Reviews

Mirabile by Janet Kagan

gsteinbacher's review against another edition

3.0

Based on the high Goodreads rating I was expecting more from this book. it is a good "feel good" book but don't expect any action or suspense.

archergal's review against another edition

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.

bruc79's review against another edition

1.0

Aborrecido e sem algo quer conseguisse agarrar. Uma seca

alexa_not_a_robot's review against another edition

5.0

These stories were creative and funny. The world building is incredible and takes a bit to get into but they were really different and hilarious. I wish I could read another book full of them.

sarrie's review against another edition

5.0

This was by far one of the better books I've read on my Kindle this year. If you have even a passing interest in ecology or genetics this is a light fun read that utilizes them in a science fiction setting without getting to heavy on them. I really enjoyed a lot of things about the stories from the older female protagonist, to the genetic 'situation' of Mirable, to the actual culture you could see cropping up among the settles. It was a great read. I wish we had more set in this world.
I will be picking up The Collected Kagan next, I'm pretty excited about it honestly.

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.

carolined's review against another edition

adventurous funny hopeful lighthearted reflective fast-paced

• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

These stories made me smile, the characters were lightly sketched but I cared about what happened to them. The job of the protagonist (to find out what's going on with the flora and fauna around her) led to the exposition enfolding in a very natural way.

betsychadwell's review against another edition

3.0

This was a charming series of stories about the colonists on a new planet dealing with native vs. introduced (Terran) life forms. No conflict, very little plot, but the characters were likable and the strange flora and fauna very imaginative. I enjoyed it, but I'm unlikely to read it again.

danceswithlife's review against another edition

adventurous funny inspiring fast-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

Janet Kagan writes some of the best anthropological science fiction EVER. We lost her much too young. 

christytidwell's review against another edition

4.0

This isn't great literature, but it sure is fun. Lots of adventure, fascinating creatures, scientific mysteries, and even a little romance.