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From: leichter@yale-com.UUCP (Jerry Leichter)
Newsgroups: net.sf-lovers
Subject: Re: query response and reviews
Message-ID: <2340@yale-com.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 4-Nov-83 15:18:40 EST
Article-I.D.: yale-com.2340
Posted: Fri Nov  4 15:18:40 1983
Date-Received: Mon, 7-Nov-83 21:34:42 EST
References: sri-arpa.13313
Lines: 19

Re:  Michael McCollum's two books.  I've read both Life Probe, and the earlier
A Greater Infinity.  Both are good, though not top-notch.  McCollum has a solid
if unspectacular style; comparing him to Hogan is apt.  Some Hal Clement is
in a similar style, as is some old Clarke.  However, McCollum is more interested
in the people and politics than these other writers.

A Greater Infinity is a "time war" story.  The protagonist unexpectedly finds
himself drawn into a battle.  It's been a while since I read it and I don't
remember the details off-hand; however, I enjoyed it enough to pick up Life
Probe on the basis of the author's name (and the plot, as described on the
cover - but that was secondary).  BTW, the cover blurb on Infinity tells you
almost nothing about the book; it sounds exciting and all, but actually the
impression it gives is appropriate to less than the first 1/4 of the book.

On Leichter's 1-10 scale, where anything below 3 isn't worth reading unless you
are desperate, I'd give McCollum a solid 7 to 7.5, and hope he continues to
produce and improve.
							-- Jerry
				decvax!yale-comix!leichter leichter@yale