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branch_c's review
3.0
I'm as impressed with this Gilman book as I was with the previous one I tried, which means that this one was equally promising, but for me, equally disappointing in the end.
The writing is impeccable, and the story innovative, and that was enough to carry me quickly through the first half of the book. The use of human computation to perform occult rituals, and use of those rituals in turn to accomplish physical travel through space... these are ideas that are absolutely worth exploring. Unfortunately, the direction that Gilman chooses to go from there leads to the gloomy and tedious second half of the book, in which each new revelation about Mars and its inhabitants is depressing rather than exciting. The characters, meanwhile, fall into the same pattern - rather than rising to the occasion, they are caught up in the gloom, descending into squalid and petty conflicts that I found less than engaging.
I can only conclude what I should have learned after Thunderer - Gilman is a creative and genuinely skilled writer, whose style is just not for me. This book is recommended for anyone who's already a fan of his.
The writing is impeccable, and the story innovative, and that was enough to carry me quickly through the first half of the book. The use of human computation to perform occult rituals, and use of those rituals in turn to accomplish physical travel through space... these are ideas that are absolutely worth exploring. Unfortunately, the direction that Gilman chooses to go from there leads to the gloomy and tedious second half of the book, in which each new revelation about Mars and its inhabitants is depressing rather than exciting. The characters, meanwhile, fall into the same pattern - rather than rising to the occasion, they are caught up in the gloom, descending into squalid and petty conflicts that I found less than engaging.
I can only conclude what I should have learned after Thunderer - Gilman is a creative and genuinely skilled writer, whose style is just not for me. This book is recommended for anyone who's already a fan of his.
60degreesn's review
4.0
Interesting idea, novel setting, but not nearly as powerful as Half Made World or Rise of Ransom City. I enjoyed the book but expected more.
tonyzale's review
2.0
This tongue-in-cheek steampunk mystery follows Arthur Shaw’s rocky initiation into Victorian London’s secret societies. The book’s quick-paced first half races from aristocratic chambers to experimental calculating machines, interacting with Lords and forgotten rural witches along the way. The breakneck pace grinds to halt when a mystical ceremony goes wrong stranding Arthur’s fiancé on Mars. The ensuing rescue mission should have thrilled; instead it’s a slow slog across the surface of the red planet. Characters turn on one another and the sense of adventure disappears, replaced with misery. The disconnect is jarring and like much of the rescue party, I felt the journey to Mars was a mistake. With so much wonder on Earth, why leave?
orygunn's review
1.0
Just goes to show I am not a science fiction reader. I got 3/4 of the way through and still was saying WTF. I finished, therefore it's more than one star. Not much else to say. Maybe 1.5.
mrawdon's review
3.0
The Revolutions has a slow start, a rousing middle, and a tremendously disappointing end. At its best it's reminiscent of Tim Powers, but never quite rises to that level, and ultimately it feels like two or three different stories awkwardly jammed together.
mazza57's review
1.0
A real disappointment impossible to follow i have no idea what was going on and it was 464 pages rather than the 300 and odd goodreads quote - so much time wasted