Scan barcode
rick_k's review
2.0
Wayward Pines: The Redundant Man is a novella which expands the social and community life of the inhabitants of Wayward Pines as introduced in [b:Pines|15034320|Pines (Wayward Pines #1)|Blake Crouch|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1350740525s/15034320.jpg|20688937] by [a:Blake Crouch|442240|Blake Crouch|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1264134132p2/442240.jpg]. Greater humanity is afforded to both the residents and institution which provides for them removing the sinister air looming over Crouch's work. Our protagonist has no place in this carefully constructed community. He is set as a man apart, but not as an adversary to the system. It is an interesting perspective, and allows him to be a sounding board and confidant to more empathetic characters on both sides of Wayward Pines. My pallid enthusiasm comes from the passive writing and the mindset of the first person narrator. Our point of view is through the mind of an even keeled, unflappable, appreciative, pacifist. This sounds like a good thing, but this personality distances us from any drama, danger or passion. In the face of eminent death, intrigue, great fortune and wondrous insight into the nature of reality and the future of mankind he remains unmoved. By looking through his eyes we see the world through the same bland contentment which undermines the creative world expanding that has been accomplished.
ghostroom217's review
3.0
I found Marsha Morman’s ‘The Redundant Man’ to be an enjoyable read, more so, in fact, than Blake Crouch’s ‘The Pines’, the novel it was based upon. The protagonist, Gabriel Ramirez, is more likeable and more unruffled about the strange new town he finds himself in than Ethan Burke, Crouch’s Secret Service agent. Mormon tells essentially the same story as Crouch — a man investigating and coming to terms with his new surroundings — but Ramirez is more reflective than Burke, more accepting. Part of this has to do with the tone of the book, which is lighter and more humorous, but Morman’s protagonist is more human, too. Less a lone man charging about, ceaselessly battering himself against the bars of his cage.
That said, the novella suffers in a couple areas, first, in playing it tongue-in-cheek, some of her dialogue comes off sounding overly glib or inappropriate to the circumstances. Second, and more importantly, ‘The Redundant Man’ is crippled by clinging to the same world (or town) and limitations that Crouch created. Many aspects or motivations are still unexplained and the back-story of how Wayward Pines came into existence remains sketchy and unconvincing, though here it doesn’t feel quite as tacked-on as it did in ‘The Pines’. Of course, Mormon had an advantage over Crouch in this respect, in that she’s building on his work rather than creating a world (or history) of her own, and this, essentially, is the problem I have with the Kindle Worlds spinoffs of Crouch’s novel: they’re being built upon a weak foundation.
That said, the novella suffers in a couple areas, first, in playing it tongue-in-cheek, some of her dialogue comes off sounding overly glib or inappropriate to the circumstances. Second, and more importantly, ‘The Redundant Man’ is crippled by clinging to the same world (or town) and limitations that Crouch created. Many aspects or motivations are still unexplained and the back-story of how Wayward Pines came into existence remains sketchy and unconvincing, though here it doesn’t feel quite as tacked-on as it did in ‘The Pines’. Of course, Mormon had an advantage over Crouch in this respect, in that she’s building on his work rather than creating a world (or history) of her own, and this, essentially, is the problem I have with the Kindle Worlds spinoffs of Crouch’s novel: they’re being built upon a weak foundation.
ziwxbhld's review
4.0
This is a well-written companion to the first Wayward Pines book (which when I read it was just called Pines and, thankfully, showed no sign of sprouting any little offspring). I believe I claimed at the time that I wouldn't be reading any more of Blake Crouch's books, and I've stuck to that claim, but I was happy to give this a go, mainly because of the promise that it not only stood on its own as a quick, enjoyable read, but it also did away with the annoying fragmented writing style of the original whilst giving a far better and more satisfying ending. Which sounded worth a look, actually.
It did all of those things, at least as well as you can given Pines as a starting point, and with humour to boot. It was clear the author was working within the strictures of the Pines setting, which must be like that moment you open the cupboard and find sardines, tinned peaches, a stick of celery and ten minutes to come up with a coherent meal for the in-laws. in that sense I don't think there's much leeway for new ideas or sense-making; Wayward Pines itself just doesn't make sense. But Marsha did a great job, and I'd like to encourage her to break out: forget Wayward Pines and run completely solo - your writing is good enough to prove that you don't need Blake Crouch's ideas as a leg-up; it's time to go for a completely original idea and make some waves.
I also have to, because it's one of my pet delights, mention the gay protagonist, mainly because he's completely, absolutely normal apart from being gay, and that's great. He's not camp, he's not outrageously promiscuous, there's no stereotypical mannerisms; none of that - he just happens to be gay and it's about as important as him being black. Nothing to see, move along, please. And that, ladies and gentlemen, is just how it should be. Thank you, Marsha Morman!
It did all of those things, at least as well as you can given Pines as a starting point, and with humour to boot. It was clear the author was working within the strictures of the Pines setting, which must be like that moment you open the cupboard and find sardines, tinned peaches, a stick of celery and ten minutes to come up with a coherent meal for the in-laws. in that sense I don't think there's much leeway for new ideas or sense-making; Wayward Pines itself just doesn't make sense. But Marsha did a great job, and I'd like to encourage her to break out: forget Wayward Pines and run completely solo - your writing is good enough to prove that you don't need Blake Crouch's ideas as a leg-up; it's time to go for a completely original idea and make some waves.
I also have to, because it's one of my pet delights, mention the gay protagonist, mainly because he's completely, absolutely normal apart from being gay, and that's great. He's not camp, he's not outrageously promiscuous, there's no stereotypical mannerisms; none of that - he just happens to be gay and it's about as important as him being black. Nothing to see, move along, please. And that, ladies and gentlemen, is just how it should be. Thank you, Marsha Morman!
More...