science fiction

The Coming - Joe Haldeman Book Review

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Review Summary
Astronomer Aurora Bell receives a message from space that says simply "WE'RE COMING." Whoever is coming willl arrive in exactly three months on New Year's Day. Earth is already on the brink of war, and as the powerful struggle to use "The Coming" to their advantage ordinary people like Rory and her husband Norman try to make sense of the turmoil around them.
Kevin Dole, Resident Scholar


Detailed literary breakdown of The Coming
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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot

Composition of Book
planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 10%
Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 50%
Descript. of society, phenomena (tech), places - 40%




Tone of book - cynical or dry-wit
FANTASY or SCIENCE FICTION? - science fiction story
Explore/1st contact/ enviro story Yes
Plotlets: - generally friendly contact with alien(s)
Is this an adult or child's book? - Adult or Young Adult Book

Main Character
Identity: - Female
Profession/status: - teacher
Is this an ordinary person caught up in events? Yes
How sensitive is this character? - sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor - Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence - Smarter than most other characters
Physique - healthy but a geeky weakling

Main Adversary
Identity: - none

Setting
Earth setting: - near future (later in 21st century)
Takes place on Earth? Yes

Style
Person? - mostly 3rd
Accounts of torture and death? - generic/vague references to death/punishment
scientific jargon? (SF only) - a moderate amount of scientific explanation
Sex in book? Yes
What kind of sex: - vague references only - actual description of sex
How much dialogue? - roughly even amounts of descript and dialog
Most similar books to The Coming
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