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lorebug's review
perhaps it delivered on the cozy terraforming descriptions but at what costs? there is no excuse for the pervasive orientalism all over this
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny and Islamophobia
heyzelda's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
The basic summary of this book is “the colonization of Mars and the ensuing shit hitting the fan.”
It spans a large period of time and includes long sections that focus on the Martian landscape, and these sections can be quite slow, but the perspective of the character experiencing the planet is worth considering because the way these new martians see their world influences what they do with it and what they do to one another. This book builds a personal foundation but uses the points of view and relationships it cultivates to wade unwavering into the Political. It’s science-fiction in a pure sense, and it feels incredibly grounded in the technologies imagined - technologies that range from the mechanical to the medical, botanical, and also political. We can try to make the world, but the world makes us, too, for better or worse.
It spans a large period of time and includes long sections that focus on the Martian landscape, and these sections can be quite slow, but the perspective of the character experiencing the planet is worth considering because the way these new martians see their world influences what they do with it and what they do to one another. This book builds a personal foundation but uses the points of view and relationships it cultivates to wade unwavering into the Political. It’s science-fiction in a pure sense, and it feels incredibly grounded in the technologies imagined - technologies that range from the mechanical to the medical, botanical, and also political. We can try to make the world, but the world makes us, too, for better or worse.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Misogyny, Racism, and War
Robinson works to have a global scope when considering the faces you might find in the future. He does not necessarily succeed at avoiding orientalism in this process, though it should be understood that this is contextualized by the biases of the point of view characters.