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3.83 AVERAGE
3.83 AVERAGE
challenging
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
medium-paced
challenging
dark
hopeful
reflective
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
The technology and its development and progression into ubiquity, resulting in a fundamental shift in culture, is brilliantly described.
The Light of Other Days is right up my alley because I'm the type of person who enjoys exploration of ideas far more than character drama or even story itself, specifically when it comes to SF. Which makes it interesting how the entire setup is structured with characters gradually losing out to technology and implication of its implementation. I'm getting ahead of myself, though.
Meet Hiram Patterson, an industrialist who has for the longest time been working on developing technology to end all technologies and bring absolute dominance to his OurWorld corporation - ability to peer anywhere from any place via spacetime wormholes. He dubs this technology WormCam and once it's out of the bag the world as we know it is forever changed. With further developments this technology is open to everyone and eventually, with adherence to light travel speed, enables people to even look back in time on events recent or distant. However, this is merely the beginning as cosmic danger approaches Earth...
Above is a very brief synopsis because gripping story isn't really the primary draw of The Light of Other Days. Yeah, there's absolutely scummy Hiram himself and his son Bobby who are navigating treacherous waters of technological advancement and politics, pragmatic journalist Kate who falls in love almost despite herself, etc but I'd argue these characters are more akin to view points for current events rather than fully-realized entities in their own right. They gradually fade into the background as more of the novel becomes dedicated to explaining technology itself or very specific scenarios humanity can finally dissect. Ever wondered what Jesus was all about or if he was even real? You can bet that's one of the big projects researchers use WormCam for. If there was one relationship I genuinely enjoyed it was how Bobby and his half-brother David become closer over time as each goes through his own existential crisis. And then there's the entire post-WormCam society I won't really go into because A) novel covers decades following its introduction so it gets time to breathe and B) I really want you, the reader, to read about it on your own.
My recommendation? Novel absolutely gets it, but keep in mind there are pages upon pages of multiple characters detailing how this new technology works that might be somewhat dry to power through if high action is something you yearn for. Also, that ending got my eyebrows up and deflated absolutely masterful penultimate chapter where characters embark on the deepest time dive possible. Blink and you'll miss the greatest reveal of the story.
Meet Hiram Patterson, an industrialist who has for the longest time been working on developing technology to end all technologies and bring absolute dominance to his OurWorld corporation - ability to peer anywhere from any place via spacetime wormholes. He dubs this technology WormCam and once it's out of the bag the world as we know it is forever changed. With further developments this technology is open to everyone and eventually, with adherence to light travel speed, enables people to even look back in time on events recent or distant. However, this is merely the beginning as cosmic danger approaches Earth...
Above is a very brief synopsis because gripping story isn't really the primary draw of The Light of Other Days. Yeah, there's absolutely scummy Hiram himself and his son Bobby who are navigating treacherous waters of technological advancement and politics, pragmatic journalist Kate who falls in love almost despite herself, etc but I'd argue these characters are more akin to view points for current events rather than fully-realized entities in their own right. They gradually fade into the background as more of the novel becomes dedicated to explaining technology itself or very specific scenarios humanity can finally dissect. Ever wondered what Jesus was all about or if he was even real? You can bet that's one of the big projects researchers use WormCam for. If there was one relationship I genuinely enjoyed it was how Bobby and his half-brother David become closer over time as each goes through his own existential crisis. And then there's the entire post-WormCam society I won't really go into because A) novel covers decades following its introduction so it gets time to breathe and B) I really want you, the reader, to read about it on your own.
My recommendation? Novel absolutely gets it, but keep in mind there are pages upon pages of multiple characters detailing how this new technology works that might be somewhat dry to power through if high action is something you yearn for. Also, that ending got my eyebrows up and deflated absolutely masterful penultimate chapter where characters embark on the deepest time dive possible. Blink and you'll miss the greatest reveal of the story.
adventurous
challenging
dark
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Absolutely brilliant. Best book I have read in a long time. It blew my mind. Loved it!
challenging
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Excellent Science Fiction book involving instant communication and it's effect on society.