This was charming, I guess it was YA? It went really fast. There was a minute where I was afraid it would move to slow, but then the book was over. I This was charming, I guess it was YA? It went really fast. There was a minute where I was afraid it would move to slow, but then the book was over. I feel like it could have benefited from another 15% or so worth of fleshing things out buuuut then it wouldn't be what it was, so who knows. All in all, I enjoyed it; fun, but nothing mind blowing. ...more
Really solid. I liked this as a cap to the quasi Arbai series, and the series in general as fun sci-fi-philosophy. I think the end revelation came a bReally solid. I liked this as a cap to the quasi Arbai series, and the series in general as fun sci-fi-philosophy. I think the end revelation came a bit quick (the thing that let Fringe figure out what she needed)...and then it turned out she didn't need to do anything because the one sane professor did the thing? That bit was a bit confusing as to what her intent was for what actually happened. It seemed like the the thing Fringe did wound up being ultimately pointless with respect to the "big bads", very confusing.
Endings seem to be a weakness for Tepper - not enough to detract from the story as a whole, but I've found that I usually come across a section or two that I would have appreciated being revised in each of her books' endings. ...more
It went pretty much how I expected but, to be fair, I may have read too many other books set in this pseudo-genre of 'how man got out of the solar sysIt went pretty much how I expected but, to be fair, I may have read too many other books set in this pseudo-genre of 'how man got out of the solar system'. Still, with this fare, the destination is far less important than the journey. And the journey here was interesting, if a little predictable (humans gonna human (aka be tribal and prejudicial) - but overall I enjoyed it. ...more
Tough to rate this one. The plotting was top notch - lots of bits and pieces weaving back together wonderfully, although I fe3.5 stars
But a high 3.5!
Tough to rate this one. The plotting was top notch - lots of bits and pieces weaving back together wonderfully, although I few of them needed more fleshing out (for me). The writing itself I found a bit lacking, as well as the pacing - hence starting out at a maximum of 4 stars, then subtracting a little for bits that I thought needed more work. It may be I'm spoiled by more modern books and their quicker pacing, but this one didn't really grab me until at least 2/3 of the way in.
That being said, if it was part of a series I definitely would have kept reading, and the quality (especially the plotting) was enough that I might read more of the author's works if one catches my eye.
Pretty solid. And frustrating at usual - the way it switches from one cast to another just as things are about to get somewhere. Ah well, that's how tPretty solid. And frustrating at usual - the way it switches from one cast to another just as things are about to get somewhere. Ah well, that's how they keep you reading I suppose!
Nothing too crazy here, within the bounds of crazy epic sci-fi crazy at least, looks to be putting a nice capstone on the Commonwealth series, really looking forward to the last book as this one clearly didn't "end" the way the characters expected it to....more
How Butler managed to make doing almost nothing so engaging I wish I knew...and could duplicate!
Now that I've read the entirety of the Patternist seriHow Butler managed to make doing almost nothing so engaging I wish I knew...and could duplicate!
Now that I've read the entirety of the Patternist series - well, except Survivor, which is very difficult to find - I enjoyed this one almost as much as Patternmaster. It has the feel of old school sci-fi (in a good way) but also the uh...I dunno, it's down to earth or something. Relatable. Relatable a 4000 year old vamp-esque dude breeding a race of telepaths can be. I like the way it gave us a sort of answer to the question of what Doro was and what we has after - and how "human" his ultimate goal sort of was. Sort of. I was bummed about "Emma" diminished role, as I enjoyed her in book (Wild Seed). Although I guess it just gives more context to Doro's "empire" - as amazing as she was, still just a stop along the way.
I really want to read Survivor and see how we get from Clay's Ark to Patternmaster...who cares if Butler hated it, I need more world building! :)...more
And by that I mean, most of it wasn't for me, but I can see how it would really appeal to others, especially folks moI liked it, but it wasn't great.
And by that I mean, most of it wasn't for me, but I can see how it would really appeal to others, especially folks more focused on the technical aspects of sci-fi - where I tend to go for the crazy/dreamy future shit and I don't care what angle and at what velocity - backed by two hundred years of documented research - you had to inject the sprocket into the black footed weasel ferret to make it dream of electric sheep.
What I was really interested in was the future stuff, and that was only the last third or so of the book. All the present day stuff was not really my cup of flavored caffeine-or-alt-caffeine-beverage.
That being said, it was uh..."buyable"? Believable. Yeah, that. Likely maybe outcome and all that. Terrible politicking human beings making it hard for the rest to get shit done, typical stuff.
Buuuuuut the book took way too long getting to the interesting (to me) bits and, when we do get to them, we mostly learn of them through brief asides - speaking of tangents holy shit can Stephenson go on tech tangents - when I would have enjoyed seeing a least brief snapshots of the various future generations or something, as well as more varied depictions of the various races AND a real epilogue. Especially more stuff on the last group of humans....more
Solid story. Non-typical plot structure. Vivid world(re)building. Vaguely X-Men/mutant powers-at-puberty-vibe. Sucked me in and spit me out a day lateSolid story. Non-typical plot structure. Vivid world(re)building. Vaguely X-Men/mutant powers-at-puberty-vibe. Sucked me in and spit me out a day later with an equally non-typical ending. ...more
Not Saberhagen's best, but still some interesting ideas and worth reading if you're a fan or completionist or juIt was OK, not great. Very slow start.
Not Saberhagen's best, but still some interesting ideas and worth reading if you're a fan or completionist or just into the Berserker stuff for whatever reason. ...more
A great read. I'm stingy with my 5s - a 4 means I really enjoyed the book.
Showcased many of Sanderson's strengths - great plotting, creative twists, anA great read. I'm stingy with my 5s - a 4 means I really enjoyed the book.
Showcased many of Sanderson's strengths - great plotting, creative twists, anti-trope/expectation/genre choices (see: the MCs choice w/ respect to Calamity) and a consistent worldbuilding. It also highlighted what, to me, is one of his weaknesses - writing present day type characters and, more specifically, romantic interactions between them. Once the endgame drew into range, I couldn't put the book down and had to finish it. He's great with things like that, unwinding the knots and pulling all the guns down off the mantle.
Every time the characters use the made up curse words I cringe. One time, the MC (18-19yo) had a thought about a young woman being "curvaceous" and I cringed so hard I was knocked out of my reading zone for a good couple chapters.
Also, like a ton of other people on line, I'm wasn't clear what happened with Obliteration. As of now, I think I understand what the outcome is, but the process of the scene doesn't work for me. I feel like it needed another paragraph or two of dialogue. BUT, it may be one of those things that becomes clear in the sequel, so I'm withholding my annoyance.
Overall a great read and I'm looking forward to seeing how the series ends. I guess this is YA? I don't know, it seems like it would be OK for teens to read. Although, again, it does does feel like Sanderson is maybe uncomfortable writing about sexually charged interactions, so that may ring as false/awkward to others besides myself. I can't remember if anything happened in the previous book, but a virginal 18-19yo male having the girl of his dreams dropped on him naked well...that would tend to cause all kinds of problems. Honestly I'm not sure why that was even put in there - I can't remember the scene clearly at this point, but it seems like she could have just manifested some clothes? Not the end of the world, but it did stand out....more
The first book I finished this year, and it wasn't even a book I meant to read. It's a flipbook with Fred Saberhagen/Water of Thought, and for whateveThe first book I finished this year, and it wasn't even a book I meant to read. It's a flipbook with Fred Saberhagen/Water of Thought, and for whatever reason I started it first.
It was...not great, not terrible but not great. It had that sort of rushed ending feel that so much classic, pulpy sci-fi does. It appeared as if it might have some commentary on race at a few points, but that commentary seems to be limited to simply projecting the attitudes of the day with only the slightest bit of reflection, and nothing that seemed progressive to me. Disappointing all around.
Being green is OK, but being black: not so much! ...more
I haven't had much time for reviews lately, but it feels like I should at least try...
This one got off to a really slow start, but there was a method I haven't had much time for reviews lately, but it feels like I should at least try...
This one got off to a really slow start, but there was a method to the madness, it just takes a while to get there. I'm looking forward to the sequel, as some crazy things have been set up and implied (as well as one reveal that should have been obvious, but maybe wasn't - which is the best kind?)
I did love the crazy future monster being defeated by massively archaic technology... like taking out a drone army with a catapult or something. SUCK THAT FUTURE! Also, the reveal on that one's ID was a bit interesting and makes me want to re-read a few segments from the previous two books.
The whole 'hanging out with a little girl who grows up to be your lover' thing is never not going to be weird though, no matter how much time-travel spin you put on it.
Nice quick read for classic SF fans. Basic premise seems to be "What would happen if someone (who happens to be benevolent...) invented the perfect !dNice quick read for classic SF fans. Basic premise seems to be "What would happen if someone (who happens to be benevolent...) invented the perfect !defensive! gun?" Couple big caveats of course, but that seems to be it.
Of course the inventor also turns out to be the only immortal human? But that is only mentioned in passing and we learn nothing at all about that thread within the confines of this book.
There are a couple interesting time travel shenanigans...at least I'm guessing they would be at this point in time. 50-60 years later and I suspect readers are too jaded, but they may have been novel at the time....more
Oh man, I wonder if he is still up at night chortling over that title? I might be. Not only does it fit the book perfectly it’s… eh, I dunno what the Oh man, I wonder if he is still up at night chortling over that title? I might be. Not only does it fit the book perfectly it’s… eh, I dunno what the term is any more? “Double entendre” always sounds sexual to me…OK…googled… I guess that’s kind of what it is. Anyway, it’s clever. Perhaps too clever.
I guess this was originally published in chunks on the web or some modern magic? Part of that return to serialized fiction I’ve heard so much about… (which is a kind of interesting loop in itself…) MORE DOTS… whatever…
Anyway. The whole of the thing is clever and fits quite well together – except for one chapter about a captured soldier escaping which worked on its own but didn’t (I don’t think) feature any of the characters from the other sequences.
However. The ending was kind of just… I mean, nothing was really resolved. At least in the sense that the over-arching plot that was used to string all the stories together certainly didn’t. It’s fine if you’re leaving something open for a sequel, but it didn’t really feel that way – even though I’m sure there will be one eventually. To be fair, Scalzi has ended at least a couple other books in this series in that way, but this one felt like the worst of the bunch in that aspect.
I don’t remember if I read Hamilton’s other short story collection or not…I think I did…seems like something I’d have on my shelf. Anyway, this was a I don’t remember if I read Hamilton’s other short story collection or not…I think I did…seems like something I’d have on my shelf. Anyway, this was a great addition. Every tale had some interesting angle to it and Hamilton’s trademark slow boil – tough to do in cramped quarters. Highly recommended to any fans of his stuff, or sci-fi fans in general. As a bonus, there’s even a Commonwealth tale or two in there.
This is one of the weaker - if not the the weakest - LeGuin book that I've yet read.
Not to say that it was bad, just that I found myself skimming moreThis is one of the weaker - if not the the weakest - LeGuin book that I've yet read.
Not to say that it was bad, just that I found myself skimming more than usual and just a little bored. About halfway through I knew that the way the book ended would seal it as either terrible or passable, as it looked like it was heading in one of two ways, both of which I found to be a little too simplistic. Thankfully, she didn't take either of those paths and so I wasn't quite disappointed...just a little bored.
The world had great potential out of the gate, but she didn't do much with it. The focus here was on the characters with a little on politics, gender roles and cultural baggage (?).
I wasn't sure what LeGuin's position on non-violent resistance was going into it, so I wasn't sure exactly where she was going. The initial MC is certainly foreshadowed to either fail or succeed spectacularly - each of which would have spoke to the two sides of that coin. Instead, she takes an ambling middle road, which is closer to how I feel about it, and made for a more emotionally and politically interesting story.
That said, the resolution was kinda "literary" in the sense that it left more things open than I'd like from a (rather short) book like this.
THREE STARS
Worth reading if you're a fan or just want something quick, but not awesome.
Note: There is a neat bit about her writing process on this book (that has a major spoiler) that puts things into a better context for me, but I have to agree with another bit on that wiki page - it's one of her "minor" works....more
Another author that I've always known of but somehow managed to never read.
Also: random: this is the 4th book of a series? It's not noted anywhere onAnother author that I've always known of but somehow managed to never read.
Also: random: this is the 4th book of a series? It's not noted anywhere on the book itself, so I'm guessing it's a disconnected series, maybe like LeGuin's Hainnish stuff? Whatever the case, I simultaneously didn't feel like I was suddenly thrust into the middle of anything and did feel like I could see where the 3 books preceding this one might lay.
OK, weird. Wiki says this was her first published book? Crazy! And so good for a debut. I guess she went back and added prequels (as did so many others of that period - Asimov, etc.). OK, weird series-ness aside, it turns out this was perhaps the perfect entry point!
ANYWAY.
This was short and sweet. Great classic sci-fi and a perfect example of the 70s/80s sci-fi stuff that I love unearthing. For a quick moving story (quite short by current standards) there's a lot of depth in here, addressing class, power & gender politics and sexuality.
I love the cover on my edition as well - I much prefer it to the original.
FOUR STARS
Solid classic sci-fi. Great entry point if you're curious about her works. ...more