"
Tor, Jan 2002, 25.95, 365 pp.
ISBN: 076530337X
College literature professor Daniel Glynn still grieves the loss of his spouse Julie. He also feels guilty that he is unable to offer solace to his son Sean, suffering from painful nightmares. At the same time in Los Angeles, Daniel's brother Michael, a TV ad director, struggles with the recent death of a loved one. Neither sibling can turn to the other for relief, as they detest one another.
As the two siblings separately cope with death, strange beings assault both of them in different but related incidents involving demands to hand over the “codes” or reveal the whereabouts of one another. These "crossovers" force Michael and Daniel to seek each other out or else die. As they close in on one other, each brother questions what the future will hold, but both predict with absolute certainty that death is inevitable and this may be their time.
THE IMPOSSIBLE BIRD is an exciting science fiction thriller that provides a series of unbelievable subplots tied together by the Glynn brothers. The story line seemingly touches on every corner of the absurd and then some including hummingbirds as a key element to the wild plot. However, that hitting so much on full cylinders causes the reader to lose empathy with the lead couple as the wild plot overwhelms the audience with a what next attitude. Fans of a weird well written, but all over the place journey past a certain sign post will enjoy Patrick O'Leary's strange adventure.
Harriet Klausner
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Harriet Klausner, Resident Patrick O'Leary Scholar
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Overall Review
Our unique search engine breaks down books and movies into
dozens of literary elements, all of which are searchable.
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
Composition of Book Descript. of chases or violence - 10% planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 60% Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 20% Descript. of society, phenomena (tech), places - 10%
Tone of book
- suspenseful (sophisticated fear)
FANTASY or SCIENCE FICTION?
- science fiction story
Tech./$$$/Info hunt
Yes
Stealing/recovering/destroying
- computer/database
Inner Struggle
Yes
Plotlet:
- search for identity/new understanding
Is this an adult or child's book?
- Adult or Young Adult Book
Family relations
Yes
Main Character
Identity:
- Male
Profession/status:
- scholar
Is this an ordinary person caught up in events?
Yes
How sensitive is this character?
- middling sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor
- Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence
- Smarter than most other characters
Physique
- average physique
Main Adversary
Identity:
- An "It".
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in:
- a moderate amount
How sensitive is this character?
- hard edged
Sense of humor
- Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence
- Average intelligence
Physique
- average physique
Setting
Earth setting:
- current (early 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 fair amount of scientific explanation
How much dialogue?
- roughly even amounts of descript and dialog
