Into the Looking Glass

Looking Glass Series, Book 1

By: John Ringo

Narrated by: L. J. Ganser

Length: 10 hrs and 19 mins

Publisher's summary

Formerly of the 82nd Airborne Division, New York Times best-selling author John Ringo brings unmatched authenticity to his military science fiction.

When asubatomic physics experiment causes a massive explosion, interdimensional gateways open in Florida - and aliens pour out. Some intend to bring Earth to its knees. Others seem willing to help, but will annihilate the planet if Navy SEAL Command Master Chief Robert Miller can't stop the menace from spreading.

©2005 John Ringo (P)2009 Recorded Books, LLC

Critic reviews

"This thoroughly enjoyable ride should appeal to techno-thriller fans as well as to military SF buffs." ( Publishers Weekly)

destined to be a classic!

love this book by John Ringo, so much so I have listened to over fifteen times in the years since I've owned it the story is funny riviting an keeps you hooked from the start especially if you live in central Florida

Good plot twists

Consistently interesting. Great science, combined with good action and good fiction. Ringo says that there were a few flaws in the physics for security reasons. Can you find them?

looking glass

A very good rendition. I read the book, but it seems like I overlooked part of it. Listening brings life to the story and more depth. I love the humor in it.

Physics accident starts an invasion

John Ringo’s Into the Looking Glass is the first installment of a sci-fi military series. An accident during a physics experiment creates a type of portal or wormhole that allows a hostile alien species to begin attacking Earth. At the same time, other portals begin opening around the planet. While many open onto deserted planets, others allow contact with various alien species. A physicist brought in by the government must figure all this out.

Ringo offers a fast-paced action thriller with several interesting twists. Humanity always seems to be playing catch-up. The military action scenes are quite credible and numerous with a mixture of professional soldiers and National guard units, along with novel defense tech.

The narration is solid with good character distinction. Pacing is on the brisk side.

Other than a little slowdown in the middle...

If you're looking for a military science fiction book - that's what you'll find in this book. It's not a terrifically written novel, by any means, and there's a lot of the author's political opinions interspersed throughout, but there is also a lot of aliens getting blown up, humans getting blown up, and saving of world(s) being done.

It does fall into a bit of a slump/slowdown near the middle where Ringo seems to be trying to make too many scientific/political points and lost track of the fact that he was writing a military sci-fi, not a treatise on religious belief or Middle Eastern politics. The book does pick up again after this, but there is a lot of anti-Middle East "commentary" from about 1/3 of the way in to the very end of the book (and it's very noticeable in the final chapter and epilogue). If you don't agree with his politics, this section might even border on being offensive.

But if you can accept his political views, it's a strong, mostly action-packed, military sci-fi story with a plot that is wrapped up in the end. The narration is very good. I'll be reading the others in this series.

It's along the same lines as David Gunn's Death's Head series or Steakley's Armor if you're looking for read-alikes.

A Very Fun Read

If you're looking for fun and fast-paced military sci-fi, this is a great book. I found myself chuckling out-loud several times. One example is the team-up of a self-proclaimed "red neck physicist" and career Navy SEAL, who are the heros of the story.

Dissapointing for a John Ringo book

What did you like best about Into the Looking Glass? What did you like least?

There was very little that I liked. Story line was hard to follow, and when I finally figured out who the main character was, I didn't really like him. There was not enough action to offset the preparations and explanations between battles. Just moved to slowly for what I expected from a John Ringo story.

What could John Ringo have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

This was not a narrator that I cared for. I bought an audible obviously so I could listen as I drove. One of the reasons I finished this book quickly was I did not enjoy the narrator or the story and wanted to get it done quickly.

What didn’t you like about L. J. Ganser’s performance?

It was very one dimensional. Most of the vocalizations were very similar and hard to distinguish from one character to another.

Do you think Into the Looking Glass needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

It does and I won't.

Any additional comments?

I loved John Ringo's "Legacy of the Aldenata" and the narrator did a great job! I had read many of these books and the narrator actually enhanced my experience. Maybe Mr. Vietor could have helped this one too.

too much political propoganda

too much political propoganda. obvious conservative bias Way too much talk about the main characters's physical attitudes.The book read like an 10th graders sci-fi fantasy.

I'm not going to make it

John Ringo is a star novelist. But I'm sorry to say this is a miss. Seven hours into the story but I lost interest somewhere around five.

The story lacks depth needed to keep the reader interested in the progression of the plot. Without a sense of scale or time there's nothing to keep the reader tied in. The main character is unique but uninteresting making him unrelatable and boring. The supporting roles are hollow as well making every one of them unimportant.

Perhaps part of my feeling is based on the reading. Some characters come across as unbelievable. When a Baby Seal is so raw as to have no dialogue beyond yes sir, no sir all I can think of is "This recruit request..." and not a well trained experienced fighter.

Typical John Ringo

A fun listen and I enjoyed it but the humans make smarter decisions then realistic and the aliens are way to stupid. In reality the story would end abruptly and we all would have been deboned and eaten.