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rabidreally's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Probably the least dense in terms of plot points? But very logical development of story and character. Just pretty solid.
anjasshelf's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Suicide, War, Xenophobia, Grief, Confinement, Torture, Murder, Death, Genocide, Colonisation, and Violence
Moderate: Alcohol and Religious bigotry
ihaveknowledge's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
thebigness's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
timinbc's review against another edition
4.0
Good solid #2, makes me want #3.
This one builds very nicely on #1, extrapolating carefully and credibly without making any new unreasonable leaps. New tools and approaches evolve, but only as time passes. New plot threads appear, and feel plausible. The Bobs develop diverging personalities. They start to explore just what it means to be a replicant, and what possibilities can be explored if they push the comfort boundaries -- which they can do as they diverge.
There's a new enemy, in the traditional way-stronger-than-us way that always signals that "but-human-ingenuity and-grit-will-eventually-prevail" can't be far behind.
I hope book 3 will dial it back a little on the drinks. Jeeves-coffee every few pages, relieved only by occasional substitution of booze.
I hope we can accept this book for the simple adventure it appears to be, and not get into hating it because it doesn't explore human diversity in all its ways. There are plenty of books doing that, and lately they're doing it very, very well. We needn't require it of every book.
Which raises the question of why a Bobiverse? Why not a Bob-and-Carol-and-Ted-and-Alice-iverse? I suggest that it's because Taylor realized early on that it's going to be quite complicated enough just with umpteen Bobs. And just one character each representing Earth's military and religious communities.
There may be another book from someone else exploring what happens if there are hundreds of mild, intelligent Bobs but also hundreds of Alices (and I'm thinking of Alice the homicidal programmer/engineer from "Dilbert") and hundreds of smart people from a very different culture. For sure they'd spend more time dealing with each other than with external challenges.
This one builds very nicely on #1, extrapolating carefully and credibly without making any new unreasonable leaps. New tools and approaches evolve, but only as time passes. New plot threads appear, and feel plausible. The Bobs develop diverging personalities. They start to explore just what it means to be a replicant, and what possibilities can be explored if they push the comfort boundaries -- which they can do as they diverge.
There's a new enemy, in the traditional way-stronger-than-us way that always signals that "but-human-ingenuity and-grit-will-eventually-prevail" can't be far behind.
I hope book 3 will dial it back a little on the drinks. Jeeves-coffee every few pages, relieved only by occasional substitution of booze.
I hope we can accept this book for the simple adventure it appears to be, and not get into hating it because it doesn't explore human diversity in all its ways. There are plenty of books doing that, and lately they're doing it very, very well. We needn't require it of every book.
Which raises the question of why a Bobiverse? Why not a Bob-and-Carol-and-Ted-and-Alice-iverse? I suggest that it's because Taylor realized early on that it's going to be quite complicated enough just with umpteen Bobs. And just one character each representing Earth's military and religious communities.
There may be another book from someone else exploring what happens if there are hundreds of mild, intelligent Bobs but also hundreds of Alices (and I'm thinking of Alice the homicidal programmer/engineer from "Dilbert") and hundreds of smart people from a very different culture. For sure they'd spend more time dealing with each other than with external challenges.
gerceval's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
paulmichaelpeters's review against another edition
4.0
Oh Bob. I like the first book so much (audio book driving to conference) that I bought the next in the series, For We Are Many, and listened to it on the way home.
You know that a book is really connecting with you when you slow down to listen, or go through the drive through for dinner so you don't have to stop.
Taylor has created a universe that is enjoyable to be a part of as the reader/listener. He is good a hooks to keep you listening, moving the plot forward, and keeping emotional commitment and interest.
I highly recommend Scifi fans to give the series a try.
You know that a book is really connecting with you when you slow down to listen, or go through the drive through for dinner so you don't have to stop.
Taylor has created a universe that is enjoyable to be a part of as the reader/listener. He is good a hooks to keep you listening, moving the plot forward, and keeping emotional commitment and interest.
I highly recommend Scifi fans to give the series a try.
whitecat5000's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
1.0
DNF. Couldn't get into this one like I did the first.
kestrel_uk's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75