Date: Fri, 17 Feb 1995 14:14:17 EST From: "Rob Slade, Social Convener to the Net" Subject: "Otherness" by Brin BKOTHRNS.RVW 950109 "Otherness", Brin, 1994, 0-553-29528-4, U$5.99/C$7.99 %A David Brin %C 1540 Broadway, New York, NY 10036 %D 1994 %G 0-553-29528-4 %I Bantam Spectra Books %O U$5.99/C$7.99 %P 357 %T "Otherness" I really like David Brin's stuff. So, I'm going to review this book even though I can't say much about the science in it. (This is not to say his science is bad: far from it. His science is good, particularly physics, and it comes as no surprise that physics is his field. Wisely, however, he refrains from explaining any of the marvels of his future societies.) Brin's characters are well developed, realistic and sympathetic. His stories are well crafted. This shows up more clearly in a collection of short stories, such as "Otherness", than in his novels, which have greater room for development. His plots twist and evade prediction, but always beckon the reader to follow. He is definitely in command of the surprise "hook" at the end of the story, much like O'Henry or the early Clarke. Ultimately, however, I suspect that my liking for his work stems from his almost relentless optimism. Mankind, and individuals, are capable of whatever is demanded of them, and often more. (The universe is also on our side--which often becomes evident only when things look darkest.) copyright Robert M. Slade, 1995 BKOTHRNS.RVW 950109 ============== Vancouver ROBERTS@decus.ca | "Le mathemtica e l'alfabeto Institute for Robert_Slade@sfu.ca | nel quale Dio ha scritto Research into rslade@cue.bc.ca | l'universo." User p1@CyberStore.ca | Security Canada V7K 2G6 | - Galileo