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zare_i's review against another edition
5.0
I picked this up in bookstore because I was intrigued by the cover. And I have to admit this was very interesting SF story that reads like blend of Time Patrol and Foundation. We follow agents from very advanced humanity civilization from planet Earth (years in the future from now) as they try to subtly guide the humans living on distant planet (this seems to be a colony that is completely cutoff from Earth and is not aware of its very existence). Goal is to direct that society from existing medieval-like state towards the advancements in science and society in general so they can prosper and develop into enlightened society that can (re)establish links with Earth.
Authors excellently portray the dilemma these agents have on how to properly direct this society when one has access to advanced technology and knowledge (they are gods in this society for all the means and purposes) but needs to remain in shadows and must not use full powers overtly. All the agents are very emphatic and first and foremost they are humans, meaning they cannot live outside their surroundings and they get touched by all the violence and hard-living conditions of the locals. When they see how society slowly starts to degrade and spiral into reminiscent of Earth's [very] dark age (all caused by unknown variable that popped up unexpectedly - person very similar to Mule from Foundation series) they have to chose whether to continue their undercover guidance from the shadows, trying to save as many people with skills and knowledge as possible, or take active role. And they know that taking active role in leading the society (organizing peasants, fighting wars and revolutions) while that same society can be easily influenced, swayed and forced on the wrong path is something that will only bring more conflict and wont solve anything in the long run.
While they try to guard the civilization they are aware that single-mindedness, superstition and complete social inflexibility cannot be so easily overcome. How does one communicate with non-compromising people that are used to violence and living under the iron ruthless rule of aristocracy. How can people that are kept under very bad conditions of life, constantly on the lookout for ruler's spies and snitches, chased because of knowledge or because of thinking that contradicts the established dogma .... how can one expect people to approach the life from different perspective. Once tyranny puts people into the ground it takes generations to create free thinking society back again.
In all honesty I did not expect the book to be so contemporary. But again considering that authors come from Russia they are more than aware how society can be easily degraded and how difficult it is to recover.
Excellent novel, translation was so good it was pure joy to read the story.
Highly recommended to all fans of SF and especially SF readers that enjoy social aspects of the story.
Authors excellently portray the dilemma these agents have on how to properly direct this society when one has access to advanced technology and knowledge (they are gods in this society for all the means and purposes) but needs to remain in shadows and must not use full powers overtly. All the agents are very emphatic and first and foremost they are humans, meaning they cannot live outside their surroundings and they get touched by all the violence and hard-living conditions of the locals. When they see how society slowly starts to degrade and spiral into reminiscent of Earth's [very] dark age (all caused by unknown variable that popped up unexpectedly - person very similar to Mule from Foundation series) they have to chose whether to continue their undercover guidance from the shadows, trying to save as many people with skills and knowledge as possible, or take active role. And they know that taking active role in leading the society (organizing peasants, fighting wars and revolutions) while that same society can be easily influenced, swayed and forced on the wrong path is something that will only bring more conflict and wont solve anything in the long run.
While they try to guard the civilization they are aware that single-mindedness, superstition and complete social inflexibility cannot be so easily overcome. How does one communicate with non-compromising people that are used to violence and living under the iron ruthless rule of aristocracy. How can people that are kept under very bad conditions of life, constantly on the lookout for ruler's spies and snitches, chased because of knowledge or because of thinking that contradicts the established dogma .... how can one expect people to approach the life from different perspective. Once tyranny puts people into the ground it takes generations to create free thinking society back again.
In all honesty I did not expect the book to be so contemporary. But again considering that authors come from Russia they are more than aware how society can be easily degraded and how difficult it is to recover.
Excellent novel, translation was so good it was pure joy to read the story.
Highly recommended to all fans of SF and especially SF readers that enjoy social aspects of the story.
foundatlantis's review against another edition
funny
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
feastofblaze's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
branev's review against another edition
5.0
I actually read another edition but I guess that my comment matters, as I discuss the story itself.
My, oh, my - this book is marvelous. I liked "Roadside Picnic" by Strugatsky when I read it a while back but this one is even more interesting. The book has somehow slow beginning but through the book it slowly starts to makes sense. The whole presentation of the human nature through its total antipodal projection (or actually a reflection of the reality) is presented in a way that I could not expect and enjoyed. Actually, I have thought for a while how great would it be if I can return with my knowledge to some centuries ago....now I know that it just would be hard to change something. History is what it is and the society is expected to change in pretty similar ways.
I would recommend this book to everyone!
My, oh, my - this book is marvelous. I liked "Roadside Picnic" by Strugatsky when I read it a while back but this one is even more interesting. The book has somehow slow beginning but through the book it slowly starts to makes sense. The whole presentation of the human nature through its total antipodal projection (or actually a reflection of the reality) is presented in a way that I could not expect and enjoyed. Actually, I have thought for a while how great would it be if I can return with my knowledge to some centuries ago....now I know that it just would be hard to change something. History is what it is and the society is expected to change in pretty similar ways.
I would recommend this book to everyone!
karp76's review against another edition
3.0
Lost in translation? There must be some blame. There must be some motive to explain the relics of a story. There's a lot here. You can feel it as you read. The names. The premise. Even the atmosphere that leaks off the pages. But, there's nothing. Really thinking and diving into the pages, there's nothing here. All of this potential, all of this promise, all of this stuff, amounts to very little. A thin plot, some awkward language, an obtuse message, and some encounters that boil and build, waiting to expand, then simply fizzle. This is not a great book. This is not a poor book. This is an unfinished book, a book of promises and expectation that tries, that tries so desperately hard to be more than its sum, but cannot sustain these promises under its lack of development and thin narrative.
_roundowl's review against another edition
4.0
3.5, finally got into this book 100 pages before the end. After that, it was great, though the ending fell a bit flat for me.