Great character development and a believable plotline
924956
Despite the author skipping the details of how the country was invaded without warning and moving quickly to after the event, theis book is great and draws you into it with believable plotlines and characters.

Many readers from outside Australia or NZ may not understand the underlying theme of constant resistance, but I can assure them that it would be there and it is described well in this book.

I read this book as fast as I could, if it had developed the pre invasion scenario better it would have got 5 stars
253661
This was a fun read, one that drew me in as it went on. The repeated buildup and release of suspense was great.  The author draws a detailed and easily believeable story, and yet fast paced enough, both with the engaging characters and their interactions but also with the science, the technology. The whole thing seemed very real and quite realistic even though set a couple of hundred years into the future.  I do like that while the main hero is a woman there was a balance between female and male heroes. Have already picked up the second volume, and hope the third comes out without delay.
2866334
I enjoyed the story and was impressed with how believable the character development was. I'll read more by this author!
2010275
Decent character development, GREAT plot and ending.
1895563
Excellent character development. I am currently reading the sequel and I have added this author to my list to follow. Recommended for those ready to spend a little time immersed in an interesting, positive  and enjoyable story for a change. Well written  with people (human and other sapients) and situations that actually feel realistic.
2725897
There is a lot to like about this novel; well drawn characters, believable dialogue, an interesting setting, and a captivating story-line.  I am well into the second book in the series.
2129838
Engaging story and interesting and believable characters.  I like the plot and the legal moral dilemmas that occur along the way.  Great first novel for this author.  I look forward to his next novel.
939570
Loved the characters and believable plot. Can't wait for the sequel. Chose 3 stars only because there is room for improvement, but an enjoyable read.
235785
An interesting plot centred on a rich wastrel from a well-to-do family, who in the end sort of comes 'good'. There are two very powerful male characters in this book and neither of them are the failing gambler that is at the centre of this story. One is his father, and the other a preacher of dubious reputation. There is a strong female role as well.
The book reads well and is in the main well edited. The plot is believable, unlike many thrillers, with all of the individual elements pieced together from behavioural patterns that really do regularly pop-up in the real world. There are some nice twists that kept refreshing the book without over stretching one's credulity.
The book's strongest elements, the difficult relationship between a highly successful father and a son that at thirty still hasn't fully tested his potential, the shenanigans of the evangelical preacher, and the preacher's daughter that seems to like existing on the seedy side of life, might be in a sense formalistic, but believable characters have to be, don't they? They certainly aren't ridiculous inventions.
The story dynamics lack some of the power of Waldner's first book, 'Peripheral Involvement', but I preferred the first person writing that was employed here. We need to get inside James's head in as personal way as possible, we need to understand why he was so easily manipulated, and that is perhaps only possible by engaging through his mind and his eyes. The third person style would have been far too remote for us to build any genuine sympathy for this patsy. I was sort of left doubting that James's father would have trusted a dime given past history between the two, but he did, and thinking about it as I read on, the father's assumed feelings of guilt made that element seem believable.
So, so far, two great five star reads, from Waldner, with I assume plenty more to come. If you like believable thriller fiction then these books might well be your cup of tea as they are mine.
3883546
This is a great read. The character development was well-done, and Semple builds reader compassion for and investment in the protagonist and other characters.
4752386
This book is set in a grim future where America is divided along political lines with no clear path to reconciliation. Given the current political climate, I found Caplin's fictional future both compelling in its potential possibility and foreboding. Caplin does an incredible job of constructing his world in a captivating way with complex and likable characters (especially the snarky Corrage).

For action fans there is plenty to like, and the fast pace masterfully moves the story along. There are surprising twists, which isn't easy to pull off these days, and the plot is one that would make Dan Brown proud. The main character is quite dynamic and relatable, and although she is young, she makes surprisingly sophisticated decisions.

This is the second book in a series, and unfortunately I had not read the first book prior to this one (my own fault.) There were plenty of references to the first book, which didn't stop me from enjoying the second, but after enjoying this book so much I had to go back and get the first one too.

I highly recommend this book.
2176331
The author does a great job with character development, and with defining relationships.
781268
The author is excellent at taking existing technology and wrapping it in a story that is really believable.

The technology is dead on and the character development is metered out as needed.  A really good read.
4078259
I once read an interview with Peter F. Hamilton (author of the Night's Dawn Trilogy) where he stated that the trick to writing good science fiction was including enough detail to make the story plausible, but not enough that it evoked serious criticism from the reader.  "The devil", the common wisdom goes, "is in the details."
In "The Chronoliths", Robert Charles Wilson demonstrates an understanding of that balance.  Moreover, he has artfully wrapped it in a refreshing plot and sprinkled it with characters that seem to be underappreciated by other reviewers who have written here.  The details surrounding the space-time concepts and exotic particle physics seem plausible enough for the near-future genre, but the crisp ideas that give this book strength lie not in the hard sciences, but in sociology.  Wilson firmly grasps one of the most fundamental concepts in sociology - the concept of reification.  As the chronoliths appear, marking sites where Kuin is victorious in battles 20 years into the future, the idea of reification emerges as the backdrop of the novel.  Though Kuin is unknown, posses no army or resources, he comes to be recognized as the unstoppable conqueror in the minds of people who begin seeking to join him - it is the monuments that created Kuin.  The central question becomes, "How is it that an idea that exists in the minds of people becomes external to them and coercive of them?"
Despite what some reviewers have submitted, I think Wilson demonstrates talent for character development; the problem is that he doesn't seem to favor these characters consistently.  Scott is undeniably developed, anyone can relate to his inconsistencies, his loyalties, his fears and his needs.  Sue - a respectable soul, heroic in action and personality - had all of the right ingredients for a great character, but these ingredients just didn't bake long enough.  Wilson is to be credited, however, in developing Sue as a gay character whose sexuality was no more remarkable than that of her straight counterparts - notable, if not deep.  Still, Wilson introduces literary devices which excuse these problems, even if the story does not completely recuperate.
The story is refreshing, strong in science and deftly leveraging concepts in social dynamics that sociologists and marketing executives will envy.  You will not be disappointed!
1174319
Great read and character development.
Look forward to next book
1288927
I thought this book was excellent. This genre is admittedly one of my favorites, so in order to ensure that didn't bias my opinion I decided to focus on the technical aspects of this book. I'd overall say it was very well done -- The plot proceeded at an even and believable pace accompanied by appropriate emotions, escalations, and character thought processes. Relationships are very conceivable and the dialogue is engaging. Characters are not static; they each have their own plausible personalities that I could imagine actually meeting. There were many parts of this book that also tugged at my heart, and the suspense / action scenes were fantastic. An overall great read!
4407078
The author has a well developed grasp of historical and technical details, making his alternative easily believable. Coupled with some great character development and he tells a great story!