Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.06 AVERAGE
4.06 AVERAGE
Stvarno jeste dobro!
Vavilonska kula (u nekom svetu nalik na naš), koja je toliko drevna da joj je i istorija zaboravljena i čiji je prečnik prečnik jednog grada, naziva se slivnikom čovečanstva iz dva razloga: prvi je što privlači čovečanstvo sebi kao slivnik vodu, kao neka nova gravitaciona sila, a drugi je, pa, isto to samo sa izrazito negativnom konotacijom (khm khm „nije Milošević kriv“).
I taj sloj romana je zaista i najinteresantniji. Koja je svrha te gorostasne kule? Da li se uzdiže do neslućenih visina kako bi stigla do raja ili oborila isti? Da li je to u stvari samo jedan megalomanski lift do vasione? Simbol ljudske ambicije koja istovremeno dozvoljava svim našim manama da se istaknu? Voleo bih da Bankroft nikada ne razjasni.
Elem, neću puno o priči sem toga da je ovo klasična avantura i da je cilj uvek jasan, nema tu bog zna šta. Likovi su simpatični, vešto napisani, i izuzev par naivnih grešaka pisca (ipak mu je ovo prvi roman i čini mi se da je ne toliko imao priču, koliko je znao na koji način će do nje da dodje; tj. da je video Kulu), i narativa je i više no kvalitetna. Impresivan prvi roman još nedovršenog serijala, sa dovoljno „literarne“ vrednosti da se istakne u moru ostalih kopi-pejst priča. Čudi me što još nije (iako je već na izrazito dobrom glasu). Ovde stvarno čuči jedan potencijalno veliki nastavak, veliki roman.
5-
Vavilonska kula (u nekom svetu nalik na naš), koja je toliko drevna da joj je i istorija zaboravljena i čiji je prečnik prečnik jednog grada, naziva se slivnikom čovečanstva iz dva razloga: prvi je što privlači čovečanstvo sebi kao slivnik vodu, kao neka nova gravitaciona sila, a drugi je, pa, isto to samo sa izrazito negativnom konotacijom (khm khm „nije Milošević kriv“).
I taj sloj romana je zaista i najinteresantniji. Koja je svrha te gorostasne kule? Da li se uzdiže do neslućenih visina kako bi stigla do raja ili oborila isti? Da li je to u stvari samo jedan megalomanski lift do vasione? Simbol ljudske ambicije koja istovremeno dozvoljava svim našim manama da se istaknu? Voleo bih da Bankroft nikada ne razjasni.
Elem, neću puno o priči sem toga da je ovo klasična avantura i da je cilj uvek jasan, nema tu bog zna šta. Likovi su simpatični, vešto napisani, i izuzev par naivnih grešaka pisca (ipak mu je ovo prvi roman i čini mi se da je ne toliko imao priču, koliko je znao na koji način će do nje da dodje; tj. da je video Kulu), i narativa je i više no kvalitetna. Impresivan prvi roman još nedovršenog serijala, sa dovoljno „literarne“ vrednosti da se istakne u moru ostalih kopi-pejst priča. Čudi me što još nije (iako je već na izrazito dobrom glasu). Ovde stvarno čuči jedan potencijalno veliki nastavak, veliki roman.
5-
A unique and absolutely entertaining adventure. Bancroft's world of steam tech and airships is nothing new to fantasy readers, but the devil is in the details - and the minutiae of world building are solidly inventive. On top of that the main setting, a Tower of Babel turned tourist trap, is irresistibly charming in its own twisted way.
Dividing the book neatly between the main character's adventures on several different floors of the tower works extremely well. Bancroft looks like an old pro as he navigates introducing a new setting and supporting cast at least four different times.
And he doesn't fall into the trap of making the different sections too dependent on each other, thus feeling interchangeable, or too independent, and making the book feel disjointed. He strikes the perfect balance, and it makes for a brilliantly paced book.
My one big disappointment was the ending. It didn't feel like an ending so much as a chapter break, except it picks back up in the next book. And while I don't begrudge the first book of a trilogy leaving you wanting more, each book needs to have a satisfying conclusion. Bancroft leaves a bit too much in the air (literally, ha-ha).
Anyway, this is quite the unexpected gem. Highly recommended for lovingly crafted entertainment.
Dividing the book neatly between the main character's adventures on several different floors of the tower works extremely well. Bancroft looks like an old pro as he navigates introducing a new setting and supporting cast at least four different times.
And he doesn't fall into the trap of making the different sections too dependent on each other, thus feeling interchangeable, or too independent, and making the book feel disjointed. He strikes the perfect balance, and it makes for a brilliantly paced book.
My one big disappointment was the ending. It didn't feel like an ending so much as a chapter break, except it picks back up in the next book. And while I don't begrudge the first book of a trilogy leaving you wanting more, each book needs to have a satisfying conclusion. Bancroft leaves a bit too much in the air (literally, ha-ha).
Anyway, this is quite the unexpected gem. Highly recommended for lovingly crafted entertainment.
Gorgeous prose, enjoyable characters, interesting world. Not exactly where I expected the story to go but curious to learn where it continues in the sequel.
There are some things I liked about this book, but they are hugely overshadowed by the things I disliked.
The writing here is the very definition of "florid prose". Every damn noun has an adjective attached. Every second sentence ends with a simile. Each description and happening is just eye-rollingly, cringingly overwrought. This is the main thing that ruined my enjoyment of the book, and meant I just couldn't "suspend my disbelief", because I could never see past it.
Initially I felt adrift in the story, and couldn't really imagine what was going on (yes, despite all the description). Every rapid advancement and new setting left me struggling to follow, to feel like I understood the world and where everything was and how it fit together.
Unfortunately the ending is the opposite. I saw elements coming a mile off, and the way things fell together felt disappointingly pat and contrived. It feels very much like the author planned the ending and worked backwards, so things that seemed innocuous earlier ("this character is very skilled at a certain, currently useless thing; that other character has a strange flaw") became integral to the thrilling conclusion. To see it all fall into place so cleanly made me feel like the author had tried to put one over me.
Finally, for someone so determined to show off their vocabulary, it was jarring to see the author make some awkward spelling mistakes, like "stationary" instead of "stationery", and "discrete" for "discreet".
All of this would be less of an issue if I had found a suspension of disbelief, I'm sure. There is a fast-moving plot with plenty of excitement in here, it's just a shame that it was delivered so poorly.
The writing here is the very definition of "florid prose". Every damn noun has an adjective attached. Every second sentence ends with a simile. Each description and happening is just eye-rollingly, cringingly overwrought. This is the main thing that ruined my enjoyment of the book, and meant I just couldn't "suspend my disbelief", because I could never see past it.
Initially I felt adrift in the story, and couldn't really imagine what was going on (yes, despite all the description). Every rapid advancement and new setting left me struggling to follow, to feel like I understood the world and where everything was and how it fit together.
Unfortunately the ending is the opposite. I saw elements coming a mile off, and the way things fell together felt disappointingly pat and contrived. It feels very much like the author planned the ending and worked backwards, so things that seemed innocuous earlier ("this character is very skilled at a certain, currently useless thing; that other character has a strange flaw") became integral to the thrilling conclusion. To see it all fall into place so cleanly made me feel like the author had tried to put one over me.
Finally, for someone so determined to show off their vocabulary, it was jarring to see the author make some awkward spelling mistakes, like "stationary" instead of "stationery", and "discrete" for "discreet".
All of this would be less of an issue if I had found a suspension of disbelief, I'm sure. There is a fast-moving plot with plenty of excitement in here, it's just a shame that it was delivered so poorly.
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book came as such a pleasant surprise that I immediately bought the second book upon finishing. Fantastic character growth and development, unique world building with an astonishing amount of intrigue and suspense.
The writing was descriptive without being pretentious. I added 21 words to my kindle dictionary from this book alone and yet at no point in the story did I feel lost. You can tell a lot of thought went into the tower itself and there is plenty more mysteries hiding behind the curtain. Excited to read more
The writing was descriptive without being pretentious. I added 21 words to my kindle dictionary from this book alone and yet at no point in the story did I feel lost. You can tell a lot of thought went into the tower itself and there is plenty more mysteries hiding behind the curtain. Excited to read more