Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84; site topaz.ARPA Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!cbosgd!cbdkc1!desoto!packard!topaz!@RUTGERS.ARPA:KATZ@USC-ISIF.ARPA From: @RUTGERS.ARPA:KATZ@USC-ISIF.ARPA Newsgroups: net.sf-lovers Subject: Kevin O'Donnell Message-ID: <563@topaz.ARPA> Date: Fri, 8-Feb-85 23:31:52 EST Article-I.D.: topaz.563 Posted: Fri Feb 8 23:31:52 1985 Date-Received: Sun, 10-Feb-85 06:13:00 EST Sender: daemon@topaz.ARPA Organization: Rutgers Univ., New Brunswick, N.J. Lines: 69 From: Alan R. KatzKevin O'Donnell, a relativly new author, has come out with 5 books that I know of. I have read four of these and greatly enjoyed them. A short review of the four I read follows, I recommend them all. "LAVA", "REEFS", "CAVERNS" (3 books), The Journeys of McGill Feighan (Berkley) These 3 books cover the adventures of McGill Feighan, a Flinger (ie a teleporter) from birth. In the first book, he is swallowed by a giant gastropod creature supposedly sent by the Far Being Retzglaran. At age 5, he becomes a Flinger, and at 17 enters the Flinger academy, where he is trained in teleporting. Meanwhile, an intersteller crime Mafia type organization, called The Organization, decides to capture Feighan, mainly because they have dealt with the work of the Far Being Retzglaran before. Although no one seems to know anything about the Far Being, he usually causes lots of trouble for the Organization. The rest of the books deal with Feighans career as a Flinger, and his quest to find the Far Being to find out why he was swallowed by the Gastropod, and what his life is all about. The series is fairly humorous, but with a serious plot line. It is pretty entertainting. I especially liked the teleporting aspects (there really don't seem to really be very many teleport stories around). "ORA:CLE" (Berkley) ORA:CLE stands for Opinions, Research, Advice: Computer Linked Experts. If you want information, and are willing to pay, ORA:CLE can help with its network of Experts, linked by computer (through an implant allowing direct contact with the brain). The story centers around Ale Elatey, a CLE on Oriental History, who is almost murdered more than once. It turns out that many of the CLE's have died under mysterious circumstances. Meanwhile (the book takes place 100 years from now) in this future history, the Dacs, huge winged creatures, have invaded the Earth. We do not have the power to stop them, but they have not succeeded yet either. There is currently a ceasefire in effect, but the Dacs fly around and attack anyone out in the open. Thus people have "Dac Alarms" which alert you of approaching Dacs and warn you to get indoors. standard phrase used is "Do be careful" (as in the news service notice: "This update has been provided as a public service by all data management corporations participating in NEWSBANK/MC....To see the headlines of the day's other news stories, simply scroll your screen up. Thank you, and do be careful.") Anyway the background of the story, with the Dac invasion, matter transmitters, Computer linked experts, etc. is very interesting. I thought the ending of the story was a little weak, but on the whole well worth reading. If you're looking for something new to read, try these. Thank you, and Do be Careful... Alan -------