- Paperback: 500 pages
- Publisher: Pan (3 Mar 2006)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0330441876
- ISBN-13: 978-0330441872
- Product Dimensions: 17.2 x 11 x 2.8 cm
- Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 476,265 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Description
Express
‘If you enjoy technology...the science behind...exploration and the search for ET life...The Cloud won’t let you down'
Express
'The Cloud is impressively researched and I tip my hat to Hammond’s imagination.’
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Readable yarn punctuated with politics and silly mistakes,
By
This review is from: The Cloud (Paperback)
** spoilers **
Whilst the notion of a space cloud threatening life as we know it is far from an original one (as with the previous reviewer, I too was reminded of several Star Trek plots), Hammond builds the sense of anticipation skillfully enough to maintain the reader's interest. The change in humankind's perception of what was initially seen as a benign message from another civilisation into a threat of unparalelled magnitude was cleverly handled and reflects the complexity of the whole SETI business; whether we are alone in the universe or not, either way the concept is mind-boggling (and terrifying!). So far so good! Perhaps I'm being over picky here but my enjoyment of this yarn was somewhat compromised by a series of silly mistakes in the text. Claims made about the velocity of the cloud on its approach to Earth and of the plans to launch a nuclear assault upon it whilst it is still well beyond the solar system, simply don't add up! Furthermore, Hammond seems to be very inconsistent about the Earth's population; on page 288 he claims that 10% of the world's population equates to ten million people (!), whereas some 60 pages later 95% of the Earth's population has become the more realistic "billions". You may also find that the politics grate a bit - cyberluddites triumphing over the big bad military wolf, whilst you play spot the similarity to other sci-fi novels (a clue: 2001 figures largely!). The Cloud is worth finishing though. I've certainly read worse than this.
3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars
Possibly the worst book I have ever read,
By
This review is from: The Cloud (Paperback)
I'm not sure there's much more to be said. If this had been an 800 page book with decent development of the storyline it would have been perhaps a 3 or a 4, with a certain allowance for some truly horrendous plot holes, holes so big that you could drive a Eurostar train all the way from London to Paris through it. As it is, the whole story is so rushed that inconsistencies in the plot and the stupidity of the characters is impossible to ignore.
I really, really, really, hope this author never gets another book published unless he takes a course in creative writing from someone. Anyone! In fact, is it possible to get my money back and why can't I give this 0 stars?
4.0 out of 5 stars
Exciting and fresh sci-fi,
By
This review is from: The Cloud (Paperback)
The Cloud is original in concept. Beyond that however, The Cloud is a 1950's type sci-fi novel about mankind's xenophobia, barbaric approach to dominance and ultimately a reflection of what may be our place in the universe. The plot simply revolves around potential alien contact and the appearance of a giant space cloud which is heading for Earth (and will strip the Earth of it's atmosphere, and possibly all of it's life). Hammond has no fear about where his book may take the reader. It's very cleverly woven, with enough characters to ensure reality, and enough diversity in suspense and action to keep the reader glued. Chapters are interspersed with tabloid headlines to keep the b-movie genre in place, but in reality this book is too smart to be a b-movie. Crichton-esque in it's approach at times, The Cloud is a fast paced techno-thriller which is refreshing original. Definitely worth a read, although the end lacks somewhat in it's punch.
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