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This review does not represent the opinions of the general public. It reflects my personal thoughts and opinions on the book.
That said, on to the review!
The people of Paradise have, since their relocation to the planet, liven isolated from one another, congregating in three distinct groups. One is comprised of human idealists returning to nature and relying only minimally on the technology provided them by the Spectrutek Corporation. One is composed of a finite number of genetically altered humans whose adjusted DNA has resulted in avian, feline, or aquatic traits along with extended lifespans but infertility. And one is led by a retired businessman determined to rebuild anew the financial empire he left behind upon his retirement. But now that isolation is at an end, and representatives of all three groups have been called to meet with a staff of Spectrutek employees left on the planet to monitor the situation. All attend the meeting with mixed feelings, but two unexpected tragedies force them all to work together as they become enmeshed in a game of corporate intrigue and infighting.
3 Passports to Paradise is a book with a very interesting premise: that paradise can be attained through careful planning and control. The only other place I've seen anything resembling this sort of plot is on one of the Star Trek television series. It's been interesting to see how the society actually develops and prepares for new changes as opposed to a starship crew that encounters such a society from the outside. On the other hand, I have to admit my doubts about any such society actually succeeding for very long. Perhaps its my own prejudice due to having read so many books wherein organizations try to achieve perfection or utopia only to become prey to politics or economics.
The action in this book takes a while to build up. The introductory chapters are just that: introductory. They take the time to establish the main characters as individuals. Now I'm not saying that it's a bad thing, but it became just a bit tedious. Once I got to see the characters from different groups interacting, however, everything picked up. I found myself determined, almost desperate, to get to the end and find out the answer to which person murdered which victim. It's a very compelling story once you get to the meat of it. Think of it as a several course meal. You need to work through the salad, the soup, the bread, and the appetizers before you get to the main dish, and the dessert is to die for!
3 Passports to Paradise is a book with a clear plot that lies buried beneath numerous subplots that won't be ignored. And while this may be intimidating for some, rest assured that they all go towards making a book whose components are more than the sum of their whole! Just read it and see!
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