false 1483228 1594201269 9781594201264 129 36 http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1184080023m/1483228.jpg http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1483228.The_Chess_Machine_A_Novel 694145 Robert Löhr 168 38 0 1 false Wed Aug 01 00:00:00 -0700 2007 Thu Aug 23 14:46:48 -0700 2007 Sun Aug 26 19:42:10 -0700 2007
Except that instead of delving into what is the essence of being human, the grotesque or what happens when people use science to circumvent nature, it becomes instead a standard thriller with rote/flat characters. It also has two of my pet peeves in fiction: really bad/unpleasant depictions of sex (to the point that you have to wonder about the writer's own personal attitudes) and female characters who are types. Granted, the whore with a heart of gold who finds redemption is ultimately meant to be one of the more sympathetic main characters, but she never gets past the point of being a cliche. Plus the central relationship once the main narrative starts going is essentially a retelling of The Hunchback of Notre Dame (or Beauty & the Beast, take your pick). Which was really disappointing, given that I was expecting something along the lines of The Sandman, which is one of the weirdest, coolest things I've ever read. ]]>