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jmoses's review
4.0
It did indeed read a ton like Heinlein. The protagonist reminded me a bunch of Friday. A fun read.
davygibbs's review
3.0
It was tough giving this book 3 stars, but I just can't justify 4. I went to great lengths to acquire a copy of this book at short notice, so my enthusiasm was very high going in. Emergence has a great reputation as an under-the-radar classic, a forerunner to the currently booming post-apocalyptic novel. So that was encouraging as well. Unfortunately, it didn't take long for the Ayn Rand-isms to start sneaking in and fouling things up. The book is about super-humans after all, and what tale about super-humans is complete without a bunch of post-Nietzsche-esque rhapsodizing about the omnipotent Ego and rational self-interest and lust for strength (bordering on rape apology)? None, I guess.
And all hail the deus ex machina, of course. Super-humans don't meet obstacles they can't overcome. No logistical problem they can't solve by tapping their photographic/encyclopedic memory for numbers on a page in a textbook they half-heartedly glanced a couple weeks before. No fight they can't win by triggering their super-speed/hyper-strength beast mode. It gets tiring and predictable and is ultimately unsatisfying, but when in Rome...
Also, the weird sex stuff. The super-human protagonist in this story (named, winkingly, Candy) is ELEVEN (11!) years old. I'm not saying 11 year-olds don't ever think about sex, but I'd wager they don't think about it this much. And while it is a sad truth in our society that older men prey upon prepubescent girls with discouraging regularity, they are also viewed as the worst kind of criminal. But when we're talking about super-humans, well, all bets are off. It's to Candy's credit, I guess, that she resisted all propositions and temptations, but I'm not letting Palmer off the hook so easily. That nonsense was not integral to the plot -- except, barely, in the case of Rollo -- and it was handled in a clumsily and creepily. Submitting (at least in theory) to the sexual bargaining of a man 5 times her age because she can't find a purely logical reason not to? Give me a break.
Now, all that said, the book mostly succeeds in spite of these considerable weaknesses. The shorthand-style prose works surprisingly well in the long-run, and the characters have as much depth as they can without also having any weaknesses to speak of. The story has momentum and a fairly epic climax that would be wonderful to watch on the big screen. In the final reckoning, I recommend the book, with reservation, to vintage sci-fi fans, fans of the post-apocalyptic genre, and others with patience for the narrative restrictions of mostly perfect characters.
But don't be fooled: yes, Candy is a young, strong female character who makes good decisions and has a good heart (and an even better head on her shoulders), but before you run out and find a copy to pass along to your own 11 year-old daughter, maybe read it yourself first.
And all hail the deus ex machina, of course. Super-humans don't meet obstacles they can't overcome. No logistical problem they can't solve by tapping their photographic/encyclopedic memory for numbers on a page in a textbook they half-heartedly glanced a couple weeks before. No fight they can't win by triggering their super-speed/hyper-strength beast mode. It gets tiring and predictable and is ultimately unsatisfying, but when in Rome...
Also, the weird sex stuff. The super-human protagonist in this story (named, winkingly, Candy) is ELEVEN (11!) years old. I'm not saying 11 year-olds don't ever think about sex, but I'd wager they don't think about it this much. And while it is a sad truth in our society that older men prey upon prepubescent girls with discouraging regularity, they are also viewed as the worst kind of criminal. But when we're talking about super-humans, well, all bets are off. It's to Candy's credit, I guess, that she resisted all propositions and temptations, but I'm not letting Palmer off the hook so easily. That nonsense was not integral to the plot -- except, barely, in the case of Rollo -- and it was handled in a clumsily and creepily. Submitting (at least in theory) to the sexual bargaining of a man 5 times her age because she can't find a purely logical reason not to? Give me a break.
Now, all that said, the book mostly succeeds in spite of these considerable weaknesses. The shorthand-style prose works surprisingly well in the long-run, and the characters have as much depth as they can without also having any weaknesses to speak of. The story has momentum and a fairly epic climax that would be wonderful to watch on the big screen. In the final reckoning, I recommend the book, with reservation, to vintage sci-fi fans, fans of the post-apocalyptic genre, and others with patience for the narrative restrictions of mostly perfect characters.
But don't be fooled: yes, Candy is a young, strong female character who makes good decisions and has a good heart (and an even better head on her shoulders), but before you run out and find a copy to pass along to your own 11 year-old daughter, maybe read it yourself first.
philipsd6's review
5.0
I really loved this as a kid, and enjoyed rereading it as an adult. I'm a sucker for the child super genius fantasy...
beckykirk's review
4.0
It took a little while to get used to the writing style (stream of consciousness) but once I got the hang of it I really liked this book!
hasseltkoffie's review
1.0
Might have gotten better score if not for the 30 page exposition why it would be rational for a 45yo creepy dude to do the naughty with the 11yo protagonist. For the rest totally unremarkable.
peapod_boston's review
5.0
A wonderful adventure story with one of the most engaging protagonists ever. It helps that I was her age when I read this and fell truly, deeply, madly in love. But even now, years later, it's a truly enjoyable read.
itabar's review
4.0
Someone highly recommended this book and I was able to get it from the LA Co Public Library, which is AWESOME for keeping an obscure OLD paperback book available. I am shocked it did not get discarded.
There are other books with plot summaries so I'll just cut straight to my impressions. The first time I read it I thought "Sheesh! That ending is over the top. Gimme a break." But then I thumbed through it to reread a "good part" and WHOOSH, I was rereading the book. And I liked it better. And then I found a copy at a library booksale and accidentally ended up reading it again and liked it even more.
So... I liked it quite a bit. It was fun and the characters were likable. The plot went by at a good clip with some very nice twists. And it contains a very low-key, very sweet romance.
So if you can find it, go read it. Wish it was available in audio so I could hook my brother.
There are other books with plot summaries so I'll just cut straight to my impressions. The first time I read it I thought "Sheesh! That ending is over the top. Gimme a break." But then I thumbed through it to reread a "good part" and WHOOSH, I was rereading the book. And I liked it better. And then I found a copy at a library booksale and accidentally ended up reading it again and liked it even more.
So... I liked it quite a bit. It was fun and the characters were likable. The plot went by at a good clip with some very nice twists. And it contains a very low-key, very sweet romance.
So if you can find it, go read it. Wish it was available in audio so I could hook my brother.
trevorjameszaple's review
4.0
To be honest the epistolary style combined with the know-it-all super-protagonist very nearly had me ditch the book early in, but something about the plotline kept me going. While I maintain that the characters are a little too OP, I also acknowledge that it's sort of the central premise to the book, and at any rate the last quarter makes up for everything else in a big pulse-pounding way. Not "Great Fiction", but highly entertaining.
zoes_human's review
3.0
I wish I'd discovered this when it came out; I was the perfect age to have enjoyed it then. Likely I would have loved it. Sadly, while it's good YA, it's just not good enough to transcend the 31-year age and experience gap from 12 to 43.
inkygirl's review
5.0
I have read this book so many times that its cover is coming off. I would to have a hardcopy version of this book. This book is part of my "Comfort Reading" shelf -- books that are like old friends and need revisiting at least once a year or whenever I'm feeling off-kilter for whatever reason.