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Unparalleled
Waking up in a strange house, with no memory of how or why he is there, Stuart Milton finds his life has changed beyond recognition. His pregnant wife is missing, but his only living relative, his brother, is incapable of substantiating his claim. Lost in a world of confusion that is spiralling out of his control, Stuart finds temporary salvation in a psychiatrist assigned to his case. Meanwhile, peculiar events across the world lead a team of Oxford scientists to develop top secret technology that will change the future of humanity. Betrayed by double agents, the race to control this technology endangers the lives of all involved, which unwittingly includes Stuart and his psychiatrist. This enthralling journey takes Stuart to the edge of sanity, culminating in an unparalleled climax of kidnapping, betrayal and murder.
287 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 24, 2018
60 people are currently reading
19897 people want to read
About the author
D.S. Smith
1Ìýbook403ÌýfollowersD.S.Smith was born in Bolton, England. At the age of 20 he joined the RAF embarking on a career that spanned nine years. Following this he took a degree in Biologocal Sciences and spent 7 years at The Natural History Museum in London where he worked as a Scientific Officer.
The amazing people he has met and the places he has visited throughout his life are a major inspiration for his writing.
Unparalleled, his first novel, reached number 1 on Amazon’s bestseller list for SciFi. In August 2019 it received the Discovered Novel Award .
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 194 reviews
June 26, 2019
Unparalleled by D. S. Smith
Interesting read and just what I needed as I've been binge watching Vikings and need to get away from them for a bit.
This one starts out with Stuart and he's confused as to where he is, his house, his pregnant wife, etc. Nothing is making sense to him even after talking to his brother David.
He gets help from a psychiatrist and she's tried to help him piece the missing parts together-no one at the museum where Laureen works even know her...
Interesting concept of the unexplained black spots on weather tracking satellites-could happen I suppose....Reminds me so much of the twilight zone as the scenes that the cops and others come across just can't be explained...
Other events around the world are going awry also, lots of high technology and things above my comprehension but they are making sense that this could totally happen in the world today.
One explanation is quantum earthholes...like how they plan to send Stuart back with the DNA implanted and he knows what he has to do with it...
Very detailed transformation and I worry what he will find at the end of the journey. Very scientific believable read.
Enjoyed the book and the subject.
Received this review copy from the author via the publisher and this is my honest opinion.
Interesting read and just what I needed as I've been binge watching Vikings and need to get away from them for a bit.
This one starts out with Stuart and he's confused as to where he is, his house, his pregnant wife, etc. Nothing is making sense to him even after talking to his brother David.
He gets help from a psychiatrist and she's tried to help him piece the missing parts together-no one at the museum where Laureen works even know her...
Interesting concept of the unexplained black spots on weather tracking satellites-could happen I suppose....Reminds me so much of the twilight zone as the scenes that the cops and others come across just can't be explained...
Other events around the world are going awry also, lots of high technology and things above my comprehension but they are making sense that this could totally happen in the world today.
One explanation is quantum earthholes...like how they plan to send Stuart back with the DNA implanted and he knows what he has to do with it...
Very detailed transformation and I worry what he will find at the end of the journey. Very scientific believable read.
Enjoyed the book and the subject.
Received this review copy from the author via the publisher and this is my honest opinion.
May 27, 2019
Unparalleled by D.S. Smith is the author's first novel, however it shines with provocative writing and an interesting story line. A scary prologue open things up nicely and sets a creepy tone for the balance of the book. Things are upside down in Stuart Milton's life. Stuart is the lead character and to say he is confused is an understatement. He wakes in a strange bed, and seems to have forgotten events of the previous evening. He does know he is married, and his wife is pregnant. At least he thinks he knows these things. This is where the parallel universe aspect comes in, has he been living a different life? This is compelling writing, capturing your imagination, pulling you forward in the story. The author writes with a sense of clarity, yet keeps the reader guessing and on edge until the end. Gripping, with a great science fiction edge, this book is not only entertaining, but will challenge everything you take for granted. Throw in some technology, double agents, and more, this book is highly recommended for something different from the usual science fiction.
July 21, 2019
The beginning of the story is really intriguing, if you're into fantasy you'll immediately know what's going on. Stuart's constant confusion was getting on my nerve as the idea of a parallel universe didn't cross his mind, I was expecting him to have his "Aha!" moment in the story but he only knew what's going on as the story progresses which makes sense in away if we look at his character. The doctor's acknowledgement of their mistake is extremely refreshing, I love the character, very sensible, rational, and professional as she battles her emotions.
The suspense throughout the story was killing me, I think the incident with David should have lasted a bit longer, it was one of the most interesting part of the story but I feel like it wasn't given the time it deserves. The last bit of the action was a bit confusing but I really enjoyed the twist at the start of the operation and by the end of the story as well. As the story was ending I couldn't help but think of the other Stuart's situation as it was not hinted at all but the ending was satisfying, it didn't feel like the story was left hanging, it was wrapped up well.
The suspense throughout the story was killing me, I think the incident with David should have lasted a bit longer, it was one of the most interesting part of the story but I feel like it wasn't given the time it deserves. The last bit of the action was a bit confusing but I really enjoyed the twist at the start of the operation and by the end of the story as well. As the story was ending I couldn't help but think of the other Stuart's situation as it was not hinted at all but the ending was satisfying, it didn't feel like the story was left hanging, it was wrapped up well.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 31, 2022
Ok Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ, you keep asking me to review my own book so here goes. IT’S GOOD. And the sequel will be even better 😊
May 25, 2019
‘I believe there must be more to our existence than just chance�
Author DS Smith appears to be making a publishing debut with UNPARALLELED and offers no biographical information that usually assists the reader in appreciating the background for a novel. There are suggestions in the writing that he is British�
A signal that a novel that is classified as a science fiction story will be credible enough to involve the reader is the curtain raising Prologue, and Smith has already mastered this entre: ‘He regained consciousness to the distant sound of pass¬ing cars. Every few minutes, starting off quiet, gradually getting louder and fading away again. He opened his eyes, squinting against the early morning sun that shone low through the fence. The fence surrounding him with tall iron bars curved at the top and tipped with ends like spears. He had no idea where he was or how he had gotten there but it all looked vaguely familiar, like he should recognise it but could not. He remembered falling. Falling forward into darkness, spinning and tumbling as he fell. No sound, no light, just falling. And the sickness, he remembered the sickness in his stomach. He felt it now. He leaned over and retched but nothing came out. With some effort he pushed himself up onto his knees and onto his feet. His head throbbed and he felt dizzy but he managed to stay standing. He heard another car pass by in the distance. Where the hell am I, he thought? And why am I naked? He covered his gen¬itals with his hands as he turned to look for a way out but the fence stretched all the way around, stopping only when it met with a large stone building. The wall of the building was completely flat and as tall as the fence so there was no way he could climb out. As he approached the building he noticed there were two hatchways cut into the wall, each blocked by a metal gate. Perhaps one of these would offer a way out. He approached one of the gates. There were two handles at the bottom suggesting the gate either swung outwards or lifted upwards. He took hold of the handles and lifted. At first there was considerable resistance and he thought he was not going to be able to lift it. But the gate clicked twice and shot up under its own inertia. Before he had chance to register what was happening, two huge paws struck him at shoulder height and knocked him to the ground. He felt an immense pressure on his chest which pinned him to the floor. He heard a deafening roar and felt hot, foul breath on his face. The last thing he saw was the gaping smile of the devil in front of his eyes revealing teeth the size of pitchfork prongs.�
Writing of this quality makes the incredible more credible, and that is the sign of a successful foray into the unknown. The synopsis captures the essence of the story: ‘Waking up in a strange house, with no memory of how or why he is there, Stuart Milton finds his life has changed beyond recognition. His pregnant wife is missing, but his only living relative, his brother, is incapable of substantiating his claim. Lost in a world of confusion that is spiraling out of his control, Stuart finds temporary salvation in a psychiatrist assigned to his case. Meanwhile, peculiar events across the world lead a team of Oxford scientists to develop top secret technology that will change the future of humanity. Betrayed by double agents, the race to control this technology endangers the lives of all involved, which unwittingly includes Stuart and his psychiatrist. This enthralling journey takes Stuart to the edge of sanity, culminating in an unparalleled climax of kidnapping, betrayal and murder.�
Welcome to the literary scene, DS Smith, your qualifications are assured!
Author DS Smith appears to be making a publishing debut with UNPARALLELED and offers no biographical information that usually assists the reader in appreciating the background for a novel. There are suggestions in the writing that he is British�
A signal that a novel that is classified as a science fiction story will be credible enough to involve the reader is the curtain raising Prologue, and Smith has already mastered this entre: ‘He regained consciousness to the distant sound of pass¬ing cars. Every few minutes, starting off quiet, gradually getting louder and fading away again. He opened his eyes, squinting against the early morning sun that shone low through the fence. The fence surrounding him with tall iron bars curved at the top and tipped with ends like spears. He had no idea where he was or how he had gotten there but it all looked vaguely familiar, like he should recognise it but could not. He remembered falling. Falling forward into darkness, spinning and tumbling as he fell. No sound, no light, just falling. And the sickness, he remembered the sickness in his stomach. He felt it now. He leaned over and retched but nothing came out. With some effort he pushed himself up onto his knees and onto his feet. His head throbbed and he felt dizzy but he managed to stay standing. He heard another car pass by in the distance. Where the hell am I, he thought? And why am I naked? He covered his gen¬itals with his hands as he turned to look for a way out but the fence stretched all the way around, stopping only when it met with a large stone building. The wall of the building was completely flat and as tall as the fence so there was no way he could climb out. As he approached the building he noticed there were two hatchways cut into the wall, each blocked by a metal gate. Perhaps one of these would offer a way out. He approached one of the gates. There were two handles at the bottom suggesting the gate either swung outwards or lifted upwards. He took hold of the handles and lifted. At first there was considerable resistance and he thought he was not going to be able to lift it. But the gate clicked twice and shot up under its own inertia. Before he had chance to register what was happening, two huge paws struck him at shoulder height and knocked him to the ground. He felt an immense pressure on his chest which pinned him to the floor. He heard a deafening roar and felt hot, foul breath on his face. The last thing he saw was the gaping smile of the devil in front of his eyes revealing teeth the size of pitchfork prongs.�
Writing of this quality makes the incredible more credible, and that is the sign of a successful foray into the unknown. The synopsis captures the essence of the story: ‘Waking up in a strange house, with no memory of how or why he is there, Stuart Milton finds his life has changed beyond recognition. His pregnant wife is missing, but his only living relative, his brother, is incapable of substantiating his claim. Lost in a world of confusion that is spiraling out of his control, Stuart finds temporary salvation in a psychiatrist assigned to his case. Meanwhile, peculiar events across the world lead a team of Oxford scientists to develop top secret technology that will change the future of humanity. Betrayed by double agents, the race to control this technology endangers the lives of all involved, which unwittingly includes Stuart and his psychiatrist. This enthralling journey takes Stuart to the edge of sanity, culminating in an unparalleled climax of kidnapping, betrayal and murder.�
Welcome to the literary scene, DS Smith, your qualifications are assured!
June 4, 2019
In a parallel world people and places would be the same, but in Unparalleled by D. S. Smith things are similar with just a twist. Stuart Milton wakes up one morning and finds he is in the wrong house and he can’t find his pregnant wife, Lauren. Dave, his brother, is confused when Stu insists on finding Lauren and everyone must be playing a trick on him. Stuart was just one of the many people who are sucked into a void and spit out naked, bewildered, and totally a different person. Someone out there has the answers, but is he willing to set things straight, or will he even want to?
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I found Unparalleled thought provoking and intriguing. D. S. Smith provides a warped world where not everything is the same for Stuart Milton. He is adamant about his life though there is evidence it never happened. The author adds events that make everyone puzzled about Stu, my favorite is his missing tattoo. While reading this science fiction thriller, it isn’t hard to put yourself in Stuart’s situation and wonder what you would do. Unique plot with a distorted world, very captivating story.
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I found Unparalleled thought provoking and intriguing. D. S. Smith provides a warped world where not everything is the same for Stuart Milton. He is adamant about his life though there is evidence it never happened. The author adds events that make everyone puzzled about Stu, my favorite is his missing tattoo. While reading this science fiction thriller, it isn’t hard to put yourself in Stuart’s situation and wonder what you would do. Unique plot with a distorted world, very captivating story.
July 20, 2019
Great story, brilliantly paced with a good balance of excitement and suspence building without events seeming either rushed or stagnant from beginning to end. A story of conviction, romance, friendship, betrayal & even existential crisis. Lovely conveying of humanity within the highlighted implications of the interactions between characters & situations faced. Definitely recommended & definitely looking forward to reading sequel! >:]
February 11, 2019
A beautifully written, utterly gripping mystery. The author achieved something many can't in Unparalled, by the end of the first chapter the characters felt like people I knew. by the end of the book they were old friends. I cannot wait to see what Mr Smith comes out with next!
May 30, 2019
Unparalleled is a well-written story with plenty of turns and twists. As an avid sci-fi reader, I found this book to be very interesting. The book starts with an incredible prologue, which is not only captivating but also sets the tone of the story. The storyline itself is incredible. DS Smith has written a compelling and entertaining story that has commendable clarity.
Stuart Milton, the lead character, wakes up in a strange house perplexed and with no memory of how he got there. He knows that he has a pregnant wife though she is missing now. Stuarts is assigned to a psychiatrist. A team of scientists from Oxford invents a technology that will affect humanity’s future. Double agents betray them. The technology puts the lives of all involved, including Stuart and psychiatrist, on the line. What follows is kidnapping, murder and betrayals.
It is absolutely a page-turner that will keep you reading and looking forward to what happens next. Add in conspiracies and technology, and you have a lovely read that is far much different than the usual science fiction. I recommend it.
Stuart Milton, the lead character, wakes up in a strange house perplexed and with no memory of how he got there. He knows that he has a pregnant wife though she is missing now. Stuarts is assigned to a psychiatrist. A team of scientists from Oxford invents a technology that will affect humanity’s future. Double agents betray them. The technology puts the lives of all involved, including Stuart and psychiatrist, on the line. What follows is kidnapping, murder and betrayals.
It is absolutely a page-turner that will keep you reading and looking forward to what happens next. Add in conspiracies and technology, and you have a lovely read that is far much different than the usual science fiction. I recommend it.
June 10, 2019
A story about a link between different timelines; the same people but very different lives. The main character is accidentally switched with himself from another timeline/Earth; and is assumed to be crazy, since no one could explain the detailed memories of another life for himself. The story progresses at a good pace with background on other occurrences like Stuart’s. The ultimate goal is to return Stuart to his own timeline through science and engineering efforts of a few scientists. I will leave the ending for others to read to see how it all turns out.
July 24, 2019
This book terrified me. I'm sure Smith didn't intend for this to be the case, but I would hate to be in Milton's position. In this day and age, we are always cautious about 'big-brother', and the concepts covered in 'unparalleled' had me uncomfortable and on the edge of my seat. As the story unfolds, the bigger picture at play is a harrowing account of conspiracy within the system. Smith's character's are strong and each play an important role in what culminates to be an exciting and unpredictable ending. I could really see this book making a great sci-fi TV series.This book terrified me. I'm sure Smith didn't intend for this to be the case, but I would hate to be in Milton's position. In this day and age, we are always cautious about 'big-brother', and the concepts covered in 'unparalleled' had me uncomfortable and on the edge of my seat. As the story unfolds, the bigger picture at play is a harrowing account of conspiracy within the system. Smith's character's are strong and each play an important role in what culminates to be an exciting and unpredictable ending. I could really see this book making a great sci-fi TV series.
January 24, 2019
Doctor Carson is baffled by her new patient. The man is Stuart Milton. He has been telling a story of his life that is very different from the one he has been living. Stuart Milton has been living a different life to the one people keep insisting he has been living. He is obviously traumatised. He is logical and accepts he is traumatised in some way. But he knows he had a pregnant wife, despite what his honest brother and others are telling him.
Doctor Carson a psychiatrist can't detect any form of lying during her psychoanalysis. Milton is telling the truth. Even under hypnosis, Doctor Carson can only deduce her patient is telling the truth. It is as though her patient has quantum lept into the world from a parallel universe. That is just for starters. There are other things at work too. More bizarre consequences begin to unfold as Stuart Milton and Doctor Carson delve deeper into the phenomenon.
This is a very compelling science fiction story. All the credible approach to the strange phenomenon are there. Very gripping indeed.
Doctor Carson a psychiatrist can't detect any form of lying during her psychoanalysis. Milton is telling the truth. Even under hypnosis, Doctor Carson can only deduce her patient is telling the truth. It is as though her patient has quantum lept into the world from a parallel universe. That is just for starters. There are other things at work too. More bizarre consequences begin to unfold as Stuart Milton and Doctor Carson delve deeper into the phenomenon.
This is a very compelling science fiction story. All the credible approach to the strange phenomenon are there. Very gripping indeed.
December 31, 2018
Took this book with me on vacation thinking it would keep me entertained for the entire time, it did not, I was done reading way before my vacation ended!! Now I am hoping for the sequel.
February 22, 2023
Review posted on my blog
Wow! It feels good to be doing this again. After months of inactivity concerning my book reviews, I am finally back in action! Let’s get into it. As usual, I’ll give a little summary before I dive into my thoughts on this.
The book opens with a man named Stuart Milton waking up in unfamiliar surroundings. After meeting up with his brother David, Stuart discovers that the life he thought he had is not true. After breaking into what he thought was his home, Stuart is sent to a psychiatrist who tries to get him to accept the current reality, although he feels that he can’t. Meanwhile, a group of scientists at a university become interested in Stuart after being made aware of a man who experienced delusions strikingly similar to his. At the same time, a secret criminal organization looks to steal the technology the university is hoping to develop by helping Stuart get home and send out an agent who will stop at nothing to destroy their work. Can Stuart make it home before it is too late?
It really feels amazing to be back to reviewing again, and God, what a great book to start back up with! Before I talk about some of the characters, though, it’s probably a good idea to tackle the structure first with this particular story, because it will help with discussing the characters later on.
The book starts out with Stuart struggling to forget his old life while dealing with this new, foreign situation he’s been thrust into. The first half deals with Stuart claiming things about the life he thought he had, while the exact opposite is revealed to be true, making him look delusional. This sets up what happens later with the university scientists, but in the moment, it is hard to tell where the story is going. Much like Stuart, I was very confused, and it made the section a little slow-going. However, I think that was intentional in helping to build the main character arc Stuart experiences throughout the plot � should he go home to his old dimension, where his wife probably thinks he is deceased and his brother David isn’t really in his life � or should he stay in the dimension he ended up in, where he and his brother are close and where he’s made some new friends?
While Stuart’s eventual decision is understandable and easy to get behind in a story-driven sense, it also opens up questions as to whether he deserves to live a life that is not his in the first place. This leads to a wonderfully subtle commentary on doing not only what is best in terms of family, but also what is best in terms of personal morality. I love that Smith is using this scenario to comment on the dangers of living a life that forces you to lie to yourself. Stuart understands that, as much as he grows to like Dr. Catherine Carson and David in this dimension, he cannot continue to live a life that is not rightfully his and has a duty as a father-to-be to get back home.
The way Smith sets up the plot of the story mainly works to establish a sense of foreboding and leave the reader wanting to know more about what’s happening. One great way this is done is when we see a father and son playing together, and a portal opens up right before the son’s eyes and whisks his father away. This, at first, seems like an evil force that the main characters would have to fight or work against, but what I like about it is that Smith completely subverts that idea of said force being bad by having it instead be helpful to Stuart and the scientists.
Speaking of the scientists, I should talk a bit about the Harmoniser they work on in the story. I will admit that, when Stuart first met this team, I did not fully trust them or the machine and a lot of the scientific jargon they were using flew right over my head. However, Smith is able to make it clear that these scientists actually want to help Stuart by establishing a rival team in Beijing that wants the Harmoniser for themselves.
See, the effects of using the Harmoniser can actually cure diseases and allow the person who enters into and uses it to never age, and the head of the rival team in Beijing needs it to cure his son’s terminal illness. When he fails to build his own Harmoniser, he sends out Lin Lee to destroy the one that is supposed to take Stuart home in an act of revenge. This provides the ticking time bomb that makes the second half of the story so gripping. The technology they are working on is incredible, and I found myself praying that they would succeed in developing it and sending Stuart home.
What I like most about the structure of the story is that it alternates between Stuart’s point of view and those of the characters that are most prevalent. In the beginning half this is done with the university scientists, which helps to set up Stuart’s eventual involvement with them nicely. I admit, the chapter with the father and son in this section seemed to come out of nowhere but, given the unpredictable nature of the wormholes the scientists are looking at in the first half, it is understandable that it would feel like that. And I do like how that scenario is eventually explained to the reader, showing its prevalence to the plot, so it really only requires the reader to be patient as the plot unfolds.
In the second half of the story, Stuart’s point of view mainly alternates with those of Lin Lee, David, and Catherine. I found that I liked these points of view a bit more than the ones in the first half because the way Smith sets them up shows the reader that the story is getting more intense, the bad guys are getting closer to Stuart and his friends, and it makes the latter half of the book gripping! I found it much easier to get behind these characters� sections because, by that point, we know more about them and the stakes are so much clearer. As a result, the tension is beautifully set up and it makes the book very hard to put down at that point.
The likable characters in this story are part of what makes it so enjoyable. Stuart is a devoted husband to his wife and will stop at nothing to get back to her, even if it means giving up a life he has grown to enjoy in the alternate dimension. I love the relationship between him and David particularly because it’s obvious that, though Stuart may not be the Stuart Dave knows, they grow to care for each other as if he had lived in that dimension his entire life. I particularly enjoyed their conversation about what is different about the alternate universe Stuart comes from. It allowed them to bond while giving the reader some information about each dimension.
Catherine is another very likable character. I think what I enjoyed most about her was that she was a fantastic friend to Stuart and, while there was a small hint of romance between them, I appreciated that Smith didn’t develop it any further and instead allowed them to remain as good friends throughout the story. It worked in showing Stuart’s resolve to get home to Lauren without breaking any hearts, allowing the story to progress without pointless romantic drama. And I just have to say that Catherine is an awesome person. I love that her end goal is to do what’s right and that she is dedicated to helping Stuart get home, without even thinking about how doing so may be hard for her because she’s good friends with him. I particularly enjoyed her role in the story’s climax, because it showed just how much she cared about helping him reach his goal to get back.
Now, it’s not just the protagonists that work to make a story enjoyable, because the antagonists can be just as, if not sometimes more, fun to read about. Smith creates the main antagonist in the agent Lin Lee, and she is easily the biggest obstacle to Stuart in his quest to get home. Smith writes her as this hardened criminal who will stop at nothing to get what she wants, and the sections with her point of view work wonders to create tension. This is because, not only is the plot propelled forward, but we see just how crazy she is in trying to achieve her goals. If she were the main focus of the story rather than Stuart, it would be closer to A Clockwork Orange than anything else. Every time we saw her in the story, I felt something clench in my chest, and if an author can make the reader feel that way while reading their story, they earn my respect.
Now, despite all of the positives this story has, there were one or two things that bothered me about it. One of these things is that a scientist at the university asked Stuart to pass on the Harmoniser technology once he got home, but we never even see a hint of this at the end, not even in the form of an epilogue. It just seems like the idea is set up and then forgotten about later on, and that was kind of annoying. If you’re going to emphasize something like that (the news is set up to seem extremely important) you need to at least give the reader the hint that that is going to happen, even if they won’t see it in full. There is no hint that Stuart is going to pass on the technology once he is home, and it just really bugged me after that huge speech the scientist gave Stuart.
All in all, I really enjoyed this enthralling tale. Smith has woven together a story that is intriguing, fascinating, and very satisfying. The characters are easy to root for and it is awesome to see what they go through here. This is definitely a story that I would recommend to anyone looking for a good sci-fi adventure. It is a journey that pulls you in and refuses to let you go until the very last page. I highly recommend it for any science fiction fan!
"He remembered falling. Falling forward into darkness, spinning and tumbling as he fell. No sound, no light, just falling. And the sickness, he remembered the sickness in his stomach. He felt it now. He leaned over and retched but nothing came out. With some effort he pushed himself up onto his knees and onto his feet. His head throbbed and he felt dizzy but he managed to stay standing. He heard another car pass by in the distance. Where the hell am I, he thought?"
Wow! It feels good to be doing this again. After months of inactivity concerning my book reviews, I am finally back in action! Let’s get into it. As usual, I’ll give a little summary before I dive into my thoughts on this.
The book opens with a man named Stuart Milton waking up in unfamiliar surroundings. After meeting up with his brother David, Stuart discovers that the life he thought he had is not true. After breaking into what he thought was his home, Stuart is sent to a psychiatrist who tries to get him to accept the current reality, although he feels that he can’t. Meanwhile, a group of scientists at a university become interested in Stuart after being made aware of a man who experienced delusions strikingly similar to his. At the same time, a secret criminal organization looks to steal the technology the university is hoping to develop by helping Stuart get home and send out an agent who will stop at nothing to destroy their work. Can Stuart make it home before it is too late?
It really feels amazing to be back to reviewing again, and God, what a great book to start back up with! Before I talk about some of the characters, though, it’s probably a good idea to tackle the structure first with this particular story, because it will help with discussing the characters later on.
The book starts out with Stuart struggling to forget his old life while dealing with this new, foreign situation he’s been thrust into. The first half deals with Stuart claiming things about the life he thought he had, while the exact opposite is revealed to be true, making him look delusional. This sets up what happens later with the university scientists, but in the moment, it is hard to tell where the story is going. Much like Stuart, I was very confused, and it made the section a little slow-going. However, I think that was intentional in helping to build the main character arc Stuart experiences throughout the plot � should he go home to his old dimension, where his wife probably thinks he is deceased and his brother David isn’t really in his life � or should he stay in the dimension he ended up in, where he and his brother are close and where he’s made some new friends?
While Stuart’s eventual decision is understandable and easy to get behind in a story-driven sense, it also opens up questions as to whether he deserves to live a life that is not his in the first place. This leads to a wonderfully subtle commentary on doing not only what is best in terms of family, but also what is best in terms of personal morality. I love that Smith is using this scenario to comment on the dangers of living a life that forces you to lie to yourself. Stuart understands that, as much as he grows to like Dr. Catherine Carson and David in this dimension, he cannot continue to live a life that is not rightfully his and has a duty as a father-to-be to get back home.
The way Smith sets up the plot of the story mainly works to establish a sense of foreboding and leave the reader wanting to know more about what’s happening. One great way this is done is when we see a father and son playing together, and a portal opens up right before the son’s eyes and whisks his father away. This, at first, seems like an evil force that the main characters would have to fight or work against, but what I like about it is that Smith completely subverts that idea of said force being bad by having it instead be helpful to Stuart and the scientists.
Speaking of the scientists, I should talk a bit about the Harmoniser they work on in the story. I will admit that, when Stuart first met this team, I did not fully trust them or the machine and a lot of the scientific jargon they were using flew right over my head. However, Smith is able to make it clear that these scientists actually want to help Stuart by establishing a rival team in Beijing that wants the Harmoniser for themselves.
See, the effects of using the Harmoniser can actually cure diseases and allow the person who enters into and uses it to never age, and the head of the rival team in Beijing needs it to cure his son’s terminal illness. When he fails to build his own Harmoniser, he sends out Lin Lee to destroy the one that is supposed to take Stuart home in an act of revenge. This provides the ticking time bomb that makes the second half of the story so gripping. The technology they are working on is incredible, and I found myself praying that they would succeed in developing it and sending Stuart home.
"Catherine Carson had not known what to expect when she entered the lab, but she had expected more than this. Other than the presence of a large bank of computers and some kind of booth that looked like an airport body scanner, they could have been in any laboratory in any scientific establishment. As incredible as it all seems she now accepted that there had to be substance to the professor’s claims. But her senses still betrayed her. Why did everything look so ordinary? They were privy to the most significant discovery in the history of the human race, yet it felt like the induction at the start of a night school class. If they had entered the room to find something akin to the Large Hadron Collider it would have felt more appropriate, but this! She noticed Stuart once staring at the booth; the professor had noticed this also.�
What I like most about the structure of the story is that it alternates between Stuart’s point of view and those of the characters that are most prevalent. In the beginning half this is done with the university scientists, which helps to set up Stuart’s eventual involvement with them nicely. I admit, the chapter with the father and son in this section seemed to come out of nowhere but, given the unpredictable nature of the wormholes the scientists are looking at in the first half, it is understandable that it would feel like that. And I do like how that scenario is eventually explained to the reader, showing its prevalence to the plot, so it really only requires the reader to be patient as the plot unfolds.
In the second half of the story, Stuart’s point of view mainly alternates with those of Lin Lee, David, and Catherine. I found that I liked these points of view a bit more than the ones in the first half because the way Smith sets them up shows the reader that the story is getting more intense, the bad guys are getting closer to Stuart and his friends, and it makes the latter half of the book gripping! I found it much easier to get behind these characters� sections because, by that point, we know more about them and the stakes are so much clearer. As a result, the tension is beautifully set up and it makes the book very hard to put down at that point.
"Lin Lee decided the best solution to her dilemma was the one that had always served her best in the past. Deceit! Anything but positive news at this stage would be unacceptable to the Director and the consequences would be grave. So, when the Director’s phone eventually rang he was delighted to hear the test had been successful and they were ready to transfer a human through their Harmoniser.�
The likable characters in this story are part of what makes it so enjoyable. Stuart is a devoted husband to his wife and will stop at nothing to get back to her, even if it means giving up a life he has grown to enjoy in the alternate dimension. I love the relationship between him and David particularly because it’s obvious that, though Stuart may not be the Stuart Dave knows, they grow to care for each other as if he had lived in that dimension his entire life. I particularly enjoyed their conversation about what is different about the alternate universe Stuart comes from. It allowed them to bond while giving the reader some information about each dimension.
"While his brother was off on the quest for alcohol Dave turned on the TV to watch the news. There was no mention of the incident at the hotel. He flicked through a few more channels but then Stuart arrived back sporting two bottles of red wine and two glasses. ‘Courtesy of Terry!� he exclaimed, holding the bottles up in the air. ‘He did say to tell you to be careful how much you drink after all you’ve been through.�
‘Ah, I’ll be fine.� Dave said dismissing Terry’s concerns.
Stuart put the glasses down on a table, unscrewed one of the bottles and poured two generous measures of wine. Handing one to his brother he raised his glass for a toast. ‘To strength in the face of adversity.�
‘I’ll drink to that,� Dave said, raising his glass in unison with Stuart’s.�
Catherine is another very likable character. I think what I enjoyed most about her was that she was a fantastic friend to Stuart and, while there was a small hint of romance between them, I appreciated that Smith didn’t develop it any further and instead allowed them to remain as good friends throughout the story. It worked in showing Stuart’s resolve to get home to Lauren without breaking any hearts, allowing the story to progress without pointless romantic drama. And I just have to say that Catherine is an awesome person. I love that her end goal is to do what’s right and that she is dedicated to helping Stuart get home, without even thinking about how doing so may be hard for her because she’s good friends with him. I particularly enjoyed her role in the story’s climax, because it showed just how much she cared about helping him reach his goal to get back.
"Catherine had planned to try to help Stuart come to an informed decision about his destiny. He was no longer her patient and was making it clear that he would never be her lover. She had nothing further to offer him other than friendship.�
Now, it’s not just the protagonists that work to make a story enjoyable, because the antagonists can be just as, if not sometimes more, fun to read about. Smith creates the main antagonist in the agent Lin Lee, and she is easily the biggest obstacle to Stuart in his quest to get home. Smith writes her as this hardened criminal who will stop at nothing to get what she wants, and the sections with her point of view work wonders to create tension. This is because, not only is the plot propelled forward, but we see just how crazy she is in trying to achieve her goals. If she were the main focus of the story rather than Stuart, it would be closer to A Clockwork Orange than anything else. Every time we saw her in the story, I felt something clench in my chest, and if an author can make the reader feel that way while reading their story, they earn my respect.
"First, [Lin Lee] had to escape from her current captors. The two police officers who escorted her from the cool vessel now sat either side of her in the van into which she had been ushered. There were no windows in the back of the van so she had no idea where they were or where they were heading. Judging by the speed they were traveling and the smoothness of the ride they were probably on the highway. She assessed her situation and formulated her plan of escape. A set of cuffs secured her hands behind her back but the chain between the two cuffs was long enough to allow her to manoeuvre. The police officer to her right was sleeping with his chin resting on his chest. The officer to her left was thumbing the keys of a cell phone. They did not seem threatened by her presence so when the attack came their reactions would be slow.
Now, despite all of the positives this story has, there were one or two things that bothered me about it. One of these things is that a scientist at the university asked Stuart to pass on the Harmoniser technology once he got home, but we never even see a hint of this at the end, not even in the form of an epilogue. It just seems like the idea is set up and then forgotten about later on, and that was kind of annoying. If you’re going to emphasize something like that (the news is set up to seem extremely important) you need to at least give the reader the hint that that is going to happen, even if they won’t see it in full. There is no hint that Stuart is going to pass on the technology once he is home, and it just really bugged me after that huge speech the scientist gave Stuart.
"'This is possibly the biggest event in human history, Stuart, and I cannot emphasise enough how important you are to its success.�
Stuart sensed he was being prepared for something more than he had already learned. He sat and listened to the motivational speech the professor was delivering, waiting for the point to be revealed. When it was, the gravity of what he was hearing bore down on him like a physical entity pressing him to his seat.�
All in all, I really enjoyed this enthralling tale. Smith has woven together a story that is intriguing, fascinating, and very satisfying. The characters are easy to root for and it is awesome to see what they go through here. This is definitely a story that I would recommend to anyone looking for a good sci-fi adventure. It is a journey that pulls you in and refuses to let you go until the very last page. I highly recommend it for any science fiction fan!
"He struggled to comprehend what would happen after that so he decided to concentrate on the one thing that he wanted more than anything else. To get back to Lauren."
April 2, 2019
I am a sucker for cover art…I mean that is what usually makes you pick the book up in the first place. This one is beautiful. Here, you see two worlds that are similar but have slight differences. This perfectly describes a large portion of what this novel is about.
Though I have read many books, sometimes I find it difficult to put into words how it made me feel. Seeing the cover had me interested but the summary really grabbed my attention. After reading it, I knew that I had to give it a shot. Debut novels are tough. The author is putting something into the world without any idea how the public will react. Well, I will tell you how you will react to this particular story, you will enjoy it! I really did take pleasure in reading this. I am glad that I did not pass on participating in this blog tour.
What I Liked:
Plot: I enjoyed that I was kept on the edge of my seat, not knowing what would happen next. The multiple POV was a good touch to this novel. I found myself wanting to yell at my book in warning, much like people do at TVs during horror films. There is not much worldbuilding that needed to be done considering it takes place in modern times.
Science: If you know me, then you know how much of a science nerd I am. I absolutely loved the detailed science information given here. I could follow along and know exactly what was being discussed. It makes it seem all the more real when concepts tie into those already in practice within our scientific community.
Love Vs. Lust: I loved the little speech Stuart gives about love and lust. They both have a place and purpose in our lives. Seriously, make sure you read this part because it is very well written.
What I Did Not Like:
Characters: I loved some of the characters(Dr. Milton, Stuart), but felt disconnected from others. I am unsure why I was unable to fully connect with some such as Lin. I just did not feel invested in them at all. It could simply be because I enjoyed some of the other characters so much that the rest seemed…meh.
Final Thoughts:
For a debut novel, this was fantastic. The story pulls you in, making your hair stand up in excitement and wonder while you wait to discover what happens next. There are some issues I had with some small spelling errors, we are all human though right? It was not enough for me to reduce my rating. I thought this was well written, with a voice of purpose. D.S. Smith knew exactly where he wanted to take the reader and did it. He took me on a journey to a strange new place and back, filled with a myriad of emotions along the way.
Though I have read many books, sometimes I find it difficult to put into words how it made me feel. Seeing the cover had me interested but the summary really grabbed my attention. After reading it, I knew that I had to give it a shot. Debut novels are tough. The author is putting something into the world without any idea how the public will react. Well, I will tell you how you will react to this particular story, you will enjoy it! I really did take pleasure in reading this. I am glad that I did not pass on participating in this blog tour.
What I Liked:
Plot: I enjoyed that I was kept on the edge of my seat, not knowing what would happen next. The multiple POV was a good touch to this novel. I found myself wanting to yell at my book in warning, much like people do at TVs during horror films. There is not much worldbuilding that needed to be done considering it takes place in modern times.
Science: If you know me, then you know how much of a science nerd I am. I absolutely loved the detailed science information given here. I could follow along and know exactly what was being discussed. It makes it seem all the more real when concepts tie into those already in practice within our scientific community.
Love Vs. Lust: I loved the little speech Stuart gives about love and lust. They both have a place and purpose in our lives. Seriously, make sure you read this part because it is very well written.
What I Did Not Like:
Characters: I loved some of the characters(Dr. Milton, Stuart), but felt disconnected from others. I am unsure why I was unable to fully connect with some such as Lin. I just did not feel invested in them at all. It could simply be because I enjoyed some of the other characters so much that the rest seemed…meh.
Final Thoughts:
For a debut novel, this was fantastic. The story pulls you in, making your hair stand up in excitement and wonder while you wait to discover what happens next. There are some issues I had with some small spelling errors, we are all human though right? It was not enough for me to reduce my rating. I thought this was well written, with a voice of purpose. D.S. Smith knew exactly where he wanted to take the reader and did it. He took me on a journey to a strange new place and back, filled with a myriad of emotions along the way.
February 23, 2019
When do we get a sequel?! I really enjoyed this read - it was a real page turner. Very impressive mix of science and fantasy, i’ll be keeping a look out for a second book :)
August 8, 2019
When one thinks of science fiction, it is expected one of two things, imagining the impossible or improbable, or imagining a reality that may seem possibly, with low probability. Unparalleled gave me both. The start of this this story was not only a lure for my curiosity, but it was also not too straight forward about jumping to the point immediately. Some may like that, some won't. The main character, Stuart, isn't the most observant person, which seems to suit him.
The suspense in this story was nerve racking, and I loved that. Many distractions thrown at Stuart, many obstacles. Him meeting the doctor was a great great add on. That character (the doctor) has to be one of the greatest I've read in a while. Great use of plot twists, making the story somewhat unpredictable, with amazing characters.
Though I enjoyed this book greatly, there are things I believe would be best if it was added. There were many scenes where I wish it was stretched more, from the ending, the David operation, the confusion of Stuart's character, and a few more.
The authors writing style was different to me, I think (to me) it seems grammatically rushed, however, I think it made the story somewhat better.
Lastly, I'd like to express my likeness of the characters, and the author's amazing skill of making them seem like they were real people, living in real distress, and real battle. The science in this was very real and possible. Not many writers can do that. I highly recommend this story to science fiction fans, as well as non-science fiction fans.
The suspense in this story was nerve racking, and I loved that. Many distractions thrown at Stuart, many obstacles. Him meeting the doctor was a great great add on. That character (the doctor) has to be one of the greatest I've read in a while. Great use of plot twists, making the story somewhat unpredictable, with amazing characters.
Though I enjoyed this book greatly, there are things I believe would be best if it was added. There were many scenes where I wish it was stretched more, from the ending, the David operation, the confusion of Stuart's character, and a few more.
The authors writing style was different to me, I think (to me) it seems grammatically rushed, however, I think it made the story somewhat better.
Lastly, I'd like to express my likeness of the characters, and the author's amazing skill of making them seem like they were real people, living in real distress, and real battle. The science in this was very real and possible. Not many writers can do that. I highly recommend this story to science fiction fans, as well as non-science fiction fans.
June 3, 2019
This book is a thrilling science fiction novel that makes you question sanity right along with the main character, Stuart Milton. Emotions in this book run high as Stuart strives to solve the mystery of his missing wife and why no one seems to believe him. I found this to be a gripping tale. Author D. S. Smith pulled me into this book with the mysteries and conspiracies that abound. They are also an exceptional writer, which makes this book that much harder to put down once you have started. I really enjoy reading sci-fi, and this book felt unique in the genre in a way that kept me engaged and guessing on what would happen next. I would definitely recommend checking this book out.
February 5, 2019
Clever idea but drags a bit and no real sense of ending, or even a beginning at the end (if you see what I mean).
March 31, 2019
An excellent read! Full credit to the author. Unparalleled took me on a journey from start to finish, I simply could not put the book down. It was a riveting tale filled with suspense and a refreshing style of writing. I don't want to say too much to hamper any readers experience, but what i will say is I really do hope there is a sequel to follow soon! Netflix if you're reading... Pick this up ASAP!!
June 3, 2019
How would you feel to know that you are this person and everyone around you is telling you something different.It's like you have lost your marbles.Stuart is living with frustration,being misunderstood,confusion,you name it.He doesn't give up though and eventually gets what he wants,not without distractions and helplessness though.
What a great book!!
What a great book!!
June 15, 2019
A well written sci fi with a twist of thriller. It tell a story of Stuart Milton waking up at different home and just to realize his wife is not around. And his brother is telling him a different stories. It brought a confusion to him and while in his search of his identity. He learned the reality he is in so much different than what he told Dr Carson and his brother, Dave. Then the twist coming when he being contact by Prof. John Humprey.
A great page turner, and the element of suspense getting you on the edge. The plot is beautifully written, even some chapter a bit draggy but still giving a sense to a storyline. A great read for a fan of sci fi or thriller reader as this two element mix very well to the story.
A great page turner, and the element of suspense getting you on the edge. The plot is beautifully written, even some chapter a bit draggy but still giving a sense to a storyline. A great read for a fan of sci fi or thriller reader as this two element mix very well to the story.
July 29, 2019
'Unparalleled' by D.S. Smith is a great sci-fi thriller that is full of unexpected plot twists, well-developed characters, and action. It follows protagonist Stuart Milton, who wakes up one morning in the wrong house and his pregnant wife Lauren is missing, whom those close to him insist never existed. Stuart is just one of a number of people who awake in a world similar to their own, but not the same. Have these people all just lost their minds, or is there something much bigger at play? Something that could put the lives of Stuart and many others at risk. Get ready for astonishing new technology, shady conspiracy, plenty of betrayals, and a man who will stop at nothing to get his wife back. A real page-turner that kept me guessing right up to the very end.
May 26, 2020
I’m not usually a science fiction fan but made exception with this book after reading the prologue and getting hooked. The book is incredibly well written it makes it easy to get drawn into the story. The story itself is well thought out and the development of the plot is captivating. I really enjoyed all the twists and I’m so pleased I read this book. I will certainly be keeping an eye out for more from D.S. Smith and was amazed, based on the quality of the writing and story telling, that this is his first book.
July 30, 2019
This is a pretty neat take on parallel worlds and our role in them. Smith starts strong and hooks us in a way we don’t see with many new authors. Smith’s hunger for a good story paid off, and the plot by far outshines many ideas we see from new authors. This is my first time reading this author, and it appears to be his first book. My only gripe is that though the writing is good, but it does feel like a first novel and the style could be cleaned up a bit.
Now this novel starts off with an attention-grabbing prologue, one that really thrusts us into the first chapter. We start with Stuart (our main character) being thrown right into his adventure full of twists and turns and out of his own timeline frantic about his place, Lauren, and just as confused as his brother. I felt right alongside Stuart as he tried figuring his place out, telling his story in a world where no one believes him, and scrambling to survive and stay ahead of those with more clout than him. This book is definitely worth the read, I’d recommend it to anyone. I look forward to seeing Smith hone his craft and put out more great stories.
Now this novel starts off with an attention-grabbing prologue, one that really thrusts us into the first chapter. We start with Stuart (our main character) being thrown right into his adventure full of twists and turns and out of his own timeline frantic about his place, Lauren, and just as confused as his brother. I felt right alongside Stuart as he tried figuring his place out, telling his story in a world where no one believes him, and scrambling to survive and stay ahead of those with more clout than him. This book is definitely worth the read, I’d recommend it to anyone. I look forward to seeing Smith hone his craft and put out more great stories.
August 10, 2020
Oh man, there is just so much to say here.
First off, the typos. I spotted a typo very early on, and it was a little jarring. I could not recall the last time I had seen a typo in a professionally written book. But to err is human, so I forgived and moved on.
And then I spotted another typo. Or was it really a typo? The author had, up to this point, already used some correct but unusual sentence structures and vocabulary here and there, so it may have just been that. Ok, moving on once more.
The first half of the book (and I really do mean half) was spent establishing the setting and premise, with very little plot development. Half of that half followed the main character as he floundered around trying to make sense of his predicament, and, I felt, taking a little too long to do so. Interleaved was the other half of that half which described, in great detail, other characters in similar predicaments. Furthermore, the writing style was very verbose, with a lot of words spent on describing mundane actions.
Apparently, this was already a dealbreaker for some other reviewers. As for me, I felt that the writing had been pretty good up to this point (apart from the typos), and that though the scenes and verbiage could be safely deleted without affecting the plot, they also served to humanise the characters.
So far, so good, we're looking at a 4-star story, with a hopeful shot at 5-stars.
Next came the explanation scene. Now, science fiction is still fiction, and some creative license has to be granted. Sometimes, a piece of science fiction is realistic and could really happen with technological advances. And sometimes, more liberties are taken. In this story, so many liberties were taken that it might as well be magic. And yet, a lot of words, many technical, were spent on explaining the science behind the premise (but not making much sense to a scientifically inclined reader). Exacerbating that is the unclear and haphazard delivery. Then again, we've all met scientists who weren't very good at explaining things, and after all, science fiction is still fiction. So I handwaved all these away. It's just magic.
But alas, here's where the honeymoon ended. Typos became frequent:
"But that isn't were it ends is it?"
"sending a ripple of fear through is body."
"asked the group were she and Stuart could go"
"Let's hope the professor's team are ready."
Director Zhang typoed as Director Zang
"Has he did so, a man got out of the driver's side and walked over"
and so on.
At first, I took a perverse pleasure in trying to spot and document all the typos. But as the list grew longer and longer, I gave up. The problems were not just limited to typos either. The author suddenly seemed to develop a hatred for commas, and during one dialogue scene, many sentences had to end with the listener's name:
"Do you believe in God Catherine?"
"I believe there must be more to our existence than just chance Stuart. ..."
"I'm going home with it, Catherine. ..." (A comma!)
"That's good to hear Stuart, ..."
"Thanks for all your help Catherine. ..."
"Well, I'm not sure it will ever be over Stuart. ..."
and so on.
On the whole, the writing seemed to have lost its shine, and the verbosity that was previously humanising now became grating. Suddenly, we're looking at a 3-star story, and hoping it doesn't drop to 2-stars. Perhaps at this point, some editor had so many disagreements with the author that he just gave up outright. Or perhaps some revert occurred and a half-polished draft got sent out. Or perhaps the author was just on a tight deadline. Never mind, let's move on from the speculations.
So far, the story felt like a thriller, with a slow but humanising first half. Now comes a feeble attempt at contemplating the consequences of thescience-fictional magical technology. Nope, end of attempt, it turns out that this is not that kind of story.
We now enter the final third of the story, with lots and lots of writing, describing things people say and do that we already knew they were going to say and do, with absolutely no plot development at all. I guess this isn't really a thriller after all. I don't know what kind of story this is anymore. Sigh.
Maybe the author heard me sigh, because the final chapters of the story were full of twists and turns, though mainly because
I really can't believe this book got a 91% 4/5-star rating. I feel so cheated.
First off, the typos. I spotted a typo very early on, and it was a little jarring. I could not recall the last time I had seen a typo in a professionally written book. But to err is human, so I forgived and moved on.
And then I spotted another typo. Or was it really a typo? The author had, up to this point, already used some correct but unusual sentence structures and vocabulary here and there, so it may have just been that. Ok, moving on once more.
The first half of the book (and I really do mean half) was spent establishing the setting and premise, with very little plot development. Half of that half followed the main character as he floundered around trying to make sense of his predicament, and, I felt, taking a little too long to do so. Interleaved was the other half of that half which described, in great detail, other characters in similar predicaments. Furthermore, the writing style was very verbose, with a lot of words spent on describing mundane actions.
Apparently, this was already a dealbreaker for some other reviewers. As for me, I felt that the writing had been pretty good up to this point (apart from the typos), and that though the scenes and verbiage could be safely deleted without affecting the plot, they also served to humanise the characters.
So far, so good, we're looking at a 4-star story, with a hopeful shot at 5-stars.
Next came the explanation scene. Now, science fiction is still fiction, and some creative license has to be granted. Sometimes, a piece of science fiction is realistic and could really happen with technological advances. And sometimes, more liberties are taken. In this story, so many liberties were taken that it might as well be magic. And yet, a lot of words, many technical, were spent on explaining the science behind the premise (but not making much sense to a scientifically inclined reader). Exacerbating that is the unclear and haphazard delivery. Then again, we've all met scientists who weren't very good at explaining things, and after all, science fiction is still fiction. So I handwaved all these away. It's just magic.
But alas, here's where the honeymoon ended. Typos became frequent:
"But that isn't were it ends is it?"
"sending a ripple of fear through is body."
"asked the group were she and Stuart could go"
"Let's hope the professor's team are ready."
Director Zhang typoed as Director Zang
"Has he did so, a man got out of the driver's side and walked over"
and so on.
At first, I took a perverse pleasure in trying to spot and document all the typos. But as the list grew longer and longer, I gave up. The problems were not just limited to typos either. The author suddenly seemed to develop a hatred for commas, and during one dialogue scene, many sentences had to end with the listener's name:
"Do you believe in God Catherine?"
"I believe there must be more to our existence than just chance Stuart. ..."
"I'm going home with it, Catherine. ..." (A comma!)
"That's good to hear Stuart, ..."
"Thanks for all your help Catherine. ..."
"Well, I'm not sure it will ever be over Stuart. ..."
and so on.
On the whole, the writing seemed to have lost its shine, and the verbosity that was previously humanising now became grating. Suddenly, we're looking at a 3-star story, and hoping it doesn't drop to 2-stars. Perhaps at this point, some editor had so many disagreements with the author that he just gave up outright. Or perhaps some revert occurred and a half-polished draft got sent out. Or perhaps the author was just on a tight deadline. Never mind, let's move on from the speculations.
So far, the story felt like a thriller, with a slow but humanising first half. Now comes a feeble attempt at contemplating the consequences of the
We now enter the final third of the story, with lots and lots of writing, describing things people say and do that we already knew they were going to say and do, with absolutely no plot development at all. I guess this isn't really a thriller after all. I don't know what kind of story this is anymore. Sigh.
Maybe the author heard me sigh, because the final chapters of the story were full of twists and turns, though mainly because
I really can't believe this book got a 91% 4/5-star rating. I feel so cheated.
December 16, 2018
I really like this type of sci-fi involving parallel universe travel and this one was really entertaining. I can only hope there will be more from the author, and would be delighted if there would be a sequel to this!
May 29, 2019
The book is exceptionally amazing. The more you turn the page.... the more you will be curious... The plot is amazing!
Never had a page the made me bored.... and when it comes to the end.. I want more!!! Hoping for a sequel for this book .
Never had a page the made me bored.... and when it comes to the end.. I want more!!! Hoping for a sequel for this book .
July 2, 2019
Blasted me away! From the very start of the book, I felt there had to be something behind it. And what looks impossible change to the huge adventure of time and space.
Characters were professionally made up and their behaviour matched reaction to a specific situation just as they were real humons. I fell in love with brother dynamics and how they coped with the realization of parallelism. It was awesome reading, especially thanks to the very detailed description of procedures Stuart had to endure to reach his home (spoiler, readers, spoiler).
The Asian beauty was a surprise to me and most of the time I asked author internally to kill her finally. But it seems assassins survives everything. Even a shooting.
The ending is a damn cliffhanger, but let's hope Mr Smith will give us a second book to contemplate about (I wanna know how Stuart ended up, pweease).
Totally recommend reading to everyone who is interested in mysteries of the universe, time and space. Awesome journey.
Characters were professionally made up and their behaviour matched reaction to a specific situation just as they were real humons. I fell in love with brother dynamics and how they coped with the realization of parallelism. It was awesome reading, especially thanks to the very detailed description of procedures Stuart had to endure to reach his home (spoiler, readers, spoiler).
The Asian beauty was a surprise to me and most of the time I asked author internally to kill her finally. But it seems assassins survives everything. Even a shooting.
The ending is a damn cliffhanger, but let's hope Mr Smith will give us a second book to contemplate about (I wanna know how Stuart ended up, pweease).
Totally recommend reading to everyone who is interested in mysteries of the universe, time and space. Awesome journey.
August 26, 2018
Clever and intriguing plot, well researched with a good literary style. The story moves along at a fast pace, taking the reader along as part of the action. Thoroughly enjoyed the book and a great first novel from this author.
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