After the shattering death of his beloved wife, aging baby-boomer Russell Walker had wanted only to hide from the world in the woods of British Co...
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Jan 28, 2012
Xenophon
rated it: 
I'm having trouble thinking of a way to describe this book without giving away too much of the storyline. One thing I can say, despite the title, I don't believe the characters face many hard choices. They face some incredibly painful choices, but those aren't quite the same thing.
As an example of what I mean that isn't an incident from the book, suppose one has a beloved pet that is dying in agony. What does one do? Surely the choice is painful, but is it difficult? The decisio More...
As an example of what I mean that isn't an incident from the book, suppose one has a beloved pet that is dying in agony. What does one do? Surely the choice is painful, but is it difficult? The decisio More...
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Jan 12, 2012
Jackie
rated it: 
The first book in this series was a little self-indulgent and a bit offhand - there wasn't a great deal of complexity to it, but a fun read. This one took it up a level to completely unbearable. Examples - when multiple characters, including a spy ransacking his house, take a break to praise the Mary-Sue main character's incredibly intelligent, fearless and straight-shooting political stances. The telepath who feels pain from encountering any human minds can tolerate the main character because h
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Jun 21, 2010
Kerry
rated it: 
I have always enjoyed Spider Robinson. As I began reading this book, however, some of his opinions annoyed me. He came across as didactic, which is okay if I agree with you, but not so much if I don't. And I don't agree with some of his opinions. But there was something of a story there, so I continued. The story got better and the preachiness died down. He did get back on his soapbox near the end of the novel, but some of the unexpected twists and turns in the plot more than made up for i
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Sep 29, 2009
Craig
rated it:
This is a sequel to Robinson's VERY BAD DEATHS, and while it contains many of the trademark themes and tropes that characterize the best of his work, it's not quite up to the level of the previous book. The bad-guy-turning-into-an-ally just isn't convincing, possibly because Robinson becomes somewhat overly pedantic and dogmatic about his political beliefs, much as his mentor, Heinlein, did in his latter years. Nonetheless, much of the current volume is a lot of fun, especially the flashback seq
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Jan 27, 2012
Bryan
rated it: 
Politics first...
This book is essentially a thinly veiled criticism of America's recent reactionary mindset, especially and specifically to the "very hard choices" that the US government has made post-911.
Written from a very liberal perspective, this book questions the right wing dogma used to justify decisions that make America anything but a shining beacon of hope to the rest of the world.
Homeland Security? What happened to the land of the free?
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This book is essentially a thinly veiled criticism of America's recent reactionary mindset, especially and specifically to the "very hard choices" that the US government has made post-911.
Written from a very liberal perspective, this book questions the right wing dogma used to justify decisions that make America anything but a shining beacon of hope to the rest of the world.
Homeland Security? What happened to the land of the free?
More...
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Apr 19, 2009
Melody
rated it:
Nicely done suspense/mystery with only a bit of SF thrown in. The plotting was strong, the characters believable and sympathetic. If you've read any other Robinson, you will recognize his tropes. He seems to have let go of some of the cleverness that was becoming, to my eyes anyway, tired in his last few books. I do wish his publishers would get him some new blurbs- these are the exact same ones that have been on his books since the 80s.
Worth a read if you are a fan.
Worth a read if you are a fan.
Dec 18, 2009
Cissa
rated it:
I wasn't quite as impressed by this one as by #1 in the series, but it was still a fun read, with some interesting political content toward the end. I would definitely read a #3 if one gets written; it ends with an excellent set-up for such a thing. Plus, it's nice sometimes to read about a protagonist who is not a beautiful, overly-fit 20-year-old chick with supernatural powers! (OK, I have a guilty love of such things...)
Nov 30, 2009
Joseph
rated it:
This book is a bit of a different turn from some of the earlier works of Spider, and is definitely his post-9/11 story in many ways (though actually about mid-way through the second term of the Bush era that the events are set in). The science fiction element is low-key but important to the story line, much of the rest is a wonderful mix.
It does dabble into the conspiracy side of the world, but does so without assumptions that readers are in-the-know.
It does dabble into the conspiracy side of the world, but does so without assumptions that readers are in-the-know.
Jan 22, 2012
Stefan
rated it:
‘Very Hard Choices’ was classic Spider Robinson: full of humor, witty dialogue and lifelike characters. The witty and hard-hitting commentary on social and political issues was entertaining and provocative. Plus, what is there not to like about a telepathic hermit having adventures with his cynical journalist friend on the Gulf Islands?
Aug 10, 2011
Not worth the price of admission. Its never a good sign when they have a burb from David Crosby promoting the book. He may be a fine singer and musician but I can't say much for his taste in literature. THe story was weak and unbelieveable.
Aug 10, 2011
A nice sequel to the original book. A continuation of the characters development and dealing with his situation. It allows us to watch him grow beyond the original book.
May 17, 2011
Yarrow
rated it:
Not the strongest Robinson novel out there by quite a lot, but engaging and funny as usual. A good read. Quick, lighthearted, fairly shallow.
Feb 02, 2010
Ron
rated it:
Interesting book. It has been awhile since I picked up Spider. Now I will have to go find the 1st Walker book.
Sep 10, 2009
Chris
rated it:
Interestingly, this book was much different than Very Bad Deaths, which it is a sequel to. VBD was an ultimately pointless consideration of evil. This one has more fear but less evil, and doesn't feel like a wasted examination of human feces (not human fecal matter).
Additionally, the protagonist is even more clearly Spider Robinson, and there's more of his (Spider's?) biography thrown in, which provides a bit more depth. More...
Additionally, the protagonist is even more clearly Spider Robinson, and there's more of his (Spider's?) biography thrown in, which provides a bit more depth. More...
Nov 10, 2010
Jack
rated it:
Not my favorite Spider Robinson book. Was difficult to get into as it was not always clear who was speaking. Not Spiders best work, but still had a good twist to it, which I enjoyed.
Oct 30, 2010
Richard
rated it:
This was not nearly as good as the first novel in the series, "Very Bad Deaths." When I read that book, it was as though Dean Koontz was back on his game and had improved his sense of humor. This was like a reunion episode of one of your favorite tv shows: it's great to see the gang back together, but something seems to be missing.
Jan 26, 2009
Harv
rated it: 
Typical Spider Robinson -- fantastic character development, impossible to put down until you finish it!
Jul 13, 2008
Lori
rated it:
He makes the improbable sound believable. Very good read, but not quite what I expected at the end.
Feb 12, 2012
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