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Title: Discipline: A Novel |
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Review of Discipline: A Novel
- Building on the vision of Kurt Vonnegut, the suspense of Michael Crichton, and the rich characters of Stephen King, Paco Ahlgren's first novel Discipline paints a chilling picture of a world that defies human perception. Douglas Cole is being hunted --and protected--but he doesn't know it. His life has been shattered by inexplicable tragedy, his waking hours haunted by ominous visions, but the more he pursues the questions plaguing him, the more elusive the answers become. Pushed to the brink of insanity, Douglas begins a desperate psychological battle with an enemy he cannot see, the outcome of which will determine the past, present, and future of human existence. Fusing blunt, gritty realism and philosophical passion with electrifying suspense, Discipline dissects our assumptions about reality.
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Comments for Discipline: A Novel
- Posted on 2008-05-25
Will Not Read Again
This seems like its been done before...its like the Taoist version of the Matrix, but a lot less exciting. The book is listed under "thriller" but I found nothing thrilling about it. I kept reading waiting for something exciting to happen, but was left with disappointment.
Ahlgren seems to write a fictitious auto-biography. Indeed, the first half of the book is very slow...he plays chess, he gets into financial markets, lives in durango & austin, and likes existentialism. Any research into Ahlgren's life reveals these facts, so he's taking "write what you know" a little too far.
I highly doubt any further publications from the author would have different topics, character types, or inspiration. I didn't care about the characters and saw the ending a mile away. I kept reading waiting for something to happen. A few things did, but they weren't exciting.
The Taoist concepts, though well researched and laid out in layman's terms, could probably be found on any Wiki. Like I said, skip this and watch the Matrix trilogy.
Reminds me of a joke: Why did the Buddhist refuse Novocaine at the dentist? He wanted to transcend dental medication!
Score: 2
- Posted on 2008-05-24
Great!
I'm 15, and I will honestly say that I did struggle with some of the ideas in this. They're absolutely mind-boggling, and it's hard to describe the quiet reflection this book made me feel long after I had read it. It is unique, and one of a kind, I promise you wont find another book like this that is of the same quality or with such a staggering blend of story elements. Despite this being Paco Ahlgren's first book, you would never know it. He has a talent for writing that I'm quite honestly jealous of. I highly reccomend it for those who want to be challenged in their believes of the universe, and how it works, and then our place in it. Whether you agree with views, hate this book, or absolutely find it amazing (I'm one of them!) DISCIPLINE is a novel not to be ignored.
However, in my mind this book also does get 4 1/2 stars for the reasons of what I would say is an excessive use of language in some parts of the book, for most of the story it is quite clean, but if you frown heavily on swearing this is a book that you read at your own risk. I would say that this book isn't for the faint of heart.
Score: 5
- Posted on 2008-04-23
DISCIPLINE
I've just finished DISCIPLINE, which along with my beloved SIDDARTHA, engages both my brain and my emotions, and titillates my endless curiosity about how things really are and what might happen "if."
DISCIPLINE was a challenging book to read in some aspects, because it amalgamates physics, chess, music, eastern philosophies, and high finance. I know nothing about the first two and a modicum of the last three. If the story of Douglas Cole's unfoldment and the suspense surrounding Jefferson and Jackson had not been so engaging, I might have given up as my seventy-one year old brain sloughed through uncharted seas of subjects beyond my reading experience.
As I read this astonishing boook by a fledgling writer, I was at first impressed by his excellent vocabulary and fresh metaphors. Then I became amazed at the way Ahlgren effortlessly wove complex and difficult subjects into an intriguing story.
But what really kept me reading was the recognition of states of mind/emotion that ring true in Ahlgren's descripition of multiple universes. And the tantalizing realization that he is not depicting science fiction, but rather the true state of mankind.
I suspect that each person, according to his/her experiences, will come away with a different perception of this extraordinary book, so unlike anything else in popular fiction.
Paco, I eagerly await your next book. May it be even more astounding so that your readers will stretch their perceptions far beyond what we think we know.
Score: 5 - Posted on 2008-02-14
A book I wish I would have written
As I hungrily browse the new release aisles I usually find nothing but detective/murder stories, political/terrorist thrillers, or stories of love lost, yawn! I'm always looking for great new novels but rarely find any that offer new ideas, life lessons, and philosophy. This book was exactly what I was looking for. It's thought provoking, challenges beliefs, and it empowered me to learn more about the economic and spiritual concepts in the book. I want to be inspired when I finished reading a book, and that's what happened when I read Discipline, thanks Paco. I can't wait for a sequel, but until then, I'll just keep rereading and rereading this one and it'll be time well spent, thanks!
Score: 5 - Posted on 2008-02-08
Uneven--a case of missed potential
The book opened really well, and beyond the opening were some really engaging scenes. Unfortunately they were intermixed with flat introspection, plot points that could have been much more deftly handled, two-dimensional-to-the-point-of-caricature supporting characters, five pages of a family friend explaining quantum physics, and a narrative voice that was too often intrusive.
A major tragedy early on in the book failed to reach me on an emotional level. How could that happen? I was interested in those characters--I cared about them, or thought I did until the tragedy happened and I had no response to it. I read on for a while after that, but the antagonistic characters became overdone to the point of making me say, "Okay, I'm just not interested in this anymore." A little subtlety (or finesse) would have done a world of good.
The most disappointing thing is that the good stuff in this novel was GOOD and showed that Ahlgren had the potential to make this a fantastic book, but it's not a fantastic book; it's an uneven book that failed to hold my interest.
Score: 2