Sliding Scales
Alan Dean Foster Book Review

Read a book review online (click here to search reviews)

Books

Movies

Sci-Fi/Fantasy

Mystery/Thriller

Literature

Romance

Biography

History

Alan Dean Foster Books	New book search	Alan Dean Foster Message Board
Get more information about this book

Plot Summary of Sliding Scales

"

Del Rey, Nov 2004, 24.95, 256 pp.
ISBN: 0345461568

Flinx was forced to leave the love of his life on New Riveria to recover from serious injuries while being pursued by the Order of the Null (end of the world fanatics) and is wanted by the Commonwealth authorities. He also needs to find an invisible weapons platform made by an extinct race which could detect what is coming from beyond the Great Emptiness. His ship's A.I. has the solution to erase the stress from Flinx's life, something he has never tried before. He goes on vacation.

His A.I recommends he goes to the neutral planet Jast where no Commonwealth authorities exist and the sentient inhabitants, the Vsses, resemble hopping mushrooms, but beings from the Aann Empire are also present. This reptilian species is bringing the planet under their control. An Aann guide accidentally knocks Flinx down a canyon and leaves him for dead.

The Tier of Sjaiinn, a native artisan group held in contempt by the Empire takes Flinx in to their compound. Since he lost his memory they take care of him. Meanwhile, someone is attacking Aann installations with plans to remove the species from the planet and the guide returns to kill Flinx.

Harriet Klausner

Crested sapwood supportable noradrenaline runout.

"
Harriet Klausner, Resident Scholar

Review Analysis of Sliding Scales

Our unique search engine provides a wealth of detail about books by breaking them down into many different literary elements, all of which are searchable (click here).

Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot

Composition of Book
Descript. of chases or violence - 10%
planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 40%
Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 40%
Descript. of society, phenomena (tech), places - 10%

Tone of book - suspenseful (sophisticated fear)
FANTASY or SCIENCE FICTION? - science fiction story
Spying & Investigations Yes
What is main char. doing? - uncovering amnesiatic memories
Is this an adult or child's book? - Adult or Young Adult Book
Cultural problems, alien culture Yes
Culture clash- - one culture tries to impose its culture on another group

Main Character
Identity: - Male
Profession/status: - fighter (air/space) pilot
Age: - 20's-30's
How sensitive is this character? - middling sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor - Strong but gentle sense of humor
Intelligence - Genius
Physique - very athletic

Main Adversary
Identity: - Male
Age: - 40's-50's
Profession/status: - government investigator
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in: - a moderate amount
How sensitive is this character? - hard edged
Sense of humor - Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence - Smarter than most other characters
Physique - very athletic

Setting
A substantial portion of this book takes place on a non-Earth planetary body: - humans in a futuristic society
Planet outside solar system? Yes

Style
Person? - mostly 3rd
Accounts of torture and death? - generic/vague references to death/punishment
scientific jargon? (SF only) - some scientific explanation
How much dialogue? - significantly more dialog than descript

Most similar books to Sliding Scales
Dark Light by Ken MacLeod
Buried Deep by Kristine Kathryn Rusch
The Ordinary by Jim Grimsley
Absolution Gap by Alastair Reynolds
Heaven by Ian Stewart & Jack Cohen

Click here for more information about this book

Alan Dean Foster Resident Scholar Profiles

TOP SCHOLAR:

Will B.

SCHOLARS: Michelle Noah anthony mccurry Neil Morey

Search for another book

Alan Dean Foster

Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s).

Use our site!
Feedback
About us
Bribe your congressman!
Rudy Giuliani

Most recent discussions:

General Book Talk
Book writing discussion
Off-topic message board
Online Dating Advice
George W. Bush 1:34:25 PM
Barack Obama 11:48:56 AM
Robert Stanek 10:10:58 AM
Linda Berdoll 8:58:27 AM
Eoin Colfer 8:43:26 AM
Belinda Alexandra 11:19:28 PM
Jude Deveraux 10:13:55 PM
Dave Pelzer 10:00:24 PM
Southampton Row 8:57:32 PM
Suzanne Collins 6:10:35 PM
David Clement-Davies 6:05:27 PM
Aline Countess of Romanones 4:42:34 PM
Billy Hills and Dale Hudson 3:42:20 PM
Ivan Doig 1:56:45 PM
Anonymous 11:15:41 AM
Nancy E. Turner 10:11:29 AM
Kate Brian 7:46:48 AM
L.J. Smith 7:25:25 AM
T.C. Mitchell 7:04:04 AM
David R. Palmer 12:29:13 AM

More message boards

Sliding Scales Alan Dean Foster Book Review

Sliding Scales
Alan Dean Foster Book Review