Book reviews

Nerves
Lester Del Rey Book Review

Read a book review online (click here to search reviews)
Books Movies  
Sci-Fi/Fantasy Mystery/Thriller Literature Romance Biography Video
Lester Del Rey Books
New book search
Lester Del Rey Message Board
Get more information about this book
Plot Summary of Nerves
"National Atomics is trying to develop a heavy isotope to use for clearing boll weevils from farmland in order to get the help of a politician in preventing congressional action to move atomic plants at least fifty miles away from cities. Their engineer, Jorgenson, has an untested process which gets out of control when he begins to implement it, causing a horrific atomic accident threatening to become even a worse disaster be producing the dreaded Mahler's Isotope. Jorgenson, crazed with his own importance is hurt in the accident and it is up to the company medic, Doc Ferrel and the rest of his medical team to save him so that pehaps he can control the atomic reaction and prevent disaster."
Jack Goodstein, Resident Scholar



Review Analysis of Nerves
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 - 30%
Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 30%
Descript. of society, phenomena (tech), places - 30%




Tone of book - suspenseful (sophisticated fear)
FANTASY or SCIENCE FICTION? - science fiction story
Explore/1st contact/ enviro story Yes
Plotlets: - preventing an ecological disaster
Stealing/recovering/destroying - power source
Inner Struggle Yes
Plotlet: - mental illness/nutsophrenia
Is this an adult or child's book? - Adult or Young Adult Book

Main Character
Identity: - Male
Profession/status: - doctor
Age: - 40's-50's
How sensitive is this character? - sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor - Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence - Very much smarter than other characters

Main Adversary
Identity: - Male
Age: - 40's-50's
Profession/status: - scientist
Eccentric: Yes - mentally ill - emotionally unstable
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in: - a little/some
How sensitive is this character? - mean, arrogant
Intelligence - Very much smarter than other characters

Setting
Earth setting: - 20th century
Takes place on Earth? Yes

Style
Person? - mostly 3rd
Accounts of torture and death? - explicit references to deaths
scientific jargon? (SF only) - a significant amount of technical jargon
How much dialogue? - roughly even amounts of descript and dialog
Most similar books to Nerves
Cloud of Chaos Planet of Light by Blanche F. Lord
A Season for Slaughter by David Gerrold
The Kraken Wakes by John Wyndham
Infusion by Clint Smith
Cradle of Saturn by James P. Hogan


Click here for more information about this book


Lester Del Rey Resident Scholar Profiles

TOP SCHOLAR:
  
Jack Goodstein  

SCHOLARS:


Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s).
Three ways to search for Science Fiction books!

1) One-click plot searches! Simply click on a plot or subplot below!

Animal Story

Clones

Coming of age

Cultural problems, alien culture

Explore/1st contact/ enviro story

Family relations

GIANT monster(s)

Horror story?

Inner Struggle

Lifeform altered?

Mental/magical powers focus

Parody

Political power play

Religious overtones?

Repressive society story

Robots, Computers, VR

Romance

Spying & Investigations

Tech./$$$/Info hunt

Time Travel story?

Training/Apprent.

War or Invasion



or 2) Simple lookup
(title or author)

or
3) Even more search options available with a Detailed Booksearch (click here)

Use our site!
17 FREE Sci-Fi Ebooks!
FREE "How to be happy" Ebook!
Feedback


Most recent discussions:

General Book Talk
Book writing discussion
Off-topic message board
James Patterson 12:08:13 PM
George W. Bush 2:32:02 AM
Anonymous 2:03:39 AM
Erin Hunters 9:00:01 PM
Betty Mahmoody 6:00:22 PM
Judith McNaught 11:55:44 AM
Iris Johansen 9:03:43 PM
Norah Lofts 1:11:37 PM
Jane Rubino 9:32:45 AM
Rabbi Dr. Abraham Twersky 11:28:51 PM
Faye Kellerman 12:37:41 AM
LaVyrle Spencer 7:25:23 PM
Robert James Waller 8:30:15 PM
Suzanne Weyn 12:50:03 AM
Deric Longden 2:54:11 PM
Wilma Counts 1:23:32 PM
Kin Platt 12:58:29 AM
Lilian Jackson Braun 10:05:52 PM
G.A. McKevett 10:03:31 PM
David Williams 10:03:01 PM

More message boards