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jade's review
adventurous
challenging
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
whimsicallyjaded's review against another edition
4.0
I need to read more spunky science fiction novellas because these things are AWESOME so good if you want to read but just don’t have time… so quick and digestible but leaves you with so much to think about so good!
pearlc's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
I liked what it was trying to say more than I liked the execution of it. I finished it 3 days ago and it's already fading. The idea of a future where people get embedded technology to enhance performance and a 75 miles race in under 24 hours through the Sierra Navada mountains is just one of many ways this has changed the world is interesting. But the there was too much going on for a novella. It felt cluttered and would have been improved by dropping one or two themes. Society where birthright citizenship is no longer, religion vs technology, parentification of eldest child, class differences, what do we owe each other, earning vs stealing, it was just too much for 128 pages. That might be too much for 400 pages.
That being said I did like our protagonist Marmeg. They were an interesting person to spend time with as they battled their natural tendency to help others with the economic needs they're living with. Marmeg being someone who builds their own gear and is betting their entire future on one race against a slew of people much better off then them is a story I can get behind.
roadtripreader's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
The mother wound endures even in a dystopian future - It just wasn't it for me. Its not a bad story, there's just something missing. I take author endorsements with a pinch of salt but I have to admit Ken Liu's thumbs up played a huge factor in getting me into this novella.
You know what's weird? I wanted Marmeg to succeed even though I didn't really enjoy the book. She still kept me in it and I didnt even like her.
The chicken adobo was one of the highlights and that was in the beginning. Seriously, After reading this, I ordered takeout.
Plot/Storyline/Themes:
If anything, the utter bleakness of this dystopian near-future was defined extremely well. I honestly would want to take a swig of immortality to live in that world. Because of this seamless depiction of not-quite-hell-on-earth but kind of a mass materialism coupled with discontent and maybe anui, it had me seriously contemplating rounding up from 2.5 to 3. But I read it, some parts were nice but a 3 would mean I liked it quite a bit. So no. 2.5/2.75.
Two Sentences, A Scene or less - Characters:
Marmeg is one of those characters you know will come out victorious but it'll be rough AF for her because she pushes against the tide until it bends to her will. I didn't like Marmeg at all, but I sure as hell respect the hustle. That is a fighter deep in her spirit.
Hhhm, a grown man (straight out of the military service abroad) going through a Tyler Durdan/Narrator Fight Club phase, should not be nicknamed Jeffy. Como que Jeffy?
He should just be Jeff or Jeffrey.
Also not a fan of the slang/cutting words. I understand it's to translate their social class and that's their vernacular but I couldn't finish Firestarter-Adrian Tchaikovsky for that reason - and I love all hisnother books so its definitely a book pet peeve of mine. I'm surprised I got through this one.
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Scene: :
Marmeg made a friend!🤗
Ardha, Marmeg and an actual glacier in the desert.
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Quotes:
🖤 “I want more. Six-digit ratings. Big money and benefits jobs. Make some rules, even with no vote. Run the world. Not be run down by it.” (The essence of Marmeg)
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Concepts :
■ Androgynous Moots
■exoskeletons, chips, smartskins
■ Postnatal vs Nat citizens
■Parkour Times a Hundred
StoryGraph Challenge: 1800 Books by 2025
Challenge Prompt: 150 Science Fiction Books by 2025
You know what's weird? I wanted Marmeg to succeed even though I didn't really enjoy the book. She still kept me in it and I didnt even like her.
The chicken adobo was one of the highlights and that was in the beginning. Seriously, After reading this, I ordered takeout.
Plot/Storyline/Themes:
If anything, the utter bleakness of this dystopian near-future was defined extremely well. I honestly would want to take a swig of immortality to live in that world. Because of this seamless depiction of not-quite-hell-on-earth but kind of a mass materialism coupled with discontent and maybe anui, it had me seriously contemplating rounding up from 2.5 to 3. But I read it, some parts were nice but a 3 would mean I liked it quite a bit. So no. 2.5/2.75.
Two Sentences, A Scene or less - Characters:
Marmeg is one of those characters you know will come out victorious but it'll be rough AF for her because she pushes against the tide until it bends to her will. I didn't like Marmeg at all, but I sure as hell respect the hustle. That is a fighter deep in her spirit.
Hhhm, a grown man (straight out of the military service abroad) going through a Tyler Durdan/Narrator Fight Club phase, should not be nicknamed Jeffy. Como que Jeffy?
He should just be Jeff or Jeffrey.
Also not a fan of the slang/cutting words. I understand it's to translate their social class and that's their vernacular but I couldn't finish Firestarter-Adrian Tchaikovsky for that reason - and I love all hisnother books so its definitely a book pet peeve of mine. I'm surprised I got through this one.
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Scene: :
Marmeg made a friend!🤗
Ardha, Marmeg and an actual glacier in the desert.
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Quotes:
🖤 “I want more. Six-digit ratings. Big money and benefits jobs. Make some rules, even with no vote. Run the world. Not be run down by it.” (The essence of Marmeg)
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Concepts :
■ Androgynous Moots
■exoskeletons, chips, smartskins
■ Postnatal vs Nat citizens
■Parkour Times a Hundred
StoryGraph Challenge: 1800 Books by 2025
Challenge Prompt: 150 Science Fiction Books by 2025
pussinbooks's review against another edition
4.0
Runtime presents the not-so-distant future California teeming with so many gender politics and so little time to explore them. This is a story about an idealistic youth following her dreams vs. the old guard of what it means to be human. It is about doing the right thing despite compromising your integrity. A stand out piece of writing.
humvee's review against another edition
4.0
A quick read in S. B. Divya's cyberpunk future
This short story is set in S. B. Divya's slightly dystopian future setting. Specifically, it is a few days in the life of a young person who lives in poverty, trying to scratch together a brighter future for her and her family. She longs for sports celebrity, endorsements and wealth as a long distance cyber-enhanced cross country runner. The United States of America in this setting has codified a path to legal status for immigrants who can scrape together the funds to buy in - but they can never get full citizenship status. This is only glimpse in this person's life, but it does end on a hopeful note.
This short story is set in S. B. Divya's slightly dystopian future setting. Specifically, it is a few days in the life of a young person who lives in poverty, trying to scratch together a brighter future for her and her family. She longs for sports celebrity, endorsements and wealth as a long distance cyber-enhanced cross country runner. The United States of America in this setting has codified a path to legal status for immigrants who can scrape together the funds to buy in - but they can never get full citizenship status. This is only glimpse in this person's life, but it does end on a hopeful note.
abbyt's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
ninj's review against another edition
4.0
A rather spontanous read - a YA story about a near future US dystopia where births have to be licensed, or you are particularly poorly off. With a slew of augmented humans and black market parts, the main storyline follows Marmeg doing a cross-country run with exoskeletal parts to win money by placing to get into education / job / legal standing. Very readable story yet placed in a setting that's just enough off-kilter and slang-filled to keep you remapping concepts.
marpesea's review against another edition
3.0
Divya paints a bleak world in broad strokes-- the U.S. Is split into people who are citizens and entitled to social services, education, etc. and immigrants who have to pay exorbitant fees for those same services. Our hero Marmeg is a person with some physical upgrades who hopes to win a grueling wilderness race against other enhanced people. The prize money will also help secure a comfortable future for their entire family...
I picked this up because it was recommended as a book for fans of Hurley from The Adventure Zone. And that recommendation fit. Hurley is a scrappy, stalwart character with a code of ethics and Marmeg is thrifty and determined, but has a solid moral code.
I picked this up because it was recommended as a book for fans of Hurley from The Adventure Zone. And that recommendation fit. Hurley is a scrappy, stalwart character with a code of ethics and Marmeg is thrifty and determined, but has a solid moral code.