Into the Looking Glass

Fun story, providing one is willing to ignore the utterly inaccurate particle physics. I don't read a lot of books where I've uttered such a blue streak in disbelief, and I've still got 20 pages to go. ( )

I’ve read quite a few books by John Ringo and I think it’s safe to say that I’ve liked pretty much all of them. This one however, I was not as thrilled about as I usually am. Now, it is quite probable that I am somewhat biased from the start.

The author makes frequent references to CERN and more specifically, is basing most of his story on the Higgs Boson. Since I am an engineer at CERN I’m somewhat sensitive to bullshit about these subjects and unfortunately John Ringo’s depiction of Higgs Bosons is indeed utter bullshit. Christ, he could not even get his basic facts rights. For instance, he talks about scientists trying to create Higgs Bosons, specifically, using linear accelerators. The CERN accelerator is a circular one. If you want to create science fiction then create it but do not rewrite known science and facts. It’s just ignorant not to mention arrogant towards the readers.

Okay, so now I’ve had my gripe about this. I understand that for a lot of people Higgs Bosons and CERN is mostly exotic terms and they probably do not have the bias that I have. The book is really still very much in the John Ringo style. The dialogs between people are fun as usual. The action is plentiful and fairly well done. At time I felt it went a bit too much into mysterious la-la land though. Still, if you generally like John Ringo and do not have the bias I have, then you would probably like this book as well. I'm afraid I cannot bring myself to give it more than a, barely, average rating though.

Having said that, although I wasn’t as thrilled with this one as I usually am with John Ringo’s works I will definitely read, at least, the next one in the series as well.
( )

Still determined to struggle through and finish. If you love detailed descriptions of military weaponry and hate character development (seriously, halfway through we finally get some personal life details about the main character), this is the book for you.

It's not all bad, there is some humor, and in spite of the above complaints I do find some of the detailed physics and weapons extremely interesting (which is why a friend recommended it).

Perhaps the single most annoying thing is how the author constantly switches around how he references characters—by first name, last name, job title, rank, vague job description—it makes it hard to follow at times. You have to remember not only a character's name, but every aspect of his job, duties, and rank, he might be referred to by any of those at any time.

A very interesting hard SF book about a physics experiment gone wrong that opens portals to other worlds. One inhabited by a race of monsters bent on changing every world to their world through terraforming.

The main character is a "redneck physicist" who figures out what is happening and starts working to change it with his Navy Seal side kicks.

A good all around read. In one way - high body count military SF - classic Ringo. In another - fetish sex - unrecognizable as Ringo. ( )

Read 2008
Re-read 2012

[November 2008 Review]
Basically take Doom and parts of Starcraft, specifically the Zerg, add in some military hardware jargon and you've got this book. Some rogue physicist creates some kind of gate that throws out bosun particles, which allow gates to be opened to other planets. The dreen come through one and we go through another and meet some friendly aliens. The dreen take over planets and suck them dry of resources. The dreen are zerglike, growing creatures for specific needs.

Besides some profanity and some seriously over the top weapon specifications[it IS military scifi though], this was enjoyable. I plan on reading some more in this series 'cause this was a ton of fun.


[May 2012 Review]
Still gets 4 stars from me. Could have had a little more action and less eggheads discussing quantum mechanic theory.

But marines, aliens, guns and scientists. Plus Mimi and Tuffy. Just good stuff. ( )