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shottel's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
fast-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
4.0
World Running Down isn’t innovating, but that’s okay. It’s solid fiction, set a couple generations after rich people jump ship to a new planet after deciding that earth is a lost cause. A few large cities remain the last bastions of prosperity, while outside their borders things somewhat resemble Mad Max. In this environment Valentine, a trans guy trying to scrape together enough money to buy a visa to one of the cities, takes a job that sends him down a path that involves a lot of reflection about what it means to be sentient and our duty to others and the environment. Less high-falutin, there’s also a lot of gay emotions and some sex. It’s a genuinely enjoyable novel, especially if you like more reflective fiction or trans or gay main characters.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Trafficking, Toxic friendship, Transphobia, Dysphoria, and Gun violence
Moderate: Alcohol, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Animal death, Sexual violence, Blood, Body horror, Deadnaming, Hate crime, Sexual assault, Kidnapping, Sexual harassment, Physical abuse, Rape, and Sexual content
Minor: Suicide
nettleviolet's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
This is a sweet love story about a trans man and an AI who is trapped in an android body. It's a story about identity and finding a way to the body you belong in. It's also a story about honouring personhood, autonomy and agency.
The romance is really sweet, though the one spice scene was too "in your head" for me.
What fell short for me is this book started with a LOT of really interesting threads that just went nowhere and brought up some ideas that I thought were really juicy, but then left them dangling in the ether. I feel like this book had a lot of potential but it didn't live up to a lot of it. As well, the dialogue seemed really unnatural at points and some of the conflicts resolved much too easily.
Despite its shortcomings, I still really enjoyed it. Osric and Valentine are both very lovely, relatable characters and the way they care for one another, and honour each other's identities, is just so sweet to read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Dysphoria
Moderate: Gun violence
Minor: Sexual violence
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