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trib's review
3.0
Silly. Overblown. Ridiculous beyond even what Matthew Reilly would write. But, that's entirely the point. Birmingham knows what he's doing, and why.
Full of Birmo's typical nods to politics, journalism, nerd culture and such, Emergence is a chuckle-filled weekend of nonsense. You should read it.
Full of Birmo's typical nods to politics, journalism, nerd culture and such, Emergence is a chuckle-filled weekend of nonsense. You should read it.
tapini42's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
2.5
samstrong's review against another edition
2.0
Other reviews have covered the problems with this book. For me it comes down to Dave being utterly unpleasant.
squids_can_read's review against another edition
dark
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
An oil rig's plans to go beyond the limits of its drill has massive consequences. Now the world is being overwhelmed with monsters that have emerged from below the Earth's crust. It is up to one man to save the earth.
Or at least that's what the book is supposed to be about. Instead, this book is about a man who is excessively horny for seemingly no reason and somehow has to save the world. He now knows everything about the monsters and he's going to save the earth if he can get himself under control. Also halfway through the perspective starts changing for no reason.
Overall, this book was really disappointing and the characters were lackluster. It was a funny time though.
Or at least that's what the book is supposed to be about. Instead, this book is about a man who is excessively horny for seemingly no reason and somehow has to save the world. He now knows everything about the monsters and he's going to save the earth if he can get himself under control. Also halfway through the perspective starts changing for no reason.
Overall, this book was really disappointing and the characters were lackluster. It was a funny time though.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
nelljustice's review against another edition
3.0
for full review go to: http://wp.me/p5Q4Dh-fw
The ending was a little abrupt, I thought. The battle was raging and then “poof” and it’s done….or at least until the next book, I would guess. It wasn’t a cliffhanger exactly, but it did lead to the next book. I think I would recommend this book, simply because the dialog was such fun. The story had potential, but it just ran out of steam for me. I think if you are a person who likes a rough (and I mean REALLY rough) and gritty redneck who obtains super power and knowledge through a monster he kills, then this would be for you. I can’t comment on whether I’ll get the next book or not. I just don’t know at this point. One of the things that is holding me back is the price point. I spent some coinage on this story and walked away with some minor disappointment. Another thing is that there was a short sample of the second book at the end and the first scenes of the second book didn’t impress me much. Maybe I am on “sooooper Dave” overload.
The ending was a little abrupt, I thought. The battle was raging and then “poof” and it’s done….or at least until the next book, I would guess. It wasn’t a cliffhanger exactly, but it did lead to the next book. I think I would recommend this book, simply because the dialog was such fun. The story had potential, but it just ran out of steam for me. I think if you are a person who likes a rough (and I mean REALLY rough) and gritty redneck who obtains super power and knowledge through a monster he kills, then this would be for you. I can’t comment on whether I’ll get the next book or not. I just don’t know at this point. One of the things that is holding me back is the price point. I spent some coinage on this story and walked away with some minor disappointment. Another thing is that there was a short sample of the second book at the end and the first scenes of the second book didn’t impress me much. Maybe I am on “sooooper Dave” overload.
balthazarlawson's review against another edition
4.0
Dave Hooper, general looser, becomes a hero when he encounters monsters on the oil rig where he is the safety officer. His world changes in the swing of an axe. Just as the world begins down the road of a conflict they are totally unaware of and totally unprepared for.
This is the first battle in a war with an enemy that has no respect or consideration for humans and the world's only hope appears to lie in Dave, even with all his flaws.
An exciting twist on the superhero story.
This is the first battle in a war with an enemy that has no respect or consideration for humans and the world's only hope appears to lie in Dave, even with all his flaws.
An exciting twist on the superhero story.
csdaley's review against another edition
3.0
Originally posted on www.csdaley.com
Dave Hooper is having a very bad day. Mind you, not as bad as his fellow co-workers who are just going about their business of drilling oil out of the Gulf of Mexico when some nasty creatures crawled through a portal and ate them for lunch. Not just ate them but gorged on them. Ripping them apart in some sort of zombies would run in horror buffet. Dave wanders into the horror show and suddenly fines himself the unwanted hero cleaving beasties in half and generally making himself a giant pain in the ass.
This is the type of book I should have loved. Eaten up like popcorn and gone back begging for refills. The monsters were nasty and horrific. Dave is a smart ass and it is quite possible that I might have a few things in common with smart asses. He uses a splitting maul as his main form of dismembering the monsters from below. He names it Lucille (that is full of win). There are nasty ninja like creatures called Sliveen trying to end Dave. I loved the Sliveen. They were my single favorite creature in the book. Lots of action. Tons of horror. Boatloads of gore.
Despite all this, I didn't love the book. I liked it. I finished it. I wasn't tempted to put it aside. I just didn't love it. I had two main problems. I really didn't like Dave that much. Don't get me wrong. I don't have to like main characters to enjoy a book, but for some reason Dave really annoyed me. I feel like Birmingham was going for a slightly unlikable hero who would morph into something more. It just didn't really click for me. The second problem I had was I was not a giant fan of Birmingham's writing style. It didn't flow real smoothly in parts. The books pacing felt off. The first half of the book dragged in places but would then be punctuated by some great action scenes. It didn't stop me from reading but I didn't fly through it like I do with a book that completely captures me.
Now, the things Birmingham did that I liked. He can flat out write action and the last 25% of the book is a giant roller coaster ride of action. The monsters were great and I even liked the sections written from their point of view. I loved a lot of the supporting characters and I thought the plot was a fun one.
If you are already a fan of Birmingham this book is going to be a treat for you. If you like action packed monster movies (which was especially true of the 2nd half of this book) than enjoy the brain candy.
I am fairly certain this book will not be for everyone. The language can get crude and it reads like a summer blockbuster in some place (in particular it hammered some of the normal cliches you get in those blockbusters). However, if a quick read summer blockbuster is what you are looking for than buckle up it's going to be an explosive ride.
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Review copy provided by Random House Publishing Group - Del Rey Spectra
Dave Hooper is having a very bad day. Mind you, not as bad as his fellow co-workers who are just going about their business of drilling oil out of the Gulf of Mexico when some nasty creatures crawled through a portal and ate them for lunch. Not just ate them but gorged on them. Ripping them apart in some sort of zombies would run in horror buffet. Dave wanders into the horror show and suddenly fines himself the unwanted hero cleaving beasties in half and generally making himself a giant pain in the ass.
This is the type of book I should have loved. Eaten up like popcorn and gone back begging for refills. The monsters were nasty and horrific. Dave is a smart ass and it is quite possible that I might have a few things in common with smart asses. He uses a splitting maul as his main form of dismembering the monsters from below. He names it Lucille (that is full of win). There are nasty ninja like creatures called Sliveen trying to end Dave. I loved the Sliveen. They were my single favorite creature in the book. Lots of action. Tons of horror. Boatloads of gore.
Despite all this, I didn't love the book. I liked it. I finished it. I wasn't tempted to put it aside. I just didn't love it. I had two main problems. I really didn't like Dave that much. Don't get me wrong. I don't have to like main characters to enjoy a book, but for some reason Dave really annoyed me. I feel like Birmingham was going for a slightly unlikable hero who would morph into something more. It just didn't really click for me. The second problem I had was I was not a giant fan of Birmingham's writing style. It didn't flow real smoothly in parts. The books pacing felt off. The first half of the book dragged in places but would then be punctuated by some great action scenes. It didn't stop me from reading but I didn't fly through it like I do with a book that completely captures me.
Now, the things Birmingham did that I liked. He can flat out write action and the last 25% of the book is a giant roller coaster ride of action. The monsters were great and I even liked the sections written from their point of view. I loved a lot of the supporting characters and I thought the plot was a fun one.
If you are already a fan of Birmingham this book is going to be a treat for you. If you like action packed monster movies (which was especially true of the 2nd half of this book) than enjoy the brain candy.
I am fairly certain this book will not be for everyone. The language can get crude and it reads like a summer blockbuster in some place (in particular it hammered some of the normal cliches you get in those blockbusters). However, if a quick read summer blockbuster is what you are looking for than buckle up it's going to be an explosive ride.
------
Review copy provided by Random House Publishing Group - Del Rey Spectra
shai3d's review against another edition
2.0
I was really in the mood for a science fiction. And the blurb on this book sounded interesting but unfortunately, I didn't find the book to be so.
I know that for me to really enjoy a book I have to like the main character and well, I really didn't like Dave. He has a tendency to be foul mouthed and is far too busy feeling sorry for himself and all his failures to be good company.
Even so since I was reviewing the book, I forced myself to finish it and there were a few redeeming factors. It was fast paced and does have some witty dialogue. I also enjoyed how Mr. Birmingham managed to weave current events into the plot.
I can't really recommend this book though perhaps I am just the wrong sex to enjoy it. I also didn't enjoy the Airplane movies though they are wildly popular with my husband and some of my male friends. So perhaps you might want to give it a try but it wasn't my cup of tea.
I know that for me to really enjoy a book I have to like the main character and well, I really didn't like Dave. He has a tendency to be foul mouthed and is far too busy feeling sorry for himself and all his failures to be good company.
Even so since I was reviewing the book, I forced myself to finish it and there were a few redeeming factors. It was fast paced and does have some witty dialogue. I also enjoyed how Mr. Birmingham managed to weave current events into the plot.
I can't really recommend this book though perhaps I am just the wrong sex to enjoy it. I also didn't enjoy the Airplane movies though they are wildly popular with my husband and some of my male friends. So perhaps you might want to give it a try but it wasn't my cup of tea.
bundy23's review
3.0
More 2.5 than 3 stars. The humour is forced and predictable and the details seem a little too detailed and doesn't really add anything to the story other than increasing the word count. I'm a big Birmingham fan but this just didn't do it for me.
I'll give book 2 a chance because I've already paid for it but I probably wouldn't otherwise...
I'll give book 2 a chance because I've already paid for it but I probably wouldn't otherwise...
thinde's review
5.0
On the second read, I wasn't as blown away as I remember being. The enemy perspective dragged. I just don't feel they had sufficient complexity to justify the number of pages devoted to them.
Dave is a great central character. This is a good example of giving your MC flaws that he can overcome during his arc. Dave's a bit of a loser. Sure, he's tough and courageous but he's also lackadaisical and without any ambition. It's interesting... give an ambitious man power and he may abuse it to achieve his goals. On the other hand, what happens when you give a complacent man power?
That idea is fleshed out more fully in the rest of the series. In fact, this book, as enjoyable as it is, should be seen as a stepping stone to the heart of the story.
Dave is a great central character. This is a good example of giving your MC flaws that he can overcome during his arc. Dave's a bit of a loser. Sure, he's tough and courageous but he's also lackadaisical and without any ambition. It's interesting... give an ambitious man power and he may abuse it to achieve his goals. On the other hand, what happens when you give a complacent man power?
That idea is fleshed out more fully in the rest of the series. In fact, this book, as enjoyable as it is, should be seen as a stepping stone to the heart of the story.