How do y’all feel about his books? I’ve never read an author that was so inconsistent. I started with Dark Matter which I thought was an exciting plot but not very well written. Then I read Run which I loved and finished in one sitting because I was so into the story. Then I read Abandon and gave up halfway through because the writing was so bad I was cringing. I don’t know what to make of him.

  • Caravage@alien.topB
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    1
    ·
    1 year ago

    Did anyone else basically guess 95% the plot of Dark Matter in the first few pages?

  • planthelp_please@alien.topB
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    1
    ·
    1 year ago

    I like his stand alones so far! I’ve read both Recursion and Dark Matter - they’re basically for people who like both sci-fi and romance. I do have Upgrade sitting on my shelf since it came out (I actually preordered and just haven’t gotten around to). They’re pretty easy reads/somewhat light and fluffy sci-fi.

  • andyjoe24@alien.topB
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    1
    ·
    1 year ago

    I have read Dark Matter, Recursion and Upgrade. I like the plot idea of Dark Matter. It had a more interesting idea towards the end of the book which I felt could have been given more scope on the book. Also Recursion idea was great and I loved the it. Upgrade did not live up to my expectation. It was more like a typical action movie plot. I would read his next novel to decide if I would still keep in my to read list.

    • SillyMattFace@alien.topB
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      1
      ·
      1 year ago

      I found Upgrade disappointing after Dark Matter and Recursion.

      As you say, much more typical action movie feel. I also felt it failed to sell me on the MC or any of the other enhanced humans being geniuses. Other than listing the scientific names for things unnecessarily, they all acted pretty dumb.

    • jakerabz@alien.topB
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      1
      ·
      1 year ago

      I read those three books but in reverse order, and each one was better than the previous. Dark matter I could not put down and is definitely in my top 10 books of all time. But I agree with you that upgrade was good but not fantastic.

  • lyrasbookshelf@alien.topB
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    1
    ·
    1 year ago

    I really like all his newest sci-fi thrillers because they’re fast paced and packed with action. I do think they’re too male-centric, though.

  • PunkandCannonballer@alien.topB
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    1
    ·
    1 year ago

    I think he accidentally achieves success. I read Recursion and really liked it. Felt like all the concepts made sense and factored into the story really well. The characters were on the weak side but still entertaining.

    Then I read Dark Matter and I was almost insulted by how bad it was. The concepts didn’t make any sense and actively contradicted each other, and his writing of his female characters (and male characters in regard to how they treat the female characters) was legitimately gross.

    I figured an author who can hit fairly solidly in one attempt and miss completely on another isn’t someone I should put effort into reading, so I’ve only read those two books and it’s probably gonna stay that way.

  • marcsa@alien.topB
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    1
    ·
    1 year ago

    I’ve read most of his books. I liked Recursion and Dark Matter a lot, but what really stuck with me throughout the years was his Wayward Pines series (especially the first book, since it kinda went downhill after that). Probably because it was the first thing I’ve read by him, and the series with Matt Dillon had just aired, and I found the whole concept quite novel back then.

    • stefanos_paschalis@alien.topB
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      1
      ·
      1 year ago

      Not what I wanted to hear after reading Book 2 of Wayward Pines, I was hoping book 3 would be better after loving 1 and not really liking 2 as much.

  • terriaminute@alien.topB
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    1
    ·
    1 year ago

    I read the NetGalley ARC of Upgrade, and enjoyed it. Some irrelevant stuff could’ve been cut, and there’s a stupid omission of current tech in this near-future story, but overall I enjoyed it.

    The mistakes noted above, and a look at Dark Matter’s sample told me to take my win and be satisfied. He is inconsistent. That might have to do with a less than optimal editor or editing process, but regardless, I’m not inclined to read more of his work.

  • KiwiTheKitty@alien.topB
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    1
    ·
    1 year ago

    I DNFed both Recursion and Dark Matter. I’m not a fan and I won’t be giving his books any more chances.

  • NoisyCats@alien.topB
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    1
    ·
    1 year ago

    I liked Dark Matter, and Recursion for what they are, easy reading, interesting concepts. The writing isn’t anything special, and that’s OK. Upgrade was horrible though. It felt rushed and sloppy. I can imagine a publisher pushing for completion because of the topic and timing.

  • OppositeAdorable7142@alien.topB
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    1
    ·
    1 year ago

    I just ignore his older self published stuff. Everything from Wayward Pines on is very consistent and good. There’s a reason that older stuff never got traditionally published.

  • Pathogenesls@alien.topB
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    1
    ·
    1 year ago

    I thought Recursion was really good. Dark Matter was okay, but the paradoxical story got in the way, and the characters weren’t great.