A new novel of the fantastic unknown by the national bestselling author of Time Travelers Never Die.
Eccentric Sunset Tuttl... read full description
Eccentric Sunset Tuttl... read full description
reviews
Feb 11, 2012
Rhonda
rated it: 
Couldn't put it down. Have been in a reading slump for quite awhile. Was Jonesing for a good Sci Fi book and this did the job. This is a SciFi book that I think any Mystery lover would enjoy. It's one of the Alex Benedict/Chase Kolpath character books. The next one in the series is Firebird and I just picked it up at the library. I just love this series. I had burned thru all of them that had been written I think year before last. Then I had a brain fart and couldn't remember who the au
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Dec 18, 2011
Tim
rated it: 
It's a light read indeed, and IMHO far short of Nebula quality. Well short of past efforts in this series, too.
As others have noted, the ending sort of goes Pbllffft.
And, two big beefs: <spoiler>(1) The Mutes are alien and telepathic, and somehow they don't count as Out There? And they are never explained. Nor how we seem to have killed a lot of them but now their children are playing with ours. (2) The people on Echo II are JUST like us in a zillion ways, but only More...
As others have noted, the ending sort of goes Pbllffft.
And, two big beefs: <spoiler>(1) The Mutes are alien and telepathic, and somehow they don't count as Out There? And they are never explained. Nor how we seem to have killed a lot of them but now their children are playing with ours. (2) The people on Echo II are JUST like us in a zillion ways, but only More...
Jun 02, 2011
Walt
rated it: 
Well, I've often said about this writer: "it's true, they tend to blend together and resemble each other after a while, but a day with a bad Jack McDevitt novel is better than a day without ANY Jack McDevitt novel". This story, ECHO, is set in the "Alex Benedict Universe" which is the setting for what I consider McDevitt's finest novel to date, A TALENT FOR WAR. The Alex Benedict sequence is uniformly narrated by his assistant, Chase Kolpath, and perhaps he is allowing her
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Mar 27, 2011
Alan
rated it: 
Jack McDevitt is one of my favorite authors. His ability to involve you in the book's characters and their problems is topnotch. His characters, male or female, are always interesting; interesting and good. While many believe that a good villain is the most interesting character, McDevitt remind us that good people can be intelligent and that being good takes a great deal of intelligence.
The former statement covers all the author's books that I have read. Echo is a similar experience. More...
The former statement covers all the author's books that I have read. Echo is a similar experience. More...
Dec 26, 2010
Book
rated it:
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Dec 01, 2010
Jacqueline
rated it:
This is another in my favorite Jack McDevitt series, the Alex Benedict series. This book starts off faster than some of JM's books. It sucked me right in and then, as usual, I was turning pages as fast as I could. The mystery was interesting but not as riveting as those in the first three books,A Talent For War, Polaris and Seeker but I liked it better than the fourth book, The Devil's Eye. I like Chase Kolpath. I don't necessarily care for the way that JM throws in random stuff about her l
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Nov 15, 2010
Mike
rated it:
I'll say right up front that McDevitt's my favorite author. By far. So if I say that a McDevitt book disappoints me, that should not be taken to mean it's a bad book, or even that I didn't like it. That three-star rating is relative to other McDevitt books. All it means is that over the years, my expectations have become perhaps unreasonably high. This series peaked with Seeker, which might be McDevitt's best book, and while the last two in this series were great, they just didn't live up to See
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Nov 27, 2010
Brian
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Mar 04, 2011
Kae
rated it:
Jack McDevitt is a master at presenting humanity of the future in terms we can identify with today. ECHO is a fine example of this. In the far future, when people are flung throughout several galaxies, ECHO shows how humanity still yearns to answer a basic question: Are we alone? Are other sentient, conversant people somewhere primed for contact?
In ECHO, antiquarian Alex Benedict (this is the fifth book in the series) is curious about an artifact he see advertised for sale. It has unkn More...
In ECHO, antiquarian Alex Benedict (this is the fifth book in the series) is curious about an artifact he see advertised for sale. It has unkn More...
Mar 11, 2011
Jason
rated it:
Audiobook. Ok, I'm going to go ahead and confess to myself that I really, really like Jack McDevitt's work. I don't think he's a brilliant writer or particularly original. All of his stories seem to have pretty much the same basic structure and tone. But I find that structure and tone--the combination of a good mystery, likable characters, and a SF setting--very appealing. Maybe it has something to do with the fact that I almost always listen to his books, and so can give them something less tha
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Apr 12, 2011
Patrick
rated it:
Even though his recent books are sort of boring, give me a minute to tell you why I still like this author: First of all he is a closet archaeologist and there is an element of digging and discovering in all of his stories I find refreshing and intriguing. He has a childlike innocence when it comes to ancient ruins (sort of like the first time I entered Chaco Canyon) and some of his best writing is his rhapsodizing description of thousand year old remains (other-planetary, of course). He has als
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Apr 06, 2011
Mike
rated it:
The newest Alex Benedict/Chase Kolpath novel. Really, how much does McDevitt really have left in this series, considering the previous accomplishments of these two? It's getting kind of hard to top.
So what McDevitt does here is try to shift the accomplishment from being a notable one to the Earthbound 21st century reader to a notable one for the readers in this future civilization (which is who the narrator is writing for anyway) and make the 21st century reader care just as much.
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So what McDevitt does here is try to shift the accomplishment from being a notable one to the Earthbound 21st century reader to a notable one for the readers in this future civilization (which is who the narrator is writing for anyway) and make the 21st century reader care just as much.
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Sep 07, 2011
David
rated it:
I had no idea when I grabbed this book that it was #5 in a series. Fortunately, McDevitt is a skillful enough author that my lack of prior exposure to Alex Benedict did not prevent me from enjoying the book. Fundamentally, this is a detective story in science fiction clothing; being in the same genre as Caves of Steel and The Demolished Man should not be taken as criticism. I won't spoil any of the story.
I started and finished this book on an international flight - it's a quick, lig More...
I started and finished this book on an international flight - it's a quick, lig More...
Jul 15, 2011
Jim
rated it:
Well, this was a very interesting new addition to the Alex Benedict series. It's a nice combination of mystery, action-adventure and science fiction. The mystery pulls the story forward, the action-adventure is woven throughout, and it's all encased in a science fiction universe that is very far in the future (at least seven thousand years), yet not extremely futuristic. Except when it needs to be, such as faster-than-light travel. I mean, c'mon, you've gotta have that if you're going to get
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Mar 14, 2011
Helge
rated it:
Chase and Alex, two people who sound like they might appear in some of McDevitt's earlier fiction, as well (yup, this is "Alex Benedict #5"), investigate the origins of a mysterious stone tablet found in the yard of "Sunset" Tuttle, an oddball explorer who died two decades earlier (and who did appear in some of McDevitt's earlier fiction). Then someone tries to kill them. Again and again.
The story was entertaining enough, but it seemed unfocused to me. Somehow I More...
The story was entertaining enough, but it seemed unfocused to me. Somehow I More...
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Jan 26, 2011
Jeff
rated it:
This is extremely well written, but shows signs of being a really great short story or short novella that has been padded to novel length.
I really had the feeling that it was going to be one of those novels where in the end, nothing has happened.
BUT... that was not the case: in the last few chapters the pace picks way up and there is a lot of action.
Am I grumpy. Yes. Because of this novel? Not really, but it wasn't helping.
If you like alien artifacts More...
I really had the feeling that it was going to be one of those novels where in the end, nothing has happened.
BUT... that was not the case: in the last few chapters the pace picks way up and there is a lot of action.
Am I grumpy. Yes. Because of this novel? Not really, but it wasn't helping.
If you like alien artifacts More...
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Nov 01, 2010
Liviu
rated it:
Finally the "dated-ness" caught up with this series in this installment where the weight of taking place 8000 years in the future in a society similar to our own (plus some fifties staples like AG, FTL...) crushes the book badly; fast and engaging may the author' style be - and it shows especially in the last 150 pages - but this book cannot manage the least amount of suspension of disbelief for a long time.
If there is more in the series, I will try them but I hope this one More...
If there is more in the series, I will try them but I hope this one More...
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Mar 31, 2011
Brandon
rated it:
Good story once it got started. I enjoyed the second half of the book better. A lot of things were resolved in the epilogue, that would have been nice to include in the story.
I've never read this author before, and the use of italics was excessive, so much so that I almost stopped reading the book after a few chapters. The book was on track to get 2 stars, but the second half just barely put it over. Leave out the italics and it would have been a solid 3.
Probably won't read this aut More...
I've never read this author before, and the use of italics was excessive, so much so that I almost stopped reading the book after a few chapters. The book was on track to get 2 stars, but the second half just barely put it over. Leave out the italics and it would have been a solid 3.
Probably won't read this aut More...
Feb 25, 2011
Steve
rated it:
This novel is up for the 2010 Nebula award.
Fifth in the series, though the first I've read. I found it entertaining, if a bit odd pace.
Almost Ellery Queen/ Sherlock mystery atmosphere here but set in the far future when various offshoot of humanity have been lost in long forgotten colonies but no intelligent aliens have been found. McDevitt manages to offhand a number of the future's changes, but keeps the story relevant to the mystery and on the characters reactions to it. More...
Fifth in the series, though the first I've read. I found it entertaining, if a bit odd pace.
Almost Ellery Queen/ Sherlock mystery atmosphere here but set in the far future when various offshoot of humanity have been lost in long forgotten colonies but no intelligent aliens have been found. McDevitt manages to offhand a number of the future's changes, but keeps the story relevant to the mystery and on the characters reactions to it. More...
Sep 05, 2011
Toby
rated it:
This is the fifth book in the Benedict series. A old scientist dies after spending his whole life looking for alien life. In the end his friends said he grew very sad and depressed. In this scientist's possessions an artifact is found with writing that no human has ever seen before. Alex Benedict asks the questions. Where had the artifact come from? Had this old man found alien life? If the man had found aliens then it would have been his greatest achievement yet the man died sad, depressed, and
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Jul 20, 2011
Mouldy Squid
rated it:
Another wonderful science fiction mystery from Jack McDevitt. Alex Benedict and Chase Colepath are on the trail of a mysterious tablet found in a garden. At every turn they encounter obstruction, misdirection, lies and obfuscation. Is the tablet a relic of a lost human colony, a hoax, or that rarest and precious of artifacts: a relic of a non-human race? What seems like a simple mystery turns into two and then three, and while Alex and Chase stalk the tablet, someone is stalking them...
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Dec 04, 2011
Jon
rated it:
This is another solid entry in McDevitt's Alex Benedict series. Other than the first entry, they follow the same pattern. The prologue is a flashback to events driving the eventual mystery, then Chapter One opens with Alex Benedict, antiquities dealer, getting involved in the "present day" -- thousands of years into a future in which humans have spread across the galaxy. An object Alex investigates sparks a mystery, which leads to someone trying to kill him and Chase, his assistant (an
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Oct 03, 2010
Sporadic Reviews
rated it:
Another excellent "Alex Benedict and Chase Kolpath" book from Jack McDevitt. This one seemed a little darker, a little more uncomfortable at times than previous outings with the antiquities brokers/adventurers. But that didn't affect my enjoyment of the story. It made the world, the characters all that more real.
As these characters grow older (which doesn't mean much in a future where most people live at least a couple of centuries), they are definitely experiencing charact More...
As these characters grow older (which doesn't mean much in a future where most people live at least a couple of centuries), they are definitely experiencing charact More...
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Jan 02, 2012
Sisimka
rated it:
Another Alex Benedict mystery! I love these books. I find them hard to put down and Echo was no exception. There was some nice character development for both Alex and Chase in this one as well, though their personal lives are still left a little too sketchy for my tastes. (Yes, I want all the gory details).
What I particularly enjoyed about this novel was the conclusion, which I cannot detail here without giving away spoilers. Suffice to say, who and what Alex and Chase find is just r
What I particularly enjoyed about this novel was the conclusion, which I cannot detail here without giving away spoilers. Suffice to say, who and what Alex and Chase find is just r
Feb 01, 2012
Kay
rated it:
This is another strong archaeological thriller set in a science fiction universe thousands of years in the future, when humankind has spent enough years exploring the galaxy to have generated a lot of forgotten history. I didn't get to read this one until long after initial publication because the publisher was slow to lower the ebook price to be in line with the paperback price, but having read it, I've remembered why Jack MacDevitt is one of my go-to authors.
Dec 12, 2010
Jamie
rated it:
Another delightful Alex Benedict mystery. This one was more of a page turner than The Devil's Eye and I felt at times like I literally couldn't put down the book. It's hard to say much about the story without introducing spoilers, but if you like stories about the search for extra-terrestrial intelligence, cover-ups, space travel and good old detective work, then you must read ECHO.
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Mar 27, 2011
Sylvain
rated it:
Nice little story and a very easy quick read. It's pretty much a mystery/detective novel based on the theme of guilt and responsibility for one's own action especially actions resulting in tragic consequences whether intended or not.
The writing is very smooth and professional although at the same time it seems very formulaic and somewhat predictable. The plot itself is well concealed and the mystery well constructed so that it does become a page turner towards the end.
B More...
The writing is very smooth and professional although at the same time it seems very formulaic and somewhat predictable. The plot itself is well concealed and the mystery well constructed so that it does become a page turner towards the end.
B More...
Nov 09, 2010
Terry
rated it:
The story was enjoyable, most of Jack's work is. However it was definatly more somber that the rest of the series. Alex and Chase seemed strained in this book, not like their old partnership. Also the male narrator was a very odd choice for a book dictated by a female character (audio cd). Still and enjoyable romp, looking forward to Firebird, Mc'Devits next chapter in the Alex Benedict series.
Nov 18, 2011
Chris
rated it:
This is the 1st Jack McDevitt book that I've read. Overall the plot was interesting, the universe in which it took place consistent, and the characters likable, if somewhat shallow. Not much philosophical musings going on, mostly a straight ahead mystery/sci fi serial novel.
While in the middle of the book, I found myself wishing the author would just get ON WITH THE STORY.
While in the middle of the book, I found myself wishing the author would just get ON WITH THE STORY.
Dec 31, 2011
Chris
rated it:
Jack McDevitt is a very talented author. At the heart of the Alex Benedict series there is usually a mystery, but the main characters are very human and, consequently, flawed. In this book, we see Alex pursuing the mystery with a single-minded interest that drives even his most staunch supporters away. I see this as a huge character flaw, but it is true to the character that has been built through the first five novels. I like that, as McDevitt has the ability to make the story that the novel fo
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