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medium-paced
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I love it when men write sf and decide that the only rational place for a woman in a post-apocalyptic world would be as a baby incubator.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Misogyny, Sexism
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Content Warnings
Moderate: Ableism, Death
adventurous
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Wait, do I actually hate sci-fi?! I think I read some good ones early on and it turns out they were the exception and not the rule! I think I’ve come to the point where I’ve read enough duds to conclude that most sci-fi, especially old classic sci-fi, is boring, technical, verbose and vaguely misogynistic. It works too hard to explain itself and uphold its internal logic. The damsel in distress is an underdeveloped (but pure and innocent) ditz used to stroke the ego of the hero and the hero himself is the apparition of the nerdy author’s fantasy about his own genius.
So glad I read this so I could have that epiphany and stop wasting my time with this genre. If I’m craving something imaginative I’ve still got fantasy and dystopian fiction.
So specifically with this little book, this is a great example of an interesting premise and terrible execution. Wouldn’t you too want to read this: A spectacular meteor shower captivates the eyes of 99% of the western world’s population…and then strikes them all blind. The few who missed the night’s show (including our hero who had undergone eye surgery and had had his eyes bandaged throughout the evening) are the only ones left with their vision intact and must pick up the pieces of a crumbling civilization, which is also being attacked by giant man-eating alien plants.
The very worst thing about this little book is that everyone who has been struck blind is described as a lost, dumb herd of animals or else they just immediately kill themselves. Yikes!! There is one little moment, a pitiful blinded 18 year old girl who says “Life is very precious, even like this.” But it reads more tragic than true in the narrative and that is small compensation for the rest of the book. The basic message throughout is that it is better to be dead than blind and also that the handicapped are incapable of joyful or productive living. Oof. I only finished it because sometimes you can’t look away from roadkill even when you want to and it was a short read.
So glad I read this so I could have that epiphany and stop wasting my time with this genre. If I’m craving something imaginative I’ve still got fantasy and dystopian fiction.
So specifically with this little book, this is a great example of an interesting premise and terrible execution. Wouldn’t you too want to read this: A spectacular meteor shower captivates the eyes of 99% of the western world’s population…and then strikes them all blind. The few who missed the night’s show (including our hero who had undergone eye surgery and had had his eyes bandaged throughout the evening) are the only ones left with their vision intact and must pick up the pieces of a crumbling civilization, which is also being attacked by giant man-eating alien plants.
The very worst thing about this little book is that everyone who has been struck blind is described as a lost, dumb herd of animals or else they just immediately kill themselves. Yikes!! There is one little moment, a pitiful blinded 18 year old girl who says “Life is very precious, even like this.” But it reads more tragic than true in the narrative and that is small compensation for the rest of the book. The basic message throughout is that it is better to be dead than blind and also that the handicapped are incapable of joyful or productive living. Oof. I only finished it because sometimes you can’t look away from roadkill even when you want to and it was a short read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism
Moderate: Child death
adventurous
hopeful
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Note : Mostly focused on after society collapses not the first few days.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Ableism, Sexism
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Misogyny, Suicide
challenging
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
To begin with this book has some dated views on sex and disability.
I do like the premise and although it feels played out today, this book is the inspiration for many of the wake up after the apocalypse stories.
Our main character Bill Masen doesn't seem to me to be a particularly interesting narrator. He certainly has his flaws but they don't ever feel questioned. He is written as if he is the defacto smartest person in the room (save for maybe Coker). The book explores interesting themes of ruthlessness at the end of the world and who you can really save, but they left me wanting.
Josella, the love interest, similarly feels flat. She is a mix between the strong woman who is ruthless and doesn't mind the sight of blood with a subservient woman who only wants to birth children.
The real strengthof this novel lies in the sci-fi triffids. They are explored enough to feel very alien but left quite mysterious at the same time. The conception of such a creature was enough to keep to keep me intrigued through a story I feel has been better told elsewhere.
I do like the premise and although it feels played out today, this book is the inspiration for many of the wake up after the apocalypse stories.
Our main character Bill Masen doesn't seem to me to be a particularly interesting narrator. He certainly has his flaws but they don't ever feel questioned. He is written as if he is the defacto smartest person in the room (save for maybe Coker). The book explores interesting themes of ruthlessness at the end of the world and who you can really save, but they left me wanting.
Josella, the love interest, similarly feels flat. She is a mix between the strong woman who is ruthless and doesn't mind the sight of blood with a subservient woman who only wants to birth children.
The real strengthof this novel lies in the sci-fi triffids. They are explored enough to feel very alien but left quite mysterious at the same time. The conception of such a creature was enough to keep to keep me intrigued through a story I feel has been better told elsewhere.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Ableism
adventurous
dark
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Terminal illness, Pandemic/Epidemic
Moderate: Ableism, Misogyny
Minor: Mental illness
dark
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Banging post-apocalyptic novel about the fragility of human society in the face of man-eating plants and blindness with a healthy dose of Cold War and satellite weapon commentary.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Death, Suicide
Moderate: Child death, Physical abuse, Violence
Minor: Gun violence, Rape
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I really hated this book. It absolutely drips with sexism and ableism.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Sexism, Suicide
Moderate: Sexual assault
Minor: Rape
dark
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I thought it would be stupid, but it was actually quite interesting.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism