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3.51 AVERAGE
3.51 AVERAGE
The insight into the future is engaging. Now that we know the characters a story would be great. Please work on it, I'll be waiting.
Such a vividly painted extraordinarily good world building, and intertwining stories. I want to know more of the universe.
Not so much a novel as a collection of character sketches in a very interesting universe. I kept waiting for the story to come together; it never did.
This book reads to me like a more lyrical version of Necromancer. It is apt that it is named for its setting because Central Station is the most compelling part of the book, though we visit it for but a short time through a series of short stories that I think would have worked best apart rather than woven together as an afterthought. My biggest complaint would be the same complaint that I had for Necromancer-- that the characters are too alien, that I was never given much time to connect with them, that they fleet in and out of chapters like ghosts, somehow more intangible than the world they inhabit.
This book is absolutely a tour de force, and I mean that both in the colloquial "dude, that's so cool, that's awesome" way and the more literal "wow, that's amazing how did you DO that" way. It functions as both a short story collection and a novel, seamlessly weaves together no less than twelve POV characters, integrates languages both real and invented (including poetry in invented languages), and brings forward modern cultural and faith heritages in a realistic way, adds in invented heritages that feel like they've got history, and makes the whole thing read as both dreamlike and incredibly grounded. So yes. Tour de force.
I had no idea what was going on but I was 100% there for the ride, and true only real misstep for me was the ending. If you're looking for resolution of the mystery of some characters, it does not come. We never see what happens to the children, or the shamleau, or anyone really past their moment in POV— with one exception. We do get to see the final triumph of an ailing character asbut I had been reading a tone of hope and community for previous stories, so that coming right at the end of the book rather left a bad taste in my mouth. I'm sure it's a studied artistic decision and a meditation on the nature of closure in general, I just didn't like it.
Overall though, 4.5 stars.
I had no idea what was going on but I was 100% there for the ride, and true only real misstep for me was the ending. If you're looking for resolution of the mystery of some characters, it does not come. We never see what happens to the children, or the shamleau, or anyone really past their moment in POV— with one exception. We do get to see the final triumph of an ailing character as
Spoiler
he kills himself. The doctors make clear that there is no cure for what ails him, he's happy to finally be done,Overall though, 4.5 stars.
slow-paced
This book was all telling and no showing. Unfortunately, it wasn't telling an interesting story.
Lots of ideas, but not enough plot for me
The world Tidhar has created here is fascinating, but the story -- fragmentary, lacking any real through line -- doesn't hold up its end of the bargain. I don't recall seeing this book described as a mosaic novel or short story collection anywhere, but it came as no surprise to see a page at the end listing the publications in which different chapters originally appeared in short story form. Wish I'd known that going in.
(The title also meant that it had the shadow of Perdido Street Station constantly looming over it, which did it no favors.)
(The title also meant that it had the shadow of Perdido Street Station constantly looming over it, which did it no favors.)
Short story collections that stand alone in their own right but intertwine with each other are my favorite sort of story collections. This collection is a strong one. There wasn't a single story that I felt dragged or didn't quite mesh. The characters are so diverse, the setting is so foreign yet in some way instantly recognizable. Even though it's set in a future Tel Aviv, it feels as if it's really a central station and that we're all still connected here on this planet.
I loved the Jewish robots, the Strigoi named Carmel (she's probably my favorite character. The idea of data vampirism is amazing), and all of the other vibrantly realized characters sprinkled throughout the stories.
This is a solid collection of science fiction stories that isn't just about science fiction. It's about what one must do and how one must survive in a universe that is often too unforgiving. It's not a plot-heavy set of stories, but it's one that will make you care at least a little bit about all of the characters between the covers.
Thanks to Netgalley for a review copy!
I loved the Jewish robots, the Strigoi named Carmel (she's probably my favorite character. The idea of data vampirism is amazing), and all of the other vibrantly realized characters sprinkled throughout the stories.
This is a solid collection of science fiction stories that isn't just about science fiction. It's about what one must do and how one must survive in a universe that is often too unforgiving. It's not a plot-heavy set of stories, but it's one that will make you care at least a little bit about all of the characters between the covers.
Thanks to Netgalley for a review copy!