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60th out of 212 books
—
197 voters
Into the Looking Glass (Looking Glass #1)
by
John Ringo
"When a 60 kiloton nuclear explosion destroys the University of Central Florida, terrorism is the first suspect. But terorrist don't generally leave doorways to another world in their wake. Or, rather, a generator of doorways to multiple other worlds." "With time of the essence, the Secretary of Defense scrounges up the nearest physicist with a high level security clearanc...more
Paperback, 416 pages
Published
March 27th 2007
by Baen
(first published 2005)
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Feb 02, 2009
Logan
rated it
2 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Donald Rumsfeld, Dick Cheney and George W.
Shelves:
scifi-fantasy
The next time I move, I'm going to remember to not stick all of my books at the rear of the moving truck so I'm not reduced to reading things like this.
Just for funsies, take a look at the avatars of everyone else who has reviewed this book. Notice anything? Yeah, 90% of them are older bearded white men. I think that most accurately describes Ringo's target audience. Ringo writes like a man with many axes to grind. Against intellectuals, against the French, against the Saudis, against universiti...more
Just for funsies, take a look at the avatars of everyone else who has reviewed this book. Notice anything? Yeah, 90% of them are older bearded white men. I think that most accurately describes Ringo's target audience. Ringo writes like a man with many axes to grind. Against intellectuals, against the French, against the Saudis, against universiti...more
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Aug 20, 2010
Mike (the Paladin)
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Shelves:
science-fiction,
military-science-fiction
First I know this book isn't great literature that will probably shape the world... and I know when some of us give high ratings to "science fiction" books there are those who sneer and assume we simply "aren't in their league" when it comes to "critical reading"
Okay. Just so you know...I'm not "real bothered" by that.
No apologies, I liked this book. It's full of action, has good characters, is plausible within it's own reality (and since we're discussing quantum physics somewhat here why talk...more
Okay. Just so you know...I'm not "real bothered" by that.
No apologies, I liked this book. It's full of action, has good characters, is plausible within it's own reality (and since we're discussing quantum physics somewhat here why talk...more
I love good science fiction. I can't call this good science fiction. Why? Perhaps it was the idea of the god-like neo-con physicist. Maybe it was the Americentric xenophobia. Then again, it could have been the constant vitriol the main characters express regarding the media or academia, or anybody who disagrees with his political values.
I like books that challenge the reader with different perspectives but this book doesn't challenge. It insults anybody who doesn't fall into step with the belief...more
I like books that challenge the reader with different perspectives but this book doesn't challenge. It insults anybody who doesn't fall into step with the belief...more
An experiment gone wrong opens a gate to another dimension. Pretty soon more gates start to open. Mayhem ensues as evil demonspawn aliens pour through some of the gates and try to colonize by exterminating those pesky humans. Hot shot physicist, renaissance man and generally cool guy Bill Weaver teams up with some Navy Seals to figure things out and contain the threat.
As can be expected with Ringo, there’s a lot of action, all of it good and exciting. However, the books does get bogged down in t...more
As can be expected with Ringo, there’s a lot of action, all of it good and exciting. However, the books does get bogged down in t...more
Into the Looking Glass by John Ringo is the first book in his Looking Glass series. When an accident in a physics lab at University of Central Florida causes a huge explosion, physicist William (Bill) Weaver and Navy SEAL Command Master Chief Robert Miller are sent in to investigate. They discover that an experiment in subatomic physics has produced a gateway to another world - and the gateways are spreading.
This is military science fiction novel. Ringo adds some humor along with the science (an...more
This is military science fiction novel. Ringo adds some humor along with the science (an...more
Never let it be said that I don't give people second chances. After my unhappiness with the story buzz-killing politics found when I read his The Tuloriad, I decided to try John Ringo, straight up, to see if another novel of his might have more of the good stuff and less of the thud and blunder.
And so I picked up Into the Looking Glass, a completely different series and world, and unlike the Tulorian, written without a co-author.
The set up and the basic scenario are interesting and clever: A hi...more
And so I picked up Into the Looking Glass, a completely different series and world, and unlike the Tulorian, written without a co-author.
The set up and the basic scenario are interesting and clever: A hi...more
John Ringo can do better. The plot McGuffin is nice, and provides a better introduction to the premise than most alien invasion books. However relying on another McGuffin to save the earth, and yet another to set up the sequel, is being lazy as an author. Did somebody plot themselves into a corner?
The touches of humour rescue the book from being a 1950's style bug eyed monster book. But even with this the entire cast has a two dimensional quality and the intrepid jack of all trades scientist who...more
The touches of humour rescue the book from being a 1950's style bug eyed monster book. But even with this the entire cast has a two dimensional quality and the intrepid jack of all trades scientist who...more
87 out of 100 for 2010
My first John Ringo novel; I'm trying to make my mind up about it. Although marketed as 'military SF,' the main character is a physicist/government contractor who's a poster child for jingoistic conservatism. However, the novel is funny as hell in many spots (rednecks hold off a horde of alien invaders when the Army can't), and I wound up, for the most part, caught up in the story line. Someone likened this novel to Tom Clancy because of the action, and, to some extent I se...more
My first John Ringo novel; I'm trying to make my mind up about it. Although marketed as 'military SF,' the main character is a physicist/government contractor who's a poster child for jingoistic conservatism. However, the novel is funny as hell in many spots (rednecks hold off a horde of alien invaders when the Army can't), and I wound up, for the most part, caught up in the story line. Someone likened this novel to Tom Clancy because of the action, and, to some extent I se...more
Two stars means "it was ok", and I'll give it that much.
What was interesting: the physics (muons, bosons, quarks, etc), instantaneous space travel to other places in this universe, instantaneous travel to places on Earth, the God(s) that exists in the non-space between bubbles of reality.
What was tiresome: Heroic military guys who know everything and can do anything and survive anything, and who always disparage the dirty forking hippies and tree huggers who are soooo wrong-minded and deceived....more
What was interesting: the physics (muons, bosons, quarks, etc), instantaneous space travel to other places in this universe, instantaneous travel to places on Earth, the God(s) that exists in the non-space between bubbles of reality.
What was tiresome: Heroic military guys who know everything and can do anything and survive anything, and who always disparage the dirty forking hippies and tree huggers who are soooo wrong-minded and deceived....more
All four books include excellent science, include explanations of bits the reader might not have gotten in school, and have the expected well written combat sequences. The author allows realistic casualties and damage. The characters have full personalities, not all likable. The aliens are actually alien and very very dangerous. If you enjoy space opera skip over the particle physics explanations for a great adventure. If you enjoy a fully integrated, scientifically rigorous, dangerous space voy...more
Another great start to a series by Ringo, along with Travis Taylor.
An experiment gone wrong destroys most of Orlando and opens a portal to
another world. It also spins off other portals that soon attract the kind
of attention that Earth wishes they wouldn't. The aliens use biotech and
hope to add the biomass of our planet, which they ruthlessly convert to
their own, to their Empire. A space scientist and a Navy SEAL are called
upon to combat the aliens, while Earth tries to bootstrap itself into...more
An experiment gone wrong destroys most of Orlando and opens a portal to
another world. It also spins off other portals that soon attract the kind
of attention that Earth wishes they wouldn't. The aliens use biotech and
hope to add the biomass of our planet, which they ruthlessly convert to
their own, to their Empire. A space scientist and a Navy SEAL are called
upon to combat the aliens, while Earth tries to bootstrap itself into...more
OK, I've read this before, but just recently picked up a personal copy. Sure it's silly over the top gung-ho militarism will offend some folks (most of whom could use the occasional offending) and the hero is beyond ridiculous (I know he's based on a real person, but his traits are exaggerated to utterly absurd proportion) but it's still pretty darn good. I think it was the sequel that rather famously inspired an Amazon review claiming "it had too much science", a complaint the author has a good...more
I’ve read quite a few books by John Ringo and I think it’s safe to say that I’ve liked pretty much all of them. This one however, I was not as thrilled about as I usually am. Now, it is quite probable that I am somewhat biased from the start.
The author makes frequent references to CERN and more specifically, is basing most of his story on the Higgs Boson. Since I am an engineer at CERN I’m somewhat sensitive to bullshit about these subjects and unfortunately John Ringo’s depiction of Higgs Boson...more
The author makes frequent references to CERN and more specifically, is basing most of his story on the Higgs Boson. Since I am an engineer at CERN I’m somewhat sensitive to bullshit about these subjects and unfortunately John Ringo’s depiction of Higgs Boson...more
I read this one on suggestion of a friend that it was better than Ringo's Posleen series. Maybe, but I am only comparing this first book to HBB, which I thought was better than the Looking Glass.
Not sure why exactly. I enjoyed the actions of the indivdual soldiers and that rang failry true, but implausibe physics, the interactions with the National Command Authority, the reactions of the general populace to the changed world all just didn't ring true. And only people who read science fiction co...more
Not sure why exactly. I enjoyed the actions of the indivdual soldiers and that rang failry true, but implausibe physics, the interactions with the National Command Authority, the reactions of the general populace to the changed world all just didn't ring true. And only people who read science fiction co...more
I must heartily anti-recommend this book. The thesis is that a physics experiment gone awry has opened up a portal to another world. And then the portals start spawning all over the place. Unfortunately, some of them let evil aliens in that want to kill us all. So we have to fight back, largely by ratcheting up the kind of guns we attack with until we're nuking them and it's still not enough. Kind of interesting as a crisis. Not at all interesting in the execution.
The aliens are dull. There is n...more
The aliens are dull. There is n...more
A great mix of military science-fiction and humor. When an accident at a laboratory in Orlando destroys the surrounding area, it also creates a boson that starts opening portals to other planets. One of these happens to be inhabited by the alien Dreen, who take the opportunity to invade Earth. It is up to Alabamian physicist Bill Weaver and a team of Navy Seals to find a way to seal the portals and save Earth.
Veering between hard-core action and humor, this was an unexpected pleasure.
Veering between hard-core action and humor, this was an unexpected pleasure.
A very interesting hard SF book about a physics experiment gone wrong that opens portals to other worlds. One inhabited by a race of monsters bent on changing every world to their world through terraforming.
The main character is a "redneck physicist" who figures out what is happening and starts working to change it with his Navy Seal side kicks.
A good all around read. In one way - high body count military SF - classic Ringo. In another - fetish sex - unrecognizable as Ringo.
The main character is a "redneck physicist" who figures out what is happening and starts working to change it with his Navy Seal side kicks.
A good all around read. In one way - high body count military SF - classic Ringo. In another - fetish sex - unrecognizable as Ringo.
I listened to this book read by L. J. Ganser.
The cover for the audio book is really cheesy...so I went in expecting some cheese. I got what I came for...this is a fun book with tough military guys and portals to other worlds. None of the characters really grow on me...but I did find them cool. I thought it was interesting to see the world though the main character's skeptical, scientific, and conservative eyes.
Good for passing the time while working...
The cover for the audio book is really cheesy...so I went in expecting some cheese. I got what I came for...this is a fun book with tough military guys and portals to other worlds. None of the characters really grow on me...but I did find them cool. I thought it was interesting to see the world though the main character's skeptical, scientific, and conservative eyes.
Good for passing the time while working...
A vastly surprising book. Very rare that I like a contemporary Military Sci-Fi, but this was a pleasant surprise. Basically, an "alien" presence invades Earth (inter-dimensional blah blah whatever) and it's up to our modern military, with a little help from Ringo's take on Indiana Jones, to stop them. Some interesting twists and turns keep the story moving along, and it's a well written start to a series I am looking forward to continuing.
Read 2008
Re-read 2012
[November 2008 Review]
Basically take Doom and parts of Starcraft, specifically the Zerg, add in some military hardware jargon and you've got this book. Some rogue physicist creates some kind of gate that throws out bosun particles, which allow gates to be opened to other planets. The dreen come through one and we go through another and meet some friendly aliens. The dreen take over planets and suck them dry of resources. The dreen are zerglike, growing creatures for specific...more
Re-read 2012
[November 2008 Review]
Basically take Doom and parts of Starcraft, specifically the Zerg, add in some military hardware jargon and you've got this book. Some rogue physicist creates some kind of gate that throws out bosun particles, which allow gates to be opened to other planets. The dreen come through one and we go through another and meet some friendly aliens. The dreen take over planets and suck them dry of resources. The dreen are zerglike, growing creatures for specific...more
Hard science and hard military action. Ringo knocks one out of the ball park again. The military/action sequences are hart pounding, with a ruthless foe. The enemy (Dreen) are not bumbling invaders stopped with silly little tricks. They are not inadequate invaders stopped due to their inability to adapt to human warfare, or overcome by microbes. The Dreen are a well concocted nightmare, steamrolling the galaxy with deft responses and assements of everything the humans try throwing at them.
The he...more
The he...more
The first book of the Looking Glass series, it's very different from the subsequent novels. Although the main characters are the usual John Ringo super-competent and generally military types, the focus on civilian response to disaster sets it apart from the Paladin of Shadows series, or the military sci-fi/fantasy mashup of the Council Wars (which I also enjoy). The subsequent books take a more military, naval sci-fi bent and do it well, though it gets a bit draggy in later books with the evolut...more
What a shame. The story was actually good but the writing makes it very painful. I wanted to stop reading it but because the underlying story was actually compelling I stuck with it and finished it. The author just rambles on about nothing all too often. Many times you don't even know who's talking. Just so haphazzard and a lot of nonsense for the sake of filling pages. I'm not talking about Steinbeck like discriptiveness. There was certainly none of that. I'm talking complete nonsense. Real ADD...more
Very good book. This is what I consider a "hard" sci-fi. Quite often I find those boring because of the extensive detail or explanations involved. But in this book I was kept interested. There was enough to explain what was happening without getting lost in it. The characters were developed enough to make me care what happened to them. And I loved the of redneck bits in the book. We are civilized but not too much.
The beginning was very promising but it went downhill for me. Okay, maybe down a slope not a hill.
The major problem I had with this book was the flow of the story. I felt sometimes like I had missed something. A character was somewhere talking or doing something and then all of a sudden they were talking to someone you knew was in a different location.
The concept was good but there was something off for me.
I don't think I´ll be reading the rest of this series any time soon if at all.
The major problem I had with this book was the flow of the story. I felt sometimes like I had missed something. A character was somewhere talking or doing something and then all of a sudden they were talking to someone you knew was in a different location.
The concept was good but there was something off for me.
I don't think I´ll be reading the rest of this series any time soon if at all.
Good idea ruined by TERRIBLE execution. Bad descriptions, plot points that end up being pointless, comma shotgunning, sudden leaps forward in time for no reason (usually right in the middle of a chapter), etc. It would not surprise me to find that the author works without an editor. Just goes to show you that "New York Times Bestseller" means nothing.
Not a bad yarn. Very different from what I've read of all of Ringo's other work. Still kind of unsatisfying, though. Things fell together too easily on the political end, and there was a lot of ignoring of regulations on the military end, even ones that didn't have any bearing on the threat at hand. I'll read the follow up if I get the chance, I suppose.
Great story, but it gets lower stars because of the horrible, horrible grammatical style of the author. Has this guy never heard of an editor? Sheesh. I spent far more time rereading sentences to figure out what the heck they meant than I did reading the story itself. Aside from that issue, I enjoyed the book and look forward to the sequel.
Still determined to struggle through and finish. If you love detailed descriptions of military weaponry and hate character development (seriously, halfway through we finally get some personal life details about the main character), this is the book for you.
It's not all bad, there is some humor, and in spite of the above complaints I do find some of the detailed physics and weapons extremely interesting (which is why a friend recommended it).
Perhaps the single most annoying thing is how the auth...more
It's not all bad, there is some humor, and in spite of the above complaints I do find some of the detailed physics and weapons extremely interesting (which is why a friend recommended it).
Perhaps the single most annoying thing is how the auth...more
Definitely different. Chock full of science and military jargon. A bit of philosophy I wasn't too thrilled with. Still, all in all an enjoyable read. Good premise. Heroic characters. If you can get through the long stretches of explanation, the action is worth it. And the end was very satisfying.
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John Ringo is a prolific author who has written in a wide variety of genres. His early life included a great deal of travel. He visited 23 foreign countries, and attended fourteen different schools. After graduation Ringo enlisted in the US military for four years, after which he studied marine biology.
In 1999 he wrote and published his first novel "A Hymn Before Battle", which proved successful....more
More about John Ringo...
In 1999 he wrote and published his first novel "A Hymn Before Battle", which proved successful....more
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“Son, We're in no mood for Mickey Mouse. Get out of the road."
Chief Miller, Into the Looking Glass”
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Chief Miller, Into the Looking Glass”
