Reviews

World Running Down by Al Hess

shottel's review against another edition

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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. 
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helynalc's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

Note: I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I'm so happy this book caught my attention on twitter! The blurb sounded just like my kind of thing and after I was lucky enough to receive an ARC, the novel did not disappoint at all.

It's strange to say this about a book featuring a sort of dystopian future about the "leftovers" of humanity after the rich had ransacked the planet, gotten on their spaceships, and f*cked off to another star system, and which mostly plays out in a desert, neo-Salt Lake City and shows off salt pirates and AIs that look like giant eyeballs, but the novel is...cozy and cute. And hopeful. Not in a preachy or sugarcoating way, but in a very human manner. Valentine, the scavenger, was a character I immediately felt for, and rooted for. His wish was so simple and so complicated at the same time: to finally become who he wanted to be, to have enough money to get into a city where he would have the medical resources to make his transition. Throw in a romance with a gentle AI also trying to find his way, then a plotline about androids gaining sentience, and you have...something special. On this of ruined, abandoned Earth which still sports rough class differences, cruelty, and oppression (not humanity's best qualities), here is a tale of acceptance, kindness, and fighting for each other. And yes, it seems hopeless sometimes and not everything is so straightforward and we mess up all the time, even when we want the best for each other, but we have to try. Stay and grow and bloom among the desert ruins. And make mixtapes for each other and stuff.

If anything, I just wanted more. But the story was satisfying, the writing evocative, and the world of the book something that will stay with me for a long time.

gildie's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging emotional funny hopeful inspiring 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? No

4.0

claire_melanie's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful 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? No

5.0

dianebillas's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional funny mysterious 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? No

5.0

Such a unique story and plot. I enjoyed this book very much and am looking forward to the author’s next book.

youshouldreadthisif's review

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adventurous emotional hopeful 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? No

4.75

lilymelton's review against another edition

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I simply went on a nearly two month hiatus from reading books and I have no real interest in finishing this book right now ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

readindigo's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional hopeful reflective 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

5.0

badlydrawnroy's review against another edition

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adventurous hopeful lighthearted 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? It's complicated

3.5

I liked the story this book tells, but the prose and dialogue occasionally veered towards clunky and cringey. It felt really rushed in some places and then would spend way too long explaining minor things. All that being said, it was a nice story about what it means to be a person struggling with your body, but unfortunately Becky Chambers did it much better in my opinion. 

neilsarver's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring lighthearted 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

5.0