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jpear1977's review against another edition
3.0
I think that I understood where the author was trying to go with this book but it is a confusing read. Lots of jumping around, same souls, different people, different relationships. There were parts of the book that were really beautiful but it was a bit hard to follow.
valjeanval's review against another edition
5.0
I'm really confused how this book was never on my radar. A multi-level sci-fi adventure love story through time inspired by the stories of Hadiran and Antinous? With aliens? I guess, judging a book from its cover, this small press story didn't look like much, and I probably would never have noticed it had my book club not chosen it. This is why I stay in book clubs folks.
The learning curve to getting into this story is steep, though. It's very hard to blurb, and any summary I found was vague and unsatisfying. Eventually, I just got into the rhythm of the structure of a series of vignettes, accepting that our main characters would change gender, age, orientation, and relationship every few vignettes or so. It's an ambitious, experiment of a novel, and I think the ending is a solid pay-off. If you are looking for some weird sci-fi and not intimidated by stories that don't even start letting you in on the secret until three quarters of the way through the book, give this one a try. If you are also a computer science geek or coder, I think this was written especially for you. I bet there are a lot of references in the code portions that I have no way of understanding.
The learning curve to getting into this story is steep, though. It's very hard to blurb, and any summary I found was vague and unsatisfying. Eventually, I just got into the rhythm of the structure of a series of vignettes, accepting that our main characters would change gender, age, orientation, and relationship every few vignettes or so. It's an ambitious, experiment of a novel, and I think the ending is a solid pay-off. If you are looking for some weird sci-fi and not intimidated by stories that don't even start letting you in on the secret until three quarters of the way through the book, give this one a try. If you are also a computer science geek or coder, I think this was written especially for you. I bet there are a lot of references in the code portions that I have no way of understanding.
mantissabolt's review against another edition
4.0
Unique book with difficult structure. Incredibly well design and implemented, but not my cup of tea.
trike's review against another edition
3.0
If Philip K. Dick wrote The Matrix, it would be this book. I had my doubts at the beginning, but by the end I liked it.
ETA: The chief reason I think this book closely aligns with Philip K. Dick’s work is because in his stuff the ideas are paramount and the nuts and bolts of the narrative are secondary, but if I were forced to draw an exact parallel of “if you like that then try this”, it would be with [b:Slaughterhouse-Five|4981|Slaughterhouse-Five|Kurt Vonnegut Jr.|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1440319389l/4981._SY75_.jpg|1683562] by Vonnegut.
It has that same sort of dreamlike narrative of jumping perspectives where it might or might not be about being subjected to alien examination, or just someone (whether human or computer) experiencing a mental break from reality. Basically a literature Rorschach test.
ETA: The chief reason I think this book closely aligns with Philip K. Dick’s work is because in his stuff the ideas are paramount and the nuts and bolts of the narrative are secondary, but if I were forced to draw an exact parallel of “if you like that then try this”, it would be with [b:Slaughterhouse-Five|4981|Slaughterhouse-Five|Kurt Vonnegut Jr.|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1440319389l/4981._SY75_.jpg|1683562] by Vonnegut.
It has that same sort of dreamlike narrative of jumping perspectives where it might or might not be about being subjected to alien examination, or just someone (whether human or computer) experiencing a mental break from reality. Basically a literature Rorschach test.
laci's review against another edition
4.0
Well, I guess it was okay in the end. But be warned: it's kinda wacky. 😃 There's a man and a woman. Suddenly, both of 'em are men, and one of them is dying. Then they get back to being a man and a woman. Sometimes they switch several times in a single scene. One of them is hallucinating animals, when he/she isn't dying. Then there are modern-times ancient-roman-goddess worshippers, who are sometimes maybe aliens? Then they're both women again. Then one is pregnant and dying. Everyone's name starts with an A - there's Antoine, Antoinette, Adrian and Adrianne... Sometimes they're siblings. All of them die several times. Then they have a son, name him Antoine. It's quite a ride.
I mean... it does make _some_ kind of sense at the end, at least the important bits do. But if I weren't amused and looking forward to the next crack thing that'll happen, I'm not sure I'd like it quite as much. Basically, my mindset was: "Oh, so the Vestal Virgins are aliens now? Heck, at this point, why not"
YMMV. 😃
I mean... it does make _some_ kind of sense at the end, at least the important bits do. But if I weren't amused and looking forward to the next crack thing that'll happen, I'm not sure I'd like it quite as much. Basically, my mindset was: "Oh, so the Vestal Virgins are aliens now? Heck, at this point, why not"
YMMV. 😃
dwango's review against another edition
4.0
Complex, Hard to Follow, Yet Deeper than Most
I find it hard to describe my feelings on this novel. It meanders between vignettes strung together with code like texts that both illuminate and confound. Only well into this short book does a story come together, a reason for the unusual structure. Yet, I'm still not sure what it really was about, especially all the different forms of the main characters in different situations and forms (man, woman, child, parent, sibling)
Some were fleeting in my memory, but a few stuck out such as the brothers spray painting walls or the sisters guarding the flames. Enough that I can feel this will leave an impression in my mind for a while.
I find it hard to describe my feelings on this novel. It meanders between vignettes strung together with code like texts that both illuminate and confound. Only well into this short book does a story come together, a reason for the unusual structure. Yet, I'm still not sure what it really was about, especially all the different forms of the main characters in different situations and forms (man, woman, child, parent, sibling)
Some were fleeting in my memory, but a few stuck out such as the brothers spray painting walls or the sisters guarding the flames. Enough that I can feel this will leave an impression in my mind for a while.
moore2030's review against another edition
5.0
Amazing book. Very unique concept for a story. I loved the transitions between universes that could sometimes occur mid-paragraph.
din0_bot's review against another edition
The author tried to do too many things at once, too soon after the beginning. The modern Roman Empire world was somewhat interesting, though, reminiscent of The Handmaid's Tale. Unfortunately, the book by Margaret Atwood book blows this one away. DNF.
kaa's review against another edition
3.0
I don't really know what to make of this book. There were some incredibly cool concepts, some things I absolutely hated (especially regarding the portrayal of the Hector/Helen character), and a lot of things I just never understood. This is a wildly ambitious book that was only partially successful in the execution, for me.
ghostbird12's review against another edition
3.5
i feel pretty conflicted about this book
lots of things i loved: the shifts, the repeated phrases/paragraphs/events, the relationships
some things i didn’t like: i nearly couldn’t stand the writing style, i was still fairly confused by the end as to what happened
great concept, medium execution, but glad i read it
>> He painted another memorial on another wall. And another. He decided that his brother would not be forgotten. Antoine's image would live on forever and ever.
lots of things i loved: the shifts, the repeated phrases/paragraphs/events, the relationships
some things i didn’t like: i nearly couldn’t stand the writing style, i was still fairly confused by the end as to what happened
great concept, medium execution, but glad i read it
>> He painted another memorial on another wall. And another. He decided that his brother would not be forgotten. Antoine's image would live on forever and ever.
>> Antoine nodded and grabbed his father around the neck. Adrian embraced his son and nuzzled him, feeling his child’s heartbeat next to his. I will get my child home safe.
>> The overcast morning crept in holding hands with the night. The day began dark with hints of becoming darker.