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3.59 AVERAGE
3.59 AVERAGE
informative
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
challenging
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
An interesting read, but not for me a wholly successful one.
The book jumps quite rapidly between different story elements and plot points, and although this does set up more of a breathless, got-to-keep-reading feeling, I also felt like many of them didn't really get the space and time they might have merited to really live and breathe and fully impact upon the reader.
There's a lot of interesting elements to this and some profound concepts being introduced but not very deeply explored, so overall it was a little unsatisfying.
I felt particularly let down by the ending, which really felt like it was just setting up for a sequel...if that is the case, I'll probably check it out given the opportunity but it won't be top of the list.
The book jumps quite rapidly between different story elements and plot points, and although this does set up more of a breathless, got-to-keep-reading feeling, I also felt like many of them didn't really get the space and time they might have merited to really live and breathe and fully impact upon the reader.
There's a lot of interesting elements to this and some profound concepts being introduced but not very deeply explored, so overall it was a little unsatisfying.
I felt particularly let down by the ending, which really felt like it was just setting up for a sequel...if that is the case, I'll probably check it out given the opportunity but it won't be top of the list.
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Tom Rob Smith's novel "The Cold People" is a haunting exploration of humanity's tendency to create, abandon, and even resent our own creations. The story masterfully delves into the fragile nature of the human race and our finite existence, raising profound questions about our place in the world and the unintended consequences of our actions.
Smith's writing made me reflect deeply on the intricate dance between creation and abandonment. The novel vividly portrays how the things we bring into being, with all our hopes and dreams, can quickly turn into objects of fear and disdain. This theme resonates throughout the book, leaving a lasting impression on the reader.
However, I docked one star due to some subtle plot holes and elements that remain unexplained. There are moments in the story where the logic feels a bit strained, and certain plot points could have benefited from more clarity. Despite these minor issues, they didn't significantly detract from my overall enjoyment of the novel.
"The Cold People" thoroughly captivated me, stirring both my emotions and thoughts. It's a compelling read that challenges our perceptions and leaves us pondering long after the final page. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a thought-provoking and emotionally engaging novel.
Smith's writing made me reflect deeply on the intricate dance between creation and abandonment. The novel vividly portrays how the things we bring into being, with all our hopes and dreams, can quickly turn into objects of fear and disdain. This theme resonates throughout the book, leaving a lasting impression on the reader.
However, I docked one star due to some subtle plot holes and elements that remain unexplained. There are moments in the story where the logic feels a bit strained, and certain plot points could have benefited from more clarity. Despite these minor issues, they didn't significantly detract from my overall enjoyment of the novel.
"The Cold People" thoroughly captivated me, stirring both my emotions and thoughts. It's a compelling read that challenges our perceptions and leaves us pondering long after the final page. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a thought-provoking and emotionally engaging novel.
Sometimes felt like the author’s wet dream of a perfect society. “No one was fat anymore because of their lean diets of kelp and seal. Everyone had excellent cholesterol because of the steady state cardio of trudging across the ice. No one was selfish ever again.” Etc etc. Didn’t expect the sci-fi of it, but this was my first foray into speculative fiction.
My thanks to Netgalley and Scribner for the advanced copy of this book.
I thought the premise was good. An alien species arrives and delivers a message that all people must reach Antarctica within 30 days or, presumably, die. The story follows the survivors to Antarctica, and the new society’s attempt to genetically engineer a superior being - “the cold people” - to be able to thrive and survive in the hostile climate.
I had some major problems with this book. I felt that the alien invasion was nothing more than a plot device to get people into Antarctica as it was rarely mentioned again after it triggered the mass exodus. Also, the book jumped rapidly through the storyline to its own detriment. At one point, our main survivor group makes an agreement for passage on a ship sailing to Antarctica, by trading their ingenuity for passage. They are successful, but rather than experiencing this crossing with them, learning how they survive, getting to see them not only as individuals but as a group, we jump ahead to when they have arrived at their destination. We also don’t get to experience the early years in Antarctica. Soon after their arrival, the book jumps forward 20 years. In my opinion, the author could have just begun the book at about the 40% mark since all we get before that is background that could easily be covered in far fewer pages, and the author’s true interest seems to be the cold people storyline, which doesn’t begin until almost 50%. Even the climactic scene gets cut short. There is a standoff between the refugees and the cold people in which the cold people issue an ultimate. Rather than sticking with the story and letting us see how that played out, we are jumped forward two months. Due to this constant jumping forward and backwards 20 years, and changing viewpoints, we never get to know any of the characters. They all remain flat and uninteresting.
One thing that was very distracting to me for much of the book was trying to figure out how this new society, which was fairly primitive, existing on native sea life, plants, and materials scavenged from airplanes and boats, was somehow creating sophisticated genetically mutated people. Granted, there was the prior existence of McMurdo Station (an existing science research station) but McMurdo was not conducting genetic experiments. Around the 70% mark it was finally explained that a top geneticist had brought equipment and knowledge with her, but it would have been helpful to have been told that earlier.
I think this book was ambitious, the author’s knowledge and interest in Antarctica apparent, but in his eagerness to do so much, he sacrificed the smaller plot points, and character development, and ended up with a choppy book that did not commandeer my interest.
I thought the premise was good. An alien species arrives and delivers a message that all people must reach Antarctica within 30 days or, presumably, die. The story follows the survivors to Antarctica, and the new society’s attempt to genetically engineer a superior being - “the cold people” - to be able to thrive and survive in the hostile climate.
I had some major problems with this book. I felt that the alien invasion was nothing more than a plot device to get people into Antarctica as it was rarely mentioned again after it triggered the mass exodus. Also, the book jumped rapidly through the storyline to its own detriment. At one point, our main survivor group makes an agreement for passage on a ship sailing to Antarctica, by trading their ingenuity for passage. They are successful, but rather than experiencing this crossing with them, learning how they survive, getting to see them not only as individuals but as a group, we jump ahead to when they have arrived at their destination. We also don’t get to experience the early years in Antarctica. Soon after their arrival, the book jumps forward 20 years. In my opinion, the author could have just begun the book at about the 40% mark since all we get before that is background that could easily be covered in far fewer pages, and the author’s true interest seems to be the cold people storyline, which doesn’t begin until almost 50%. Even the climactic scene gets cut short. There is a standoff between the refugees and the cold people in which the cold people issue an ultimate. Rather than sticking with the story and letting us see how that played out, we are jumped forward two months. Due to this constant jumping forward and backwards 20 years, and changing viewpoints, we never get to know any of the characters. They all remain flat and uninteresting.
One thing that was very distracting to me for much of the book was trying to figure out how this new society, which was fairly primitive, existing on native sea life, plants, and materials scavenged from airplanes and boats, was somehow creating sophisticated genetically mutated people. Granted, there was the prior existence of McMurdo Station (an existing science research station) but McMurdo was not conducting genetic experiments. Around the 70% mark it was finally explained that a top geneticist had brought equipment and knowledge with her, but it would have been helpful to have been told that earlier.
I think this book was ambitious, the author’s knowledge and interest in Antarctica apparent, but in his eagerness to do so much, he sacrificed the smaller plot points, and character development, and ended up with a choppy book that did not commandeer my interest.
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
adventurous
dark
informative
inspiring
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes