The Practice Effect - David Brin Book Review

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Review Summaries

"Dr. Dennis Nuel has a problem: he must use the practical result of his research into parallel worlds, a device known as a zievatron, to enter an alternate world and repair the test unit at the other side, which has mysteriously malfunctioned. Upon arriving at this newly discovered world, he finds that the zievatron portal is malfunctioning because it has been vandalized. Now, Dr. Nuel finds himself stranded in a parallel reality with a quirky robot probe, evidence that seems to point to primitives using highly advanced technology, and a growing suspicion that one of the physical laws of the universe is not what it used to be. As his efforts to repair the zievatron and return home run afoul of the evil Baron Kremer, a dictatorial ruler determined to crush a nascent rebellion against him, Nuel finds the brave new world he's in, one much like Earth, is even stranger than he first thought. "
Brandon Nolta, Resident David Brin Scholar

"Dennis Nuel, a bright but unpopular physicist, is sent to another world via an experimental machine. There, he learns that something is not quite the same as on our world...one of the laws of physics is...off. This book is so full of puns and low comedy it's hard to decide between snickering yourself sick and slapping the author a good one. Totally unlike the rest of Brin's book, this is a playful, light-hearted, romping adventure book."
Ivy, Resident David Brin Scholar

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Overall Review

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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot

Composition of Book
Descript. of chases or violence - 20%
planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 40%
Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 20%
Descript. of society, phenomena (tech), places - 20%

Tone of book - very upbeat
FANTASY or SCIENCE FICTION? - science fiction story
Tech./$$$/Info hunt Yes
Stealing/recovering/destroying - info about lifeform(s)/society/phenomena
Is this an adult or child's book? - Adult or Young Adult Book

Main Character
Identity: - Male
Profession/status: - scientist
Age: - 20's-30's
Is this an ordinary person caught up in events? Yes
How sensitive is this character? - sensitive to others' feelings - middling sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor - Cynical sense of humor - Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence - Smarter than most other characters
Physique - average physique

Main Adversary
Identity: - Male
Age: - 40's-50's
Profession/status: - Prince/Nobleman/King - dictator
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in: - a moderate amount
How sensitive is this character? - hard edged - mean, arrogant
Sense of humor - Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence - Average intelligence - Smarter than most other characters
Physique - average physique

Setting
Terrain - Mountains
A substantial portion of this book takes place on a non-Earth planetary body: - humans in a primitive/fantasy society
Takes place on Earth? Yes
Planet outside solar system? Yes

Style
Person? - mostly 3rd
Accounts of torture and death? - generic/vague references to death/punishment - moderately detailed references to deaths
scientific jargon? (SF only) - none/very little science jargon needed - a moderate amount of scientific explanation
How much dialogue? - roughly even amounts of descript and dialog

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Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s).

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