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copiousfreetime's review against another edition
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-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
4.25
dubtek5000's review against another edition
2.0
I am sure some people will love this book, but I was not one of them.
First, sometimes when someone touches your shoulder or you sip broth... it is just that, not everything needs to have 5000 adjectives described to it and dear God was the word orgasmic used a lot.
Second, there are so many nonsensical plot points. For example, they have supersonic ultra hand washers but they still use toilet paper?! And he uses his hand because he is poor!? It is called a bidet .... and it already exists. Also, I did not need 200 pages of him realizing his parents were trash, that was pretty clear seconds after meeting them. They are abusive narcissistic butt plugs and obviously their religion is too like they "wanna help the starving" but poor people are icky so don't touch them?
Third, it is the future where there is literally space travel and machines for everything, and not only do we still have crazy terrible slave labor (but only one lady for some reason?) But also gays are still bad? And the reasoning is that gay people can't have children? Again this is not a real problem, what about a surrogate or adoption? Or some crazy birth tube cause again, it is the future. That is a dumb reason to hate on being gay. And the brief scene where Kenna is confused by someone with a gender identity they did not expect is dumb, they literally have implants that keep people alive till 150 and this kid has been all over the universe and THIS is what confuses him.
Last, well not actually last but I am gonna wrap up here. What is with this world-building? There is only one place in the universe that doesn't have vending machines as the main food source and it is like on the outskirts of the universe? There is slave labor but no capitalist has figured out that opening up a chain of olive gardens would make them a fortune in this entirely untapped market? And in a world where there is sanitizing spray every couple of minutes why does everything have to smell like pee? And for a book almost exclusively about futuristic food, why is all they talk about broth? Not even broth, consumé, the boringest broth that is only consumed pre-colonoscopy.
Obviously this book is for some people, and it is not like I could or have written anything better, however I have not thought of a person I know yet that I would recommend this too.
If you are looking for a sci-fi, world-building, character-driven book with an LGBTQ+ romance. This is not it. If you want hundreds of flowery poetry-like sentences this book could be for you.
First, sometimes when someone touches your shoulder or you sip broth... it is just that, not everything needs to have 5000 adjectives described to it and dear God was the word orgasmic used a lot.
Second, there are so many nonsensical plot points. For example, they have supersonic ultra hand washers but they still use toilet paper?! And he uses his hand because he is poor!? It is called a bidet .... and it already exists. Also, I did not need 200 pages of him realizing his parents were trash, that was pretty clear seconds after meeting them. They are abusive narcissistic butt plugs and obviously their religion is too like they "wanna help the starving" but poor people are icky so don't touch them?
Third, it is the future where there is literally space travel and machines for everything, and not only do we still have crazy terrible slave labor (but only one lady for some reason?) But also gays are still bad? And the reasoning is that gay people can't have children? Again this is not a real problem, what about a surrogate or adoption? Or some crazy birth tube cause again, it is the future. That is a dumb reason to hate on being gay. And the brief scene where Kenna is confused by someone with a gender identity they did not expect is dumb, they literally have implants that keep people alive till 150 and this kid has been all over the universe and THIS is what confuses him.
Last, well not actually last but I am gonna wrap up here. What is with this world-building? There is only one place in the universe that doesn't have vending machines as the main food source and it is like on the outskirts of the universe? There is slave labor but no capitalist has figured out that opening up a chain of olive gardens would make them a fortune in this entirely untapped market? And in a world where there is sanitizing spray every couple of minutes why does everything have to smell like pee? And for a book almost exclusively about futuristic food, why is all they talk about broth? Not even broth, consumé, the boringest broth that is only consumed pre-colonoscopy.
Obviously this book is for some people, and it is not like I could or have written anything better, however I have not thought of a person I know yet that I would recommend this too.
If you are looking for a sci-fi, world-building, character-driven book with an LGBTQ+ romance. This is not it. If you want hundreds of flowery poetry-like sentences this book could be for you.
mikeu's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
kayciedoom's review against another edition
slow-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
caitgriff's review against another edition
4.0
I’m always telling people who don’t read science fiction that it’s not just space ships and aliens and Star Wars (no shade), but that good science fiction tackles larger stories of humanity. But maybe in space.
The Sol Majestic is one of the best examples I’ve unearthed of a science fiction novel that just feels like a social commentary set in space. The main character’s arc provides a stark look at the consequences of staggering socioeconomic inequity, the tensions between familial loyalty and moral courage, and how we become our truest selves under fire.
Crumbling under the pressure to revive his parents’ dying religion by “realizing” his cut and dry purpose in life (called his “Inevitable Philosophy”), the protagonist, Kenna, stumbles into the head chef and owner of the Sol Majestic, the most famous restaurant in the galaxy. After a life of asceticism, Kenna discovers food, and tries to balance his parents expectations with the new types of love he’s discovering at the Majestic, including the romantic love he bears towards another young man, an indentured servant in the kitchen, Benzo.
The passages describing food are the most evocative in the book, with the ability to make you crave chicken broth, grilled cheese, and oily noodles. The writing is terrific, and the book only really struggles with consistent pacing in the middle third but is a great 4/5 read for me. #SimilarBooks include This is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone.
The Sol Majestic is one of the best examples I’ve unearthed of a science fiction novel that just feels like a social commentary set in space. The main character’s arc provides a stark look at the consequences of staggering socioeconomic inequity, the tensions between familial loyalty and moral courage, and how we become our truest selves under fire.
Crumbling under the pressure to revive his parents’ dying religion by “realizing” his cut and dry purpose in life (called his “Inevitable Philosophy”), the protagonist, Kenna, stumbles into the head chef and owner of the Sol Majestic, the most famous restaurant in the galaxy. After a life of asceticism, Kenna discovers food, and tries to balance his parents expectations with the new types of love he’s discovering at the Majestic, including the romantic love he bears towards another young man, an indentured servant in the kitchen, Benzo.
The passages describing food are the most evocative in the book, with the ability to make you crave chicken broth, grilled cheese, and oily noodles. The writing is terrific, and the book only really struggles with consistent pacing in the middle third but is a great 4/5 read for me. #SimilarBooks include This is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone.
ecster's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Really enjoyed this book, gay scifi is right up my alley! Although some Escargone parts got very dark and I would have liked to see more about how Kenna ans Benzo became vegan at the end , it was full of larger than life characters and vivid description of food. A thoroughly enjoyable read.
yvkhan's review against another edition
4.0
Oh my god they deleted my review bc i made a mistake whatever it was chill
azu's review against another edition
4.0
It was the first book by Ferret Steinmetz I read and I'm incredibly smitten. That being said, it wasn't love at first sight, I don't know if it's because English isn't my first langage but the first chapters were a bit difficult to get into but before I realized it... I was unable to stop turning the pages.
A really good story with great characters and an interesting world building. If you're looking for a nice SFF book with diverse characters and beautiful writing, it may be for you :)
A really good story with great characters and an interesting world building. If you're looking for a nice SFF book with diverse characters and beautiful writing, it may be for you :)