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4.17 AVERAGE
4.17 AVERAGE
Given the high productivity, it was only a matter of time before Tchaikovsky, one of the greats of today’s SF pantheon, would fire a blank. This book feels much more of a political scream fit more for Twitter than a fiction novel. While I agree that Trump and the like are taking the humanity to an end sooner than it should come, for the time being, society is so polarized that cries of this kind no longer reach the other side, but for own side are unnecessary. It is especially unfortunate that the author chose to send us this message using Rex universe. Very disappointing 5/10.
Ņemot vērā lielo ražīgumu, bija tikai laika jautājums, līdz mans mīļais Čaikovskis raidīs tukšu lodi. Šī grāmata ir daudz vairāk politisks kliedziens, kas vairāk iederētos tviterī, nevis fantastikas romāns. Lai arī es piekrītu, ka Tramps un viņam līdzīgie ved cilvēci uz galu ātrāk kā tam piedienētos, tomēr uz šo brīdi sabiedrība ir tā polarizējusies, ka šāda veida kliedzieni vairs nesasniedz otro krastu, bet savam krastam tādi ir lieki. Sevišķi žēl, ka autors šo ziņu izvēlējās mums nosūtīt izmantojot Rekša pasauli. Vilšanās -5/10.
Ņemot vērā lielo ražīgumu, bija tikai laika jautājums, līdz mans mīļais Čaikovskis raidīs tukšu lodi. Šī grāmata ir daudz vairāk politisks kliedziens, kas vairāk iederētos tviterī, nevis fantastikas romāns. Lai arī es piekrītu, ka Tramps un viņam līdzīgie ved cilvēci uz galu ātrāk kā tam piedienētos, tomēr uz šo brīdi sabiedrība ir tā polarizējusies, ka šāda veida kliedzieni vairs nesasniedz otro krastu, bet savam krastam tādi ir lieki. Sevišķi žēl, ka autors šo ziņu izvēlējās mums nosūtīt izmantojot Rekša pasauli. Vilšanās -5/10.
challenging
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
challenging
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
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
Since I finished reading, I've spent a lot of time thinking about the sociological and political points raised by this book—particularly the game vs the metagame . The setting and plot are actually really interesting, but this book is at least 51% a vehicle for exploring bigger issues. In that respect, it reads sort of like the best episodes of the Twilight Zone or Star Trek.
I loved this book; I did get teary-eyed in the end.
The beginning was a little rough as we get POV chapters from new characters, when I missed the old characters. But it picked up and didn't let up.
The Thompson character is Trump-y, so that may be triggering. It was for me, but I still loved the book enough to rate it 5 stars.
The beginning was a little rough as we get POV chapters from new characters, when I missed the old characters. But it picked up and didn't let up.
The Thompson character is Trump-y, so that may be triggering. It was for me, but I still loved the book enough to rate it 5 stars.
As I always do in these cases, I think back to what Virginia Woolf said - paraphrased, that the moments you can most clearly see the author in this book is the moment the book falls apart.
Well, from Bear Head you can see the author charging straight at you, screaming as loudly as he can. Tchaikovsky HATES politics, especially US politics and Trump. He hates how countries in the UN have their own agendas, instead of coming together to solve climate change or something. He hates this idea of the "metagame" as he calls it, which is just another name for all the schmoozing and corruption that is the backbone of society.
Now, I don't support Trump obviously, and I broadly agree with Tchaikovsky's opinions, but this book is written in such a reactionary (even defensive) way that I think the quality of the book gets lost in all the political grandstanding. There are lengthy political monologues, delivered without even a hint of self awareness. The villains are outlandishly evil, verging into strawman territory. There's even a scene where the Trump stand-in throws a temper tantrum in a jail cell while the audience stand-in laughs at him.
From a technical perspective the writing and plotting were unfaultable, but considering how much I loved the first book I was thoroughly disappointed by this one. In the end, I get the impression Dogs of War was written out of love for speculative ethics, but Bear Head stinks of hatred, and maybe fear too.
3*
Well, from Bear Head you can see the author charging straight at you, screaming as loudly as he can. Tchaikovsky HATES politics, especially US politics and Trump. He hates how countries in the UN have their own agendas, instead of coming together to solve climate change or something. He hates this idea of the "metagame" as he calls it, which is just another name for all the schmoozing and corruption that is the backbone of society.
Now, I don't support Trump obviously, and I broadly agree with Tchaikovsky's opinions, but this book is written in such a reactionary (even defensive) way that I think the quality of the book gets lost in all the political grandstanding. There are lengthy political monologues, delivered without even a hint of self awareness. The villains are outlandishly evil, verging into strawman territory. There's even a scene where the Trump stand-in throws a temper tantrum in a jail cell while the audience stand-in laughs at him.
From a technical perspective the writing and plotting were unfaultable, but considering how much I loved the first book I was thoroughly disappointed by this one. In the end, I get the impression Dogs of War was written out of love for speculative ethics, but Bear Head stinks of hatred, and maybe fear too.
3*
adventurous
dark
funny
tense
medium-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:
Yes
Bear Head is an intriguing story and moves between Jimmy, a augmented human space grunt, on Mars, and Carole Springer, a PA to a toxic politician Warner S Thompson, on Earth.
Initially the tone is light but as it develops deeper questions around morality, slavery and sentience are explored. Jimmy has been augmented so that he is able to survive without a space suit on Mars surface for a limited period of time. The shine has worn off his time there and desperate for his next hit of Stringer he sells some headspace to store data. However there is a catch and the data transferred is the consciousness of a bioformed bear called Honey which can communicate with Jimmy much to his dismay.
Carole wants to do everything to please her boss and from the outset you sense that something is out of kilter with that relationship, Warner Thompson is a thoroughly unpleasant sociopathic character who is willing to do unspeakable things to make the world a better place for him.
The exploration of what makes an entity sentient, is slavery ever validated and what makes you human was fascinating and made this a compelling read.
Initially the tone is light but as it develops deeper questions around morality, slavery and sentience are explored. Jimmy has been augmented so that he is able to survive without a space suit on Mars surface for a limited period of time. The shine has worn off his time there and desperate for his next hit of Stringer he sells some headspace to store data. However there is a catch and the data transferred is the consciousness of a bioformed bear called Honey which can communicate with Jimmy much to his dismay.
Carole wants to do everything to please her boss and from the outset you sense that something is out of kilter with that relationship, Warner Thompson is a thoroughly unpleasant sociopathic character who is willing to do unspeakable things to make the world a better place for him.
The exploration of what makes an entity sentient, is slavery ever validated and what makes you human was fascinating and made this a compelling read.
dark
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated