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danerichter's review against another edition
1.0
I once thought that if a book was published then it had to be good. Stephen Coonts proves this theory wrong. Saucer is about a young man, Rip, who discovers a UFO that has been buried in rock since before civilization began. Throw in the Lybian Army and a rich Australian entrepreneur, each wanting the aircraft for themselves and you actually have a solid idea.
I think Coonts falls short with his predictable story line and lack of character development. Rip and Charley are paper-thin with no real depth of character. One line in particular makes me remember this book for all the wrong reasons: "it's your dime, mate" - random Australian on the phone. Dime. This particular American term is never uttered in Australia by an Australian.
This book is terrible but I'm giving this one star for Coonts detailed descriptions to do with any and all things flying. I think I read on the inside cover that Coonts himself was in the airforce? That knowledge is demonstrated in Saucer and it is the only time where I really felt Coonts was comfortable with the narrative.
I think Coonts falls short with his predictable story line and lack of character development. Rip and Charley are paper-thin with no real depth of character. One line in particular makes me remember this book for all the wrong reasons: "it's your dime, mate" - random Australian on the phone. Dime. This particular American term is never uttered in Australia by an Australian.
This book is terrible but I'm giving this one star for Coonts detailed descriptions to do with any and all things flying. I think I read on the inside cover that Coonts himself was in the airforce? That knowledge is demonstrated in Saucer and it is the only time where I really felt Coonts was comfortable with the narrative.
bewjmw's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
tense
medium-paced
islei's review against another edition
3.0
Coonts knows how to tell a story, but could use some brushing up on grammar and writing technique... his style is more of Alex Rider and less of Ender Wiggin. If you're bothered by reading the same descriptive phrase twice in three pages or snippets like "they could care less", more sophisticated writers might suit your tastes better. Such things aside, it's an entertaining story. Something to read over a late lunch of soup, but not to keep you up in bed all night.
calvinrain's review against another edition
2.0
Hard to believe I didn't like a book about a flying saucer, but this book is bad with incredibly cheesy writing.
bettinaenargentina's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
tome15's review against another edition
2.0
This series is readable with adequate action, but the world building is amateurish and the characters are unoriginal and flat. I wonder why Coonts has it in for the French.
danicaleblanc's review
1.0
Terrible, repetitive writing. Forced romance.
But I’ve had a shit week, so why not read about an idiot 22-year old who flies a saucer?
But I’ve had a shit week, so why not read about an idiot 22-year old who flies a saucer?
xterminal's review
3.0
...Stephen Coonts dips his toes into the waters of science fiction and comes up with what he does best-a techno-thriller. Rip, a college student summering as a geological survey worker, spots a gleam under the sand in the middle of the Sahara desert, and from such auspicious beginnings he unearths a seventy-foot, hundred forty thousand year old flying saucer. Everyone from a band of Australian mercenaries to the Libyan government knows about it, and wants it, within forty-eight hours. Rip's got himself a dilemma-how to get the saucer out of the hands of the various agencies who want it?
The Saucer is exactly the kind of turn-your-brain-off entertainment one expects from Stephen Coonts, and he delivers in spades. All the plot pieces are there, all the trappings (including the gorgeous sidekick, of course), all the loose-end-tying at the end. This is perfect beach reading. It never breaks formula, and the pages don't stop turning until you hit the last one. A good, solid read. ***
The Saucer is exactly the kind of turn-your-brain-off entertainment one expects from Stephen Coonts, and he delivers in spades. All the plot pieces are there, all the trappings (including the gorgeous sidekick, of course), all the loose-end-tying at the end. This is perfect beach reading. It never breaks formula, and the pages don't stop turning until you hit the last one. A good, solid read. ***
brettt's review
3.0
Stephen Coonts is one of the brand names of modern techno-thrillers, sending secret agents, assassins and troubleshooters all over the world to right wrongs, neutralize bad guys and, on a fairly regular basis, save the world.
In 2002's Saucer, he lightens up a bit by introducing farmboy genius Rip Cantrell, who happens across an ancient flying saucer while on a summer geologic survey with an oil company. A wealthy but greedy industrialist wants to exploit the saucer for its knowledge and make even more money, while government officials want to hide it while trying to learn its secrets. Rip, on the other hand, thinks it's his since he's the one who found it, and he wants its technology to benefit the whole world. He's helped by former U.S. Air Force pilot Charlotte "Charley" Pine, who just happens to be near his age, gorgeous and a superb aviator.
Coonts wrote Saucer with a definite twinkle in his eye, walking the line between parodying his own techno-thriller genre and telling the story straight. Saucer could be a fine neighbor to the old juveniles that Robert Heinlein wrote for Scribner's, and is just as much fun to read.
Original available here.
In 2002's Saucer, he lightens up a bit by introducing farmboy genius Rip Cantrell, who happens across an ancient flying saucer while on a summer geologic survey with an oil company. A wealthy but greedy industrialist wants to exploit the saucer for its knowledge and make even more money, while government officials want to hide it while trying to learn its secrets. Rip, on the other hand, thinks it's his since he's the one who found it, and he wants its technology to benefit the whole world. He's helped by former U.S. Air Force pilot Charlotte "Charley" Pine, who just happens to be near his age, gorgeous and a superb aviator.
Coonts wrote Saucer with a definite twinkle in his eye, walking the line between parodying his own techno-thriller genre and telling the story straight. Saucer could be a fine neighbor to the old juveniles that Robert Heinlein wrote for Scribner's, and is just as much fun to read.
Original available here.