Hollow World in SpecFic Buddy Reads

Sep 12, 2016 Bradley rated it really liked it

Shelves: sci-fi, 2016-shelf

What can I say? I liked this reimagining of Well's Time Machine better than the original.

It's full of fully modern sensibilities and SF concepts and even brings about a cool 50's villainiazation among a populace that has miraculously found a post-scarcity paradise, true gender equality because sexual dimorphism has been eradicated (but not orgasms:), and an old school SF idea of making God through better tech.

In fact, there was a lot of good mirroring and exploration of ourselves, what we think ...more

41 likes · Like · see review

Mar 24, 2016 Sarah rated it really liked it · review of another edition

I cranked through this puppy in a day and it was fun. It's a very suspenseful book and I was surprised at how quickly I got hooked into it. I'm glad I chose not to do audio because I was reading at about three times my normal rate in order to find out what was going on.

Ellis find out that he has six months to live so he decides to finally use that time travel device in his garage. You know, that one we all have? So he sets it to travel two hundred years in the future and pretty much nothing goes ...more

27 likes · Like · see review

Sep 09, 2016 Veronique rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: read2016

Hollow World is one addictive read. I started yesterday and could not stop :O)

Having grown up with books from H.G. Wells and Jules Verne, I have always had a penchant for old style scifi stories. This novel taps into this while offering a combination of fast-paced adventure, crime thriller and discovery of a new world.

Ellis Rogers lives a pretty ordinary life, one he barely shares with is estranged wife. Everything changes however when he finds out he has only months to live. Suddenly, faced wit ...more

10 likes · Like · see review

Feb 26, 2013 Chris Haught rated it really liked it

Shelves: review-copy-net-galley, 2014-read-owned, read-owned-paperback, signed-editions

I received a free eARC copy of this book from NetGalley.

...and I also bought a paperback from the author's website, because I enjoy and collect his work.

...and this is a great addition to that collection! First off, I'll say that I did not like it quite as much as Sullivan's Riyria books, but that's more from genre-preference than any issues with this book.

This book is certainly a fine celebration of H.G. Wells' The Time Machine, as well as being a seriously good novel in its own right. As the ...more

8 likes · Like · see review

Sep 28, 2016 Suzanne rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: science-fiction

I'm glad I finally read this book. I thought the imagined future was interesting, and I absolutely loved the descriptions of Hollow World (and I want my own Vox). ...more

5 likes · Like · see review

Mar 09, 2014 Alissa rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: read-ebooks

This book is a real surprise. I'm not a sci-fi reader, I usually enjoy fantasy, thrillers and historical novels, but I picked it after reading the wonderful Riyria series by mr. Sullivan. He has just a way to write about tales that I wanted to try something else from him, and something new for me altogether. The summary of Hollow world is intriguing, and I started to read the book four days ago. I was literally hooked with the tale, and the characters. The world is beautifully depicted, and you This book is a real surprise. I'm not a sci-fi reader, I usually enjoy fantasy, thrillers and historical novels, but I picked it after reading the wonderful Riyria series by mr. Sullivan. He has just a way to write about tales that I wanted to try something else from him, and something new for me altogether. The summary of Hollow world is intriguing, and I started to read the book four days ago. I was literally hooked with the tale, and the characters. The world is beautifully depicted, and you can't help but want to know more, also the main character is not your average twenty-something guy with many talents and a typical brilliant future or impending tragedy ahead of him, Ellis is just like your middle aged guy next-door, with average skills and a knack for science, who had led an average life, with average fulfillment and above average tragedies, simply put a guy you can fully relate to. He finds himself in a particular and dire condition, but he decides to chance the future, to have a future, and from this choice, seasoned with thrilling and fantastic elements, you follow him on Hollow World. There are many new things to discover, and he'll face challenges which to me feel like a true self-discovery journey, which is very interesting given his age. The tale also mixes elements which are not original, I mean there are many science fiction novels and classics which delve into the possibilities of the future, but the structure of the tale is absolutely fascinating, and gave me a wonderful time reading. Also, there are personal themes intertwined with the plot, and reflections on beliefs, human condition and struggles of the self represented, in my opinion, by the different views of two separated characters. Some themes are dear to the author, but I never felt a pressure of answers, I simply enjoyed the discovery. I like it when an author shares seamlessly, and in a well structured book, his opinion, but without pushing. This is definitely a solid story with much background and entertainment, the kind of tale I like to read about, the downside is that a science-fiction book is a gamble, and I'm sure the story could have been further developed (note the further, which doesn't mean better, because I like it the way it is), maybe spanning a couple of books. But the plot is conclusive and I was satisfied by the ending.
Also read the before and after word, there is a lot to learn about self-publishing and traditional publishing, the role of great women and about the creation of this book, I feel there's real added value in reading about the behind the scenes, and I appreciate the way the author relates to his readers. Don't miss this book! ...more

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Jun 15, 2019 Helen rated it liked it · review of another edition

If I’d known that the story was only 49% of the book I’d have finished this in one sitting.

It’s good but I ended up with that feeling of... ‘how can I only be at 40%, this feels like the end is nigh’. So not having a second version and a ton of ads for other books written by Sullivan would have helped!

An alternative Time Machine take that is entertaining and interestingly different.

4 likes · Like · see review

Mar 31, 2018 Jessica rated it really liked it

Shelves: audiobooks

very interesting take on the future and of time travel. I enjoyed the overall story and even how it strayed from sci-fi and presented cultural challenges with time travel and of course what would happen in the distant future to the human race. a little bit of personal development thrown in there!

1 like · Like · see review