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4.07 AVERAGE
4.07 AVERAGE
I finished this book! It took more than a year. The author packs a lot in here both in plot and concepts. I didn’t understand some of book’s concepts, for instance why technology works better in certain parts of space. But I liked it, especially the blending of space and medieval stories. I liked the telepathic dogs! But I didn’t like the ending—but might have if I grasped the science better (or read it quicker).
adventurous
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Brief synopsis: Humans exploring at the edge of the galaxy accidentally awaken an ancient malevolent entity hell bent on conquering the galaxy. An interesting cast of characters is inadvertently caught up in the race to stop it.
I really enjoyed the well thought out, original and interesting ideas coupled with equally well developed aliens. I never thought I could empathize with a character that pretty much amounts to a small palm tree on wheels ... but the Skroderider Blueshell was one of my favorite characters in the book. Vinge is able to mix an epic galaxy wide struggle, fascinating ideas (the 'zones' were really cool)with enjoyable characters ... something not seen often in science fiction.
Like many science fiction novels, this one is a bit confusing at first ... but stick with it and you will be well rewarded.
I really enjoyed the well thought out, original and interesting ideas coupled with equally well developed aliens. I never thought I could empathize with a character that pretty much amounts to a small palm tree on wheels ... but the Skroderider Blueshell was one of my favorite characters in the book. Vinge is able to mix an epic galaxy wide struggle, fascinating ideas (the 'zones' were really cool)with enjoyable characters ... something not seen often in science fiction.
Like many science fiction novels, this one is a bit confusing at first ... but stick with it and you will be well rewarded.
This book was recommended to me by several parties, so I was quite eager to read it. As a first-time science fiction reader (yet not clueless of science fiction as a whole) I did not really know what to expect... Oh boy, what a hell of a read this one was! Not only is the book well written and nicely paced, it is also quite mind-expanding (to someone new to science fiction literature, fwiw), while still being quite easy to read, in the sense that all "technology" and "physics" is explained in a understandable way.
Eh, I'm more of a cat person, really.
This book is a land of contrasts. The author is, to first impression, genius and skilled. The text has this deep sense of verbage and texture without losing any signal, giving the sense of what would happen if someone told Faulkner 'you're at a 9; we need you at a 4.' Just managing a 600+ pager that does not slack until the epilogue is a feat.
There is an intense sense of pathos so much of the time, a kind of feeling of a tragedy playing out in a way that I do not associate with science fiction (sad stories, yes, but not like this). But it does not linger, instead working to fuel the drama and tension. And in those moments of micro-climax is when the book struts its stuff.
For me, the most impressive part is the meta-storytelling, that operates in a non-meta fashion. The heroic story, not the Campbell monomyth but the old fashion idea of a hero having an adventure, is important to the book. Yet it is not any one part of the book. It is not even referenced or alluded to most of the time. But it is the sort of theme that if you are thinking about in the context of reading the book, it is a kind of skeleton key or chiaroscuro to the plot. And with only indirect reference! I struggle to think of any other author who has managed something like that.
In general, I like the setting, as I am a fan of impossibly weird and big space civilizations and the different aliens are all great (more
And speaking of fantasy novels, I hate the concept of zones. I do not know why this point is a breaking point for me and something like, say, The Force, is not. I think, perhaps, it is because of how non-mystic it is. A loopy, quasi-religious plot contrivance treated with hard sci fi magnitudes. I was deeply invested in the plot, but about the time that I realized the idea was a load-bearing one for the climax itself, you will need to imagine my onanistic gesture. The same to whenever a human saying 'and who's a good boy? And who's a good boy???' was mission-critical. And I frequently found the characters unlikable, not in the way that is commonly used, but in the sense of being disinterested at seemingly everyone's thinking and doing, even when the telling of the same was top quality.
This then is the greatest book, but without being a good book. Still recommended but curiously unsatisfying to complete.
This book is a land of contrasts. The author is, to first impression, genius and skilled. The text has this deep sense of verbage and texture without losing any signal, giving the sense of what would happen if someone told Faulkner 'you're at a 9; we need you at a 4.' Just managing a 600+ pager that does not slack until the epilogue is a feat.
There is an intense sense of pathos so much of the time, a kind of feeling of a tragedy playing out in a way that I do not associate with science fiction (sad stories, yes, but not like this). But it does not linger, instead working to fuel the drama and tension. And in those moments of micro-climax is when the book struts its stuff.
For me, the most impressive part is the meta-storytelling, that operates in a non-meta fashion. The heroic story, not the Campbell monomyth but the old fashion idea of a hero having an adventure, is important to the book. Yet it is not any one part of the book. It is not even referenced or alluded to most of the time. But it is the sort of theme that if you are thinking about in the context of reading the book, it is a kind of skeleton key or chiaroscuro to the plot. And with only indirect reference! I struggle to think of any other author who has managed something like that.
In general, I like the setting, as I am a fan of impossibly weird and big space civilizations and the different aliens are all great (more
Spoiler
sociopathic imperialist butterflies, please). But I also think that is where the book start to drift of course, because the book never manages the feeling of that sort of world, only the representations of it. At points, particularly in the context of the general plot of a Big Journey to Save the World, it starts to feel like a corpulent fantasy novel.And speaking of fantasy novels, I hate the concept of zones. I do not know why this point is a breaking point for me and something like, say, The Force, is not. I think, perhaps, it is because of how non-mystic it is. A loopy, quasi-religious plot contrivance treated with hard sci fi magnitudes. I was deeply invested in the plot, but about the time that I realized the idea was a load-bearing one for the climax itself, you will need to imagine my onanistic gesture. The same to whenever a human saying 'and who's a good boy? And who's a good boy???' was mission-critical. And I frequently found the characters unlikable, not in the way that is commonly used, but in the sense of being disinterested at seemingly everyone's thinking and doing, even when the telling of the same was top quality.
This then is the greatest book, but without being a good book. Still recommended but curiously unsatisfying to complete.
I read this book on the recommendation of a friend of mine, although the conversation was long enough ago that I don't remember exactly what he said about it. I found it to be a good but not great sci-fi novel. The main conceit that drives the in-book world is that the galaxy is (inexplicably, naturally) divided into four "zones" that affect what technology is capable of functioning there: an inner core where no technology or recognizable intelligence can function, a second layer where things approximating modern earth technology through low sci-fi technology (think sublight interstellar travel with cryogenic hibernation), a third layer where typical "high sci-fi" technology works (think classic space opera with faster-than-light travel, functioning artificial intelligence), and an outer layer that is somewhat mysterious but harbors ultra-advanced, "Singularity"-type AIs. This setup allows for interesting plot construction in terms of how actors in certain zones are or are not able to influence events in other zones, and allows a story in which actors at every one of the non-dead levels have significant roles to play. It is a clever invention; reminds me somewhat of the way Frank Herbert specified energy shield technology in "Dune" to give a significant role to sword-fighting even in a society with advanced technology. Despite all that, though, I only found the story of AFUTD to be moderately engaging, and in particular, did not become especially invested in any of the characters. I enjoyed reading it, but am not planning to pick up any of the related books.
adventurous
challenging
funny
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Oh my. Lovely.
adventurous
challenging
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Four and a half stars. Excellent writer with an incredible imagination. I wasn't thrilled with the doggie pack/group mental arc, but it was still well written, and I did really enjoy the space opera parts very much. It suffered a tad from the simple fact that with so many billions of species and with dangers causing entire species to be wiped out, it was impossible for the mind to wrap itself around the incredible amount of death going on, making it too casual. But that is a problem with the sheer scale of the galaxy, and that is one of the great things about the story, causing you to truly try to grasp the size and complexity of the galaxy. Not sure it's a story I would want to read again (hence the half star), but certainly one I'm glad I read once.