Falling Torch

By: Algis Budrys

Narrated by: Jerry Sciarrio

How could he save Earth, when Earth no longer cared? In this sci-fi classic, distant archaic Earth has been occupied by aliens for several decades, while Earth's government-in-exile has resided in the advanced Centaurian system.©2003 Books in Motion (P)2003 Books in Motion

novelized 'Dear Diary' maunderings

This book wasn’t for you, but who do you think might enjoy it more?

If you want to listen to the protagonist endlessly self-analyze his pathetic insecurities, then this book is for you.

What could Algis Budrys have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

The author might have included some science along with his fiction, It's 500 years from now, and the big military technology advance is an air rifle? Also, alien invaders than look exactly like humans is just biologically idiotic.

How did the narrator detract from the book?

The narrator read it like an annoying self-absorbed teenager. To be fair though, that is how it was written.

What character would you cut from Falling Torch?

The main one.

Any additional comments?

The events of the book very closely parallel the author's childhood experiences as a Lithuanian refugee. The endless introspective inner dialog is obviously something that belongs in a 'Dear Diary' entry and not as part of a novel. The plot for this book was literally nonexistent. If Budrys needed to work out some issues (he really, really did), may I suggest free writing and then burning the pages instead of making all of us suffer along with him?