Losing their way on desert roads, and nearly out of gas, Peter and his work partner 
Charlie are relieved to see a hotel – a magnificent, modern hotel – standing alone on a highway. They check in, only to find, like in the Eagles’ Hotel California, they can’t check out.
Peter and a rebellious receptionist, Liz, attempt to escape the Hotel Infinity; Peter’s explorations and their escape attempts make up the first part of the book. This part is a pretty good science-fiction story; there are a few issues with pacing, but overall, I would have given it maybe four stars. The problem is, it’s only the first section of the book. The second section is, basically, an outline: written in primarily passive voice, the reader is told what occurs over the next several hundred years after the climax of the first part.
Spoilers after this point!
Author Robert Paolinelli should have, in my opinion, taken the time to create this story, not hand the reader a summary. As a two or even three book series, Escaping Infinity could have expanded into an thoughtful exploration of redemption, responsibility, and the realistic problems in the attempted creation of a second-chance utopia. Even when the chosen people have escaped hell-fire; even when their leader has god-like properties and apparent eternal life, for the society to evolve as problem-free as it is described here stretched my belief beyond its breaking point. Stories depend on conflict, tiny conflicts, large conflicts, to propel them forward, and the second part is a narrative almost free of any struggle. I found it immensely disappointing.
As a result, Escaping Infinity is only getting a 2 1/2 star review from me. Good potential, unrealized.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
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