If you have enjoyed the first one, you will enjoy the second even more. The cast now adds Old Man, who is old but still pretty spry for an old guy. EnIf you have enjoyed the first one, you will enjoy the second even more. The cast now adds Old Man, who is old but still pretty spry for an old guy. Enjoyable, light reading....more
Forgatagos és hatalmas képzelőerővel kigondolt, igazi Rejtő regény, de nem annyira mulatságos, mint A tizennégy karátos autó. De persze minden Rejtő rForgatagos és hatalmas képzelőerővel kigondolt, igazi Rejtő regény, de nem annyira mulatságos, mint A tizennégy karátos autó. De persze minden Rejtő regény zseniális, csak egy kicsit több nevetésre számítottam....more
Jenő Rejtő (also wrote as P. Howard) is a genius of classic Hungarian comedy. He writes entertaining crazy adventures full of ingenious humor and situJenő Rejtő (also wrote as P. Howard) is a genius of classic Hungarian comedy. He writes entertaining crazy adventures full of ingenious humor and situational comedy. He is the Hungarian P G Wodehouse, and while they use different settings, their sense of humor is similar. Rejtő writes in the mystery genre with entertainingly depraved criminals, sailors, and his recurring theme, the French Foreign Legion. This installment features a blue Alfa Romeo made in a large part from 14-carat gold, which clearly can cause lots of problems. Our protagonist is the a 21-year old Ivan Gorchev, a regrettably not-prince but very likeable and very impulsive Russian youngster, who rashly falls in love, joins the Foreign Legion, and when he drives, he leaves a trail of destruction like a tornado. We also have several gangsters, a prospective father-in-law who loves a good brawl, and the incorrigibly civilian Mr. Vanek who finds himself a private in the Foreign Legion, which leaves several hitherto healthy sergeants with ulcers and twitching eyes for the rest of their life.
Even though the English translation is not as good as the original, it is still highly entertaining. My husband said it was often clear that the translation was missing something, but he still enjoyed it. While I was laughing uproariously reading the original, he was mostly smiling. I still recommend it to my English speaking friends who are fans of P. G. Wodehouse and Terry Pratchett.
Note: Amazon sells a Kindle version for $3, which I bought, only to find that it is actually a free e-book available here: https://manybooks.net/titles/rejtojot...
"My name is Boisson," the butcher answered Gorchev. "What's yours?" Gorchev didn't like questions of this kind. "My name is Tintoretto," he answered, according to habit, immediately and foolishly. "Hm... I seem to have heard that name somewhere before." "I'm a painter." "Yes, I remember. Where are you from?" "From Cinquecento." "Is that somewhere in Savoy?" "It's a little village. Between Avignon and Toulon." "I know, I know. I had a relative living there once. Or rather nearby. There is a similar place around there, isn't there?" "Well, yes. Quattrocento." "Yes, something like that. It had a shunting yard. I had a relative living there, he was a skinny person, a writer." "Aha! I know him! Petrarch is the name." "His name begins with a B." "Botticelli."...more
Rejtő zseniális, a magyar komikus irodalom tornyosuló óriása és ponyvaszerzője egybe, ami már önmagában is egy páratlan teljesítmény. Most szemrehányoRejtő zseniális, a magyar komikus irodalom tornyosuló óriása és ponyvaszerzője egybe, ami már önmagában is egy páratlan teljesítmény. Most szemrehányom magam, hogy eddig hanyagoltam Rejtőt, mert igazában orvosi receptre kellene adni, depresszió ellen. A családom gyakran furcsán nézett rám, mert hangosan felkacagtam egész nap. A helyzeti komédia és a szójáték gyönyörűen együttműködnek, a cselekmény fergeteges, a jellemek viccesek, karikatúrák, de azért még emberiek. Vanek úr különösen nevetésre indító. Több Rejtő kell életembe!
Külföldön élő magyaroknak tanács: ekönyveket árulnak több magyar könyvesbolt weblapján. Én a Lira.hu oldalán vettem, és azonnal letölthető!...more
Poe’s second foray into mystery writing is more of an essay than a story. It criticizes newspapers sensationalizing stories, and presents a tedious brPoe’s second foray into mystery writing is more of an essay than a story. It criticizes newspapers sensationalizing stories, and presents a tedious break-down of clues that ultimately leads to nowhere. Yep, a mystery that has no solution.
This really would be one star only if it wasn’t based on the actual murder of Mary Cecilia Rogers. Poe was trying to solve the murder via reasoned argument from clues in newspaper articles. For that effort, and also for being the first fictionalized mystery based an actual crime, I award Mr. Poe an additional star....more
This is THE original detective story - the first crime mystery where the emphasis is on the analysis of the clues. It is fascinating to see Poe establThis is THE original detective story - the first crime mystery where the emphasis is on the analysis of the clues. It is fascinating to see Poe establish genre tropes that were followed by Sherlock Holmes and many other detectives - and not just in detection methods. Our detective, Dupin, is a rather reclusive but very smart person interested in solving mysteries. The story is narrated by his close friend. The police is incompetent and jealously guards its turf - much like in Sherlock Holmes’s time about fifty years later. Yes, this was published in 1841!
The story is quite interesting for being such an early work. All clues are given in the form of newspaper reports of testimonies, but Dupin also examines the scene himself - and finds quite a few clues the police missed. (Cue here Sherlock blasting idiot police in the TV series). I found the solution a bit a sign of the times and far-fetched, but one does not read Poe for realism.
A quick piece to read if you are interested in the origins of the mystery genre....more
I liked this one even better than the previous book, as the story mostly progressed based on actual political interests and human character decisions…I liked this one even better than the previous book, as the story mostly progressed based on actual political interests and human character decisions… up until the end that is resolved by the deux ex machina… oh why. My experience with the series so far is great writing, gritty world building, mostly great characters and plot, with the occasional big eye-roll moment of, ‘did they just run out of ideas?’
The politics of the Free Navy, led by the narcisstic psychopath who is begrudgingly followed by long-time OPA regional leaders, is really well done. I particularly enjoyed the development of Belter culture and how it is different from the inners. Belters always work on safety systems and maintenance. They are used to low G or no G, and create spaces with no clear up or down. They appreciate the beauty of space and live on their ships, not on planets or stations. Belters also have their own food culture, and enjoy playing and listening to live music (with soft sounding instruments like harps). The boundaries between ship crew and family are blurred.
The book is narrated by many people as there are many different locations and viewpoints. My favorite was the one and only chapter from Anderson Dawes, where he tries to convince a several people to work with Holden while giving them completely opposing opinions, depending on what they wanted to hear. It was funny and a snarky commentary on politician speak.
I was disappointed with Filip’s storyline. His character seems to only exist in relationship with his father, to comment on Marco’s actions and character. Filip does not have his own circle of friends his own age, nor does he have any particular interests ir even thoughts separate from his father’s ideas. Even his doubts are all about him. His storyline is not resolved, and thus unsatisfying.
I did like the rest, and I feel there is a good setup for humanity’s evolution in the next three books - as they are now forced to change just about everything....more
Richard III is the most villanous villain Shakespeare ever wrote, and that’s saying something when your competition is Macbeth. He is murderous, ruthlRichard III is the most villanous villain Shakespeare ever wrote, and that’s saying something when your competition is Macbeth. He is murderous, ruthless, lying and changeable; but can sweet-talk when needed - in fact he woos not one but two brides whose husband/brother he has murdered; and changes the mind of those women who curse him with well-deserved hate and sharp wit. The women in this play are the ones that stand up for our conscience, with which Richard conveniently dispenses: “Conscience is but a word that cowards use”.
The hook of the play is Richard’s complete awareness of his villany - he cheekily opens the play with a soliloquoy announcing that “ I am determinèd to prove a villain”. Later he pats himself on the back for his most egregious machinations. On asking Anne to marry him at the funeral of her husband, who. he killed: “ Was ever woman in this humor wooed? Was ever woman in this humor won? I’ll have her, but I will not keep her long.” Indeed, being the wife of a villain is no healt insurance - poor Anne is dead by Act 4 - along with a host of other victims, including the two young princes, to the elder of whom the crown rightfully belongs.
There are lots of great scenes: the wooing of Anne, Queen Margaret’s curses on everyone, Queen Elizabeth masterful dodging of Richard’s entreaties; the parade of ghosts at the end that tell two very different stories to Richard and Richmond (the future Henry VII).
I was surprised to find that this play also has some famous quotes. It begins with “ Now is the winter of our discontent Made glorious summer by this son of York”, and ends with Richard dying, shouting “My kingdom for a horse!”
I had a problem reading this, not because it was not good, but it does require effort like all reading of Shakespeare, and I was not in the mood for effort reading. But whenever I was reading it, I was completely engaged - a true drama and a classic, devilishly well written villain....more
I loved this so much that I listened to it twice in a row - and as it sometimes happens when I really am impressed by a book, I am having trouble writI loved this so much that I listened to it twice in a row - and as it sometimes happens when I really am impressed by a book, I am having trouble writing a review. So bear with me, I might need to re-read and re-write...
So. If you loved the Martian, you will love this, as it is a follow-up true to its spirit that does not feel like a repeat, but heapfuls of more that you have loved. There is tons of science, and it is well explained, but even if you don’t care for science much, the enthusiasm and simple wide-eyed love of investigation and discovery should carry you through it - along with the self-deprecating humor and imagination. And if you are a nerd and science-geek, you will be simply blissfully happy through it.
Now, it is difficult to give a full scope of the delights that come your inner nerd’s way without giving away any spoilers. The book is written in a way that our hero has to figure out who he is, where he is, how he got there, even his own name. As such, even the first few pages might end up in spoilers because it is lovely to discover even small things alongside our protagonist, whom I keep referring to as Mark Watney, because the snark, but he really isn’t because by golly he only swears in euphemisms, which is also a clue to his identity...
I think I can reveal without spoiling too much that his name is Ryland Grace and he is a scientist. We are lead on a constant stream of intriguing mysteries and encountering surprises as he is solving space problems in real-time and uncovering the back story in flashbacks. I loved everything - the pacing, the tone, the story, and the unlikely buddy-comedy that later develops. This is a story of science, of curiosity, of learning, of working together for a common goal, of space, of all sorts of nerdy things served up in delicious nerd stew.
I loved every second of it and now I want to go and read it again.
I could not let Murderbot go so I re-read it. Luckily, Murderbot is infinitely re-readable.
——————————- Murderbot turns detective in this installment, I could not let Murderbot go so I re-read it. Luckily, Murderbot is infinitely re-readable.
——————————- Murderbot turns detective in this installment, which takes place on Preservation Station, after the fourth novella but before Network Effect. This isn’t quite fair to StationSec, given a SecUnit’s data analysis and threat assessment speed, nor is it to Murderbot, who has to suffer the usual, but still not painless, indignities of not only being treated as an evil SecUnit, but also as prime suspect on the basis of being an evil SecUnit. (It takes 1.2 seconds to send the video disproving this to Indah’s feed. It takes 2.6 cycles for Indah to stop suspecting.) While Murderbot would rather watch the 192nd episode of Sanctuary Moon, it finds the investigation unexpectedly not tedious. (Murderbot prefers the “it” pronoun, which is difficult for muddle-headed humans like me. I automatically select “she” as the pronoun as it is a person. I have heard some people suggest to use a person’s name if pronouns are problematic. Unfortunately that would result in saying Murderbot too many times. Perhaps we could come up with alternatives. I am thinking of SlayDroid or KillMachine. Or for this episode, DetectiBot. )
Of course this would not be a Murderbot novella without SlayDroid hacking SecSystems and bot transports, and having to heroically intervene in order to save humans from other humans or their own stupidity. We get our action with the side of snark and very-not-huggable likability.
I liked it a lot but I was not 100% happy with the ending so I am giving it four stars this time....more
I loved this, from beginning to end, it put a smile on my face. Lord Peter goes undercover and gets a day-job at an advertising industry, to investigaI loved this, from beginning to end, it put a smile on my face. Lord Peter goes undercover and gets a day-job at an advertising industry, to investigate a suspicious death by falling off the iron staircase. For the first time, he is earning money, and this leads to a delightful picture of office workers, gossip, their daily life and workplace socialization of an office in the 1930ies, which is something Sayers seem to be at home in. The office characters are colorful, and their tea-time chats occasion much witty banter. Sayers also muses much the advertising profession “whose essence is to tell plausible lies for money”.
Sayers is brilliant in describing the advertising of the era - apparently not much has changed:
All over London the lighs flickered in and out, calling on the public to save its body and purse: SOPO SAVES SCRUBBING—NUTRAX FOR NERVES—CRUNCHLETS ARE CRISPER—EAT PIPER PARRITCH—OH BOY, IT’S TOMBOY TOFFEE—FARLEYS FOOTWEAR TAKES YOU FURTHER—MAKE ALL SAFE WITH SANFECT—WHIFFLETS FASCINATE. The presses, thundering and growling, ground out the same appeals by the millions: ASK YOUR GROCER—ASK YOUR DOCTOR—ASK THE MAN WHO’S TRIED IT—MOTHERS! GIVE IT TO YOUR CHILDREN—HOUSEWIVES! SAVE MONEY—HUSBANDS! INSURE YOUR LIVES—DON’T SAY SOAP, SAY SOPO! Whatever you are doing, stop it and do something else! Whatever you are buying, pause and buy something different! Be hectored into health and prosperity! Never let up! Never go to sleep! Never be satisfied. If once you are satisfied, all our wheels will run down. Keep going - and if you can’t, try Nutrax for Nerves!”
The atmosphere suited Wimsey, a.k.a. Death Bredon, and “nothing pleased him better than to be interrupted in his encomiums of Sopo (“makes Monday Fun-day”) or the Whoosh Vacuum-cleaner (“one Whoosh and it’s clean”) by a fellow member of the department, fed-up with advertising and spoling for a chat.”
These are the highlights of the book, along with Wimsey’s fanciful scoldings of the badgirl de Momerie in the dark forest, dressed as Harlequin, sitting up a tree:
“You know anybody who is different?” “Yes, you are different.” “Only so long as I stay on my branch, Circe. If I come down to your level, I should be just like all the rest.” “Come down and try.” “I know when I am well off. You had better come up to me.” “You know I can’t.” “Of course you can’t. You can only go down and down.” “Are you trying to insult me?” “Yes, but it’s very difficult.”
We have a lot of such witty repartee, and I was well amused. We also have a cricket match, which was pretty incomprehensible and led to me looking it up on Wikipedia, and now I feel edumacated.
The mystery itself is also a departure as it is about a drug ring and not, as usual, some inheritance from a stuffy old aunt. Also, you know how the murderer is always the one you least expect? (view spoiler)[I totally discounted the suspect simply because he was way too obvious. (hide spoiler)]Ha! Good one, Ms Sayers!
Now, just because it is entertaining, it doesn’t mean its flawless. Sayers has gone a bit overboard with Lord Peter here. Mind you, I would go head-over-heels for a man who would be charming, educated, intelligent, and could quote poetry at me in a way it didn’t feel patronizing. Add that he is a filthy rich aristocrat, and it is already too much. But in this one he is also acrobatic, climbs fountains and trees, dives, cartwheels, is an excellent horseman, and a brilliant cricket champion. That, at age 42, with his smoking habits, and nowhere a word about exercise, is just simply too much. I mean, I enjoyed those feats, but I would have preferred him to stay at least somewhat in the realm of possibilities. I also did not like how comdescendingly Sayers treated the two bad girls in the book - nobody is worthless, and these girls clearly had issues.
Nevertheless, this is the most fun I had since my latest Pratchett. A home run for me. (What’s the cricket equivalent?)...more
Earth has 400 years to prepare for the Trisolaran invasion. The sophons have locked down fundamental research, and can observe anything humans plan - Earth has 400 years to prepare for the Trisolaran invasion. The sophons have locked down fundamental research, and can observe anything humans plan - so what will humanity do?
Apparently, have a bunch of plans ranging from stupid to genocidal, and give in to mass reactions from despair to overconfidence. The story has two main parts: first couple decades after the crisis, and 200 years later in the future, when sigbificant technological advance has been made on already existing technologies, but no technological leaps occurred.
Liu’s main interest is philosophical and sociological: what are the reactions of civilizations to first contact? Will they eradicate each other, or will they communicate? The theories stem from two axioms: 1. A civilization needs to survive. 2. A civilization needs to grow, but the amount of matter in the universe is constant. From these two axioms much darkness results.
This book is not as good as the Three-Body Problem. It jumps all over the place. Individuals have too much power over events, but the reaction of masses is what Liu is mostly interested in. The characters are flat, cold, remote. The most developed character is Luo Ji, and he is a self-serving, bland, boring man. His love affair with an imaginary woman who comes to life is, well... creepy. This woman is not real, just an object, created to please him. Others have noted that the book is quite sexist - and the treatment of Zhang Yan is the biggest example.
What makes the book most interesting to me is the definite Chinese viewpoint. People just don’t act like Westerners. They are more introspective, more formal, more disillusioned, easier to despair, more philosophical. It is hard to explain - the Chinese parts feel authentic, the Western scenes don’t. The psychological analyses are conducted by political cadres and are referred to as ideological work - a clear Chinese political structure.
The best parts are the imagining of the future 200 years from now - underground cities with apartments hanging off columns like leaves of a tree. An overly optimistic society - nevertheless more mentally fragile. The space battles toward the end are fantastic.
Most of the book is dark and depressing, but it ends on a hopeful note. I want to know how the story ends.
Also... this is my 1000th book marked read on Goodreads :)...more
The title sums it up exactly: Helen Castor writes about five formidable Queens of England who came before Elizabeth and held power in their own hands.The title sums it up exactly: Helen Castor writes about five formidable Queens of England who came before Elizabeth and held power in their own hands. She tells their remarkable stories, while finding the great limits a man’s world was putting on their power as “a weak vessel”.
The Queens, in order, are: 1. The Empress Mathilda of the 12th century, who inherited the throne from her father, Henry I, but it was usurped by her cousin, Stephen. When she tried to rule like a man, she was denounced as haughty and unnatural, and wanting to do what she see fit. Something no male ruler had to apologize for. At the end she could only secure the throne for her son, not herself.
2. Eleanor of Aquitane, wife of Henry II, Mathilda’s son. This heiress to the richest Duchy in France divorced the French King when she did not like her husband - something only men did at the time - and married the English King right away, bearing him eight children. Her rebelliousness came when she took the side of her sons in a dispute between them and their father. In old age she tirelessly worked for her sons as queen regent when they were away, and as royal envoy.
3. Queen Isabella, she-wolf of France, wife of Edward II, mother of Edward III, daughter of the French King Philip the Fair, and the most kingly of all of them - had she been not barred from inheriting the throne by her sex. Edward II terribly mismanaged the country and allowed his favorites to rule and hoard the treasure of the country. So when Isabella rebelled, she found that the country joined her. She was the only person in history to lead a successful invasion of England. She deposed her husband and installed her son as King, and ruled in his name.
4. Margaret of Anjou, Henry VI’s wife, who single-handedly kept the Lancastrian side of the War of the Roses afloat, as her husband was a useless half-wit.
5. Mary Tudor, who, among these illustrious ladies, was the first proclaimed queen in her own right. (Jane Gray was only 9 days, and did not want it). She displayed considerable courage and defined the role of a ruling queen: she was king as well as queen, the slogan that her sister and much more famous heir, Elizabeth, has adopted.
There are too many queens and too many stories to tell, which result in often rushed telling, sidelining of major events like the murder of Thomas Beckett or the War of the Roses to a mere byline. I have already read books about all of these events and queens by my go-to historian, Alison Weir. Castor and Weir have very different approaches: Weir is slower, more methodical, and dwelves more into the character of these historical figures. Castor is focused on telling a coherent story, which makes it more fluid and without tedious details; at the same time, the lack of those details makes the story too vague, rushed, and the characters flat.
Castor is interested in feminist themes of these stories: how female rule was perceived, the very real conplications of a queen’s marriage and children, the acceptance of female authority. She is concerned with the legitimacy of rule: the blood right, the sanctity of coronation, and how a woman could reconcile ruling in her own right with owing obedience as wife to her husband. We had different solutions here: Isabella got rid of her husband; Mary married a foreigner and did not crown him; and Elizabeth did not marry at all, preferring to avoid the issue and establishing absolute, unquestioned power. She was married to her subjects, and was the most beloved English monarch of all time....more
An intriguing, unique perspective on science, philosophy, extraterrestial intelligence, the fate of humanity, with a heavy dose of Chinese history andAn intriguing, unique perspective on science, philosophy, extraterrestial intelligence, the fate of humanity, with a heavy dose of Chinese history and an alienated mindset that is quite different from Western way of thinking. Cixin Liu has deep thoughts on humanity’s reactions as a whole, its divisions, its evils, its madness, and how that will lead to its destruction. His interest in the personal level of humanity, however, is almost completely lacking.
I was rather disappointed in the beginning. Up until about 60% in, we had violent history, systemic madness, a seemingly all technical video game, some random mind influences, general cold-blooded killings and alienated characters. But at that point it took up: the threads started to converge, and creative scientific ideas materialized.
Scientifically brilliant, Cixin explores string theory and the implications of folding a particle of 11 dimensions into a two dimensional surface, which was fascinating. As dimensions were added, the size of the object got smaller and smaller in our three dimentional space. This is in the best tradition of hard sci-fi: taking the latest in scientific theory and exploring its implications.
Historically it is also fascinating. The book starts with the atrocities of the Cultural Revolution. Ye Xenji witnesses her father’s senseless murder, the subversion of truth, integrity and compassion. I have recently read about the Cultural Revolution in Wild Swans: Three Daughters of China, where the author’s father is put to similar torture, so I knew this was a realistic depiction, not dystopian hyperbole - which made it all the more scary. Ye Xenji has good reason to lose faith in humanity - and this leads her to make her decision that alters humanity’s future. An interesting segway was the influence of Silent Spring on her, as her first exposure to a mindset of preserving nature, not destroying it.
The other elements of Chinese history are furnished via the Three Body video game. A common theme is alienation - expendability of humans in the wast and populous empire of China, using them as cogs in a machine.
The role of science is thoroughly examined. Basic research is what allows leaps in technology - from arrows and swords to guns and tanks. Without basic research, applied science can come up with better arrows and swords, but will never leap to the next stage. Cixin Liu draws parallels to the crippling of science under Mao to the planned sabotage of human development by the aliens. Their methods are also similar: drive the scientists insane with miring reality.
This is a very interesting work, hard science fiction from a different cultural background we are used to. While I was sorely lacking in connection to any of the characters, I acknowledge the brilliance and freshness of Cixin Liu’s ideas. I will be reading the rest of the series....more
Julien Sorel is a prideful, ambitious, contemptuous rascal, who comes from very humble beginnings and rises to become secretary of a high ranking arisJulien Sorel is a prideful, ambitious, contemptuous rascal, who comes from very humble beginnings and rises to become secretary of a high ranking aristocrat. He is blessed with exceptionally good looks and intelligence, but his manners are abrupt and he despises everyone for something. His father is coarse and abusive; the local burgoisie petty, provincial and greedy; the priests and seminary students jealous and mean; the high society is superficial, thoughtless and haughty. Julien is too proud and too intelligent to fit in anywhere - yet some influential people like his efficiency and quick mind, and he quickly endears himself to his employers.
The book is the story of Julien’s quick rise and sudden fall, and his two great loves. He experiences great, tender love and mutual happiness in the arms of the honest Madame de Renal, who loves him with her whole being. His second affair, with the capricious aristocrat Mathilde de la Mole, is the complete anthithesis, although no less passionate: full of drama, games, jealousies - she is attracted by the romantic idea of grand passion with a lower class man, the inherent risks, the secrecy... and for both of them, passion only flames up when the other seems cold, unattainable or in love with someone else.
Julien is never happy - even when loved by extraordinary women and offered a great honor in high society. The fault in his character leads to his inevitable demise - and finally, his peace of mind: “How strange, all the same, that I never learned the art of enjoying life until I could see its end closing in on me.” But, as he lived his life in selfish pride, it is fitting that he leaves the women who loved him ruined.
I have recalled that I have read this novel before and I liked it. After reading this now, this has proven to be false. I did not recall a thing, and I only moderately liked it. Stendhal makes some great observations on French society of 1830, of religion, morals, politics, hypocrisy, class divide, provincials and aristocrats. He also draws a great portrait of Julien, this tortured, idealistic and aloof young man. I usually like complex characters, but Julien just grated on me. His ideals made him do stupid things, and he was quite an asshole to just about everyone, especially to those who loved him. Mathilde was no better, a bored socialite amusing herself with romantic ideas, prone to scenes and tantrums. Madame de Renal was the only sympathetic character, and Julien just took her for granted.
So while this is a worthy read, I was too annoyed with Julien to truly enjoy it. ...more
Loved it. A full-length Murderbot novel, with enough time to develop the story and characters... with the same snarky commentary and fast-paced actionLoved it. A full-length Murderbot novel, with enough time to develop the story and characters... with the same snarky commentary and fast-paced action. Martha Wells knocked it out of the park.
Art returns, and Murderbot and Art have a relationship. Yeah, the r-word, horrifying, along with the f-word (that’s fr**nds, not the one you were thinking, and the relationship is not a romance... although it is certainly torrid). They both have their human crews, whom they care about deeply, and it turns out they care about each other, too. Now, caring about the other’s humans is where the trouble lies.
Murderbot’s character is further developed by the appearance of a new rogue SecUnit, who is even greener than Murderbot was at the beginning, which is a nice reminder how far it had come. Art and Murderbot also has a child... well, not really, but it is a fun concept, you will see.
At the end, all lose ends are tied up, with a setup for a sequel... but without cliffhangers, which is how I like it (take that, Leigh Bardugo). I am getting that sequel. In the meantime, I might re-read because I listened due to lack of time to sit down. I highly recommend the audio.
Murderbot, I would hug you, but I know you don’t like it. Here is an awkward smile instead. Oh, ok, you can go watch Sanctuary Moon now......more
The second installment of time-traveling code-wizards is entertaining, low-brain-usage fluff. I enjoyed the world, especially Atlantis with i3.5 stars
The second installment of time-traveling code-wizards is entertaining, low-brain-usage fluff. I enjoyed the world, especially Atlantis with its sleek diamond spheres and transparent, relaxing elegance. Meyer ventures into a bit risky territory for a male writer: he creates Atlantean society as the reverse of gender stereotypes. Sourceresses run the city, with beefcake servants who try to catch the women’s eye by displaying their bodies and male prowess, because that’s their only way of improving their social status. There is some funny commentary on gender stereotypes, but like just about everything in this book, it is a just a bit thin.
We also get time-travel paradox galore in the form of Brit the Elder and Brit the Younger, who are two versions of the same person, arriving at different times. Martin reprises some of his goofy magic, as the male wizards show off, while the female wizards use magic elegantly. There is some romantic tension, some mystery... all of it is fun but does not really get to a real climax. The writing is adequate, the jokes often cause eye-rolling, but the text is self-aware enough that it comes across as endearingly nerdy.
Overall I enjoyed it. I rounded down from 3.5 because while there is humor, creativity and charming nerdiness, it does not quite make up for the meh solution to the mystery, the just ok writing and flat characters....more
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