Story: An alien sphere is heading toward the Earth - and the only person who figured out what it is doing is a computer dude. There was so much telling instead of showing (he said, she said, he said, he did, she did.) that the writing became a chore to follow. I'm not a martial person and am hardly jingoistic - but the repeated bludgeoning of the 'military screw everything up because they are stupid and utterly dogmatic' points became tiresome. But it was the over-the-top 'military are eeeeeevil' messages that really had me rolling my eyes. Everyone talked liked computers simulating a person ironically, the aliens sounded too much like a person. There was just so much cliche and flat characterizations trying desperately to support a simplistic first contact sci fi. Roughly around the half way point, I stopped the Audible version in disgust. I liked if well enough, but was not in my top 25. It was a decent listen, but didn't blow me away like it evidently did for other people.

The reviews I read were alot more effusive than what I experienced. It is clearly the beginning of a series, and the story does need conclusion. What do you think the narrator could have done better?ĭo you think The Gift needs a follow-up book? Why or why not? Thus, a neater ending would have been desirable. in the context of the amount of dedication we all put in to commit to the story. It is clearly the beginning of a series, and as such the ending is rather open ended, esp.

How would you have changed the story to make it more enjoyable? Again, not enough to preclude giving him another try.

I certainly would not preclude him from my list! Jeff Cummings.sometimes comes across as trying too hard, but on balance a good performance with some pretty technical, or complex, dialogue. He has good chops and technical knowledge, and has alot of potential in this category of fiction. Would you try another book from Dave Donovan and/or Jeff Cummings?ĭave Donovan.I would give it a try.

The gift dave donovan