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3.65 AVERAGE
3.65 AVERAGE
foxo_cube's review against another edition
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
A very strange and silly book. I love the aliens, particularly the blimps, and the Titanides are adorable even if they do feel like the writer's barely-disguised fetish.
I haven't read much SFF from the same time period, but it feels like it'd have probably been pretty progressive for the time, although it is often a bit misguided and/or heavy-handed: the most notable examples are Varley using an alien abortion story arc to make a pro-choice statement and a slightly gratuitous rape scene to show that misogyny and entitlement to sex is bad. At least he tried, I suppose!
You need to suspend your disbelief like nothing else, but it's mostly pretty good fun and decently written. I wish I was Calvin so I could hang out with Whistlestop all day.
I haven't read much SFF from the same time period, but it feels like it'd have probably been pretty progressive for the time, although it is often a bit misguided and/or heavy-handed: the most notable examples are Varley using an alien abortion story arc to make a pro-choice statement and a slightly gratuitous rape scene to show that misogyny and entitlement to sex is bad. At least he tried, I suppose!
You need to suspend your disbelief like nothing else, but it's mostly pretty good fun and decently written. I wish I was Calvin so I could hang out with Whistlestop all day.
cherrick8's review against another edition
4.0
An interesting premise, discovering a living world. This is the first of a trilogy, basically an introduction to the world and the people that live in her. It will be ineresting to see where it goes from here.
esteinmetz's review against another edition
3.0
Not terrible, but sex in it was excessive and dumb. For example, essentially right after a crash while in a survival situation, before selling food and shelter there's sex.
coopcan's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
inspiring
mysterious
fast-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? Complicated
5.0
angus_mckeogh's review against another edition
1.0
Uh...no. Stupid. Just plain stupid. Terrible story. Premise starts as a newly discovered moon around Saturn. Explorers sent to check it out. Great. Thereafter...uh...moons end up being regional gods who speak while singing and battle with angels. A whole lot about landscapes as bodies, centaurs, and giant human penises. Uh...so stupid. I do not recommend this book.
esko's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
2.0
This was mix of erotic and childish fantasy...
I forced myself to finish this book. It was a painful read...
I can't believe how it ended...
Majority of the book was about the 2 women charming each other...
So much sexual imagery and wording...
The world itself was somewhat interesting, just like some of the creatures...but it was just too childish..That godess couldn't be more cringe???
I can see the potential,but the writer is just immature...Wasted my time with this book!
I forced myself to finish this book. It was a painful read...
I can't believe how it ended...
Majority of the book was about the 2 women charming each other...
So much sexual imagery and wording...
The world itself was somewhat interesting, just like some of the creatures...but it was just too childish..That godess couldn't be more cringe???
I can see the potential,but the writer is just immature...Wasted my time with this book!
billymac1962's review against another edition
5.0
From one of the blurbs on the back of the book: "I read the last page, closed the book, and muttered 'Wow'".
That's exactly what I did. I read this novel when I lived in a 19th floor apartment and the view I had really helped appreciate the scope of things. I could visualize how the cables must have looked. Outstanding novel.Outstanding series of three. Read 'em.
That's exactly what I did. I read this novel when I lived in a 19th floor apartment and the view I had really helped appreciate the scope of things. I could visualize how the cables must have looked. Outstanding novel.Outstanding series of three. Read 'em.
spitzig's review against another edition
3.0
I liked this book. It kind of dragged with the travelling, though.
Interesting world, although the "Living World" part really only kicked in at the end.
Someone complained about it being very Hard SF, and describing how Gaia worked too much. But, if an SF novel starts focusing too much on that, I just start skimming.
The main character was ok.
There was a rape scene, and I thought it was poorly done. It just seemed like it was SUCH a cliche "She made me do it", "See, I knew you'd like it" kinds of things. Maybe it was a cliche because lots of rapes are like that(never been there). But, the degree of cliche-ness probably made me groan more than the rape made me uncomfortable.
Interesting world, although the "Living World" part really only kicked in at the end.
Someone complained about it being very Hard SF, and describing how Gaia worked too much. But, if an SF novel starts focusing too much on that, I just start skimming.
The main character was ok.
There was a rape scene, and I thought it was poorly done. It just seemed like it was SUCH a cliche "She made me do it", "See, I knew you'd like it" kinds of things. Maybe it was a cliche because lots of rapes are like that(never been there). But, the degree of cliche-ness probably made me groan more than the rape made me uncomfortable.
adaline95's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.75