Rate this book

John Gone (2011)

by Michael Kayatta(Favorite Author)

3.65 of 5 Votes: 2

languge

English

genre

Science Fiction

publisher

John Gone Books

series

The Diaspora Trilogy

review 1: I'm usually the kind of guy that reads thick, heavy books and skips over lighter fare. More kinds of ephemeral writing usually bores me and is a chore to get through. John Gone, however, genuinely surprised me with its witty, well-written story packed with solid sci-fi ideas and clever characters.It's Young Adult fiction in form only, much in the way that Pixar movies are kids cartoons in form only. The characters are fully-formed, believable human beings who develop (or are revealed in) arcs which fit inside the narrative perfectly. At times, it has a light, humorous tone with witty dialog that can truly snap, but it's not afraid to get serious and stern-faced when it has too.All the complaints that I usually have with this genre are well-addressed by Mr. Kayatta. The nov... moreel feels like an over-stuffed chair of ideas. It's full of clever little concepts and wonderful bit-characters to sink yourself into. There's a heart and charm at the center of John Gone that makes it a delightful read.There certainly are a few rough spots, but they rarely slow things down. The first chapter in particular seemed almost manic in pacing, with the central plot device being introduced before we almost know the character or the setting. But after that, it hardly matters and everything flows at a page-turning clip. Especially for being a self-produced ebook, this kind of quality is almost unheard of.
review 2: Not a bad read. There's a bit of a teen-romance angle that never quite gets off the ground, some solid action with what I'd actually call a surprising amount of brutal violence considering this seems like YA title, and some interesting SF elements. The plot is fairly straightforward adventure stuff, not a lot of twists or intrigue, but the themes are mature. I suppose one of the points the author is trying to make (and although he's obviously early in his career, it's an admirable point with some nuance to it) is that when we're wronged, we look for guilt, but sometimes a guilty party isn't really easy to spot. Like I said, it's a straightforward adventure but the morality examined is not. It's not about good vs. bad, it's about what choices someone would make when placed in incredibly difficult situations. Editing is not strong, but I got this in that StoryBundle SF set so the cost came to maybe a buck. Generally recommended. less

Download links for: John Gone

Advertising