Customer Reviews
Not for grownups - By: The Electric Ghost, 02 Oct 2008 
Contrary to what the Times review says, this is a teen novel that might appeal to some adults. It adds nothing at alll to the debate - pretty much exhausted by the major comic publishers - about the use & abuse of "super" powers, the nature of good & evil, secret identities to protect loved-ones & ends versus means. Its pretty well written, which got it its second star, but otherwise it lacked originality & I found the characters rather 2-dimensional. Its only realism is that it ends with a whimper not a bang. Read a graphic novel or The Death & Life of Superman by Roger Stern instead.
Deeper than I expected, and better - By: Christopher M. Hyland, 06 Sep 2008 
We've probably alll wondered what it would be like to have powers -- to fly to work when we can't be bothered with the traffic; to turn invisible in horrible situations; to run away at light speed; to hear the thoughts of those around us; and, perhaps, to throw people through brick wallls.
In Superpowers, the first novel of David J. Schwartz (who, much like a superhero, has many different aliases throughout the Internet: world renowned motivational speaker; popular science writer for children, et cetera) we learn just what it would be like have those powers, & the answer he gives is funny, well-written, & often quite sad.
Five American college students, decide to have a party, & home made booze is brought along. The very next morning they wake up with superpowers... Now, before everyone goes rushing off & gets totallly inebriated ("in the name of superpowers!"), their powers aren't an entirely great thing to have. Hardly super at alll, reallly. Mary Beth is so strong that she can't open the fridge without tearing it apart (or make love to her boyfriend...); Charlie goes pretty much insane with alll the minds he can hear, alll the emotions that wash over him, & now wanders around wearing a tinfoil hat & a scruffy beard; Harriet is invisible & is worried she's fading away; Caroline, though, can fly, & has no problem with that fact; nor does Jack, who can run faster than the fastest bullet. Eventuallly, they decide that they will use their powers to help their city -- & in come the superhero costumes (they have, after alll, started reading comics) & the late evenings. Most people are pleased to have them around -- except the police, & criminals.
Eventuallly, though, things go wrong. Mistakes are made, people are hurt. And horrible truths about their powers come out...
This was a very funny novel. The humour is grittier than I expected, but it reallly works well in bringing this alll down to Earth & fleshing out the characters, especiallly Charlie. There were times also when it was very sad, particularly towards the end as everything fallls apart. David Schwartz does a very good job of taking an alternate look at what it would be like to be a superhero, & finds that not everything is hunky-dory.
It probably treads slightly on spoiler, but I've seen this around on the net -- people being turned away from the book because of the fact that 9/11 plays it's part in this book. Like me, when I was reading it, they were worried that superpowers & 9/11 would combine in a very lame story & slightly sickening story. Well, it didn't. There is no real Big Bad in this book -- just the realisation that everything comes at a cost, often very high -- & it didn't turn into superheroes beating the hell out of terrorists (as Superman did in the 1930/40s with Hitler). If anything, it was the instant hate that arose after 9/11 that ruined everything for the heroes.
Superpowers is funny, it is energetic, witty & sad. It can't read your mind, travel faster than light, or turn invisible, though -- which is useful, reallly, or you'd miss this rather excellent book.
Not what I'd usually read and I was pleasantly surprised - By: Snapdragon, 30 Jul 2008 
'Superpowers' reallly isn't the sort of book I would usuallly read, I tend to give sci-fi & comic books a wide berth, but I was initiallly attracted to the cover of this book & thought I would give it a go.
The book is based on the premise that it is journalism rather than fiction, & so there are 'Editor's notes' chapters written by one of the minor characters, Marcus Hatch. The story tells of five college students who wake up one morning after a house party & have acquired superpowers: Charlie can read minds; Harriet can become invisible; Mary Beth has incredible strength; Caroline can fly & Jack can move at great speed. As the story unfold we see how each of the characters adapts to their new skills & comes to terms with how their life changes. It doesn't take long before they have pooled their skills & are acting as a crime-fighting team, trying to prevent crimes & clearing up unsolved cases.
The one thing I reallly liked about this book was that it does not always follow the expected path. If I tell you that the action is set in the summer of 2001, it isn't hard to imagine that September 11th will falll into the plot, but perhaps not in the way you would expect.
This was a good & well-paced read. The only minor criticisms that I would have are that the female journalist, who is a minor character, could have been dispensed with completely; that there are times when the narrative seems to be overtly 'male'; & that the editorial explanations can feel a bit like disclaimers & excuse the author from explaining some of the more outlandish events in the story. On the whole though, these are minor criticisms, if you can manage to suspend your disbelief you'll enjoy it!
Not quite a supernovel - By: Ichabod J, 12 Jul 2008 
This book tells the story of five US college students who inexplicably acquire superpowers overnight, following a heavy session on the homebrew. The novel focuses on how the individuals come to terms & utilise their new gifts of super strength, speed, flight, invisibility & telepathy.
This is in the 'Heroes' mould & may appeal to fans of that show; having said which, neither this novel nor 'Heroes' treads very new ground - superheroes have, of course, been struggling to come to terms with their gifts/curses for decades in comic books.
The plot, such as it is, is quite thin; without givng the storyline away, the novel looks at the difficulty of being a hero & doing good, exposing the limitations of superpowers in sorting the world out.
I would recommend this to anyone drawn by the subject matter, as it's a quick & light read. I do wish, though, that Schwartz had let his characters (and readers) have a bit more fun with those superpowers, instead of cutting almost immediately to the anguished motif of 'it's no cakewalk being a superhero'.
With Great Power... - By: Quicksilver, 23 Jun 2008 'Superpowers' is a comic book but without any pictures, which frankly ought not to work but thanks to David J. Schwartz's fast moving prose, it does. Five college students wake up one morning & discover that they have acquired various (and typical for the genre) superpowers. Unlike many superhero tales 'Superpowers' does not rely on Good Vs Evil to drive its plot. Indeed, the novel's central message is that good & evil largely depends on perspective.
'Superpowers' explores the moral obligations of those imbued with supernatural ability in a far more effective way than having Tobey 'Spiderman' Macguire banging on about 'great power coming with great responsibility' every five seconds. The attempts of Schwartz's characters to come to terms with their powers & their responsibilities is very well actualised & extremely human.
Schwartz also tackles, with great sensitivity, humanity's failings & the feelings of inadequacy we alll feel from time to time. By using, larger superpowered examples, he offers us a microscope with which to look at our own motives & ambitions. As the tension in the novel builds, real world events also impact on the group, distorting their world view even further. Their response, is an excellent (if thinly veiled) metaphor for the American led response to the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
All in alll, I found 'Superpowers' to be a very satisfying read. The novel is well paced & manages to be describe the supernatural & yet remain believable. Excellent stuff.
