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wilt's review against another edition
DNF 15%
i went in expecting it to continue cirocco's journey but instead we get 2 new characters, both with debilitating health issues, who have to prove themselves as heroes in order to earn a cure from gaea. and im sure this is all in the spirit of social commentary and i kind of want to see where varley is going with this, but its dreadfully boring so far and i dont like either character. at all. even though one of them grew up in a moon witch colony coven and literally carries a snake witch-familiar and believes lesbianism to be the natural state of things and doesnt shave her pussy except where she has a tattoo (one among many), i can't stand how they're presented. i expect character development is in the cards, but i just dont care enough to stick around and find out, and in many ways it feels tactless.
miiight try it again in the future but for now im moving on.
i went in expecting it to continue cirocco's journey but instead we get 2 new characters, both with debilitating health issues, who have to prove themselves as heroes in order to earn a cure from gaea. and im sure this is all in the spirit of social commentary and i kind of want to see where varley is going with this, but its dreadfully boring so far and i dont like either character. at all. even though one of them grew up in a moon witch colony coven and literally carries a snake witch-familiar and believes lesbianism to be the natural state of things and doesnt shave her pussy except where she has a tattoo (one among many), i can't stand how they're presented. i expect character development is in the cards, but i just dont care enough to stick around and find out, and in many ways it feels tactless.
miiight try it again in the future but for now im moving on.
metaphorosis's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 stars, Metaphorosis reviews
Summary
It's been 75 years since Captain Cirocco Jones became official Wizard of the ancient Saturn-orbiting construct Gaea. Now, she's a serious drunk, and her long-time companion Gaby is the one that has to keep her focused. When two damaged Terrans come to Gaea hoping to cure their ills, they get swept up into Cirocco, Gaby, and Gaea's complex machinations.
Review
The Gaea series continues to defy my memory of it. While I remember the books as being interesting, but dense and philosophical, in fact they're pretty breezy adventure. Wizard is, in fact, a quest story, though it takes a sharp turn toward the end.
The book has a rocky start. Varley takes his time getting the quest fellowship together, and it's not always time well spent. While the new actors are (despite the title, which is prior protagonist Cirocco Jones' title) the core of the story, and Varley needs to set the up well, it feels like a very long time before the story really starts to get moving.
There is, as before, a now-odd, but then-normal, focus on sex, but it doesn't really get in the way. It doesn't even trigger my Star Trek human-alien sex alarm, since there's something of an explanation. Varley does press pretty hard on one character being in love with another, only to pretty much drop the idea late in the game without much warning.
The story as a whole is a bit disjointed - the slow start, the solid center, the abrupt and none-too-appealing ending. This is a book that would have benefited from another couple of rounds of editing to really get it settled in, but it's okay otherwise. It's intensely irritating, though, that, throughout the book, Varley uses 'anterior' when he means 'posterior' - and he uses it a lot. Hopefully fixed in newer editions.
Summary
It's been 75 years since Captain Cirocco Jones became official Wizard of the ancient Saturn-orbiting construct Gaea. Now, she's a serious drunk, and her long-time companion Gaby is the one that has to keep her focused. When two damaged Terrans come to Gaea hoping to cure their ills, they get swept up into Cirocco, Gaby, and Gaea's complex machinations.
Review
The Gaea series continues to defy my memory of it. While I remember the books as being interesting, but dense and philosophical, in fact they're pretty breezy adventure. Wizard is, in fact, a quest story, though it takes a sharp turn toward the end.
The book has a rocky start. Varley takes his time getting the quest fellowship together, and it's not always time well spent. While the new actors are (despite the title, which is prior protagonist Cirocco Jones' title) the core of the story, and Varley needs to set the up well, it feels like a very long time before the story really starts to get moving.
There is, as before, a now-odd, but then-normal, focus on sex, but it doesn't really get in the way. It doesn't even trigger my Star Trek human-alien sex alarm, since there's something of an explanation. Varley does press pretty hard on one character being in love with another, only to pretty much drop the idea late in the game without much warning.
The story as a whole is a bit disjointed - the slow start, the solid center, the abrupt and none-too-appealing ending. This is a book that would have benefited from another couple of rounds of editing to really get it settled in, but it's okay otherwise. It's intensely irritating, though, that, throughout the book, Varley uses 'anterior' when he means 'posterior' - and he uses it a lot. Hopefully fixed in newer editions.
secretbadass's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Another wild ride although much slower than the first book. I honestly didn't like how it started but it got better and then stayed consistent until the end. I really enjoyed how it ended and am intrigued to see where the third book goes. Good character development although the dialogue is, idk, choppy? Inconsistent? Unrealistic? Just a bit off.
Overall a rough start but ended with a bang, the exact opposite of the first book.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Mental illness, Sexual content, and Pregnancy
Minor: Rape and Vomit
sarahrigg's review against another edition
4.0
Love this series, full of mind-bending sci-fi, an intriguing main character, and unforgettable imagery. The middle book is the weakest of the three, but still good.
larsdradrach's review against another edition
4.0
Set 75 years after Titan, Cirocco and Gaby are still in Gaea kept artificially young, Cirocco the Wizard is an alcoholic wreck due to the pressure of being responsible for the continuing of the Titanide race, while Gaby takes on various large scale construction tasks for Gaea.
Gaea has gained a reputation for curing rare deceases, but only for a select few and only if the sick can prove themselves by some heroic task, for the amusement of Gaea.
Chris Major from earth and Robin from a women only lesbian orbital habitat, arrives in Gaea to be cured and embarks on a quest together with Cirocco and Gaby.
During the quest we learn that Gaby has convinced Cirocco to try and overthrow Gaea, it comes to a conflict and Gaby is killed by Gaea, whereafter Cirocco kills Gaea’s avatar and resignes as wizard.
And the scene is set for the final showdown in Demon.
This second volume in the series is even better than the first and feels more coherent and focused, this is Varley at his best.
Gaea has gained a reputation for curing rare deceases, but only for a select few and only if the sick can prove themselves by some heroic task, for the amusement of Gaea.
Chris Major from earth and Robin from a women only lesbian orbital habitat, arrives in Gaea to be cured and embarks on a quest together with Cirocco and Gaby.
During the quest we learn that Gaby has convinced Cirocco to try and overthrow Gaea, it comes to a conflict and Gaby is killed by Gaea, whereafter Cirocco kills Gaea’s avatar and resignes as wizard.
And the scene is set for the final showdown in Demon.
This second volume in the series is even better than the first and feels more coherent and focused, this is Varley at his best.
mslauraeb's review against another edition
3.0
I liked it better than Titan, I have to say. Now on to Demon.
kewlkat70's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
5.0
See review of book one of the series.
It's original and Varley is a fun writer.
The fact that I am still raving about it at least 30 since my last reread means it's worth giving a try.
It's original and Varley is a fun writer.
The fact that I am still raving about it at least 30 since my last reread means it's worth giving a try.
foxo_cube's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
cherrick8's review against another edition
4.0
This was a good continuation of the series. The characters have changed since the first book, but in a believable way and the conflict has built to a point that should lead to an intersting concluding volume.