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moatfoot's review
challenging
dark
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I think, of the books I have read so far, this is the Culture novel I would recommend reading first. It is the most accessible of the stories that is still representative of the collection, and (unlike my experience of other Culture books) its plot didn't take 2/3rds of the book to build traction.
The Culture stories all have some really interesting, neat ideas. They are also all very slow, and I at least find the writing... slippery. I can't describe it other than that, but it makes them very hard for me to read. I do think they're worth it, though, barely, for me. If you're interested in the Culture books, read this. If you hate it, chances are you'll hate the rest even more. If you like it, get ready. It only gets weirder from here.
The Culture stories all have some really interesting, neat ideas. They are also all very slow, and I at least find the writing... slippery. I can't describe it other than that, but it makes them very hard for me to read. I do think they're worth it, though, barely, for me. If you're interested in the Culture books, read this. If you hate it, chances are you'll hate the rest even more. If you like it, get ready. It only gets weirder from here.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Slavery, Torture, and Violence
Moderate: Misogyny, Sexual content, Alcohol, War, Gore, Suicide, Drug use, Death, and Colonisation
Minor: Excrement
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