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3.38 AVERAGE
3.38 AVERAGE
Well, what to say? This book was a real let down. Though I am thoroughly captivated by historical detail and Neal Stephenson's adventure tales, the ending left me disappointed. Normally a book, even one that is part of a trilogy, should stand alone. There is a cliffhanger ending which feels as if someone arbitrarily ripped a single book in half and declared it volumes I and II. Not only does Book One not stand alone as a novel, it gives you the feeling of being conned by the cheapest of Hollywood theatrics - circa 1930. I expected much, much more from this novel.
Don't buy this book expecting anything like the riveting, amusing and well-crafted work that is the Baroque Cycle. Nevertheless, I will try Book Two anyway, simply because Stephenson is associated with this story. I hope it improves or I will review the next one properly.
Don't buy this book expecting anything like the riveting, amusing and well-crafted work that is the Baroque Cycle. Nevertheless, I will try Book Two anyway, simply because Stephenson is associated with this story. I hope it improves or I will review the next one properly.
I'm not sure what to say about this book. It had potential but it was super slow. It felt like I got robbed because it was book one of a series.
A brisk and engrossing epic that would serve as a fantastic beach read for the kind of person who doesn't like to go to the beach. The characters are more or less real, though seem prone to supernatural acts of martial prowess, but they are second only to the exquisite battle scenes which populate all sides of the narrative, from Western templars to Mongolian steppe-warriors.
Sadly is yet another goddamn trilogy starter and it ends on a cliffhanger, which is frustrating at this time since Book 2 has not come out yet. This is definitely not a standalone narrative and it is worse for it because it simply ends with little resolution and many questions. Definitely worth a look, especially for fans of Stephenson and Bear.
Sadly is yet another goddamn trilogy starter and it ends on a cliffhanger, which is frustrating at this time since Book 2 has not come out yet. This is definitely not a standalone narrative and it is worse for it because it simply ends with little resolution and many questions. Definitely worth a look, especially for fans of Stephenson and Bear.
An interesting view of what the world was like during the time of the Mongols.
I liked the series and read the whole thing while on vacation.
Interesting book! I liked the different threads of the story, though it did get a little overly specific with the fighting scenes sometimes.
Geconcipieerd als een _social media experiment_ begon The Mongoliad als soort seriële roman die online kon worden gelezen (op het web, en/of via iOS & android apps) en aangevuld. Ondertussen werd het geherstructureerd en herschreven, en gepubliceerd. Dit boek werd herschreven door zeven auteurs, en dat resulteert wonderwel in een samenhangend geheel. In essentie waren het vooral Neal Stephenson (van The Baroque Cycle) en Greg Bear die het boek hebben verwerkt.
Het verhaal speelt zich af in het Mongolië van de 13e eeuw, maar ik heb er niet meteen zich op in hoeverre de gegevens een historische grondslag hebben. Het boek laat zich heel vlot lezen.
Deel 2 komt uit in september 2012; het Mongoliad concept is een eerste stuk van de Foreworld Saga.
Het verhaal speelt zich af in het Mongolië van de 13e eeuw, maar ik heb er niet meteen zich op in hoeverre de gegevens een historische grondslag hebben. Het boek laat zich heel vlot lezen.
Deel 2 komt uit in september 2012; het Mongoliad concept is een eerste stuk van de Foreworld Saga.
Great book. Alternative history where Genghis Kahn took over all of Asia and after he died his children started moving in on Europe. with lots of sword play and great writing. If you're into historical fiction or fantasy you'll love this book.
This is not a Neal Stephenson book. Just page after page of very dryly written prose which is trying to pass itself of as exciting historical fiction.
All the characters are uninteresting, there is no underlying theme except for cut-scene after cut-scene of horse back chases and sword fights. I gave it a shot for almost 45% of the book hoping I would like some character or want to know what happened, but in the end, I gave in to all the negative reviews that this book just doesn't work.
All the characters are uninteresting, there is no underlying theme except for cut-scene after cut-scene of horse back chases and sword fights. I gave it a shot for almost 45% of the book hoping I would like some character or want to know what happened, but in the end, I gave in to all the negative reviews that this book just doesn't work.
Get a bunch of sf/fantasy authors together on a project and place them in the Mongolian invasion of Europe and create a secret history for how they were warded off. A not impossible story. And Book One was written okay. But it was generally just eh. Like totally whatever. If this has been a fantasy I would probably have liked it better - but as historical fiction, I certainly wasn't the audience.