incredulities. "Reaper" in the hands of a more mature writer, could have been fun, but it ends up being one of those books you would have passed on had the promotion and premise not been so intriguing. Yawn.

Rating:
Summary: As hollow as an empty cereal box
Review: I picked up Reaper knowing what I was getting into ... a technothriller not a literary classic. Still, even the wildest plot line needs some semblance of logic. Here the two "ordinary" people who are the main characters possess every ability known to man: brains, athleticism; plus knowledge of medicine, science, computer technology and criminal techniques. I'm surprised they didn't build their own cars from twigs and tape. And I think the chase scene at the end may still be going on. There are some interesting scientific concepts here if you can fight through the papier mache characters to get to them. It was a disappointing book ... probably because it was a really a screenplay.

Rating:
Summary: Good Book
Review: I really liked this book. Although it could be "way out there" at times, it stayed pretty much down-to-earth. It is a good book considering the vast and wide-spreading genre. I wouldn't rank it in the top 10 of it's genre, but definitely in the top 50. Go out and grab this book if you have some spare reading time and don;t know what to read. Other than that, don't make any special plans to read it because it is just another book to evenly define the genre. Despite all this, I still liked the book!

Rating:
Summary: Good Book
Review: I really liked this book. Although it could be "way out there" at times, it stayed pretty much down-to-earth. It is a good book considering the vast and wide-spreading genre. I wouldn't rank it in the top 10 of it's genre, but definitely in the top 50. Go out and grab this book if you have some spare reading time and don;t know what to read. Other than that, don't make any special plans to read it because it is just another book to evenly define the genre. Despite all this, I still liked the book!

Rating:
Summary: what is up w/ you?
Review: this was a good book- very good, and yes, there were technical errors, but what book doesn't? i think that you should buy it and not listen to other dumbassed reviews buy "a reader in Arkansas." Please.

Rating:
Summary: what is up w/ you?
Review: this was a good book- very good, and yes, there were technical errors, but what book doesn't? i think that you should buy it and not listen to other dumbassed reviews buy "a reader in Arkansas." Please.

Rating:
Summary: where was the editor?
Review: Ulike many here, I did not think the book was bad, tho unremarkable. But I cannot forgive STUPID technical errors that authors in the genre should not make and editors are paid to catch. A 15-round 9mm Baretta is NOT a revolver! How simple can this be? And if it WAS a revolver, it could not be "silenced". I am NOT a gun expert, but even I know this basic stuff.