Well, I've just finished one of the best novels I've ever read. I picked it up at the library around a week ago. The novel, Shadows, written by a one John Saul(Who I had previously never heard of), quickly grabbed my attention with a "kinda freaky" preface.

The bulk of the early part of the story concerns the life of two children. One, a hyper-intelligent child, 'Josh', is around 10 years of age, and has lived a quiet but very uncomfortable life in the small town of Eden. The other child is Amy, also ten years old, and also living an uncomfortable life. Both of these children happen to be geniuses, and the two stories collide at a sinister "School" for Gifted children like themselves.

Of course, sinister things are occouring at this 'School', and eventually, the protagonists are drawn in to what can only be described as a huge "Conspiracy", involving Suicide, Psychology, and the concept of Artificial Intelligence, events of which I was almost never able to predict!


Plot twists, Supurb Description on the Authors part, and storytelling that made me(And you too, if you read it) unwilling to put the book down all create one of the most enthralling literary experiences I have come with. The book has it all, Action, Adventure, Betrayal, Carbon Monoxide, Children, Computers, Druggings, Creaky old Elevators, Friendship, Insanity, Intelligence, Murder, Picnics, Shark Attacks, Surgery, and even 19th century Railroad Tycoons!
(No Risqué Business in this story, though, so too bad!)

I thouroughly enjoyed this book, and I would suggest that anyone who likes compelling stories, has nothing to do, or just wants something good to read pick this story up!



(*I'm not calling California itself a wasteland. I'm talking about the Deserts.)