The Rift by Walter Jon Williams
The New Madrid Fault teaches a memorable lesson about the transience
of things.
https://jamesdavisnicoll.com/review/rumble
On 2/24/2026 8:26 AM, James Nicoll wrote:
The Rift by Walter Jon Williams
The New Madrid Fault teaches a memorable lesson about the transience
of things.
https://jamesdavisnicoll.com/review/rumble
So, did you like the book ?
I gave it 4 stars out of 5 stars.
Here is my review: "At the advice of some here, I bought this (used
since out of print) and finally read it.ÿ I thought it was a apocalypse story but it is a disaster story (not my favorite).ÿ I like the book as
it spent a LOT of time on building the characters but I did not like the Armageddon preacher clan nor the KKK sheriff.ÿ Just seemed a little over
the top to me."
Lynn
On 2/24/26 6:15 PM, Lynn McGuire wrote:
On 2/24/2026 8:26 AM, James Nicoll wrote:
The Rift by Walter Jon Williams
The New Madrid Fault teaches a memorable lesson about the transience
of things.
https://jamesdavisnicoll.com/review/rumble
So, did you like the book ?
I gave it 4 stars out of 5 stars.
Here is my review: "At the advice of some here, I bought this (used
since out of print) and finally read it.ÿ I thought it was a
apocalypse story but it is a disaster story (not my favorite).ÿ I like
the book as it spent a LOT of time on building the characters but I
did not like the Armageddon preacher clan nor the KKK sheriff.ÿ Just
seemed a little over the top to me."
Lynn
I have tried 3 times to read this one, and I just lose interest,
primarily due to the things you allude to. The fact that it's not really
SF also hurts the cause, as I would never choose to read a non-SF
disaster novel with so many other things to read out there.
Tony, who likes all the other WJW he has read, but who has consciously
let Days of Atonement sit there for over a decade
On 27/02/2026 10:38, Tony Nance wrote:
On 2/24/26 6:15 PM, Lynn McGuire wrote:
On 2/24/2026 8:26 AM, James Nicoll wrote:
The Rift by Walter Jon Williams
The New Madrid Fault teaches a memorable lesson about the transience
of things.
https://jamesdavisnicoll.com/review/rumble
So, did you like the book ?
I gave it 4 stars out of 5 stars.
Here is my review: "At the advice of some here, I bought this (used
since out of print) and finally read it.ÿ I thought it was a
apocalypse story but it is a disaster story (not my favorite).ÿ I like
the book as it spent a LOT of time on building the characters but I
did not like the Armageddon preacher clan nor the KKK sheriff.ÿ Just
seemed a little over the top to me."
Lynn
I have tried 3 times to read this one, and I just lose interest,
primarily due to the things you allude to. The fact that it's not really
SF also hurts the cause, as I would never choose to read a non-SF
disaster novel with so many other things to read out there.
Tony, who likes all the other WJW he has read, but who has consciously
let Days of Atonement sit there for over a decade
Why? I haven't read The Rift, but awarded Days of Atonement three stars,
an enjoyable read. Murder mystery, action adventure, pseudo hard science
and as you already know, he can tell a great story.
The New Madrid Fault teaches a memorable lesson about the transience
of things.
On Tue, 24 Feb 2026 14:26:12 -0000 (UTC), James Nicoll wrote:
The New Madrid Fault teaches a memorable lesson about the transience
of things.
But will the lesson last?
On 2/26/26 7:51 AM, Titus G wrote:
On 27/02/2026 10:38, Tony Nance wrote:
On 2/24/26 6:15 PM, Lynn McGuire wrote:
On 2/24/2026 8:26 AM, James Nicoll wrote:
The Rift by Walter Jon Williams
Here is my review: "At the advice of some here, I bought this (used
since out of print) and finally read it.ÿ I thought it was a
apocalypse story but it is a disaster story (not my favorite).ÿ I like >>>> the book as it spent a LOT of time on building the characters but I
did not like the Armageddon preacher clan nor the KKK sheriff.ÿ Just
seemed a little over the top to me."
I have tried 3 times to read this one, and I just lose interest,
primarily due to the things you allude to. The fact that it's not really >>> SF also hurts the cause, as I would never choose to read a non-SF
disaster novel with so many other things to read out there.
Tony, who likes all the other WJW he has read, but who has consciously
let Days of Atonement sit there for over a decade
Why? I haven't read The Rift, but awarded Days of Atonement three stars,
an enjoyable read. Murder mystery, action adventure, pseudo hard science
and as you already know, he can tell a great story.
My memories are fuzzy. I just grabbed my copy, and apparently I actually made it through the first three chapters (though 58 pages) before I put it down.
One of my flaws[1] for reading enjoyment is that I need at least one character to be interesting/enjoyable/what-have-you. Flipping through the early pages, here, I'm not liking Loren at all. So that might be part of it.
On 27/02/2026 16.11, Tony Nance wrote:
On 2/26/26 7:51 AM, Titus G wrote:
On 27/02/2026 10:38, Tony Nance wrote:
On 2/24/26 6:15 PM, Lynn McGuire wrote:
On 2/24/2026 8:26 AM, James Nicoll wrote:
The Rift by Walter Jon Williams
Here is my review: "At the advice of some here, I bought this (used
since out of print) and finally read it.ÿ I thought it was a
apocalypse story but it is a disaster story (not my favorite).ÿ I like >>>>> the book as it spent a LOT of time on building the characters but I
did not like the Armageddon preacher clan nor the KKK sheriff.ÿ Just >>>>> seemed a little over the top to me."
I have tried 3 times to read this one, and I just lose interest,
primarily due to the things you allude to. The fact that it's not
really
SF also hurts the cause, as I would never choose to read a non-SF
disaster novel with so many other things to read out there.
Tony, who likes all the other WJW he has read, but who has consciously >>>> let Days of Atonement sit there for over a decade
Why? I haven't read The Rift, but awarded Days of Atonement three stars, >>> an enjoyable read. Murder mystery, action adventure, pseudo hard science >>> and as you already know, he can tell a great story.
My memories are fuzzy. I just grabbed my copy, and apparently I
actually made it through the first three chapters (though 58 pages)
before I put it down.
One of my flaws[1] for reading enjoyment is that I need at least one
character to be interesting/enjoyable/what-have-you. Flipping through
the early pages, here, I'm not liking Loren at all. So that might be
part of it.
I just reread this last fall. I kept wanting to cheer for him, but never could manage it. Still thought that it was a gripping story.
OTOH, I despised _The Rift_. I was carried along by it until I got to what Lynn referred to as "the KKK sheriff". Absolutely horrifying. Somehow, I managed to complete it, although I'm not sure why.
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