Reviews

Sirius: a fantasy of love and discord by Olaf Stapledon

dameguillotine's review against another edition

funny reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

Este libro es loquísimo. El concepto es simple y hasta un poco caricaturesco: un perro con una inteligencia humana. Pero el libro no se queda en eso, explora lo que significaría realmente la existencia de esta criatura para la gente a su alrededor y para él mismo. En muchos aspectos recuerda a Frankenstein. Sirio es único y por consecuencia está solo en el mundo, lejos de los perros, que son a sus ojos poco más que bestias, pero también lejos de los seres humanos, los opresores de su raza, que además son profundamente ignorantes de los aspectos más básicos de la existencia natural. Y se pregunta, por supuesto, por su propio ser.
Este personaje tan peculiar permite al libro debates existencialistas, y también explorar cosas como la naturaleza del espíritu o la religión, a la vez que el tono tendiente a la sátira habilita también la crítica social y el pensamiento político (disfruté mucho la sensibilidad naturalmente comunista de Sirio volviéndose más cercana al pensamiento burgués en el momento en el que pasa a ser propietario de una granja, me hizo reír mucho). Se publicó antes de que finalice la segunda guerra mundial, lo cual no es un detalle menor.

La historia termina de la única forma en la que puede terminar, lo cual satisface pero también decepciona un poco. Y la historia en sí, la trama, la sucesión de hechos, es bastante sosa; una biografía de Sirio, que es, por supuesto, especial, pero que al fin y al cabo vive cosas parecidas a otras personas. Particularmente parecidas a Plaxy, y ese es de algún modo el corazón del libro, la criatura biespiritual Sirio-Plaxy. La relación entre los dos personajes es profundamente enternecedora y sin duda muy compleja, fraternal pero también dotada de cierta tensión sexual, por consiguiente incestuosa y zoofílica a la vez que una representación profunda de amistad por identidad, y de antagonismo entre amo y esclavo, porque la misma contradicción existe en ellos que en el interior de Sirio, entre bestia y humano. Es lo más interesante de la historia.

Muy bueno pero no sé cuánto pueda recomendarlo. Es un poco monótono en algún sentido, difícilmente llega a un clímax y tiene más de tratado filosófico-sociológico con una buena dosis de sátira que de novela. Pero lo disfruté mucho.

choco_bunbun's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

never have i ever felt so seen. and by a dog at that

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Animal death, and Gun violence

yharon_silva's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad 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

What a joy it was to read. The story pulls you into his world through the lens of an alien looking at society from the outside, showing human nature's regular inability to handle 'unnatural' things. The world can suck sometimes, but in many ways, it can also be a treat. Stapledon's expertise in philosophy makes its way into the book by fleshing out Sirius' character, taking advantage of his alien nature to make him a complex character in morals and in action.

The book is a full account of Sirius' life from the perspective of the narrator who met him. I would of preferred it to be from Sirius' perspective. It would of made it much more personal and allowed for much more profound introspection, but nevertheless, the writing is still exceptional. Out of all the xenofiction I've read, this was my favorite. This was also the first book I've read by Stapledon, so I must read more.

lindsayflor_95's review against another edition

Thought the premise was nice but the execution was disappointingly boring to the way it's written. Feel no connection to it cannot bother to continue.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Animal death

Minor: Animal cruelty

sophw1's review against another edition

dark reflective tense slow-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

4.5

lydiamedhurst's review against another edition

challenging emotional inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

milo10000's review against another edition

adventurous emotional reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Stapledon's use of Sirius to look at humanity from the outside (the "human non-human") is very well done, though I found the ending to not stack up as well as I'd hoped. Regardless, the book explores deeply one's relationship to humanity in a moving way 

jennal13's review against another edition

adventurous reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

obnoxiouslyollie's review against another edition

challenging emotional funny reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

mxmlln's review against another edition

4.0

Story: 8 / 10
Characters: 7
Setting: 6
Prose: 6

Another fantastic adventure by Stapledon. Much like Star Maker, the reader is taken on the journey through one life. Sirius explores a host of interesting themes as he tries to find meaning in his unique, canine life: family, love, lust, nature, work, existentialism, friendship