Reviews

The Doors of Eden by Adrian Tchaikovsky

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athryn's review against another edition

adventurous challenging lighthearted mysterious tense medium-paced

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

5.0

This was a lot of fun! I wanted to get a stand alone book from Tchaikovsky before I dove into a series, and this was a great place to start. I really enjoyed the whole tone of the book, and the science and ideas being explored in it. I thought that the ending was a little bit anticlimactic, but overall I really enjoyed this!

aristhought's review against another edition

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4.0

I am constantly amazed by Adrian Tchaikovsky’s ability to spin whole fantastical worlds from the roots of real life biology/ecology/palaeontology, and craft whole epics in those worlds at an astonishing rate. The Doors of Eden is one of those epics in worldbuilding that, along with being a gripping story about empathy, communication, and diversity, taught me new things about biology and evolution.

As a queer/trans person I also appreciated how he handled one of the main characters who is a trans woman. Admittedly it wasn’t perfect, but I was pleasantly surprised and touched how he wrote her with great empathy and respect. 2 of the main characters are also lesbians, and it was wonderful to read. These characters are just as human and real as any of the others. Queer representation - especially done well - is still rare in science fiction, and it is greatly meaningful how his stories feature representation in realistic ways without resorting to tokenism or harmful tropes.

ophel_arka's review against another edition

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adventurous funny medium-paced

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

3.75

jameshaus's review against another edition

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5.0

Really, really enjoyed this one. Tchaikovsky fast becoming on of my favorite writers. Really devoted to the idea of cooperation and mutualism and I am delighted to have someone champion it so fearlessly with style and imagination.

interrowhimper's review against another edition

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4.0

Brimming with weird biology and interesting ideas. Names, characters, and plot lines felt slippery at times, and I had trouble following some stuff. Villains are very timely and modern in their particular villainy. Ended in a satisfying way.