293 reviews for:

Bear Head

Adrian Tchaikovsky

4.17 AVERAGE

arockinsamsara's review against another edition

4.5

adventurous challenging emotional reflective tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

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This has to be the most explicitly political book I have read by Adrian Tchaikovsky, and that is definitely saying something, as all of his work is filled with social and political commentary… and I am here for it! Dogs of War ended with technology and humanity dancing on a knife’s edge, and this story shows the potential of when the optimistic-ish resolution isn’t balanced with enough caution, and humanity’s baser impulses gain ground. The story is told in a combination of first- and third-person narration, depending on whether we are on Mars or on Earth, and this combination is great. It makes the history grander and more epic feeling while the present moment is more invitational but also invasive, making the reader a co-conspirator, a confessor. The narrative is fast moving, filling in backstory as it relentlessly plunges forward, with pacing similar to the prior novel but without the time jumps between sections. There is less action in this novel, but perhaps more violence, not physical but emotional and conceptual, as technology, idealism, loneliness, and aimlessness are all weaponized by political actors against the populace. The writing is playful and descriptive, really inhabiting the different voices of the different POV characters, something exaggerated by the first-person narration, and it is a joy to read. It never lags or loiters but it manages to be full of nuance and pith at the same time, encouraging lingering over the ideas and observations throughout. 

 

The world-building here is detailed and wonderful. On Earth we get a reflection of where contemporary society is headed, with oligarchs and megalomaniacs seizing power and exploiting the working class but doing so with smiles on their faces and promises on their lips, promises buffered through xenophobia and demonization. The main antagonist, a politician cut from the cloth of some very recognizable world leaders, is terrifying and painfully realistic, and the world-building on Earth centers around how individuals like him are able to, without genuine insight or intelligence but sheer charisma and force of will, bend social reality to fit their myopic lust for power. Meanwhile the world-building on Mars is incredible. Tchaikovsky has done serious work in terms of thinking through what would be necessary for a proper colony on Mars, the seemingly infinite variables to take into account, and the world he devises there feels realistic and achievable (even though it depends entirely on as-of-yet unrealized technologies). 

 

As usual, the expansive and thoughtful world-building is really just offering a backdrop against which the characters can shine. We have mostly new characters, though there are some returning voices, and they are all great. They feel like everyday folk, neither particularly saintly nor wretched, just trying to eke out what counts for a life in a harsh and unforgiving world that doesn’t much care about them. The story mostly follows three POVs, two of them being new characters, and they both have complex and relatable inner lives, as well as inner journeys. All the ancillary characters are colorful and engaging and as usual they really make the world feel lived in and complete. I am not only entertained, but I actually care about them, as Tchaikovsky manages to make even the most ancillary character feel important and deserving of attention, each character full of details that aren’t necessary for the story but make it more robust as a consequence. 

 

I said this is maybe his most explicitly political story that I have read, and that is true. He is dealing with greed and capitalism and corruption and has a dead-inside, power-hungry politician at the heart of it. Using that as his lens, though, he goes on to also explore what optimism and hope look like, pride in a day’s labor, and solidarity and companionship. There are characters who have to betray their long-held ideals for the greater good, and others who have no ideals but solipsistic lust for power and yet that seems to bring them pretty far. The characters and world get to be messy, and that lets Tchaikovsky entertain ideas of how society functions, and how, when we focus only on ourselves it may be possible to amass certain types of exterior indications of success but it is all doomed to fail; yet, when we focus on helping others, acting out of genuine concern for others’ well-being, we may not amass personal power but instead can contribute to a long-lasting communal prosperity. Idealism and exploitation meet head-to-head in this novel, along with dozens of other timely socio-political ideas, and it is a joy to have the chance to wrestle with them alongside our characters. 

morydd's review against another edition

4.5

adventurous medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

prince_with_thousand_enemies's review against another edition

3.25

adventurous funny tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: N/A

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Not as good as the first one by far. Way too much profanity.

readeroflight's review against another edition

4.25

adventurous dark emotional inspiring 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: Yes

alysenlynn's review

4.25

adventurous dark emotional hopeful tense slow-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

greenblack's review against another edition

4.0

adventurous challenging mysterious sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

kimberlybaileyread's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous challenging dark reflective 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: Yes

rjhopkinson's review against another edition

4.5

adventurous funny hopeful medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

mssunnyskies's review against another edition

4.5

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

philibin's review against another edition

5.0

challenging 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

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(5.0 Stars)

This was an excellent follow-up to the first book in the series, and I've already queued up the third book. The character growth was superb and the audiobook narration has three different people reading some of the various parts. 

I have to be honest, It was a while since I finished the first book so after reading almost 15% of this one I decided to start it over, and I am glad I did. Once it all came back to me it all started making so much more sense! The world building was maybe a little over the top... reminded me a little of Total Recall, but was very well done.

There are some quotes in this book about class struggle that seemed very relevant and pithy.