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Eureka #2
Eureka: Brain Box Blues
Even the brightest of Eureka's residents can't read someone else's mind. Then Global Dynamics develops the Brain Box: a device capable of capturing and storing human thoughts. When the Box starts messing with people's minds, Sheriff Jack Carter will have to keep his thoughts to himself if he's going to save the town from going out of their heads.
307 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published October 28, 2010
19 people are currently reading
236 people want to read
About the author
Cris Ramsay
4 books15 followersCris Ramsay is the house name for Aaron S. Rosenberg, an American novelist and game designer.
Originally from New Jersey and New York, Mr. Rosenberg returned to New York City in 1996 after stints in New Orleans and Kansas. He has taught college-level English and worked in corporate graphics and book publishing. Mr. Rosenberg lives in New York City with his family.
Originally from New Jersey and New York, Mr. Rosenberg returned to New York City in 1996 after stints in New Orleans and Kansas. He has taught college-level English and worked in corporate graphics and book publishing. Mr. Rosenberg lives in New York City with his family.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
June 25, 2024
Probably more of a 3.5.
Hmmm...I thought I had reviewed these three Eureka books I read right after re-watching the series (which I love), but GR majorly messes up between my phone and my computer. And it's been a few months.
Fun, light read if you want more from the world of "Eureka"!
If you have never heard of "Eureka" this is probably not for you!
Hmmm...I thought I had reviewed these three Eureka books I read right after re-watching the series (which I love), but GR majorly messes up between my phone and my computer. And it's been a few months.
Fun, light read if you want more from the world of "Eureka"!
If you have never heard of "Eureka" this is probably not for you!
June 20, 2017
I am a HUGE fan of the Syfy series hence this book. It was a fast fun read and nearly as good as watching a new episode.
April 20, 2020
A decent but not excellent addition to the Eureka world. The reoccurring characters from the TV show are in character. The pacing drags as the plot drags on.
May 4, 2020
I loved the TV show: Eureka. This book was quite enjoyable and I could picture the actors playing it out on the screen. Well done.
August 15, 2021
This one was as good as the tv series. It was cool how Carter figured out how to , cause you would expect one of the scientists to come up with that.
January 20, 2016
The story is based on what happened in an actual episode when people were supposed to put their favorite memory of Eureka into a sphere. In this case, though, the military has a box that can capture all of a person's memories, even if they just recently died. They have the memories from someone and they want Eureka to find a way to make those memories useful. Meanwhile, Fargo, Zoe and others are doing experiments involving remote viewing.
The find out Jo had taken part in a military project involving remote viewing and also trying to influence a person remotely. Meanwhile, an experiment with the brain box goes wrong and Lucas is hurt. Some kind of electrical surge also goes through Cafe Diem.
Zoe and her boyfriend are having problems. Suddenly Vincent is getting orders wrong and other people start behaving somewhat differently than they normally do. Something goes wrong with Lucas and he passes out
One of the guys working on the project has major ethical and moral issues with being able to obtain the last memories of a person just before they died
The situation gets worse when a certain woman shows up and the military and her order the arrest of the scientist who opposes what the military plans to use the brain box for. Then there's at attempt to kill Carter and others, Mansfield and other military people all around, Lucas dying and Fargo wanting to press a button.
This is a vast improvement over the first book in the series (Substitution Method) and is much more like the original series in pacing and character behavior.
The find out Jo had taken part in a military project involving remote viewing and also trying to influence a person remotely. Meanwhile, an experiment with the brain box goes wrong and Lucas is hurt. Some kind of electrical surge also goes through Cafe Diem.
Zoe and her boyfriend are having problems. Suddenly Vincent is getting orders wrong and other people start behaving somewhat differently than they normally do. Something goes wrong with Lucas and he passes out
One of the guys working on the project has major ethical and moral issues with being able to obtain the last memories of a person just before they died
The situation gets worse when a certain woman shows up and the military and her order the arrest of the scientist who opposes what the military plans to use the brain box for. Then there's at attempt to kill Carter and others, Mansfield and other military people all around, Lucas dying and Fargo wanting to press a button.
This is a vast improvement over the first book in the series (Substitution Method) and is much more like the original series in pacing and character behavior.
August 28, 2011
I'm a pretty big fan of the Eureka TV show on Syfy so I thought I'd check out Cris Ramsay's tie-in novel Brain Box Blues. The premise was promising, very similar to what one might find in a two-part episode of the TV show.
The story revolves around a device called the Brain Box which can extract the final thoughts/feelings from a corpse. Naturally, the General is involved in the project and forces Global Dynamics to use the Brain Box on a man (presumed to be a spy).
I'll start with the good. Cris Ramsay does a very good job of capturing the voice of Sheriff Carter and all of the rest of the cast. If you read it and then close your eyes you can see everything happening as though it were on your TV. That's a major plus as far as tie-in novels go. The reader wants there to be little difference between the book and the show.
Now for the bad. I knew whodunit by the time the character was introduced. The mystery was very easy to solve and Ramsay repeats clues over and over and over. I felt like there was too much rehash (the kind that would only be helpful if you put the book down for a month and came back to it having forgotten most of what you've read).
All in all I would read this book if you are a big fan of the show and need more Eureka action, but not so much for those who either have not seen or are only a casual watcher of the show. As far as the actual story goes (as a standalone novel) it is okay at best.
Bookophile Rating: 72%
The story revolves around a device called the Brain Box which can extract the final thoughts/feelings from a corpse. Naturally, the General is involved in the project and forces Global Dynamics to use the Brain Box on a man (presumed to be a spy).
I'll start with the good. Cris Ramsay does a very good job of capturing the voice of Sheriff Carter and all of the rest of the cast. If you read it and then close your eyes you can see everything happening as though it were on your TV. That's a major plus as far as tie-in novels go. The reader wants there to be little difference between the book and the show.
Now for the bad. I knew whodunit by the time the character was introduced. The mystery was very easy to solve and Ramsay repeats clues over and over and over. I felt like there was too much rehash (the kind that would only be helpful if you put the book down for a month and came back to it having forgotten most of what you've read).
All in all I would read this book if you are a big fan of the show and need more Eureka action, but not so much for those who either have not seen or are only a casual watcher of the show. As far as the actual story goes (as a standalone novel) it is okay at best.
Bookophile Rating: 72%
June 4, 2012
I went into this book knowing that it wouldn't be near as good as the show so with low expectations I wasn't disappointed by what it had to offer. In this one things got a little too fringe science with elements of things that felt more like they belonged in a paranormal book than in an (admittedly loose) science fiction one. The mystery surrounding the Brain Box was interesting in an overly involved, got bored somewhere in the middle, kind of way but it was enjoyable enough as something to lass the time. My biggest issue with this book was characterization. It constantly felt that Ramsay had never actually seen more than five minutes of the show. Characters were brought down to their most basic characteristics and often mixed up. Henry spent most of the book as a medical doctor and that just brought the whole book down. Also my love for Fargo as a character took a bit of a hit with continued references to how he ruins everything with the push of a button. The next of the Eureka books will certainly be moving to the bottom of my to-read pile.
April 7, 2011
I think I might have liked this book better if it wasn't billed as a Eureka book. Because it revolved around my beloved Eureka characters, I expected a little more banter and humor. There was little of either. There was, however, several character missteps which took me right out of the story. For instance, Henry taking over in a medical emergency when Allison was standing right there, and we all know Allison has the medical background.
From a science fiction standpoint, the story wasn't bad. It appeared that a lot of research and thought went into the plotline. There were some points that I felt went unanswered, such as if all the residents were affected by paranoia, what made them stop feeling that way?
In all, I thought Brain Box Blues was an okay book, but I wouldn't recommend it to a true fan.
From a science fiction standpoint, the story wasn't bad. It appeared that a lot of research and thought went into the plotline. There were some points that I felt went unanswered, such as if all the residents were affected by paranoia, what made them stop feeling that way?
In all, I thought Brain Box Blues was an okay book, but I wouldn't recommend it to a true fan.
August 2, 2012
I read a few reviews of this, and was somewhat leery, but I decides to give it a try anyway, becuase it was Eureka.
The reviews were pretty much correct. The plot itself was interesting, morally gave you a bit to think about. But that is not what Eureak is all about. Its about the play of characters and the banter, which I found lacking.
I am glad, given that the series is ending, that there are books to carry on. But it gets confusing with the changes in the show.
May try to read more anyway.
The reviews were pretty much correct. The plot itself was interesting, morally gave you a bit to think about. But that is not what Eureak is all about. Its about the play of characters and the banter, which I found lacking.
I am glad, given that the series is ending, that there are books to carry on. But it gets confusing with the changes in the show.
May try to read more anyway.
May 30, 2016
Cris Ramsey, you got psychics in my science fiction. I mean, the show could stretch credulity sometimes, but astral projection? No.
I might have been able to forgive that if the characters felt in character or all the background was accurate, but someone should have pointed him towards the wiki, maybe? No continuity people involved?
I wanted to like this book. I really did.
I might have been able to forgive that if the characters felt in character or all the background was accurate, but someone should have pointed him towards the wiki, maybe? No continuity people involved?
I wanted to like this book. I really did.
February 2, 2012
Poorly written. Lame plot. Science that did not gel. A waste of paper, ink and my time. I suppose folk who had followed the series and new some background might something in it....but I doubt it.
November 7, 2015
Legalized fanfiction, and has the average quality level. The cover is also freaky and I have no idea what is up with that. Still , the mystery was pretty good even though I could predict what was going to happen. Good for a light read.
December 27, 2010
A quick, light read that came as an accompanyment to my birthday present.
Read
November 8, 2011This was ok if you're a fan of the show. If not, it is written for a 4th grader and does not do much character development.
May 9, 2011
Well written and compliments the series well. Would have liked more character detail but was great regardless.
June 12, 2011
A guilty pleasure to tide me over until the next season of Eureka starts!
July 1, 2011
It was too obvious where the memories were, but I was still entertained reading about the Eureka characters and interactions.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 24, 2012
decent way to get a eureka fix but not as good as show
July 7, 2012
Not very impressive. It was ok. I read along with the show and that was alright but on the whole it was unsurprising, unexciting, and pretty boring to read.
October 31, 2012
The brain box starts messing with people's minds. Carter must once again save the day. I enjoyed this quite a bit.
July 28, 2016
I love this TV show. The second book in the Eureka series is great. It starts a little slow, but once moving, the mystery is exciting and fun.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews