Review: Really enjoyable
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 10 30, 2012
Awesome, just Awesome. I stayed up way too late on multiple night to read it and still would have been happy for more. I just loved the characters' personalities and their interactions. They all had their own little bit of wit that was distinctly different from one another. I did wonder how it was that the bad guys continued to get away with their depravities, since everyone seemed to know about them. But not enough to get huffy about it.What I loved the most about the story is that Baldwin was willing to let people be unhappy. Don't get me wrong I love a happy ending, but it always feels disingenuous when plots spin like pinwheels to bring one about for everyone involved. Let's face it. Life is hard. People don't always get what they want. They die or are left dissatisfied for a million other reasons. I really appreciate that Baldwin was willing to allow her characters this slice of reality in their fictional world. I'm not saying no-one leaves the last page of Conditioned Response happy, just that I liked the balance.Baldwin is, quite frankly, the kind of writer that leaves other feeling inadequate. She is definitely playing with the big boys. I would happily compare her to Asimov, Huxley or Heinlein. Not only was it clear and easy to understand, it never felt forced and always managed to find the right tone for the scene. I am in awe...and I'm not really one to fawn over people. I just can't wait to read the rest.