I've always felt there was something wrong with this book. I had originally wanted to read it years ago (which I did) because of the high-octane races, those particular descriptions, but what I soon realised was that this book is pretty sucky. It basically has the author giving constant narrative summary regarding each race rather than displaying/showing what's happening up close on the circuit. I wanted to see first-hand action, not be told that the race is 'fast and furious' every single time. It's bad writing, but there are other issues too, kinda proving that the author wasn't thinking too hard when he wrote this garbage. It really appears like a screenplay, though the book is way too long to work as a movie. It also lacks detail in all aspects of its storytelling, with everything being shallowly drawn, told to you rather than immersing you in the story. Add to that the poor characterisation, with characters that make absolutely no impression or impact ... which is what usually happens in this author's books, but damn, even with the hero who doesn't have any uniqueness, any opinion about being a teenager, no novelty. You as the reader are really left on the outside looking in rather than being inside someone's head. It's all completely cinematic, which I applaud because I enjoy that Michael Bay nonsense, but does it work with a 400+ page book? It's hard to say. Who do you invest in? Who interests you?Eventually, I just switched off and enjoyed the technically inferior writing, understanding that there was no other way to tell this story. The hover cars go over 800 km/h, so there's not a lot to describe because such a fast race would be over too quickly. I think maybe the author realised this. Only the plot points could be considered satisfying, if you really want to stretch things. Stuff happens frequently, even without the detail. There are crashes and close-calls, down-to-the-line finishes and rescues, even if overall this is really pathetic writing. If there's a bonus, the writing is highly readable, hugely fast-paced, totally cinematic, and I'm ashamed to say, this garbage works. You're not supposed to ask questions. You just switch off. You don't ask why hover car racing is a kids sport, why a kid like our hero has fantastic reflexes. It'll never be explained, so get over it! This is dumb fun storytelling, and it's entertaining. The danger aspect is never fully conveyed. It seems the author has no clue what speed is all about, but there are hints of insight. He can barely describe the nature of adrenalin, or the way the hover cars cruise while elevated, whether they rumble or float, any detrimental effects of standing too close to one. There's just nothing here that could possibly challenge you. If indeed the idea of fun is the only intended excuse for this book, then the book is a success. It'll definitely make you roll your eyes, though.Enjoyment Factor: 4 starsMovie Potential: 3 stars
Hover Car Racer is set in a future world, where a man discovered the secret of hover flight, and gave the technology to the world for free instead of selling it. Because hover technology requires no oil or gas, such companies collapsed when the technology was made free. Hover cars can go really fast. I mean really fast - like, over 700km/h. These high speeds meant it was only a matter of time before someone wanted to race these things. Fourteen year old Jason Chaser is a young Australian racer and his brother the Bug is his navigator. At the beginning of the book, Jason is in a race in the NT of Australia, where he is competing for an invitation to the International Race School. He comes last due to his steering rudder being broken, but his perserverance in the race despite this massive disadvantage and the Bug's almost perfect navigation impresses one of the teachers from the school, Scott Syracuse, and as a result, Jason is invited to attend the school anyway. Totally. Awesome. This book was so fast paced and readable that I had trouble putting it down. I screamed and jumped up and down and did the spaz dance so many times throughout the book, being absolutely thrilled with Jason's racing and his achievements. And the fact that I could visualise it all, and I didn't have to or want to skip any description (you guys know what I mean, when description is just too complicated, and it's easier to skip it).I was enamoured with Jason's actions at the race school and towards his racemates, and how he showed that hard work can compete with natural ability - not that Jason and the Bug didn't have natural ability themselves. For those of you that loved the movie 'Speed Racer', or at least the racing in the movie, this book is reminiscent of that. It's very fast paced and will leave you hooked, rooting for Jason Chaser, hover car racer, the whole way.
What do You think about Hover Car Racer (2005)?
4.5/5 stars! I LOVED this book! Matthew Reilly has an awesome writing style that is made for movies (Disney should hurry up and make this movie asap). Jason, Bug, Sally, Ariel, their parents, even Scott Syracuse are all brilliant characters to read and they definitely through some character development. The twists in the races are gripping and you don't really see coming. The only reason this isn't 5 stars is because it is predictable in the sense that it's like "will he make it!?", and the answer is yes because there is still like 300 pages left. I would recommend to anyone looking for some heartfelt action and speed.
—Natalie Hennessy
I'm going to keep this short. I LOVE THIS BOOK! Sorry, in keeping with Mr Reilly's style of writing, I felt the capitals were deserved. I've read all of his books and loved the early ones. Sorry, I know that's a cliche, but I've really been disappointed with the most recent series, the five something or others, the six thingamejigs and so on. I stumbled on this book without being aware of its existence and my love for Matthew Reilly has been rekindled. I believe there are certain emotions that the written word is particularly effective at stirring. Pure adrenaline rush is not one of them, nor the kind of excitement that has you clapping your hands and giggling foolishly. This book had me doing both of those things on a regular basis. It follows a pretty classic storyline of a young boy who gets the chance to race, in superspeed cars, against the world's best. Along the way he attends race school, deals with the bully, makes friends, has a harsh but fair teacher and generally ticks every cliche box. But the joy in this book isn't in the plot, though that does exactly what it's supposed to. It's in the action and the sport itself. The races and tracks are brilliant, using familiar parts of the world to bring it all to life. And the action is wonderful. To call it fast paced just doesn't do it justice. Reilly's use of paragraphs and sentence structure isnothingshort of Genius!He uses spare, sparse language that conjures up just enough of an image for you to fill in the blanks. He loves figures, overwhelming stats just to hammer home how extreme everything is. This book isn't for people who like their scifi serious, nor is it for anyone looking for the next great piece of literature. It's for anyone who wants pure, joyful escapism, shorn clean of cynicism and grumpiness.For me, that's the highest praise.
—Michael Cairns
I'm in the middle of a Matthew Reilly marathon at the moment, and unlike most marathons which are arduous and slightly painful when your dealing with a author of the caliber of Reilly this is a very good thing. With Hover Car Racer Matthew Reilly returns to the world of Science fiction with this fast paced action packed read set in the not too distant future where hover car racing has become the number one sport. As usual the characters and setting is instantly recognisable and the action never lets up. While reading unfortunately I kept picturing the pod racing sequence from the phantom menance which was a little distracting. There is also a not so subtle reference to the greek legend Jason and the Argonauts which I thought was incredibly clever. Another enjoyable read from a reliable writer.
—Jez Cartner
