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nenya_kanadka's review against another edition
5.0
I loved the hell out of every minute reading this goofy little book. It's full of charm and friendliness and weird-ass science-fiction critters (with enough of a technobabble explanation that it works for me). The main character is a lot of fun--determined, passionate, funny, kind, focused, in a unique job. And the secondary characters are lovely as well, from the woman whose career (with all the respect that word implies) is raising children to the heroine's proteges and coworkers to the hot older gent our heroine takes up with. (It's an adorable partnership of equals between two middle-aged folks who have adventures together and aren't in the slightest bit possessive or mired in 20th century gender roles. A complete delight.)
The book also did a fantastic job of making the life cycles and habitats of animals--both real ones and fictional/alien ones--sound completely fascinating. I feel like Kagan must have really enjoyed whatever research she did for this book. Biology and sociology and friendship, oh my!
This is actually a string of I think five short stories rather than a novel, but everything hangs together to make a coherent story. (You have to put up with a tad of explaining the backstory in each chapter/short story, but that's the only downside.) Honestly my only complaint is that this isn't the first in a ten-novel series!
A++ would read again.
The book also did a fantastic job of making the life cycles and habitats of animals--both real ones and fictional/alien ones--sound completely fascinating. I feel like Kagan must have really enjoyed whatever research she did for this book. Biology and sociology and friendship, oh my!
This is actually a string of I think five short stories rather than a novel, but everything hangs together to make a coherent story. (You have to put up with a tad of explaining the backstory in each chapter/short story, but that's the only downside.) Honestly my only complaint is that this isn't the first in a ten-novel series!
A++ would read again.
potatoaficionado's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Super fun!! A cool way of exploring what life on another planet might look like. I liked it from the first story, where I could tell what the twist would be, and it was an absolute delight to be correct. I also appreciated how the stories built on each other, slowly adding more to the world - especially the buildup and payoff around "we need insectivores!"
Not exactly my favorite author's favorite book, but close enough to count. Cited by Martha Wells (Murderbot!) as a significant influence.
Not exactly my favorite author's favorite book, but close enough to count. Cited by Martha Wells (Murderbot!) as a significant influence.
archergal's review
2.0
There's an interesting premise here. Settlers on another world have to deal with surprises hidden in the genetic codes of animals that they brought from earth. These "Dragon Teeth" might be benign ("odders"), or they might be dangerous ("Frankenswine.") The tone is light and positive, the people are plucky and resourceful, and apparently have boundless resources in spite of having lost data from the ships' (yes, plural) computers e/r to the new world.
I was completely bored by the whole thing.
Apparently Kim Stanley Robinson and Aurora have ruined me for happy stories of human settlement on other worlds. :( But there was also no CONFLICT, no tension, no suspense. Dog knows I don't want grimdark stories here. But everything's too easy. I just didn't believe it.
I'm glad other folks love and enjoy this book. I wish I could.
I was completely bored by the whole thing.
Apparently Kim Stanley Robinson and Aurora have ruined me for happy stories of human settlement on other worlds. :( But there was also no CONFLICT, no tension, no suspense. Dog knows I don't want grimdark stories here. But everything's too easy. I just didn't believe it.
I'm glad other folks love and enjoy this book. I wish I could.
olgahz's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
wetdryvac's review against another edition
3.0
I remember fewer stories the last time I read this. Might be a new edition. Might be my poor brain dropping things. Either way, a lot of fun.
tyrshand's review against another edition
5.0
Utterly charming collection of connected short stories about a team of future biologists dealing with the crazy, mixed up genetics of the animals they brought from earth.
Every story is full of funny, sweet (but oh so ornery) characters that you've just got to love. The plots of clever, with the perfect does of humor and wonder.
Every story is full of funny, sweet (but oh so ornery) characters that you've just got to love. The plots of clever, with the perfect does of humor and wonder.
kat_smith24's review against another edition
4.0
This is charming and clever, and doesn't talk down to the readers with the science.
purplewurple's review against another edition
4.0
Pleasant, fluffy, feel-good sci-fi, full of strange flora and fauna, people with big hearts, clever kids, and loving couples. Nothing bad ever happens.
The stories focus on Annie Masmajean. She's a kind-hearted, no-nonsense, middle aged geneticist and biologist on a human colonized planet, whose job it is to sort things out when half-otter half-moose creatures or other weird, potentially unpleasant, genetic implausibilities are discovered. It always works out in the end, leaving everybody happy.
The stories focus on Annie Masmajean. She's a kind-hearted, no-nonsense, middle aged geneticist and biologist on a human colonized planet, whose job it is to sort things out when half-otter half-moose creatures or other weird, potentially unpleasant, genetic implausibilities are discovered. It always works out in the end, leaving everybody happy.
mugs_it_is's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0