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3.84 AVERAGE
3.84 AVERAGE
adventurous
mysterious
3.5?
I have a hard time rating this book. On the one hand, I'm definitely going to read the second part, so I guess that means I liked it. On the other, there are so many things in this "political science fiction" book that rub me the wrong way -- the second person narrative that keeps going meta and generally being annoying, and I just don't see it having any reward; the pointless erotica (not even sex scenes, really); some annoying world-building pet peeves (the "one significant event that changed all human society around the globe immediately and completely" trope, for example).
There a lot of suspend disbelief in here, but ultimately, it's worth it for an intriguing world and an engaging story (when Palmer doesn't decide to stop it in its tracks for some meta discussion).
What is it about? In the 25th century, human society has gone through some interesting changes - instead of nation-states, there are now hives - specifically, seven hives - which are kind of like what would happen if nation states stopped having territories and you would pick your nation the same way you pick your facebook feed. But what started with lots of little hives with like-minded people ended up converging into a paltry seven: the Mitsubishi corporate hive, the arts and jocks Humanists, the benevolent cousins, the hierarchical Masons, the psychologistic Gordians, the Europeans (yes, well), and the futurist Utopians (plus the independent hiveless). With such a small number of groups, inter-hive politics become incestuous in the most literal sense.
In addition, a religious world war has lead to a complete ban on proselytizing, going so far as to consider any group of three people discussing religion without supervision to be an illegal cult.
Into this mess enters Mycroft Canner, whose infamy I will not spoil for you, a servicer (convicted felon who must provide services to whomever wishes in return for basic necessities) who is highly connected to the leaders of all hives, and then some. He finds himself in the midst of an investigation of a burglary and an attempt to frame the family ("Bash'") that runs the biggest transportation service on the globe. That, alongside his attempt to protect Bridger, a child with special powers, embroils him deep in the politics of this, shall we say, brave new world.
Too Like the Lightning is interesting if only because it is essentially a utopian book, rather than a dystopia. This is not to say it's perfect, but this book is a very interesting attempt to explore the limits of utopian ideas, see where they break without thrusting the world into a full-fledged dystopia. I'll have to wait for the second part to decide whether the discussion was worth it, but it is wrapped in an interesting story and an intriguing world, so all in all it is worth the read, despite its flaws.
I have a hard time rating this book. On the one hand, I'm definitely going to read the second part, so I guess that means I liked it. On the other, there are so many things in this "political science fiction" book that rub me the wrong way -- the second person narrative that keeps going meta and generally being annoying, and I just don't see it having any reward; the pointless erotica (not even sex scenes, really); some annoying world-building pet peeves (the "one significant event that changed all human society around the globe immediately and completely" trope, for example).
There a lot of suspend disbelief in here, but ultimately, it's worth it for an intriguing world and an engaging story (when Palmer doesn't decide to stop it in its tracks for some meta discussion).
What is it about? In the 25th century, human society has gone through some interesting changes - instead of nation-states, there are now hives - specifically, seven hives - which are kind of like what would happen if nation states stopped having territories and you would pick your nation the same way you pick your facebook feed. But what started with lots of little hives with like-minded people ended up converging into a paltry seven: the Mitsubishi corporate hive, the arts and jocks Humanists, the benevolent cousins, the hierarchical Masons, the psychologistic Gordians, the Europeans (yes, well), and the futurist Utopians (plus the independent hiveless). With such a small number of groups, inter-hive politics become incestuous in the most literal sense.
In addition, a religious world war has lead to a complete ban on proselytizing, going so far as to consider any group of three people discussing religion without supervision to be an illegal cult.
Into this mess enters Mycroft Canner, whose infamy I will not spoil for you, a servicer (convicted felon who must provide services to whomever wishes in return for basic necessities) who is highly connected to the leaders of all hives, and then some. He finds himself in the midst of an investigation of a burglary and an attempt to frame the family ("Bash'") that runs the biggest transportation service on the globe. That, alongside his attempt to protect Bridger, a child with special powers, embroils him deep in the politics of this, shall we say, brave new world.
Too Like the Lightning is interesting if only because it is essentially a utopian book, rather than a dystopia. This is not to say it's perfect, but this book is a very interesting attempt to explore the limits of utopian ideas, see where they break without thrusting the world into a full-fledged dystopia. I'll have to wait for the second part to decide whether the discussion was worth it, but it is wrapped in an interesting story and an intriguing world, so all in all it is worth the read, despite its flaws.
Gets much better as you proceed through the book! It really picks up after the first third. Kind of hard for me to rate this book -- it was so hard to get through the first half but then a breeze the second half. The world itself and the ideas presented are really interesting, I loved how pieces of the plot are gradually revealed, the political system had me curious. On the other hand Mycroft's narration style/asides to the reader really did nothing for me. And I kept wishing for more depth to Bridger (not super believable as 13 years old... more like 8 years old). Toss up whether I'll finish the series.
challenging
informative
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was a big mistake. Once I would have maybe been interested in 18th century ideas written in 18th century writing style set in the future. But now it just strikes me as incredibly pretentious and unnecessary
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Very intriguing! A little slow to start but very gripping by the end. Very thought provoking phiosophically, about gender, about politics. Looking forward to the sequel!
'Too Like the Lightning' reminded me of The House of Niccoló series (fyi, [b:Niccolò Rising|112078|Niccolò Rising (The House of Niccolò, #1)|Dorothy Dunnett|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1542322747l/112078._SY75_.jpg|1936313] is the first book in the Niccoló series).
Once I began to see the outline of this novel’s fictional political structures and its family homes called ‘hives’, which are similar to what the city-states of Renaissance 15th-century Italy were like in every chapter of 'Too Like the Lightning', I couldn't unsee it, so I googled author Ada Palmer. Lo and behold, Ada Palmer also wrote the academic book 'Reading Lucretius in the Renaissance", published in 2014. Palmer is a Renaissance scholar.
So. Well. *ahem.* Tough love time, gentle reader.
'Too Like the Lightning' is first in a science-fiction series called Terra Ignota. I have not read the other two books in the series, but 'Too Like the Lightning' is primarily setting the scene for the following books in the series, in my opinion. For 400 pages. And there are loose ends left dangling, unsolved mysteries, an unresolved crisis. The world-building is very interesting, though. There are strong hints of realpolitik control and propaganda going on under the hood in the cities. The characters in control of political leadership are constantly conniving against each other, and they bend Laws about personal behavior, and situationally apply free-speech rules regarding various philosophies, including religion, and debate the application of ongoing scientific and DNA technologies in children. A moon colony seems to be somewhat free of many of the Laws and corruption which have been set up on earth. There are three sets of types of Laws. People can choose which set of Laws they want to apply to them, depending on whether they live alone or are affiliated with a hive. These group homes, or 'hives' are often groups of unrelated people living together who are affiliated, and accepted into, a supportive 'family' of their choice. The people in a hive can be married, or siblings, too. Gender identity is fluid, whatever you desire. So is choice of sexual partner and clothes. People do not have to limit fashion choices to the current century.
Readers meet several dozens of aristocratic political/merchant characters named after classic literature writers and characters from Ancient Greece to the 18th century. As readers get comfortable with the many numerous characters, readers visit 'hives' situated in several locations (Indonesia, Italy, France, Egypt, Chili) around the world, which serve as an introduction to a high-tech 2454 CE earth.
The main narrator is Mycroft Canner. He is a servicer - a convicted criminal on parole for life. Mycroft must work for others in exchange for meals only. All servicers cannot own property or money. Some are highly skilled like Mycroft, but others do simple work like shoveling excrement in blocked sewers. We do not know for awhile what crimes Canner committed, but when we do, omg. Canner is one of the people accepted by the Saneer-Weeksbooths hive. This hive controls the world’s flying-car transit system. Canner is helping the Saneer-Weeksbooths protect a young boy, Bridger, who can cause inanimate objects to live.
While the novel is a five-star read in science-fiction world-building, it also struck me totally as a book written by a Ph.D. Literature/history writer going deep for lit/history majors. It is amazingly dense with extrapolated ideas and historical references, while strikingly lacking in action. Violence has been intentionally much reduced in 2454 by social education, tracking devices and commonly accepted mores, but outbreaks happen.
I am hesitant to recommend readers should go to Wikipedia and read up on the Renaissance before tackling 'Too Like the Lightning', because for many people this is icky (studying history). However, here is the link: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Renaissance.
I could be wrong. After all, I am guessing 'Too Like the Lightning' is a disguised version of the real 15th-century Italy. Palmer has tossed in intellectual elements of the Enlightenment, too, I believe. Here is a link to Wikipedia: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Age_of_Enlightenment
Yeah, I know. Science-fiction Nerds only will ooh and ahh when they read this book. Me.
If you liked anything written by Dorothy Dunnett, and enjoy densely crafted science fiction heavy on historical/philosophical details, this book is interesting. I liked it, and I plan to read the rest of the series. I love challenging reads. It is possible there is a fantasy element as well which might be growing [up] as well, but only time will tell. More good news, right? -especially if any hard science-fiction nerds are still in the room. Haha.
Hello? Hello?
Once I began to see the outline of this novel’s fictional political structures and its family homes called ‘hives’, which are similar to what the city-states of Renaissance 15th-century Italy were like in every chapter of 'Too Like the Lightning', I couldn't unsee it, so I googled author Ada Palmer. Lo and behold, Ada Palmer also wrote the academic book 'Reading Lucretius in the Renaissance", published in 2014. Palmer is a Renaissance scholar.
So. Well. *ahem.* Tough love time, gentle reader.
'Too Like the Lightning' is first in a science-fiction series called Terra Ignota. I have not read the other two books in the series, but 'Too Like the Lightning' is primarily setting the scene for the following books in the series, in my opinion. For 400 pages. And there are loose ends left dangling, unsolved mysteries, an unresolved crisis. The world-building is very interesting, though. There are strong hints of realpolitik control and propaganda going on under the hood in the cities. The characters in control of political leadership are constantly conniving against each other, and they bend Laws about personal behavior, and situationally apply free-speech rules regarding various philosophies, including religion, and debate the application of ongoing scientific and DNA technologies in children. A moon colony seems to be somewhat free of many of the Laws and corruption which have been set up on earth. There are three sets of types of Laws. People can choose which set of Laws they want to apply to them, depending on whether they live alone or are affiliated with a hive. These group homes, or 'hives' are often groups of unrelated people living together who are affiliated, and accepted into, a supportive 'family' of their choice. The people in a hive can be married, or siblings, too. Gender identity is fluid, whatever you desire. So is choice of sexual partner and clothes. People do not have to limit fashion choices to the current century.
Readers meet several dozens of aristocratic political/merchant characters named after classic literature writers and characters from Ancient Greece to the 18th century. As readers get comfortable with the many numerous characters, readers visit 'hives' situated in several locations (Indonesia, Italy, France, Egypt, Chili) around the world, which serve as an introduction to a high-tech 2454 CE earth.
The main narrator is Mycroft Canner. He is a servicer - a convicted criminal on parole for life. Mycroft must work for others in exchange for meals only. All servicers cannot own property or money. Some are highly skilled like Mycroft, but others do simple work like shoveling excrement in blocked sewers. We do not know for awhile what crimes Canner committed, but when we do, omg.
Spoiler
Echoes of the Spanish Inquisition, with an assist by Marquis de Sade’s works on sexual and physical sadism and religious blasphemy.While the novel is a five-star read in science-fiction world-building, it also struck me totally as a book written by a Ph.D. Literature/history writer going deep for lit/history majors. It is amazingly dense with extrapolated ideas and historical references, while strikingly lacking in action. Violence has been intentionally much reduced in 2454 by social education, tracking devices and commonly accepted mores, but outbreaks happen.
I am hesitant to recommend readers should go to Wikipedia and read up on the Renaissance before tackling 'Too Like the Lightning', because for many people this is icky (studying history). However, here is the link: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Renaissance.
I could be wrong. After all, I am guessing 'Too Like the Lightning' is a disguised version of the real 15th-century Italy. Palmer has tossed in intellectual elements of the Enlightenment, too, I believe. Here is a link to Wikipedia: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Age_of_Enlightenment
Yeah, I know. Science-fiction Nerds only will ooh and ahh when they read this book. Me.
If you liked anything written by Dorothy Dunnett, and enjoy densely crafted science fiction heavy on historical/philosophical details, this book is interesting. I liked it, and I plan to read the rest of the series. I love challenging reads. It is possible there is a fantasy element as well which might be growing [up] as well, but only time will tell. More good news, right? -especially if any hard science-fiction nerds are still in the room. Haha.
Hello? Hello?
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Loved this book. I resent genre fiction that requires multiple volumes to tell a certain story, so I read this book and didn't get any payoff.