Retrato do autor

Kathryn Kramer (2) (1945–)

Autor(a) de Handbook For Visitors From Outer Space

Para outros autores com o nome Kathryn Kramer, ver a página de desambiguação.

3 Works 122 Membros 2 Críticas

Obras por Kathryn Kramer

Rattlesnake Farming (1992) 16 exemplares
Sweet Water (1998) 10 exemplares

Etiquetado

Conhecimento Comum

Data de nascimento
1945
Sexo
female
Nacionalidade
USA
Local de nascimento
Annapolis, Maryland, USA

Membros

Críticas

Another one of those used-bookstore finds, I had nothing to go on from this book except the unusual title. I was so intrigued I broke my usually-iron-clad rule about not reading books that don't put some kind of non-reviewer blurb on the back of the cover or the front flap.

The book has three threads that converge, more or less, by the time the book wraps up, and the book is framed by the idea of a war: "No one knew when the war had started, by whom or with what purpose. It had not been declared. Those who tried to join up could not discover where to present themselves."

The primary thread follows Cyrus Quince, from when he's growing up in idyllic Arborville, the only town that refuses to worry about the war, and he also learns the art of subterfuge under the influence of his grandfather. A crisis eventually leads to him abandoning his home. Then there are the Ludwickers, an exiled royal family of uncertain origin who live out their lives in rich isolation on their New Jersey estate. Finally there is a darker and more cryptic plot involving the ultimate modern war. Soldiers have been stationed for years without so much as spotting an enemy and all reports from the front are lost in the back pages of newspapers. An Ambassador has been called in to negotiate a settlement but there seems to be little that can be sorted out of the confusion. And there are many more characters that get some time of their own.

This was an unusual novel to say the least and sometimes it didn't quite add up, but it was enjoyable all the same. There were alot of snarky set-ups and scenes you'd expect in a young mid-80s novel, plus gothic or soap operic plot elements involving incest, violen virtuosos, stolen letters, and mysterious disappearances. Kramer overindulged herself at times with writing, but I never minded a little purple prose for a good cause, and this certainly was that.
… (mais)
 
Assinalado
ManWithAnAgenda | Feb 18, 2019 |
Chris's ex-girlfriend
 
Assinalado
Hungerknight | Aug 5, 2011 |

Listas

Estatísticas

Obras
3
Membros
122
Popularidade
#163,289
Avaliação
½ 3.7
Críticas
2
ISBN
32
Línguas
2

Tabelas & Gráficos