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dualmon's review against another edition
2.0
Woof. Talk about a vision of future tech that didn't age well. This was a tough grind for me.
cmrogers03's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
andyml's review
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
johnbyers1500's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
hm_brotherton's review
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
mosesp's review
2.0
Set in a painfully superficial and un-natural society, so the reader's displeasure while reading is at least partly intentional. Still as an early KSR work, the characterization and plotting were insufficient to keep me reading. Quit ~50% of the way in.
revellee's review
5.0
I really enjoyed this slower paced book. Lots of things to ponder about. I had no idea where it was going at any time - unusual for most fiction, it seems. This is the second possible future KSR imagined for California. Instead of the post-apocalyptic future of The Wild Shore, this is about a near future dystopia that honestly isn’t too far off from where we are now.
Some spoiler-ish review below:
I’m sure some may find the details of the defense industry’s government procurement process to be mind numbingly boring, but I found it very interesting. I work in the defense industry and it’s fascinating that not a single thing has changed since KSR published this in 1988. From the RFP to the appeal to the unfairness of it all to the corporate/government corruption. I really feel for Dennis (Jim’s dad) and anyone working at his level of the government contracting game - especially since he truly believed in the actual mission of the work. It’s such a soul-sucking, thankless, stressful job that just uses and abuses a person until they’re just husks of themselves. Getting laid off is often the best thing to happen to a government contractor. I am glad Dennis chose to take his vacation time and possibly retire…
Jim is an interesting character. He’s self involved and careless with his relationships while simultaneously being self aware enough to realize he is and be disgusted with himself but he still isn’t able to stop himself or fix anything.
Of course he thought that he was the catalyst for all his friends dispersing and moving on with their lives. He needs the self pity (and the drugs) to feel anything in his privileged and boring life.
All his friends have real things they’re living through, real struggles, and all Jim has is a stressed out dad who doesn’t talk to him much. Did he actually change like he says?? I’m not convinced.
Is his Uncle Tom supposed to be the same Tom from The Wild Shore? …
Some spoiler-ish review below:
Spoiler
I’m sure some may find the details of the defense industry’s government procurement process to be mind numbingly boring, but I found it very interesting. I work in the defense industry and it’s fascinating that not a single thing has changed since KSR published this in 1988. From the RFP to the appeal to the unfairness of it all to the corporate/government corruption. I really feel for Dennis (Jim’s dad) and anyone working at his level of the government contracting game - especially since he truly believed in the actual mission of the work. It’s such a soul-sucking, thankless, stressful job that just uses and abuses a person until they’re just husks of themselves. Getting laid off is often the best thing to happen to a government contractor. I am glad Dennis chose to take his vacation time and possibly retire…
Jim is an interesting character. He’s self involved and careless with his relationships while simultaneously being self aware enough to realize he is and be disgusted with himself but he still isn’t able to stop himself or fix anything.
Of course he thought that he was the catalyst for all his friends dispersing and moving on with their lives. He needs the self pity (and the drugs) to feel anything in his privileged and boring life.
All his friends have real things they’re living through, real struggles, and all Jim has is a stressed out dad who doesn’t talk to him much. Did he actually change like he says?? I’m not convinced.
Is his Uncle Tom supposed to be the same Tom from The Wild Shore? …
orcaseatingstrawberries's review
Somewhat hard to read/get into.
Sex was thrown in, too.
Went on for a bit but just couldn't really summon up enough interest.
Sex was thrown in, too.
Went on for a bit but just couldn't really summon up enough interest.