Exchange (Dale Cozort)
Review: Exchange, Dale R. Cozort
Dale Cozort’s “Exchange” was really very enjoyable. Set to be publicly available for sale in early July 2010, I openly suggest this to sci-fi and alternate history fans. Do not get it in your head that it is either of these genre though… It is more fringe on both counts.
Background on the Exchange:
Exchange is set in modern standard time. It is neither history nor future. For unknown reasons, large tracts of land are transported to an alternate dimension version of Earth. In this alternate dimension, humans never made it through the evolutionary bottle neck. Evolution in general is completely unhinged. Giant bears, sabre tooths, and green monkeys rule the land.
In an ever increasing number of global events, humanity is able to predict an Exchange only three hours before they occur. They know that an event can last for between one and two weeks, but cannot predict the? reversal. As a result, they mobilize huge groups of personnel and equipment in the time allowed to stave off complications of contact with this alternate Earth.
The story:
The core of the story revolves around Sharon, forcibly volunteered into a government work party putting up fences during the exchange. She is the mother of an OCD and autistic daughter with a keen perception of things to come. After her home town is transported to the alternate Earth, she finds that her daughter has been kidnapped by her survivalist nut job ex-husband, bent on staying in the “new” anarchic world. Sharon needs to locate her daughter before the exchange reverses, trapping her and her daughter in a foreign hell with out society to back her.
my thoughts:
The book is a lot like Burrough’s Pellucidar series, but with out Tarzan to kick butt, take names and generally save the day. Instead, it is a single mother, a couple hand guns, a generally unhelpful military, and a big world full of very very bad things.
After making it through the whole book, I was really very attached to the concepts and story itself. The characters were lively, I cared how it all turned out, and as the final pages came to fruition, I full expected a sequel to be in process.
Instead, I received “the end”. There is nothing more disappointing to me than getting to the end of a book I enjoy greatly and finding the concrete statement “the end”. I am hopeful that this is something that only existed in the advance reading copy I was sent. This book deserves to have its answers explored and characters expanded on.
I will be anxiously watching the authors website for updates on an extension to the series.
- Pages: 252
- Publisher: Bytech Services (2010)
- ISBN-10: 0975431471
- ISBN-13: 978-0975431474
Uck! I hate it when books actually end with "the end", even if there's really no reason for them to continue. It's like, the cheesiest, most cliche way to finish up a novel.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Jason, for an insightful review. Interesting that you guys don't like "THE END". I'm sad to report that the book does indeed end with this phrase, which (on reflection) is a bit of cliche, but we'll keep your thoughts in mind for future revisions. I know Dale did not want to commit to a sequel or series though I'm open to the idea, so we'll see what happens.
ReplyDeleteCan I suggest there is a more annoying terminal phrase? To me, "to be continued..." is even more irritating, but it could just be me.
I'd say when the reader's biggest disappointment is reaching "The End," that's a pretty great book! Thanks for the review, and I'm looking forward to reading The Exchange.
ReplyDeleteagreed. even if there is no intent to continue a plotline, leave it open to interpretation. there is a finality to "The End". in a lot of ways, it feels like the tombstone of literature.
ReplyDeleteIf he does not write an additional book, he left it in a good spot. minor plot wrapped up.
ReplyDeletei hope he continues though. he already has fully fleshed out characters, a solidly built world to work in, and a significant number of sub plot lines that could be expanded on. essentially, all the hard work is already complete :)
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to be continued.. i fully agree. there are a large number of literary statements/phrases which bother me. i am not a language purist by any means, in fact, i bastardize portions of it as often as i can.
i consider 'to be continued' the equivalent of 'see spot run' writing styles.. it is spelled out for the readers who cant pick up the nuances of a story, or alternately, is used as a signal from writers who cannot WRITE the nuances others should be reading.
ok... i just reread what i wrote here.. i guess maybe i am a kind of purist. just one big complaining jerky purist :)
nicely voiced :)
ReplyDeleteglad you liked the review.. i look forward to reading 'rock paper tiger'.
i like the word play in the title btw.
rock paper tiger -vs- rock paper/paper tiger etc.. lots of room for interpretation there alone :)
On reflection, I agree with you guys. I think it is highly unlikely that any Stairway Press book will ever end with "The End" ever again. The reason we writers do this is because typing those words after a year or two of work is a very satisfying payoff. It feels good! However, I agree it is a cliche. I'll probably still type the words, but they will be deleted before the book sees print.
ReplyDeleteGood!
i like the way you think, ken.
ReplyDelete:)
thanks for joining the conversation!
Jason, can I talk you into posting your review at Amazon? Also, if you would like a dead tree version of the book, I will provide you with one. We genuinely appreciate your thoughtful comments.
ReplyDeletei can definitely do that, been meaning to start cross posting to Amazon as is.
ReplyDeletei would also VERY MUCH LOVE a dead tree copy. e-books are convenient, but you never beat pulp :)
the smell, texture, weight..
E-mail me a snail mail address and I'll ship a copy out.
ReplyDelete