reviewed by William Black
I picked up this book after watching the movie of the same name. Being a consumer of media that promotes sensless violence, I was much impressed with the movie. I assumed, and was not mistaken, that the novel would take a deeper look into character motivations. Not unlike Heinlen (Starship Troopers), there is a political message in the book that was not translated into the movie. The story itself is both uplifting and disturbing. 42 students on an island forced to kill one another or die. Who can you trust, if everyone else's life depends on you dying? This novel has more backstabbing and strategizing than a season of survivor, but will suprise you in the end. This book is not recommended for children. Parents read this book before you let your older children read it. It does have some sexual refrences and a lot of violence. Everyone else should read this book, and try to understand the political message, Think, Learn, and Speak. Enjoy!

Buckner's third attempt surpasses her first but doesn't quite live up to the second. If you have read the second book, Neurolink, you may find a lot of the same plot elements in War Surf.

This book is about characters that surf "wars", semi-violent litigations between execs and protes, for the adrenaline rush. Two of the characters get stranded on a satalite and have to befriend protes to survive. Life lessons are learned and the protes end up teaching the execs.

My major problem was with the pacing. The story is told in flashback from a dying exec on the satalite. The author then takes too long in getting the characters too the satalite. There is a lot of debate on whether or not they should go when you already know they will. It just kind of drug on at that point. Once the characters get on the satalite the pace picks up and the story is fairly entertaining.

My only other problem was with the main characters characterization. He doesn't seem realistic in his actions or thoughts. It was a more appropriate characterization for a spoiled teenager than a 200+ man.

Not the authors fault, but the cover doesn't really represent the book or the world in which the book lies, but that is nitpicking.

I would recommend this book to sci fi fans. Due to sexual content, not graphic, 16 up.