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yaiii23's review against another edition
3.0
3,5⭐️ Una historia curiosa de principio a fin que mezcla a la perfección el género de la fantasía y la ciencia ficción.
No le he dado más nota porque creo que me ha faltado algo, no sé si más páginas, o más desarrollo en los últimos capítulos. Pero me ha gustado, lo recomiendo.
No le he dado más nota porque creo que me ha faltado algo, no sé si más páginas, o más desarrollo en los últimos capítulos. Pero me ha gustado, lo recomiendo.
daveruff's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
sad
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? Yes
5.0
Another wonderful novella by Tchaikovsky with a lovely althernating perspective, between a typically heroic fantasy princess, and her sought after elder sorcerer... who is actually just a (highly) technologically advanced anthropologist (2nd class). This is all spelled out by chapter two so absolutely not a spoiler. The rest of the book is seeing the world in both of their eyes, and languages, while they go on anything but a typical heroic quest to defeat a threat to the realms, that is definitely, probably, not a demon.
research_department's review
3.25
3.25 ⭐️ means I found it good (but not great)
Stats: science fantasy (of the lost colony variety), dual POV, one is first person/present tense, on is third person/past tense
I’m exploring new to me authors, and believe it or not, this is the first book I’ve read by Tchaikovsky. I have an affinity for anthropological science fiction, prefer my reading to be light rather than dark, and have a touch of arachnophobia, so this seemed like a good place to start.
The premise is that a young princess, Lyn, seeks assistance from a wizard, Nyr, to defeat a demon, but Nyr is actually an anthropologist with “sufficiently advanced technology.” The point of view alternates between the two of them, and we get to see how very differently they view their shared world.
Stats: science fantasy (of the lost colony variety), dual POV, one is first person/present tense, on is third person/past tense
I’m exploring new to me authors, and believe it or not, this is the first book I’ve read by Tchaikovsky. I have an affinity for anthropological science fiction, prefer my reading to be light rather than dark, and have a touch of arachnophobia, so this seemed like a good place to start.
The premise is that a young princess, Lyn, seeks assistance from a wizard, Nyr, to defeat a demon, but Nyr is actually an anthropologist with “sufficiently advanced technology.” The point of view alternates between the two of them, and we get to see how very differently they view their shared world.
I have mixed feelings about this novella. It was a pleasant and easy read, and I enjoyed the central conceit of contrasting Lyn and Nyr’s understanding of their history and their actions. However, I really had difficulty with how Tchaikovsky set the stage for the story he wanted to tell. I do not believe that anthropologists can do field work by observing clandestinely, I think they have to interact with the culture they are studying. I also could not accept the Dissociative Cognition System that supposedly allows Nyr to suppress his emotions in order to act more efficiently. In reality, without experiencing emotions, we do not have the motivation (rational or irrational) that drives our decisions.
Beyond my objections to how Tchaikovsky lay the foundations for the fiction, I also noticed that I felt disengaged. I liked the protagonists, but didn’t connect to them emotionally, since they did not seem fully realized. Similarly, I didn’t feel any visceral response to the havoc the “demon” wreaks. On the other hand, I liked that Tchaikovsky sidestepped some tropes. I love a good romance subplot, but it wasn’t necessary here. I also appreciated that instead of explaining the “demon” as the classic ancient war machine gone amuck, Tchaikovsky opted instead to leave the demon as inexplicable and unnatural, even to the understanding of someone with greater technology. And ultimately, I did enjoy Tchaikovsky’s comparison of a fantastical vs a technological explanation of a world. I’m not in a rush to read more Tchaikovsky, but I won’t avoid him, either. If you’re looking for something short and undemanding, but still interesting, I think this suits.
bippo's review
4.0
very fun characters and interactions. the mix of internal and external dialogue and miscommunication is fun
punch0's review
5.0
fuckin AMAZING book
it has the DNA of Nier: Automata to it. not sure how to put it into words, but here's a pot-pourri: nostalgia for something lost, a by-gone civilisation, glory past and gone, something you can never return to, things of the old world coming up to haunt the present, which has fallen far past elder glories but is still beautiful all the same.
it has the DNA of Nier: Automata to it. not sure how to put it into words, but here's a pot-pourri: nostalgia for something lost, a by-gone civilisation, glory past and gone, something you can never return to, things of the old world coming up to haunt the present, which has fallen far past elder glories but is still beautiful all the same.
tomby's review
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? Yes
3.5
"any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic" applied to the concept of wizards in fantasy novels. Feels like a proof of concept more than a novel, but very enjoyable
godofwar's review against another edition
4.0
utilizing a dual-POV to blend scifi and fantasy? incredible, showstopping, spectacular
liadh4's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
fast-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? It's complicated
5.0