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mrwilliamsgifford's review against another edition
5.0
This one redeems the second one. I don’t know quite what else to say.
phre3d's review against another edition
3.0
Take away the preachy sections and it would get a higher rating.
destrier's review against another edition
3.0
The last 1/4 of [b:Dust|2353644|Dust (Jacob's Ladder, #1)|Elizabeth Bear|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1388549771l/2353644._SY75_.jpg|2360366] and the first 3/4 of Grail would have made one very good sci-fi book (the middle entry, [b:Chill|6344843|Chill (Jacob's Ladder, #2)|Elizabeth Bear|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1320498889l/6344843._SY75_.jpg|6531104] offers nothing). Combined, those have three real characters, a sentient blow-torch, a very cool worldship ecosystem, a good philosophical discussion of how to channel humanity's impulses and what its obligations are absent an axiomatic god, a few sex scenes that aren't too cringey, and some refreshingly detailed discussion of how characters actually eat/sleep/work/live in their spaceship. There are women written well, in addition to convincing lesbian, asexual, trans, and intersex characters [sorry, the one gay character is a throwaway].
The rest is drivel. Bear is obsessed with these indistinguishable characters who are all centuries-old, incestuous siblings mimicking indistinguishable Lord of the Rings characters and mostly whining and moping like angsty teenagers. There's some history and mythology that is boring associated with them which is irrelevant. Just when the series really got good, in Grail, it falls apart again. The ending swirls back to "epic" battles that I mostly skimmed through because I just wanted all of these annoying characters to die (except who were obviously in no danger).
It feels like Bear or a negligent editor misread what was most interesting and original about the series and focused on exactly the wrong parts, leaving the good parts underfocused. Before the ending I was excited to read more by Bear. I thought that by the end of the trilogy she'd found her footing. Sadly, I am not any longer.
The rest is drivel. Bear is obsessed with these indistinguishable characters who are all centuries-old, incestuous siblings mimicking indistinguishable Lord of the Rings characters and mostly whining and moping like angsty teenagers. There's some history and mythology that is boring associated with them which is irrelevant. Just when the series really got good, in Grail, it falls apart again. The ending swirls back to "epic" battles that I mostly skimmed through because I just wanted all of these annoying characters to die (except
Spoiler
Rien, Mallory, and Amanda,It feels like Bear or a negligent editor misread what was most interesting and original about the series and focused on exactly the wrong parts, leaving the good parts underfocused. Before the ending I was excited to read more by Bear. I thought that by the end of the trilogy she'd found her footing. Sadly, I am not any longer.
adj1920's review against another edition
4.0
The "Jacob's Ladder" trilogy was a true reading experience. I devoured all three books on vacation. I like books that make me think, and reading these during a week that I didn't have all the distractions of every day life helped. I can see how a reader could get lost in the pontificating, but I loved it. The theme across all three books is nature versus nurture, family bonds, and religion versus secularity. The ending wasn't what I wanted...but it di fit in well with the themes the author had built, so I was satisfied. Definitely worth the time!
juushika's review against another edition
4.0
Reread, 2021: There's some unfortunate repetition in this series, here in the return of the antagonist, which makes sense in the worldbuilding but is highlighted by the structural repetition in books 1 & 2. Worse, the antagonist and her action plot is a lot less interesting than the more philosophical, overarching clash between New Evolutionist descendants and a rightminded society. The external PoV of Jacob's Ladder and her crew is productively alien; rightminding is terrifying and the text engages that, imperfectly, but sometimes in a productively-flawed way; the culture clash is dynamic and apparently unresolvable. So the ending, which also makes sense in the worldbuilding, is nonetheless a disappointingly abrupt and easy resolution. I'm dropping my rating from five stars to four, but I still enjoy this book & the series entire; it's borderline one of those speculative texts where the concepts are interesting and disconcerting enough to excuse technical issues.
Original Review, 2015: As the ship nears the planet where they hope to end their thousand-year journey, they discover the worst: the planet is already inhabited--by humans. The divergent human societies can feel insufficiently alien--or, rather, they don't extrapolate well: the clash of worldviews stretches thin when meant to encompass two complete cultures. But when it works (and, here, Bear's headhopping shines), the view of each society from without is creative, refreshing, thoughtful, and sometimes even hilarious. Bear measures perfect balance between high concept and its trickledown to the personal and social. Grail has the large premise and lively plot that Chill failed to create, yet the interpersonal effects are equally important and frequently more affecting. It's a triumphant end; Chill lags a bit, but Dust and Grail are fantastic and the series entire is well worth reading.
Original Review, 2015: As the ship nears the planet where they hope to end their thousand-year journey, they discover the worst: the planet is already inhabited--by humans. The divergent human societies can feel insufficiently alien--or, rather, they don't extrapolate well: the clash of worldviews stretches thin when meant to encompass two complete cultures. But when it works (and, here, Bear's headhopping shines), the view of each society from without is creative, refreshing, thoughtful, and sometimes even hilarious. Bear measures perfect balance between high concept and its trickledown to the personal and social. Grail has the large premise and lively plot that Chill failed to create, yet the interpersonal effects are equally important and frequently more affecting. It's a triumphant end; Chill lags a bit, but Dust and Grail are fantastic and the series entire is well worth reading.
knatreads501's review
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
c_morning's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
jumbleread's review against another edition
3.0
Darn - too many characters for me to follow. Really interesting world building though. I might have to return to this book later - or read it instead of listening to it.