Book 1), Into the Looking Glass (Looking Glass

In the first four Posleen books and the Empire of Man series, Ringo made his characters amusing, human (even when they weren't) and made readers *care* about what happened to them. Sad to say, "Into The Looking Glass" while full of action and imagination, just didn't make me really care if any of the characters survived.

Too much got glossed over, there were too many loose ends and Ringo's usual deft sketches of people descended into careless stereotype all too often.

Just not up to past efforts.

Into the looking glass

This book is called Into the looking glass. The author's name is John Ringo. This book takes place presently, in the U.S.A. The story is focused on a scientist named Dr. William Weaver. In Orlando University, and experiment goes way wrong. A miniature nuke destroys all of Orlando. The president calls up Weaver to come and help him get answers. Weaver had information that the scientists their were working on gate experiments (portals to other worlds). The president sends in Chief Miller in case military support is needed. It definitely is needed because when they go to investigate the phenomenon creatures come out and attack in huge numbers. After the gun slinging was over the creatures bring in organically made tanks to even out the odds. After that was over they quarantined it and found out more gates were appearing. Having no idea how to shut down these gates chief miller, Weaver and the rest of the bright minds in America must find a way to kill these creatures and shut down the gates before they overrun earth.

I really didn't like that it went slow in the middle of the book. In the beginning and the end the book was really exciting because there were a lot of major military, shooting aliens action. It was kind of hard to understand because of the science involved in it but eventually I understood it. The ending was suspected but still interesting. I think John Ringo could have made it a faster book by having a little less talk.

The book is presented in first person and some third person narrating. I liked how he switched it around. The words in this book are very technical it took me a while to figure them out but I did. John Ringo sounded like he knew what he was talking about but he did say that in actuality not all of the physics were not entirely accurate. I am glad that he put some technical principals into the book but he could have speeded it up and put more fight scenes in it.

I would give this book 3 1/2stars because I loved it but in the middle it really got boring. I can understand since it was classified as a science fiction book he needed to have a little more science in it which is probably why he had that happen but other than that, it was also a military kind of book. Ringo recommends this book to spec ops solders because he knew that they would like the content. I am really interested in military fiction books and science fiction, and John Ringo puts them together. I have to say that this is one of the best books I have ever read.

I have to say that I am likely to read another book on Ringo. There was a lot of language in this book so I don't recommend this book for younger ages. For people who like militarized books and science fiction this is a great book.

I really always think that John Ringo's ideas and concepts are good ones, and always after reading one, wonder how in the world so many people like this author.

I honestly don't get it. I started with his supposed biggest hit series - A Hymn Before Battle - and thought it adequate, at best. It certainly didn't leave me wanting more.

Then I tried the 1st volume of his and David Weber's collaboration - with awesome covers by the way - even though I don't even recall the book's title.

Again, like his others, I ilke the concepts, but the story was overburdened with too much political garbage. Not enough action and adventure for my tastes. The characters didn't even seem more than one-dimensional.

And now, with his latest - another great concept idea for a series - especially with the big-budget movie - War of the Worlds out there now - left me high and dry in a lot of ways.

The characters' reactions as loads of scary alien beings pouring through a gate was to...yawn? And how was this supposed to excite the reader?

Needless to say, I live exactly where this story takes place. And that drew me in more closely than others. The ideas, though not wholly original, are still one's that I like to read about.

If they are written well!

So, please tell me, how is a reader supposed to love novels that only have great ideas, but whose characters are bored themselve, and are one-dimensional?

Man, if this is what makes an author get on the Bestseller list, then I can't wait to finish and get my manuscript in somewhere. If this is any indication of an awesome author, then my Trilogy should come off as epic as I hope it to be.

Sorry Mr. Ringo. I respect you. And I really wished I liked your novels. But your execution of them leaves me saying - 'Ehhh?"

One Saturday morning, a university explodes and opens doorways to various other worlds and dimensions, forever changing the course of human history, for we are not alone, and some of those aliens want us for bio-material.

This is a standard alien-invasion story mixed with technobabble and juvenile characters. Our hero, a strapping, brilliant Dr. William Weaver, is a thirteen-year-old's wet dream: he's handsome, brilliant, an alpha male, sleeps with any woman available, kills aliens in a moment's notice, and only needs to go mountain biking to discover the secrets of the universe. Yes, the author has mixed in some concepts of quantum mechanics and particle physics, but it is in no way even close to reality. He uses technology and science the way Star Trek does: everyone has the technobabble down, but it is unimportant.

This book is way beyond science fiction; it is science fantasy. Every other page, Weaver is making extraordinary leaps of insight to save the day. Though the war sequences are littered with military speech, the fight scenes are little more than "shot and charge".

The unrealistic advances in science, the unimaginative war sequences, and the laughable characterization destroy any tension the plot may have produced. You simply never wonder what will happen, because after the 30th page, you know that some new deus ex machina will save the day.

This book also reeks of "introduction to a series". It is far too brief, and the deus ex machina, sorry, the aliens at the end give humanity the key to interstellar travel.

Finally, John Ringo desperately needs to punctuate. The text is coarse and choppy, because it lacks commas, semicolons, and appropriate conjunctions.

This was an entirely unenjoyable book. Weak plot, horrible characters, dumb aliens, and pathetic technobabble ruin an interesting beginning. I would avoid this book.

I had just finished reading Arthur C. Clarke's complete "Rama" series when I heard about Into The Looking Glass, and it's author J. Ringo. I have to tell you to be prepared though. The transition was like taking a trip around the world on a luxury liner, getting off the boat, and jumping into a ragged out MG for a trip to a cheap parking lot carnival.

Clarke, and some of the other sci-fi genre writers create their works in much the same way a composer creates a compelling symphony. Ringo's work, however, is kind of like a Vaudaville show. The difference in the maturity level is significant, and not to be overlooked. If you prefer a finely crafted piece of literature, you are looking on the wrong shelf. If, on the otherhand, you are looking for a cheap thrill, without much emphasis on actual story line development, then Ringo is your guy. This is a book for all those poor souls out there who have been stricken with ADD. Think riotous cacophony of unstructured, disparate meandering detail...on acid. This is definitely one of those guilty pleasure reads that no self-respecting literati would ever admit to turning the first page of.

Am I going to read it? Maybe...probably...I've seen several Shakespearean productions, Broadway plays, etc...but I've also been to a couple of bachelor party strip club odysseys. I just have to be willing to suspend my desire to account for taste and then chew through it until I've gone so far that I'm committed and would feel too guilty putting it down. I'm one of those who has to finish what they start, although after reading the first couple chapters of this "tilt-a-whirl of a book", I may reconsider that practice in the future.

Good Luck!

I am really looking forward to "THE VORPAL BLADE" as it will be another book to send the Liberals screaming to their Blogs. The Liberals have most of the media and worry very little about scientific fact, you had your inconsistant truth. This book by John Ringo is just good plain fun to read. John Ringo knows his fans and is willing to give them fantasy which is not politically correct which is critical if you want future generations to have the ability to think critically. Ringo, Weber and Robert Heinlein should be mandatory reading in our schools. This is just a good what if book as are all of John Ringo, try the Road to Damascus to see what the ability to think for oneself can do, even if it is a tank.

I completely enjoyed this book. I hope that Ringo continues the series. The characters are fun and zany. Who says that engineers are boring, white-shirted nerds? Most of my friends are nerds/geeks who are rednecks, worked in the gov. contract industry, and basically love to blow things up. "I are one, too." Just read it and enjoy.

Into the Looking Glass

The book Into the Looking Glass by John Ringo was an okay book. The book was about portals that opened up on Earth and then aliens started coming through. The aliens just start attacking with almost no provocation. So one really smart scientist starts to investigate why the gates started popping up all over Earth. The scientist who's name is Bill Weaver will find more than he expected. So he goes to a few and gets in a few battles by accident. The battles are really detailed and also too short. The scientist can't figure out why they keep coming until he meets another alien race, this one friendly that teaches him what they know. So now the only problem is the enemy aliens. Read it to find out what happens.

The book was not very exciting because it was mainly just complex physics stuff. The battles were a bit exciting but not very because the author went into so much detail about things that he could've been a little less detailed about. That made this new threat come in and take one and half pages to describe it. You were able to feel like you were in the book most of the time. The author did a lot of detail throughout the book that allowed you to feel like you were in the book. Other times he was a little vague so you could picture it but not be in it. The main conflict was interesting because it was an alien invasion - come on who doesn't like alien invasions? Also it wasn't your classic Martians coming to rule all of mankind. These aliens just wanted the planet, so they try to wipe out all of humanity. Some characters were realistic like the main character. But others, obviously, like the aliens seemed unrealistic because they were so bizarre. The humans seemed realistic for the most part but they seemed way too smart to be normal. At one part one guy started saying he had 3 PhD's and he was going for a fourth. The book's ending was satisfying because it wrapped everything up rather nicely and let you know the characters more. I was very satisfied.

The voice of the author is first person through the main character. This allows you to see what he is thinking so you know what's going on better. It occasionally switches over to someone else for a few pages, which is pretty easy to follow and understand. The author uses a lot of complicated science words but they gave a brief definition of most of them, which made the book much easier to understand otherwise I would be totally lost. The author had a good way of combining normal life to a really different one with aliens. The author used dialogue in a way where he said what needed to be said and usually not more. There was a bit of humor in his writing. The author was too descriptive in some parts but he did just the right amount for almost everything. The general tone was finding out why this was doing that.

I would rate this book a six and a half because the battles were too short and there was too much complicated science things. I would recommend this book to sci-fi fans and anyone who likes complicated science things because that's what's in the book. I hope you read and enjoy this book. Happy reading.

I truly enjoyed this story, and it follows logic beginning to end. In my humble opinion (over 40 years of reading Science Fiction), the best science fiction first and foremost holds together with logic. Look for reviews to follow the political leanings of the reviewers. Being one that leans to the "right" myself, I found the politics within the book refreshing - but noted that the leftists among us will be disturbed. In all Science Fiction, the question must be "What if...?". There are certain "givens" for the universe in which it is set. The best science fiction asks the question, gives you the "givens" and then proceeds with the story. John Ringo does this with excellence and panache. Yes, Mr. Ringo shows his politics in this book. Robert A. Heinlein showed his politics in his novels as well, but you don't see his stories being panned for polital reasons only. Decent concept, good story, excellent action, hard science and I am looking forward to the sequel. As far as the "literary quality" issues seemingly raised - you want "high literature", go read War and Peace, the Illiad or Moby Dick. You want a rollicking good time, read science fiction. As Mark Twain said "The Classics are like fine wine, my writing is like water. Everybody drinks water." This book is GOOD WATER!

Quite possibly the worst novel of any kind that I have ever read, and I've read some terrible fiction in my time. One reviewer mentioned that it reads as though someone published their rough draft. I agree. This is rubbish. At best, a gun nut's wet dream. At worst, a senseless waste of time, both for the author and anyone who unwittingly decides to read this novel.

Having thoroughly enjoyed Ringo's Posleen series as well as his Council Wars series, I had high hopes for this book. The premise is solid; an experiment gone wrong triggers a massive explosion at a Florida University and opens up a portal to another world.

Unfortunately this book is a classic case of an author being unable to get out of his own way and just tell a story. Ringo feeds you his politics with a shovel in this book. About half way through it, I found my self saying, "Okay... Ringo thinks all Liberals are cowardly, un-American scum who should be shot on sight... I get it... Can we get back to the story now?"

In the first half of the book it is difficult to make it ten pages without some wonderful anecdote about the evils of liberalism and the glories of conservatism. Whatever your politics (mine fall squarely in the middle), it gets boring after a while and it makes a potentially good read drown under the weight of the author's convictions.

Next time I hope we get less screed and more story.

Why do I say this book is awful, awful, awful? [...] plot about soldiers fighting monsters, taped the manuscript to the wall, and then threw random military acronyms at it. The characters are poorly drawn and act without any apparent motivation. The military jargon is inserted simply for its own sake, and drains the story of any tension or suspense it might have had. The science is not just wrong - it is laughable. Half way through I honestly considered the idea that this might be a satire of the military SF genre. After finishing it, I'm still not sure. Either way it fails. It's not funny enough for parody, and can't be taken seriously either. Just avoid it.

Why do I say this book is awful, awful, awful? [...] plot about soldiers fighting monsters, taped the manuscript to the wall, and then threw random military acronyms at it. The characters are poorly drawn and act without any apparent motivation. The military jargon is inserted simply for its own sake, and drains the story of any tension or suspense it might have had. The science is not just wrong - it is laughable. Half way through I honestly considered the idea that this might be a satire of the military SF genre. After finishing it, I'm still not sure. Either way it fails. It's not funny enough for parody, and can't be taken seriously either. Just avoid it.

I was disapointed. Ringo is so much better than this. I'm going to mark it off to a bad year. That's okay. I still think Ringo's a great writer.

I agree with one of the other reeviewers that "Ringo can't get out of his own way."

I would have enjoyed it more if I had a poorer understanding of physics, quantum physics, probability, and he hadn't called out the mech warriors.

Okay John .... Why did you let Bill O Reilly ghost write a book for you? The hero is a good ole boy who happens to have multiple degrees in physics, astrophysics but is also a handsome martial arts master. Never have I seen a character as believable and well developed since the likes of Christmas Jones(Denise Richards ) in The World is not enough. But wait it gets better early on we find out the the Liberal scientist , who just happens to be an unattractive overweight woman, hates the man. And yes that is the actual dialog she uses. Ringo you might want to update your liberal rhetoric dialog by about 40 years. Please turn off Fox News when writing a book. It really has been clinically shown to make you dumber. God knows your book dialog and cheesy plot lines are hilarious but my guess is that it was unintentional.

It seems strange to criticise military science fiction in anything approaching intellectual terms, but what can you do? On the whole I love it and can't get enough of it, and I have read Ringo's other books, with enjoyment. This book however is badly flawed. The plot revolves around alien invasion of Earth by what would seem to be a communistic biologically based society. They arrive through wormholes, involving a discussion of physics I won't pretend to understand. The protagonist is a self-proclaimed redneck scientist Bill Weaver, who is good at everything. (mind you, if he's such a redneck why can't he shoot?)

None of this I really mind, except that much of this short book is wasted by odd asides that do nothing for the story. We get some explanation of Bill's political opinions, very right wing, to the extent that he describes MIT as the People's Republic. We also get a scene where a left-wing scientist won't talk with friendly aliens about nuclear weapons because he disapproves of them. Now there are probably people like this, but there are also Conservatives who would nuke them on sight. But my main objection is it adds nothing to the storyline. This isn't Heinlein exploring a militarised society for whatever right wing reasons of his own.

Ringo actually has one of his characters state that Heinlein can't write. Maybe, but he certainly knew how to move the story along.

It's not just political lectures,that slow it down because we get about four pages of background on an obscure character who appears once. In fact it's a good story, and I hope he's introduced again because otherwise it's a waste. Similarly the character who reads Heinlein, a couple of pages of background and she is dead. Why bother? This is sloppy writing and editing.

Critics claim that Ringo is great on technical stuff. He certainly seems to know a lot about obscure rifles, but he does seem to have something against the air force. I would have thought that a large dose of napalm at the early stages of this invasion might have saved using nuclear weapons a little bit later. The Americans have one of the largest air arms in the world butit never seems to come to the party.

Lastly, and here's where it gets repugnant, at the end of the book some of the green goo is taken to the Middle East where it proceeds to kill off all the fundamentalist Muslims. Here is where we have to listen to racist comments about Arabs, who can't fight properly for cultural reasons, and who spend most of their time killing innocent Israeli civilians. To be honest I don't particularly want to hear this stuff anyway, but again it does nothing for the storyline. If it had some relevance to the story I might put up with Muslim atrocities, Israeli atrocities, IRA atrocities, Roman, or ancient Greek atrocities. But he just seems to be getting stuff off his chest. Obviously this book will never be translated into Arabic.

I'm not saying I won't read the next ones, this may be an aberration, but I'll be getting them from the library instead of buying them until I'm sure Ringo is up to scratch again.

The best definition of a chocolate chip cookie I ever heard was that the cookie exists only as something to hold the chocolate chips.

In a John Ringo story, the plot exists only as a vehicle for the author to spout politics.

Which he does quite often !

If you're a Republican and into Fantasy, you'll LOVE this.

If you are a friend of Rush Limbaugh, buy him a copy.

If you're not a Right-Winger, don't read this unless you like being insulted.

It's a pity this guy can't just write an entertaining story and leave the politics out;

but I guess he can't.