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paulmoore's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
slow-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
Interesting novel that questions a lot regarding the self, the soul and existence from the perspective of a genius level dog.
Slow but a story of depth.
Slow but a story of depth.
contre_qui's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.0
Super weird book. Sounds interesting but it actually feels like a white guy trying to make some fake-deep statement about his inner beast. Definitely gross. The dog, Sirius, ends up in a pseudo-romantic relationship with his human 'sister' Plaxy. The narration was from a weird point of view that added nothing to the actual story.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Incest and Sexual content
Verging on bestialitytriscuit807's review against another edition
4.0
4 stars. Is this a happy book? No. It is a very thought-provoking book that should be read in combination with Shelley's "Frankenstein" and Wells's "The Island of Dr. Moreau"; all three confront the idea of humanity's intelligence/soul being endowed (in a scientific fashion) into subhuman/nonhuman being and the consequences of doing so. Sirius, a super human hormone enhanced dog, is raised in a family and along the scientist's family. He is both dog and human and there is only one of him; as a result he's alone in a way loneliness doesn't quite describe. Much of the book is Sirius's existential exploration of what being Sirius-alone means. The super dog is raised as a scientist, but he has a fascination for religion and spirit. There is also a lot focused on Sirius's relationship with the youngest daughter, Plaxy. This where the subtitle "A Fantasy of Love and Discord" comes into play. The love is familial, emotional, and to a degree physical (but sexual only in rumor). The discord is often familial and can result in the emergence of Sirius's wolf spirit, i.e. he runs wild and this is a problem in sheep country. The narrative gives me an old-fashioned vibe; it's 1st P narration, but the POV isn't Sirius directly, but that of Plaxy's boyfriend and future husband. I read this for my 2020 Reading Challenge (Swords/Stars "classic sf/f") and the 2020 Hugo nominations (Retro Best Novel).
stormblessedt's review against another edition
3.0
This book is less of a sci-fi and more of a philosophical one. There are some great discussions and themes here that have been done better in some other books, minus the dog component. I’ve switched back and forth to a 3 and 4 star rating throughout the book, but towards the end it was more of a solid ‘it’s alright’ kind of read. I also guessed how it was going to end; there was simply no other ending that fits. (I had hoped though!)
thereadingrambler's review against another edition
3.0
This was a weird book. I'm still trying to figure out what I actually think about it.
anhedral's review against another edition
5.0
'Sirius' is one of those haunting, one-of-a-kind books that will stay with you far longer than it takes to read its 190-odd pages. Sometimes joyful, often searing; through the eyes of his unique protagonist Stapledon takes a scalpel to humanity, and the skill of his dissection is reason enough to recommend this book.
I'd also recommend 'Sirius' to anyone interested in writing sentient, communicative animals while respecting their underlying biology.
Yes, the main character is a bioengineered, talking dog with human-level intelligence, the only one of his kind. Sounds clichéd and awful, right? Wrong. In completely non-emotive, even detached and dry language Stapledon delivers a huge emotional and philosophical punch. This short book is a parable of the destruction of an individual spirit by society, and a terrible indictment of humanity's faults.
"Why did you make only one of me? It's going to be lonely being me."
Sirius can't fit in either as a dog or as a human, though he's driven by impulses from both species. He flips between savagery and tenderness in a heartbeat. He hates not having hands, can't see colour or distinguish shapes very well, but smells and sounds to him communicate a whole world that humans can't touch. In fact, all of the descriptions of his dog-mode existence are totally compelling. At the same time he's capable of strong emotional bonds with humans, loving "as only a dog can", notably the girl with whom he was raised from birth. The relationship between the two of them is disturbing yet beautiful, and is at the core of the book.
For such a short read 'Sirius' is overflowing with themes. The inability of science or religion, taken individually, to satisfy the spirit; the nature of individuality and of self-worth; the joy of empathy - even across species - in contrast with the tragedy of loneliness; the corrosive effects of fear, bigotry and intolerance when society has to deal with the unknown.
'Sirius' was first published in 1944, but don't let the vintage put you off. Stapledon is better known for the epic scope of 'Last and First Men' and 'Star Maker', but 'Sirius' will break your heart.
I'd also recommend 'Sirius' to anyone interested in writing sentient, communicative animals while respecting their underlying biology.
Yes, the main character is a bioengineered, talking dog with human-level intelligence, the only one of his kind. Sounds clichéd and awful, right? Wrong. In completely non-emotive, even detached and dry language Stapledon delivers a huge emotional and philosophical punch. This short book is a parable of the destruction of an individual spirit by society, and a terrible indictment of humanity's faults.
"Why did you make only one of me? It's going to be lonely being me."
Sirius can't fit in either as a dog or as a human, though he's driven by impulses from both species. He flips between savagery and tenderness in a heartbeat. He hates not having hands, can't see colour or distinguish shapes very well, but smells and sounds to him communicate a whole world that humans can't touch. In fact, all of the descriptions of his dog-mode existence are totally compelling. At the same time he's capable of strong emotional bonds with humans, loving "as only a dog can", notably the girl with whom he was raised from birth. The relationship between the two of them is disturbing yet beautiful, and is at the core of the book.
For such a short read 'Sirius' is overflowing with themes. The inability of science or religion, taken individually, to satisfy the spirit; the nature of individuality and of self-worth; the joy of empathy - even across species - in contrast with the tragedy of loneliness; the corrosive effects of fear, bigotry and intolerance when society has to deal with the unknown.
'Sirius' was first published in 1944, but don't let the vintage put you off. Stapledon is better known for the epic scope of 'Last and First Men' and 'Star Maker', but 'Sirius' will break your heart.
jersy's review against another edition
4.0
While this is deeply emotional, it feels also detached because of the way it is written. It reads like a biography, while also having similarities to saga novels, coming of age and it is also so much about the meaning of life.
The conflict of Sirius is relatable and his relationship to his "sister" Plaxy compelling. It tackles science, religion, occupations and relationships, so everything that can be meaningful in life, and shows it from this relatable but also foreign perspective. It had kind of a "frankensteins monster" vibe, even though Sirius had a much better life.
It could have been much more touching if the writing wasn't so dry.
Still, this is a good recommendation to get into Sci-Fi if you haven't read any before but also offers a lot of new and meaningful things to established sf readers.
The conflict of Sirius is relatable and his relationship to his "sister" Plaxy compelling. It tackles science, religion, occupations and relationships, so everything that can be meaningful in life, and shows it from this relatable but also foreign perspective. It had kind of a "frankensteins monster" vibe, even though Sirius had a much better life.
It could have been much more touching if the writing wasn't so dry.
Still, this is a good recommendation to get into Sci-Fi if you haven't read any before but also offers a lot of new and meaningful things to established sf readers.
salixa's review against another edition
4.0
The blurb on the back says "Probably the finest novel with a non human protagonist ever written." I would have to agree. Sirius is a complex creature in a complex world. There are some things that he does that one would not agree with but, as with his contemporaries and his fictional biographer, one finds sympathy for his unique plight. Moreover Sirius' commentary about the human race is interesting and revealing.
hammard's review against another edition
4.0
This is my fourth Olaf Stapledon and very different from the other three I have read. And all the better for it. His other more famous works have been covering long swathes of history or the vastness of the universe. Here Stapledon narrows his focus right down to an intimate tale of a dog given long-life and human intelligence, and sees how this would interact with our world. Clever, touching and heart-breaking, a great novel.
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