Been editing and re-editing the first chapter for far too long. I've been switching sentences around here there and everywhere. I'm still not happy with what I've got, but figured I would get some external input from like minded literary types such as your fine selfs. Please notice the charm, and post feedback accordingly :P Seriously though, any feedback would be great. Don't hold back, I'm a big boy..I'm sure I can take it. And if I can't, I have plenty of tissues to mop up the tears. So enjoy...

The muted smokey images started to blur with the reality of the café, and Robin knew it was time to leave. He spilt some change out of his pocket to pay for the coffee and dazed his way over towards the exit.

The Neo café opened onto a sprawling inner-city high street. Robin allowed his senses a moment to adjust to the sudden invasion of glitzy commercialism that lined every street of Newick City. The glaring neon lights caused sensory overload, and starkly contrasted the cities ancient architectual stonework.
Robin ignored the loud hustle and bustle. The neon lights were just a dazzling haze that trailed his vision as he began to meander away from the sweet smell of the café and further into the garbage smell of the streets.
 

I liked your description of the city. I could really see it. There isn't much of a hook, but I generally don't need a big one. In this passage the most interesting part was the description of the city with neon light and old stonework which almost works as a hook for me. A hint of where he is going or why or something would help the hook. Nice work.

 

for some reason I really dislike the first sentence (LoL) wish I could be of more help, I don't know what it is about it...
 

As far as a hook is concerned, I'm not bothered about that at all. It's only the first 13 lines, so I don't think you need to start with.."The bullet went tearing through his flesh and Robin knew he was about to die," or whatever. A novel needs a build up. I like a slow start, with character and setting. If you're the kind of person who only reads the first 13 lines before deciding to buy a book, then I'm not bothered. I prefer integrity in the story rather than appealing to the short attention spanning masses. I don't want to be Dan Brown

For feedback, I'm more interested in flow. Did it read fairly easily? (apart from the first line). Did it begin to build a picture in your mind? Is the tense and prose correct?

Was there a point where you thought, Who? What? Where? Why? Or did you just read it through? Was it clear or confusing?

Thank you all for your feedback so far. I look forward to more critique

Edit: I was thinking a bit more about the hook. I will break the rules a bit and post the next line. Would adding something like this encourage you to read further? Does it spark deeper interest in the city?

The streets in this part of the city were always littered with resistance progaganda, and Robin found himself peeling a piece of satirical comic from his boot as he stumbled through the bustling crowd.

And then it scrathces the surface of the resistance a little, in minor detail, but hopefully enough to spark further interest. This is for those that wanted a better hook in the first 13.

Thank you all again for feedback, please continue to critique!

[This message has been edited by Snow Crash (edited November 13, 2008).]
 

I know, easy to say...