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3.51 AVERAGE
3.51 AVERAGE
So far I have loved everything she's written. I can't wait to see what's next.
challenging
dark
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Moxyland is a fast paced, action packed, high tech, cyberpunk dystopian story set in Cape Town. In other words very different from my normal read. I was on board with a lot of the themes - the negative impact technology can have on our lives, the control it gives to corporations, a critique of police states - and thought the way the story was structured - a slow build up with layer upon layer being slowly added before the powerful ending where seemingly disparate parts came together - was effective and satisfying. I did find the book jargon heavy which was a little off-putting especially in the beginning as I attempted to orientate myself in its world.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence
Ugh. The premise was interesting but the characters all sound the same. At the start, I was bombarded by slangs that don't even sound clever. Everyone curses at every breath. The ending came all of a sudden that doesn't deserve all that build-up. Not for me, I guess.
adventurous
challenging
dark
funny
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I loved this book, it was kind of horribly frustrating to watch the characters make so many mistakes but also the focus was more on anti-capitalism which was really really cool and it was so visually stimulating because the language was so vivid!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Sexual content
dark
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Lauren Beukes explores a bunch of different concepts here, I enjoyed her South African flavored dystopia a lot. I look forward to spinoff shorts from here. Also, these guys did a much better job with reviewing her book: http://www.strangehorizons.com/reviews/2009/11/two_views_moxyl.shtml
Near-future dystopia set in South Africa, about a society in which corporations control access to privileges, in which smartphones are outfitted with an ability to give their users Taser-like shocks when directed to by police, and where biohacking nanobots are injected experimentally in trendsetting underground artists, to create buzz around the nanobot's abilities to enhance human abilities and prevent illness. Following several young people, including a photographer, a DJ, an activist, and a corporate employee, this novel left me intrigued and impressed by its social commentary and writing. It was originally published nearly a decade ago, but seems still just as futuristic and relevant today.
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
What started as a reasonable modern cyberpunk/sci-fi story suddenly twisted into a very dark, disturbing ending.