Book Report: Slipt, by Alan Dean Foster

This is a competently put together book, but it didn't move me. I don't think it's the fault of the language, which is technically flawless and of a style that tells the story in a brisk but effective manner. I think it's the plot. It proceeds well enough while it covers the main character, Jake, crossing the southern U.S. He's pursued by hired thugs. The severity of the trouble in which Jake finds himself increases with every mile, and even the villains are surprised at the things they are willing to do (which was a nice twist and makes the villains understandable if not quite sympathetic). I thought it fell down at the climax, though. Foster has the ostensible villain of the story killed off by the villain's boss, who makes a few-page appearance before being killed in his turn. It seemed very non-sequitur, although it ensured that Jake would be pushed to do things against his conscience. I would have preferred to see what happened when both Jake and his antagonist had to find their way out of the stalemate which immediately precedes the climax.

All in all, a good and interesting read, but not a great one.

Ulysses Rating: 3 - I enjoyed this.