( 5 reviews )
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Posted: May 30 2007
The author-notes at the end of the book claim that the author once shared a Pulitzer Prize for journalism. He must have had one heck of an editor then, and he sure didn't have one for this book. Disorganized in the extreme, the prose can vary from scientific jargon to conspiracy theory to personal snarky-ness within a single paragraph. You have a subject that should be inherently interesting -- the destruction of the state of California -- the true "Big One" that would make Katrina and New Orleans look puny by comparison. But work your way through chapter one, and you'll see why I found this one remaindered for 49 cents at Final Markdown!
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( 3 of 6 found this review helpful ) Posted: Oct 23 2000
This is an important work; well researched and well written. It should be required reading for all public officials in California. More illustrations would have been useful. Highly recommended.
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( 4 of 7 found this review helpful ) Posted: Aug 18 1999
Yesterday, August 17, I was sitting in Point Reyes, CA., home of author Phil Fradkin, directly overhanging the San Andreas fault. I was on page 121 of Magnitude 8, when suddenly the house began to move. It swayed back and forth like a tree hut in a gale for about 15 seconds. Yes, it was a minor 5.0 magnitude quake centered in nearby Bolinas. Powerful Writing! Great book by an author who has put his heart and soul into internalizing the meaning of these mysterious earth processes.
