The Dig

List Price: $6.99 Discount Price: $5.00

Customer Reviews:

Totally unrealistic... [Posted on 2003-08-20]
First of all, I'm a fan of Mr. Foster and have enjoyed many of his books. I didn't realize that this book was based on a game - so the unrealistic plot points might not be his fault. But I was disappointed.

For example, one of the main characters was pushed into leading this shuttle mission because he was known as a great pilot (fine) and was a 'hero' because of a previous shuttle mission. In this previous mission, he had managed to bring the shuttle down safely even though the shuttle was sent up *without enough fuel to bring it back down* !?!?!?!!?! Huh!!

You want him to be a hero - no problems! Have something go wrong in the previous mission - that could happen. But not enough fuel - that's ludicrous!!

Another one - this 'asteroid' suddenly shows up in an orbit around Earth. No one saw it coming - it just appeared. But it didn't occur to anyone that - just perhaps - it wasn't an asteroid??

And this 'asteroid' has a decaying orbit that will eventually send it crashing into the Earth. The mission goes up to set some nuclear bombs that will nudge it into a better orbit. So this is basically a do-or-die mission for Earth. And they send along a cute, perky journalist!! I don't think so.

There are just so many things that don't ring true. After the asteroid's orbit is changed, three of them go to explore a bit. (Of course, they bring along the journalist.) But there's no major emergency, the asteroid's orbit is stable - so why do they pick up these artifacts and move them around and try fitting them into things?? This would never happen - a lot more investigation would be done first.

The whole thing is stupid.

Pre-"Rama" story [Posted on 2004-10-12]
This was good tale, with a lot of interesting people. It reminded me of A. C. Clarke's story "Rama" and "Rama II", though this one ended within one book and it did not have the social dilemma. The ending was a bit disappointing, but, what else to do? At least it was positive and did not dwell on the problems that would be encountered in real life.

Probably the 3rd or 4th best book I have read to date. [Posted on 2005-05-31]
While this is one of the best SF books I have ever read, I am somewhat new to the SF world. It seems original, and I could not put it down in most parts. It ends kind of abruptly...but it is very good altogether.
Is about an asteroid that comes to earth that ends up not being an asteriod. Very SFish with aliens and ancient cultures and such.

Just like the Video Game [Posted on 2005-08-20]
The Dig was my favorite games of 1996. By reading this book I had the impression to get back to this mysterious world and solve the puzzles all over again. I just wish someone has the gutts to produce the movie or a TV show based on this incredible story.

I picked up this book because of the flashy illustration. [Posted on 2007-05-25]
Not because I knew about the video game or anything, but just because it had people in space-suits. I SO WAS NOT DISAPPOINTED! This book is UNBELIEVEABLE. Actually, anything by Alan Dean Foster is. So read it--you will NOT be disappointed.

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