This was my second 3D Studio max book. Buying it then was a mistake. There are many introductory books out there and this is one of the best but the problem is that the followup to this book; Inside 3DSMax vol 2, has everything vol 1 does and more. Get it if you are just starting out, and then I hope you are not scared of big books because this is where you start off, and start off well. If you already know your way around Max and just want to know advanced stuff like material manipulation and smoother models, get volume 2.

Many books on the market will give you step by step instructions how how to create a scene, or create certain effects. Although this is sometimes handy, it doesn't easially allow the user to incorperate the skills they learned into their own work.

Inside 3D Studio Max shows you the concepts behind how the program works, and allows you to apply these concepts, and skills to your own work, rather than a preformatted tutorial. It is this fact, however, that makes the book not extremely useful for modelers who are new to the program. This book often speaks of the manual which ships with 3DS Max, and the writer made it clear that this was not yet ANOTHER MANUAL. Inside 3D Studio Max explores how to expand your ability.

If you have no prior modeling practice, read the manual which ships with Max, then buy this book. If you do that, you will appreciate what is taught in this massive book.

This is an overall GREAT book, and it has really helped me to become a much better 3D artist.

Inside 3DStudio MAX At last!The book we all waited for.Inside 3DStudio MAX,writtten by Steven Elliot & Phillip Miller;authors of Inside 3DStudio Release 3 & 4.Some said that Inside series is better than the manuals.Well,to tell you the truth,they are quite right. The book is very well structured.It has 29 chapters,starting from explaining the core concepts of MAX,and ending in Network Rendering.Every chapter has its introduction and summary,that's very good 'cause you know what's the chapter about and the summary reminds you the most importants parts. It is not a book that throws you some tutorials only.On the contrary,the writers pay attention to general knowledge an animator must have.Mixing colors and light,story boarding,etc.. Every button is explained thouroughly in the book.It teaches you the best way to model and animate efficiently every model you can think of. Of course,it has some drawbacks.Material editor,Video Post,Space Warps & Particles are not explained in depth.Although there is a solution to that(in February 2 more Volumes will be published:Inside3DStudio MAX Volume II:Advanced Modelling & Material Editor,Volume III:Animation & Character Studio),who wants to buy 2 more books that costs 110$ additionally?(Answear:Me..:P).Another drawback is that the book has color photos only in the chapters that refer to Material Editor(although some will say that's no big deal).And the CD that is included with the book has 200mb of textures.O.k ,where's the drawback?:) Only a few of them are useful.90% of them are very artistic and extend beyond the needs of traditional animators.I think that whoever makes the textures(by the way Tim Forcade,who included textures in 3DStudio 4 Hollywood & Gaming Effects & Indide 3DStudio 4),should have in mind that animators need practical textures like wood,metals and stuff and not abstract paintings.... Inside is for the novice and for the experienced animator,and it is by far the No.1 if you want to master MAX. "Inside 3D Studio MAX should be a part of every serious animator's library"(Larry Crume,Vice President,Autodesk and General MAnager,Kinetix)

One has to think very quickly to apply and interpret the Art of War. It is not a book for the light reader. It is alot like numbers. When one searches for a number one will find it everywhere. The precepts and theme of this book is to number one's steps in warfare, to know that there is always a limit to how many victories one may have in battle just as one's days are limited in this life. The best way to understand this book is to read it at least one thousand and one times in ones life, then one will have mastered the Art of War.

Sun Tzu's Art of War, written approximately twenty centuries ago, is the first recorded study of military strategy. In my opinion, the Art of War is the most famous and influential book ever written on the subject of military strategy. Its age and the fact that it is still in print and still used lends it significant credibility in the area of warfare. Sun Tzu in my opinion was a great military strategist. Quite possibly he was the best the world has ever known. It is important to note that some historians believe that Sun Tzu never actually existed, or perhaps Sun Tzu was an alias. Some historians believe that Sun Tzu may not have played a significant role as a military strategist; it is possible that he was overshadowed by more important figures.
I read the edition that was translated by Ralph D. Sawyer, and I thought his work was excellent. The book flows very well and for the most part easy to read. Sawyer wisely informs the reader that each chapter should be evaluated on its own and to keep in mind how the chapters relate to one another.
Those who read it may find useful information that they can relate to in their own lives, however, one must be cognizant that not all concepts would be practical. Perhaps, the results of applying certain concepts specified in this book in everyday situations could be detrimental or even disastrous, for example in a work environment. After reading his book I learned that Sun Tzu's strategies are not only useful to military strategists they can also be used by entrepreneurs, in competitive sports, or any adversarial type situation. In fact, some Japanese businessmen are required to read this book due to its wealth of information and advice on competitive situations.
Since I am planning to enlist in the United States ARMY as a second lieutenant upon my graduation from college, I felt that reading the Art of War would be very beneficial background information for my career choice. This book is excellent reading for someone-such as myself-who has limited knowledge about military strategy, specifically, the theories and concepts of Sun Tzu. I read Sawyer's version for his substantial introduction and insightful historical background information as a means to gain knowledge on the ways of ancient Chinese culture, writing, time periods or dynasties, politics, economic life, and warfare. I especially enjoyed the passages on ancient warfare and its weaponry-- such as the chariot, horse and cavalry, armor and shields, and the sword; it shows how far we have advanced in warfare over the centuries.
Furthermore, Sawyer analyzes battles in which Sun Tzu was thought to serve as commander, and he also provides maps of the three warring states to allow the reader visual examples. I did like the descriptions of the battles among the warring states as Sawyer reconstructed them; they were very detailed including initial troop deployment followed by second, third, and final phases of the battle.
In order to better understand the ramifications of Sun Tzu's time, Sawyer provides history on the three warring states-Ch'u, Wu, and Yueh. Although, I found these particular passages quite interesting I have never enjoyed learning about history, and this book is no exception. In all honesty, I did become rather bored while reading the author's in depth account of certain aspects of Chinese history. It is my opinion that the book detailed specific events that did not contribute to the book as a whole. Additionally, some of Sun Tzu's theories and concepts were ambiguous which could result in the reader misinterpreting as well as misapplying the concepts. Moreover, Sawyer only provides an analysis on a few of Sun Tzu's concepts on warfare; therefore, it is left to the reader to interpret each concept. Sawyer even suggests that the reader obtain other books and publications to fully understand the meaning of each thought, theory, or concept provided by Sun Tzu.
Before I read this book, I would have considered Sun Tzu a barbarian with an ineffective approach to warfare; however, upon completion I realized that he had repeatedly stressed the importance of human preservation, self-control, and avoidance of all military engagements if at all possible. Conversely, Sun Tzu utilized tactics and strategies that required death and destruction when necessary.
I recommend this book to anyone having any interest in ancient Chinese warfare; it is worthwhile reading. The Art of War is by far the most informative military strategy book I have read to date in that the author discusses all facets of warfare for purposes of defeating the enemy. Having said this, I believe the Art of War is not a "once read." In order to understand all of Sun Tzu's concepts and theories on warfare the book must be read several times.

The Art of War by Sun Tzu, Ralph D. Sawyer
If you looking for a historical document I highly recommend this book. Sawyers interpretation is excellent with a clear understanding of Chinese culture and history. He uses numerous examples of battles that occurred in Ancient China, during Sun Tzu era. His writing is clear and easy to understand. I have read other interpretations of the "Art of War" and some areas are esoteric and confusing, not so in Sawyers version. Sawyers book is almost like having two books in one. He has a concise history of ancient Chinese military, he has his own comments (don't neglect reading the foot notes section.) besides an excellent interpretation of the text. After reading Sawyers translation, I now use it as a guide to base the accuracy of other translations.

Again this is not a "business" guide adaptation of Sun Tzu's book, it is a true historic translation of Sun Tzu's Art of War. I believe Sawyer truly communicates the message Sun Tzu actually meant to convey in his book, as military guide. If you're interested in the military might of ancient China I cannot recommend this book enough.

I am willing to give anyone a break or benefit of the doubt. When I saw the poor quality of this book, my first impression was that it took no imagination and less talent to put this book together. The craftmanship of this book makes small press released books look like the high-end publishers.

It is that bad.

Adding insult to injury is the price for this piece of work.

Avoid it.

I think the author did a good job on the story line. I really liked his knowledge and the information on CAG. However, I couldn't read two or three sentences without finding some sort of grammatical error. I found myself spending more time going back and reading again sentences just to make sense of where the story was going. I would gladly pay $...for the Rouge Warrior's book as to waste my time and money on what was a decent book that severely neeeded proof reading by a 4th grade English teacher.

...I had to treat myself for powder-burns after reading this action packed novel! Let me tell you, I have no military background and found this still to be quite entertaining, I did not bother myself with possible inaccuracy of military functions or capability, hey this is fiction and good fiction. I cannot believe the fellow below gave this one star! He most have been one the candidates to have fallen by the way side in Delta selection or something, what a bitter guy, its funny he was the only one not to enjoy this title. Well I highly recommend it and cannot wait for Sawyers next title!

I must say I was very disappointed in this book. I can't understand why all those supposed expert reviewers raved about it. What started off as a decent plot idea, putting an alien on trial, devolved into a poorly written and horribly contrived alien invasion story. Too bad. I would have liked to see a little more research and accuracy concerning California law and also some better developed characters and story line. Sometimes authors tend to lose focus when they start to preach. As a Canadian, Mr. Sawyer probably shouldn't be so critical of someone else's legal system. At least without being a little better informed.

If you're reading this review, you probably like science-fiction. But do you like mystery and court room drama too? Then you will very much enjoy "Illegal Alien." Sawyer takes a science-fiction concept and mingles it with a courtroom case. This Canadian author has done his research on the US Justice system. I felt that I was reading the transcripts from any one of the thousands of US court cases that occurs every day. The book holds your interest and twists just enough at the end to satisfy your desire for a good whodunnit. Highly recomemnded for both sci-fi and mystery fans.

Daniel Dennett called evolution Darwin's Dangerous Idea. He describes it as a 'universal acid', eroding the fabric of traditional habits. Dennett recognizes how violent those threatened by new ideas can become. Robert Sawyer has taken that thesis to a new, wonderfully conceived, level in this book. Those reviewers grizzling about this story recapitulating the O.J. Simpson trial must have skipped over the hard parts. Illegal Alien is a much deeper presentation of the workings of reactionary minds. We've all seen how vicious fanatic religious "leaders" can be when orthodoxy is challenged. Sawyer has extended that concept to a cosmic scale. And he's done a superb job of it.

While the bulk of this book is an excellent summary of a modern criminal trial, Sawyer's real success is the building of the alien personalities. Unable to lie, they are adept at evasion and equivocation when they deem it necessary. The aliens are not the uniform society usually found in speculative fiction. Instead, they turn out to be as divided as ourselves. That the division is based on the discovery of evolution of their species is classic Sawyer. He's to be congratulated on his deft handling of an alien civilization undergoing the same stress as our own in dealing with Darwin's Dangerous Idea.

Sawyer isn't just the best Canadian speculative fiction writer. He is at the top of the genre. Unlike so many of his fellows, the 'speculative' side of his writing is minimal. We may have to stretch our minds in reading him, but not because his ideas are too bizarre or his science base faulty. Sawyer's science in this book is rock solid. The exchange over evolution's producing the eye was a prime example of his research abilities. Richard Dawkins [Climbing Mount Improbable] must be proud of his 'colonial' advocate. Sawyer merges science and fiction with sublime finesse.

If you're an experienced Paint Shop Pro user, this might be a good reference book. But as a novice, I found the book to be confusing, just a collection of Paint Shop Pro facts and procedures. It would have been nice to have some examples, where an image is edited from start to finish, step by step. Also, I couldn't help but notice that the authors did not give an address or email address where they could be contacted with questions, comments, errors in the book, etc. I have put this book back on the shelf and I'm using the manual that came with Paint Shop Pro.

Good book if you have a bit of hands on with this program. I would not say it is a good book for the total beginner...some of the examples are a bit hard to follow. It is a REFERENCE book not a insparational book. You should have some idea of what you want to do. It is organized in logical sections and subjects were easy to find. Even with the programs manual, this is a good book to have handy. I think it should have been spiral bound to lay flat tho, I hate having to set something on it to keep it flat while I work. The book is not in color but there are center pages that have color examples. Yes I would buy it again if I lost it.

If you are tired of lamer beginner books and have no time for the $60 master in-depth reference books then this title is for you. In plain terms and with plenty of photos and examples, it guides you through PSP 5.0's features one by one. Recommended highly, well worth the money.

For a light, quick read, I suppose that Thunder Island is an acceptable choice, but don't expect too much. Although it is the third in a series, the book stands on its own, with very little interaction of the preceding characters. (I'm not necessarily saying this is a good thing, we've met the other characters, and I would like to see them again.) I think the editor needed to be a little more astute while editing. There are many repetitive themes, such as observing the beautiful sunset or being told twice why the house is called Thunder Island.

There is also something missing in Kyle and Jenny's relationship. Here is a couple who loved each other while young, and now, after 15 years, almost half their lives apart, Kyle can't live without Jenny, and although powerfully attracted to him, Jenny can't accept a relationship with Kyle. In all that time they were apart, they never tried to find one another, call, hell even look through the internet. This is explained, but not to my satisfaction, especially if they really loved one another. Why was Jenny's number always busy, why didn't she leave a forwarding address? Without giving away the plot (which I figured out after 35 pages), I can't figure out why Jenny acted the way she did after everything that happened. Losing her lover, then her mother to suicide, being alone with a stepfather she barely knows, I should have strong feelings of sympathy towards her, but my emotions were never really aroused. I also had a problem believing Kyle's character. After seeing him as such a tough guy in the last books I can't believe his soft spot for Jenny. He basically sacrifices his life, giving up his livelihood for his love, uses no backbone, and not going after her the second time all contradict what I perceived as his character.

The plot devises used were also a bit convenient. In the story we are shown some top secret government equipment, and surprise surprise, that specific equipment is needed to break the case or to find the child. Way too convenient for my tastes. Everything is exactly where we need it, when we need it, corrupt police sheriff and all. There is some witty conversation, and I just loved Sadie, the rescue dog, but saw nothing special to recommend this story.

Meryl Sawyer has been touted as one of the leading ladies of romantic suspense. In THUNDER ISLAND, her latest book, she brings together two former lovers whose lives have been made difficult by past misunderstandings and unexpected deaths.

Sawyer's characters were wholly realistic and believable. The secrets both kept from each other, and the inadvertant misunderstandings, strengthened their relationship. They could each sense the other's pain and rather than making fantastical accusations (as so often happens), they strove to find the source of the pain and to ease it.

I only took issue with Kyle's attitude and treatment of Jenny when she first joined his class. His condescending attitude really irked me, but of course, anti-terrorism is a male-dominated profession and part of that male bastion of careers that have little tolerance for women.

My only other problem with this book was that the "suspense" part of it didn't really build until the last 4 chapter or so (the part that the back blurb indicates is the main part of the book--"But the aftermath of their desire leads to murder--and Jennifer is the prime suspect in a crime that has its twisted roots in Thunder Island's maze of shocking secrets and dangerous lies..."). And it was easily solved, with little suspense. But the romance part was great. Based on this book, I've gone out to buy as much of Meryl Sawyer's backlist as possible!

As all of Meryl's books, this one has a unique setting and a great twist. I don't want to give it away, but I know you'll like it.
The romance is strong. It shows the strength of first love and the tragedy that can alter a life forever. Then your world can be put back together.
I liked the antiterrorist stuff. Very interesting after the events of 9-11.
Sadie, the dog was wonderful. Meryl always has a great animal in her book. A character, not just window dressing.
This book is truly a keeper.

I struggled with what rating to give Frameshift.

On the one hand, there were a number of things that felt hackneyed. I thought the nazi war criminal/eugenics thread was way too neat-- too much of a point being made. It bored me. 2-3 stars then.

On the other hand, there were a number of really excellent aspects. Sawyer has a really plausible hand with the paintbrush when it comes to depicting characters. I liked very much how he handled Molly's telepathy and Pierre as a French-Canadian. I also liked the respect for science that the book seems to have. 4 or even 5 stars taken altogether.

In the end, I'm giving it 4 stars because there are an awful lot of good elements, but if I really had to go with my gut, it would be more like a 3.

Anyhow, still a good read if you like scientific thrillers.

There's no doubt that Robert Sawyer can merge the most recent scientific concepts with fictional narrative flawlessly. Frameshift brings the latest revelations in genetic research to a story of murder and conspiracy. To that, he's added a strong historical element, rarely found in speculative fiction. The combination makes an overwhelming tale of perseverance in the quest for justice. This story is astonishingly relevant to today's circumstances.

Sawyer's characters are always excellent images. His Canadians are a wonderfully disparate group [Illegal Alien provides another good example]. Pierre's character is well drawn, although probably the most 'heroic' of all Sawyer's characters. It was surprising that he remains silent on the issue of Quebec independence. That Molly loves Pierre him because he thinks in French, which doesn't intrude on her 'space', was a charming idea.

At first, Molly's telepathic abilities seemed to suggest Sawyer had finally exceeded credibility. Telepathy, mysticism and inspiration from some divinity have too often been brought together to inspire religion with all its hurtful dogmas. That reaction was quelled after reading a fellow Canadian, Sharon Butala. Her non-fiction book, Wild Stone Heart, depicts a perfectly rational person subjected to 'experiences' she can't explain. Why do some people have these 'visions' while others don't? Perhaps, as Sawyer suggests here, there really is a genetic base for telepathy. It's an intriguing notion.

As usual, Sawyer's science is up to the minute. The current attempts to restore extinct species include the quagga, the thylacine [Tasmanian Devil] and even the Neanderthals Sawyer depicts here. He recognizes the need for a proper environment to make the restorations succeed, in this case, Molly herself. If it can happen, this is exactly the mechanism that will be required. He has detailed the process to perfection. This is a highly readable book, stretching the reader's mind just enough to maintain interest and some suspense.

This book really weaves some very diverse elements into a single plot, and has you guessing right up to the end.

The true strength of this book is the core protagonist of Pierre Tardivel, a french-Canadian genetecist who has to battle the uncertainty of being a man who may - or may not - have inherited Huntington's Disease. His struggle with his own genetic future is centre stage in this story.

But woven into this tale is a woman who can read minds, Molly. Though a genetic quirk of fate, her ability puts her in the forefront of a potential murder, and the story picks up steam from there.

Evolution, genetics, Nazi experimentation, murder, and a whole stream of incredibly rich plotlines cumulate into one great showdown of SF writing. As always, Sawyer's strong characterizaitons and his respect for science shine through, and I was gripped right to the end.

Give this a shot, you won't regret it.

'Nathan

This novel is almost two stories in one. A scientist invents a "Super-EEG" scanning device that clearly shows an electrical field leaving a human body after death. This is quickly dubbed "the soulwave" and is widely accepted as proof of the existence of a soul and life after death. Robert Sawyer delves into meaty philosophical questions... and then veers off into a tepid murder-thriller.

Rather than explore the dramatic impact on society that we could expect from the discovery of the "soulwave", the scientist hero, Peter Hobson, decides to explore life after death by setting up a computer simulation of himself, with the biological sensations edited out. He also creates a simulation of immortality (knowledge of death is edited out) and a control. One of them becomes a killer, and Hobson ultimately has to race to the rescue to solve the mystery.

It's all very briskly told and enjoyable, but I can't help wondering what a writer like Robert Silverberg would have done with the "soulwave" issue. Sawyer raises the questions and then drops them in favor of the much less interesting artificial intelligence mystery.

Some of the characterizations are believable, if not complex; the central character remains somewhat wooden. On the plus side, Sawyer's fast-paced narrative and his willingness to raise hot-button moral issues make this a worthwhile read. I'd recommend this, but I can't help wishing it had taken the initial premise further.

The original title "Hobson's Choice" was better; but the publishers, rather than the author, are likely responsible for the change.

4.5 out of 5 stars. I thoroughly enjoyed The Terminal Experiment. Having won the Nebula award I was wary of it since most award winners never live up to the hype that is piled on to them. But this book is one of those that wears the award in quiet satisfaction...never getting all the attention that others get (ie. the overly hyped Neuromancer that is far inferior to the much better, non-award winning, Snow Crash). This is my first foray into Sawyer's works, and The Terminal Experiment comes across as an early techno-thriller penned by Michael Crichton when he still wrote interesting works. It also reminds me of the movie Brainstorm in which thoughts can be recorded and they accidentally capture the image (thoughts) of someone entering the afterlife. Sawyer presents some interesting arguments about immortality, life after death, and the human soul...all in relation to artificial life (intelligence). The book moves along at a great pace, and the stuggles (professional and personal) of the main character are believable. One thing I learned from the book is to never make a copy of your brain pattern when you're [upset]. ;-)

I read this book and thoroughly enjoyed it. It is rightly classed as science fiction because it deals with potential new technologies, how they may be used, how they may affect society (although a bit of discussion beyond Net messages would have been better) and how the "monsters" created by Robert Sawyer's main character get out of control. Don't be put off by the absence of interplanetary wars and lots of wonderful new technologies to ponder. The setting and extrapolation of current trends is quite realistic, and welcome at a time when we are facing the need to debate issues which challenge our ages old vision of humanity. Concerns expressed by other reviewers regarding the number of references to Star Trek and use of aging talkshow hosts are petty. This is classic science fiction because we could open a newspaper tomorrow and read about exactly the sort of research Robert Sawyer discusses. I'll be seeking out other titles by this author.

The costs of many computer systems, software packages, and Website hosting schemes have been coming down quite drastically these last few years. It is now possible for most people new to the online scene to set up an online presence with little expense involved. The GeoCities Website service has offered millions of people the opportunity to set up their Websites for free. Learn how you can take advantage of this service to get online today!

Ben Sawyer and Dave Greely have teamed up to offer a first-class presentation of the GeoCities service with the publication of their book, Creating GeoCities Websites. Long regarded as merely a place to set up shop with loads of advertisements to wade through, GeoCities actually has quite a lot to offer in the way of exposure and benefits for those who know the service and know how to take advantage of it. With very little effort anyone can quickly set up a Website for just about any purpose.

Readers are invited to take a tour of the GeoCities service via their Website to gain familiarity with the many options they have to choose from. The authors thoughtfully provide a detailed explanation of basic membership information to operate by including benefits of the service, the rules to follow, and specific restrictions placed upon them.

Website design is made much easier by following the simple instructions in the book. Readers will learn how to use design templates and incorporate a bunch of features into their Websites such as sounds, graphics, linking, and credit card use. The authors offer words of warning to help prevent accidental overriding of files and provide basic information on copyright restrictions to prevent possible legal action. Plenty of helpful tips, design layout and effective marketing ideas, and online resources are also provided that make this book an excellent design guide!

This book contains many colorful examples of Websites and Web pages readers can easily create themselves. It is beautifully illustrated, easy to read, and its instruction fun to follow. I enjoyed reading through the book so much that I may eventually set up a GeoCities site of my own. This book is must reading for those considering hopping onboard the GeoCities bandwagon of users. It will help ease most objections raised about GeoCities in the past. If you can live with GeoCities or want to know more about it, this book is for you!

I bought this book to get a better grounding of GeoBuilder, because many of the questions I get from Homesteaders deal with GeoBuilder. As a Community Leader for Geocities, I also bought this book out of curiousity, and am glad I did!

Others have reviewed this book as a web page design reference. However, this book is actually a reference to the tools GeoCities provides for making the most of your hosted website. I would think of it more as a "help manual" for GeoCities. Excellent for beginners and a definite must for GeoCities community leaders.

If you are looking for a website design book, then this book is not for you. However, if you have or want to have a site hosted at GeoCities and want to know as much as you can about the tools and programs provided, this book is an excellent reference guide.

Sawyer's foray into space opera and space adventure is a fun book to read, but lacks the depth of (human) characterization and philosophical thought that are the strengths of his later works. The book's strengths include
1. the Ib Race -- a brilliant construct
2. the dark matter entities
3. the enigmatic glass man
4. the tightly woven plot threads
5. an interesting twist on the gateway concept

The book's weaknesses include
1. a weak protagonist
2. too many "Star Trek"-like devices (tractor beams, force fields)
3. uneven treatment of the human-Walhal (the pig creatures) dynamics.

Unlike many of the (harsh) negative critics below, I found the book quite enjoyable, even if there is some hand-waving here and there. It's not like that hasn't been done before in SF. And just to set the matter straight, Sawyer does NOT imply that laser beams are visible (he clearly states that the computer animated the laser fire in a holographic display) and he does not say that a spaceship swerves to avoid direct laser fire; what he does say is that a spaceship maneuvers to avoid another, spinning spaceship which happens to be firing a laser.

The book is enjoyable science fiction. The key word in this phrase is fiction.

This the second book by Sawyer I have read and I enjoyed both. The first was 'Calculating God'. Starplex was mostly hard SF but with some interesting philosophical ideas. Although Starplex seems like basic hard SF, even leaning towards space opera on the surface, it's also develops some big ideas about the universe and origin of life.

Robert J. Sawyer's book "Starplex" was one of the most entertaining, thought-provoking, and mind-twisting books I've read in a long time.

To begin, Sawyer is an excellent writer. Plotting, dialogue, and human drama aspects are all well-represented here. He also never loses sight of using humor, awe (in its truest sense), human limitations, and philosophical twists to create realities that are at once far, far away, yet understandable.

I'm sure Robert J. Sawyer has his critics - every writer does. Bottom line here, though, is that Sawyer has created his own voice with which to tell great stories (science fiction and otherwise), and Starplex is one of his best.