Review of Prospector

[Chi Chiu Michael Mak]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Prospector" by Troy Dow Van Zandt.]

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4 out of 5 stars

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In Prospector by Troy Dow Van Zandt, Carey Denning is a spartan man prospecting in the hills of Arizona. One day, he comes across a large black oval floating above the ground. This object does not seem to be from our home planet. For some strange reason, a voice spoken in eloquent English is beckoning to Carey. It gradually dawns on him that he is making contact with an intelligent, extraterrestrial being. Will this be a friendly encounter? What will Carey see? What do they want? How is life outside our home planet? How will this impact the future of civilisation?

I love the first portion of the book because it perfectly shows the doubt and excitement that Carey experiences as he interacts with extraterrestrial life. His reactions and feelings make sense. Also, I really like Carey's book-smart, level-headed personality. It helps him approach unfamiliar challenges, which is great for searching for gold and chatting with aliens. Without mentioning spoilers, the aliens Carey meets are very different from how they are usually portrayed in films and video games. This adds novelty to the book. Their interactions will surprise you.

The only notable drawback of this book is its second portion. The first portion, which consists of the first five chapters, draws readers in with its awesome dialogue and descriptions, building a strong emotional connection. However, this connection is abruptly severed in the sixth chapter when the narrative shifts focus away from Carey to introduce other named characters that readers are not yet familiar with. This occurs right after the readers learn about the pivotal deal that the aliens make with Carey. It is akin to having the juiciest part of an apple pie taken away from you just as you are about to savour its delightful flavour.

Despite the drawback, Prospector is a fun science fiction book. If you are interested in stories that feature humans making contact with aliens and how it impacts society, this book will be worth your time. Besides, I only found one typo while reading, so the editing is great. Therefore, I rate this book 4 out of 5 stars.

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Prospector
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[NetMassimo]

Despite the flaw you pointed out, this seems like an engaging novel centered around a first contact with aliens, a classic science fiction theme that appears to have been well developed by the author. Thank you for your gret review!

[Stephen Christopher 1]

Does the book get back on track after chapter 6 or does that ruin it completely? This sounds like a book I'd like to read.

[Julie Basil]

It sounds like this author provides a new perspective of what an alien encounter could be like, but gets off track in a way that detracts from the reading experience of the book. Thank you for sharing your thoughts!

[Gerry Steen]

I am sorry that the second part of the book let you down. In spite of this, your review has sparked my interest in this story. It is fun imagining what intelligent aliens could be like. I am adding this one to my bookshelves.