A thriller unfolds in the midst of an auto insurance fraud. Dar Minor, an expert in this field, makes astonishing discoveries and thus finds himself being hunted by the largest alliance of fraudsters in the western United States. The writing had some heaviness to it.

Dar Minor's journey into the world of auto insurance fraud begins with his curiosity and expertise. As he delves deeper, he stumbles upon a web of deceit and corruption that shocks him to the core. The fraudsters, realizing the threat he poses, unleash their forces to silence him.

With danger lurking around every corner, Dar Minor must use all his skills and wits to stay one step ahead of his pursuers. He races against time to expose the fraud and bring the criminals to justice. Will he succeed in his mission or will he fall victim to the clutches of the fraudsters? Only time will tell in this thrilling tale of danger and deception.

Definitely not one of Dan Simmons' best works, but it is also far from being his worst. The plot of this story was rather tiresome and developed at a slow pace. The so-called "high-speed chases" in it were actually quite sluggish in speed, almost like those of the elderly. However, I still have to give credit to Simmons for all the in-depth research he must have done to make this story based on facts. There were some aspects that I did enjoy, such as the characters of Dar and Syd. They had certain charm and individuality. But unfortunately, for me, the emotional connection just wasn't established as strongly as I would have liked. Maybe I will revisit this story again in the future, but it won't be anytime soon. I need some time to distance myself from it and then decide whether to give it another chance.

The main character in this story is simply an over-the-top superhero, making it difficult to take much of the action seriously. He is not just any ordinary character, but a super genius sniper from the Vietnam era. What makes him even more extraordinary is his passion for Greek philosophy and his hobby of glider flying. It's all just too much to handle.

Adding to this, the book is filled with endless expositions about guns, sniper theory, and other related topics. It seems that almost as much of the book is dedicated to backstory and lengthy descriptions as to the actual events that are taking place.

To be honest, the basic concept of a grand insurance fraud scheme like the one presented in the book is inherently rather silly. It lacks the depth and believability that would make it a truly engaging and captivating read. Overall, while the book may have some interesting elements, it fails to deliver a truly satisfying and immersive experience due to its over-the-top character and convoluted plot.

Finito nel 01/gen/1970 00:00:00

This date holds a certain significance. It marks the end of a particular era or event. The year 1970 was a time of great change and upheaval in many aspects of the world.

Perhaps it was the conclusion of a long and arduous project, or the culmination of a series of events that had been building up over time.

The specific details of what was "finito" on this date are not clear from the given information, but it is evident that it was an important moment.

It could have had far-reaching consequences for individuals, organizations, or even entire societies.

Looking back on this date, we can reflect on the events that led up to it and the impact it had on the world around us.

It serves as a reminder of the passage of time and the importance of documenting and understanding our history.

Finito nel 01/gen/1970 00:00:00 will always be a date that holds a special place in our collective memory.

A good plot is indeed the backbone of a story, and it has the power to keep the readers engaged and interested. However, in this particular case, although the plot was quite captivating, I found myself lacking any real connection or emotional investment in the characters.

The story seemed to focus more on the events and the twists and turns of the plot, rather than on developing the characters in a way that would make them relatable or endearing. As a result, I was simply going through the motions of reading, without really caring about what happened to the characters.

Character development is crucial in creating a truly immersive and memorable reading experience. When we can identify with the characters, understand their motives and emotions, and root for them throughout the story, it adds a whole new layer of depth and meaning. Without this, the story may have a good plot, but it ultimately falls short in leaving a lasting impression.

This was not my favorite work by Dan Simmons. However, he did a rather good job in penning a suspenseful action thriller.

I really liked the main character, Dar(win). There was an air of mystery surrounding him, which added an interesting layer to the story. Moreover, there was a touch of humor among the main characters, which lightened the overall tone at times.

It was also truly fascinating to observe accident recreation being presented as a career for the main characters. It made me wonder if there is really as much scamming of insurance claims as was vividly described in this book. And could there be enough such activities to warrant a huge task force composed of multiple law agencies going after a group that organizes them?

The story had its moments of excitement and kept me engaged throughout, despite not being my absolute favorite from the author.

This is an outstanding book!

I have read numerous reviews, and it truly depresses me to realize that a beautifully written, fast-paced, and thrilling book can be disregarded in society just like a person who is simply born with a high intellect.

Indeed, the character of Dar is intelligent.

It is evident in the portrayal of his thought process.

No, you don't necessarily have to understand his depth to enjoy the book.

Just set aside your inferiority complex, and this book will take you on an amazing journey!

It's a real page-turner that offers excitement and entertainment from start to finish.

Don't let the perception of the character's intelligence deter you from experiencing the joy of reading this remarkable piece of literature.

Give it a chance, and you'll be glad you did.

The book seems to be a good fit for the movie adaptation. However, it is unfortunately full of stereotypes.

The main character is portrayed as a master in every aspect, ranging from military techniques to philosophical citations. It creates an almost unrealistic and overly idealized image.

Moreover, the division of characters based on their origin is quite concerning. The good characters are conveniently from California, while the bad characters are, predictably, from Russia. This kind of pattern gives the impression of being a bit nationalistic.

It is important to note that such generalizations and stereotypes can have a negative impact on how people perceive different cultures and regions. In a more diverse and globalized world, we should strive for more nuanced and accurate portrayals in our literature and media to avoid promoting unnecessary biases and misunderstandings.

James Bond meets Sherlock Holmes with a touch of John Wick. Why not indeed? This story is perhaps a one or two-star affair at best. However, the audacity of creating such a character and presenting it with a straight face is truly remarkable. It is this very chutzpah that earns it the third star. Kudos to Mr Simmons for not taking himself too seriously. He has managed to bring together these iconic figures in a rather unique and unexpected way. While the story may not be a literary masterpiece, it definitely has its charm. It makes you wonder what other crazy combinations could be possible in the world of fiction. Maybe we'll see more of these unlikely crossovers in the future. Only time will tell.

Even when Dan Simmons is "slumming," it's still a relatively decent read.

The main problem lies in the fact that the fascinating accident reconstruction elements gradually give way to a conspiracy thriller.

The actual conspiracy and crime-related content isn't terrible. However, the questionable part is when Simmons portrays the main character, Darwin Minor, as a Rambo-like super-awesome individual.

Not only did he graduate from college early and is a badass accident reconstruction specialist, but he's also a top-tier elite marksman?

It seems a bit excessive in terms of "this guy is awesome" for my personal tastes.

Overall, while there are some enjoyable aspects to the story, this over-the-top characterization of the main character detracts somewhat from the overall experience.

Beyond some rather lackluster word play, which was most notably manifested in the naming of the main character as Darwin - a nod to the theme of people succumbing to their demise due to making monumentally stupid mistakes. And then, to add a supposed touch of "humor," his nickname was given as "DAR!". However, this attempt at cleverness fell flat for me.

The book, in its entirety, failed to engage my interest. It seemed to rely too heavily on these gimmicky aspects rather than developing a truly captivating plot or fleshing out the characters in a meaningful way.

As I progressed through the pages, I found myself increasingly disenchanted and ultimately, just plain bored. There was a distinct lack of depth and substance, leaving me with a sense of dissatisfaction and a longing for a more intellectually stimulating read.

Perhaps if the author had focused less on these surface-level tricks and more on creating a story that could truly resonate with readers, it might have had a better chance of holding my attention. But as it stands, this book will not be one that I would recommend or remember fondly.

There are writers who are truly remarkable storytellers. Ivan Doig and John Grisham are prime examples that immediately come to mind. Their writing is characterized by simple, direct prose that flows clearly and crisply through the narrative, captivating readers from start to finish.

And then, there are writers like Dan Simmons. Judging from his novel, Darwin's Blade, it seems that he attempts to impress readers by overwhelming them with mountains of irrelative statistics and unnecessary digressions.

Darwin's Blade does have an interesting protagonist and a basically good plot. Simmons should have been content with these strengths and focused on developing the story in a more straightforward manner. Instead, he seems more intent on showing off his cleverness and adorning the tale like an over-tinseled Christmas tree.

Overall, this novel earns a grudging two stars. It has its redeeming qualities, but Simmons' excessive use of extraneous details detracts from what could have been a more engaging and enjoyable read.