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aggressive_nostalgia's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror and Mental illness
Moderate: Gore
sarahweyand's review
adventurous
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
I read this book at the recommendation of my husband as a shorter book to get close to passing my 2023 reading goal. I was skeptical at first but ended up really enjoying myself! I liked the writing style and thought the story was well-suited to a novella. There was a good amount of character development and I found myself caring about our protagonist(s), which is something that's hard for me to do with shorter texts.
Sometimes the pacing felt a little all over the place, and I wish the ending had provided more catharsis than it did. Don't get me wrong, I really liked the ending. I predicted the climax and enjoyed how it played out, and I understand that not every story has to have a happy ending, but I was hoping for a little more relief for our protagonists.
I'm glad I picked this one up and I would be interested in reading more from Tchaikovsky in the future.
Sometimes the pacing felt a little all over the place, and I wish the ending had provided more catharsis than it did. Don't get me wrong, I really liked the ending. I predicted the climax and enjoyed how it played out, and I understand that not every story has to have a happy ending, but I was hoping for a little more relief for our protagonists.
I'm glad I picked this one up and I would be interested in reading more from Tchaikovsky in the future.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Mental illness, and Gore
Moderate: Death and Suicidal thoughts
leguinstan's review
adventurous
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Checked out this novella because it was nominated for the Ursula K. Le Guin Award in 2022 and it did not disappoint! The cultural and linguistic misunderstandings between the two main characters made both of their POVs really engaging to read. Everytime something of significance happened in one chapter I was excited to read the other character's perspective in the next chapter. I particularly appreciate how the two POVs are used to explore some ethical questions regarding the field of cultural anthropology. The story is funny and thoughful.
The progression of Nyr's character arc, as his priorities shift and his relationship with the inhabitants of the planet evolves, is incredibly compelling. While Lynesse is also an interesting character, it's a bit of a shame that she is not as complex as Nyr and unlike him she barely has any character development. Regardless, I do like her as a character and I genuinely think the lack of her POV would've resulted in a much weaker novella overall.
In all honesty, I was a tad sad when I finished Elder Race because I wanted to spend more time in the setting. Throughout the novella Tchaikovsky would drop these interesting world-building tidbits that made the setting feel believably complex without ruining the story's tight pacing. As much as I like to nitpick, I want to emphasize the fact that the novella's ending did not disappoint me in the least. I feel the story ended in a very satisfying manner and I do not feel there were any annoying loose ends. It felt very complete and my statements about wanting to spend more time in the world are to be taken as a compliment. I think Tchaikovsky handled Elder Race's short page count really well!
The progression of Nyr's character arc, as his priorities shift and his relationship with the inhabitants of the planet evolves, is incredibly compelling. While Lynesse is also an interesting character, it's a bit of a shame that she is not as complex as Nyr and unlike him she barely has any character development. Regardless, I do like her as a character and I genuinely think the lack of her POV would've resulted in a much weaker novella overall.
In all honesty, I was a tad sad when I finished Elder Race because I wanted to spend more time in the setting. Throughout the novella Tchaikovsky would drop these interesting world-building tidbits that made the setting feel believably complex without ruining the story's tight pacing. As much as I like to nitpick, I want to emphasize the fact that the novella's ending did not disappoint me in the least. I feel the story ended in a very satisfying manner and I do not feel there were any annoying loose ends. It felt very complete and my statements about wanting to spend more time in the world are to be taken as a compliment. I think Tchaikovsky handled Elder Race's short page count really well!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Body horror, and Gore
yuyuv's review
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body horror
Minor: Gore, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Mental illness, and Grief
bluejayreads's review against another edition
4.5
The back cover on this was mediocre, and I didn't have high expectations. But it was surprisingly good. It takes the maxim "Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic" and rolls with it. But the communication struggles between the augmented anthropologist of a technologically-advanced people and the princess of a generally-primitive people were the most fascinating part. For being as short as it is, the world and characters are remarkably complex and the emotions are surprisingly deep and rich. The plot is fairly simple - go to this place, deal with the demon there - but it ended in a pleasantly unexpected way. I just can't get over how this book looked so unassuming on the outside and yet managed to be complex and interesting and have such solid characters and a well-developed world while still being so short. I almost wish it was longer just because I want more in this world with these characters.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Gore, and Body horror
Moderate: Death, Animal death, and Mental illness
Minor: Suicidal thoughts
johnbat's review
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
This is a duel-perspective narrative that is BRILLIANTLY told. I loved how the author used unique language in the perspective of each character to incite differing images of the story.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body horror and Mental illness
Minor: Gore
gilnean's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
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
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Gore, Fire/Fire injury, Cursing, Body horror, Suicide attempt, Injury/Injury detail, Suicidal thoughts, and Blood
Moderate: Medical content, Death, and Animal death
Minor: Vomit, Classism, Colonisation, Rape, Infertility, Child abuse, War, Emotional abuse, and Sexual assault
laurareads87's review against another edition
adventurous
reflective
fast-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
I am more a relic worthy of study than those I was placed to observe.
Elder Race follows Lynesse, a royal daughter eager to prove her value by vanquishing a demon threatening neighbouring territories, and Nyr, an archaeologist from the society Lynesse's descends from but whom Lynesse's people believe is a wizard. The book alternates perspectives between the two, with a single brilliant chapter juxtaposing them by including each of their perspectives side by side. I quite enjoyed this book! I will say that the interplay between the main characters, and particularly Nyr's internal struggles with his situation and the chasm of misunderstanding between himself and Lynesse, interested me far more than the demon-slaying plot did. The climax of the plot - the confrontation with the menacing force - seemed a little bit rushed, but I found I didn't mind in the slightest because I was more interested in what Nyr was thinking about. I've enjoyed everything I've read by Tchaikovsky so far, and this is no exception. Recommend for fans of LeGuin.
Elder Race follows Lynesse, a royal daughter eager to prove her value by vanquishing a demon threatening neighbouring territories, and Nyr, an archaeologist from the society Lynesse's descends from but whom Lynesse's people believe is a wizard. The book alternates perspectives between the two, with a single brilliant chapter juxtaposing them by including each of their perspectives side by side. I quite enjoyed this book! I will say that the interplay between the main characters, and particularly Nyr's internal struggles with his situation and the chasm of misunderstanding between himself and Lynesse, interested me far more than the demon-slaying plot did. The climax of the plot - the confrontation with the menacing force - seemed a little bit rushed, but I found I didn't mind in the slightest because I was more interested in what Nyr was thinking about. I've enjoyed everything I've read by Tchaikovsky so far, and this is no exception. Recommend for fans of LeGuin.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gore, Body horror, and Death
mjwhitlock18's review
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
3.5
Such an interesting mix of SciFi and Fantasy. Nyr is a clinically depressed cultural anthropologist living in and studying a world colonized long ago by people from earth. Because he has more advanced science and tech, the people from the world think he’s a sorcerer, and due to a failure of translation, he can’t explain to them that his science isn’t magic. A childishly naive, youngest sister/warrior princess comes to him to beg for his magic help fighting off a “demon” plague that is taking over part of her mother’s kingdom. This novella is quick, witty, genre-bending, and explores some good themes around communication, solitude, and the bravery in the face of hopelessness.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Gore, and Mental illness
Moderate: Animal death, Death, and Suicidal thoughts
eegekay's review
adventurous
mysterious
medium-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? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Gore, and Body horror