Review: An American Opinion
Rating: 3 out of 5
Date: 02 7, 2014
I write this as Mr. Smitherd stated emphatically in his book that he would like to see feedback from Americans.  I read The Black Room books after reading The Stone Man, so I was only just a little disappointed.  The Black Room story is very good, the author has an insight to the human psyche and is able to present it to his audience in a manner that draws one in, either from empathy, sympathy, or just plain morbid curiosity. I found the first three parts to this novel very entertaining, but part four came across a bit like a run on sentence.  I realize the author was trying to present all the details, but I almost put this one down after the "back story" went on and on and on and on.  In the end, I hung in there and was pleased that I did, there could not have been a better conclusion to the struggle between Charlie and Chuck.  I do have a couple of what I hope will be taken as constructive criticisms; first, work on the editing.  It can be very distracting when trying to enjoy a story and running into errors that make you pause to be sure you are reading correctly. ("pickup track" is one example that sticks with me)  Second, while I can appreciate dialect when it is coming from a character, the author should remember that if he wants an international audience he should write to them.  The list of English science fiction authors is long and illustrious and not one comes to mind that used the word "whilst" so much.  Now, to conclude this on a positive note; Mr. Smitherd, I will most certainly look for and purchase your work again.