FEATURED AUTHOR - After graduating from Duke University, Glen Dawson owned and operated a flexible packaging manufacturing plant for 23 years. Then, he sold the factory and went back to school to get his Master's degree in biostatistics from Boston University. When he moved to North Carolina, he opened an after-school learning academy for advanced math students in grades 2 through 12. After growing the academy from 30 to 430 students, he sold it to Art of Problem Solving. Since retiring from Art of Problem…
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Recent comments: User reviews
The series employs standardized formula: a young and indomitable hero sets out to earn his way, facing foes and finding new friends. In this case, Ralph is determined to be a railroad man, and has it in his mind to start at the bottom. Each subsequent book follows Ralph's climb up the railroading ladder.
Also typical in this era's literature is extent sexism and racism and stereotypical villains: unsavory men who walk with a slouch, hands jammed into their pockets with their hats pulled low over their eyes. Just as typical are the friends Ralph makes, and those whom he "sets to right".
Overall, it's a generally enjoyable series, and gives you a view into what was once a thriving industry but now one relegated to history books. One could imagine living in a small town where the hub of activity is the railroad depot.
Good for train fans, but take note that vernacular is often used, i.e., "cow catcher" vs. "pilot"
However, the extreme detail often appears to overshadow the actual story. Much of the book appears to be setup for a story that doesn't really begin to flesh out until quite near the end. At which point, the hero walks into the sunset, leaving practically all the issues unresolved.
I imagine this abrupt ending was deliberate, adding to the timelessness of the story, but even so, the book leaves the reader in the lurch.
Nevertheless, reading this was not a waste of time.
But I always like to try to give a fair reading, so I plodded on, and after a little while, I found myself engrossed.
The climax, like the exposition, were a bit overly drawn out, and I felt that closure could have been achieved in a more streamlined manner.
The author plainly classifies this as an "unashamed attempt at Philosophical (Christian) Science Fiction", wherein a self-aware artificial intelligence journeys to discover the meaning of life.
A human protagonist accompanies, at first unwillingly, the AI in her quest, and also finds the answers to his own questions.
The social and economic situations strike surprising close to home. Given this, I do wish the author did not attach specific dates, as I feel this could be "tomorrow" rather than a century-and-a-half into the future.