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ninj's review against another edition
4.0
Another story about ships and minds! Though not quite human-embodied this time. Space detective work out in the deeps of space, with blends of drugs to keep the humans functional. So much hinting at a backstory and characters and cabals...
solardavy's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
duriangray's review against another edition
adventurous
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
micksland's review against another edition
3.0
3 stars
Winner: 2019 Nebula Award for Best Novella
Nominee: 2019 Hugo Award for Best Novella
Nominee: 2019 Locus Award for Best Novella
___
Much like “The Spare Man”, another murder mystery in space that I read this year, “The Tea Master and the Detective” had its ups and downs. Both works had excellent characters, but the actual murder mystery itself fell flat.
The two characters here are very well-done despite the short page length. The author seems to have a gift for creating complex characters, as I have also really enjoyed the women featured in some of her other Xuya Universe stories.
The problem with this story is the plot. There was really no mystery to be had; they find a dead body and immediately discover what happened. There is no misdirection, no false leads, and no true sense of mystery here. I’ll admit to being a little confused as to why this won the Nebula over “Artificial Condition” or “The Black God’s Drums”.
Winner: 2019 Nebula Award for Best Novella
Nominee: 2019 Hugo Award for Best Novella
Nominee: 2019 Locus Award for Best Novella
___
Much like “The Spare Man”, another murder mystery in space that I read this year, “The Tea Master and the Detective” had its ups and downs. Both works had excellent characters, but the actual murder mystery itself fell flat.
The two characters here are very well-done despite the short page length. The author seems to have a gift for creating complex characters, as I have also really enjoyed the women featured in some of her other Xuya Universe stories.
The problem with this story is the plot. There was really no mystery to be had; they find a dead body and immediately discover what happened. There is no misdirection, no false leads, and no true sense of mystery here. I’ll admit to being a little confused as to why this won the Nebula over “Artificial Condition” or “The Black God’s Drums”.
jhouses's review against another edition
2.0
Una historia corta en homenaje a las narraciones de Sherlock Holmes integrada en el particular universo de la autora, al que por desgracia accedo por primera vez. Confuso para los que no han leído sus obras previas aunque no inaccesible, resulta una simple transliteración del mito Holmesiano a un futuro ciberpunk mayormente oriental. Sirve para picar el interés en sus otras obras y demostrar que es una escritora competente pero poco más.
readerpants's review against another edition
5.0
A genderswapped Sherlock Holmes retelling where Watson is a sentient spaceship and also the primary narrator? LOVE. So much work in a little novella! I can't wait to read more in the Xuya universe.
Also, I put in the purchase request for this one at my library ($40 for a copy was just way too much for me) and it came in a lovely signed, numbered, limited edition and I kicked myself a little bit for not getting my own copy. I hope the 38 people on hold for it after me appreciate it just as much as I did.
Also, I put in the purchase request for this one at my library ($40 for a copy was just way too much for me) and it came in a lovely signed, numbered, limited edition and I kicked myself a little bit for not getting my own copy. I hope the 38 people on hold for it after me appreciate it just as much as I did.
lilacashes's review against another edition
5.0
It's hardly a secret that this novella is an hommage to Sherlock Holmes. In my mind it is not a detective story though, which is completely fine since I'm not particularly interested in detective stories.
While a good detective story challenges you with finding the murderer before it is spelled out, The Tea Master and the Detective challenges you with understanding the Xuya Universe. Nothing is explained straight away, you are thrown into it and left to your own devices in figuring out how things work. The prose is dense and tight, making this a slightly longer read than you'd expect from the 70 pages or so.
Even if I could not follow everything, I find the world building intensely enjoyable. If good food and drink, as well as a dive into the concepts of honor, duty and fear turn you on, and you like to be challenged, this novella is for you.
While a good detective story challenges you with finding the murderer before it is spelled out, The Tea Master and the Detective challenges you with understanding the Xuya Universe. Nothing is explained straight away, you are thrown into it and left to your own devices in figuring out how things work. The prose is dense and tight, making this a slightly longer read than you'd expect from the 70 pages or so.
Even if I could not follow everything, I find the world building intensely enjoyable. If good food and drink, as well as a dive into the concepts of honor, duty and fear turn you on, and you like to be challenged, this novella is for you.
nmcannon's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
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? No
5.0
After enjoying Seven of Infinities, I was eager to pick up The Tea Master and the Detective. Doyle’s Holmes holds a special place in my heart, and I’m always open to fun new remixes. Under de Bodard’s pen, Holmes and Watson–here Long Chau and The Shadow’s Child–shine again.
After a debilitating stint in a galactic war, The Shadow’s Child mindship brews space-sickness teas for travelers who really want to get out there. It’s not much, but it’s honest work. The eccentric Long Chau wants something a little different: the teas and transport to a very dangerous bit of space, to retrieve a body amongst hulking wreckage of mindships past. The job only becomes more complicated when the body is a lot fresher than Long anticipated, and soon the duo are on the trail of a vast conspiracy.
I’m writing this review three months after reading the books (oops), and the scenes of Long Chau in space remain incredibly vivid in my memory. There’s something so visceral, cold, and cosmic about de Bodard’s writing in that scene. Despite the difference in setting and to their characters, Watson and Holmes are recognizable and fantastic. The mystery’s logical unraveling was great fun. In my Seven of Infinities review, I noted my lingering questions about mindship mechanics. The Tea Master and Detective is more generous in its explanations, and probably a better starting point for the series. If you like Holmes and sci-fi, definitely check out The Tea Master and the Detective!
My review of Seven of Infinities: https://app.thestorygraph.com/reviews/9d57c954-a2cc-4bb3-97a7-065f7d133db0
alliepeduto's review against another edition
4.0
This was fun! It was kind of like a Sherlock story in space, if Watson was a sentient ship. I really did enjoy it, and while it was a little light on explanations (I often get frustrated with sci-fi stories that don’t provide explanations in a timely manner), the fact this was a novella helped. I would love for this to turn into a series, I’m very interested in the world and the main characters!