master_jedi_reader's review
3.0
Actually rating 3.5. Some of the stories I liked more than others, but overall an enjoyable read.
saint_eleanor's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This is one of the most beautiful books ive ever read, so visceral and delicious and fleshy and true! I feel like it captures a certain femininity that’s usually too gross or weird to write about, but i can’t really explain it. Read it!!! & At least two of the short stories are about the same characters which is really fun
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Child abuse, Suicide, and Gore
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Addiction and Sexual content
bookaneer's review
3.0
This is a hard book to read, and even harder to rate. I had to tally my individual rating for each and came up with 2.5 stars. Gosh darn it, if it's 2.4 or 2.6 it would be easier. I give three for now just because it is still better than most two star-books I read.
Why the extra 0.5 star? It brought, no, kicked me out of my comfort zone. It has some powerful scenes, intriguing conversations. This is my first encounter with the author's work and she sure is memorable. She knows how to knit all the traditional SF story elements from aliens, genetic modification, dystopia, rising sea water, and ground them to the level of individual, families and communities. Most stories also have strong voices. All happen to be female, in all kinds of ages.
Now, the downside. The stories are super bleak, set near futurish decaying world, and told in a hopelessly devastating manner. The book is not something to pick up randomly and require a suitable mind condition - mine is pretty stressed out at the moment - thus it got heavier. Also, I admit I did not fully comprehend all stories.
Yet, I feel the draw of rereading them. Some I did reread because they are short(er) and I ended up liking them. I hope I could find a time when I could, in a better state of mind, peel the layers slowly and immerse myself more. Unfortunately this is not the time.
Why the extra 0.5 star? It brought, no, kicked me out of my comfort zone. It has some powerful scenes, intriguing conversations. This is my first encounter with the author's work and she sure is memorable. She knows how to knit all the traditional SF story elements from aliens, genetic modification, dystopia, rising sea water, and ground them to the level of individual, families and communities. Most stories also have strong voices. All happen to be female, in all kinds of ages.
Now, the downside. The stories are super bleak, set near futurish decaying world, and told in a hopelessly devastating manner. The book is not something to pick up randomly and require a suitable mind condition - mine is pretty stressed out at the moment - thus it got heavier. Also, I admit I did not fully comprehend all stories.
Yet, I feel the draw of rereading them. Some I did reread because they are short(er) and I ended up liking them. I hope I could find a time when I could, in a better state of mind, peel the layers slowly and immerse myself more. Unfortunately this is not the time.
jimbritt75's review
2.0
Short story collection. Four were okay. Four were terrible. I totally forgot about three. Not a good ratio!
meg510's review
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Futuristic short stories that are bonkers yet grounded in semi-reality
dray's review
4.0
These stories took me by surprise. Uniquely written, they reminded me a little of how Gibson's neuromancer cut an entirely new vision in SF. There is unexpected writing here, unique and burning ideas not found elsewhere. The start of what i hope is a long career.
mad_taylh's review
dark
medium-paced
3.75
"Or sometimes you'll be picking corn out of your teeth and suddenly the air is full of sound. Like music but no tune and no words so maybe not like music. Always it's way too loud to talk over and it kind of hurts your ears, but also kind of hurts your heart in a way I think everybody secretly enjoys. Like the most beautiful animal in the world is trapped in a cage somewhere inside there. And we are the ones who have to listen to it, and we are the ones who get to listen to it."
annschi's review
4.0
Eine wilde Mischung aus Science Fiction und Traumtagebuch. Nicht ganz, was ich erwartet hatte. Jedoch schön geschrieben (find ich unverständlich, dass keine der Geschichten es auf die Hugo-Shortlist geschafft hat).
coalstaindlife's review
4.0
This was a blind date with a book selection.
It was weird, but matched it's description pretty well.
It was weird, but matched it's description pretty well.
djwudi's review
3.0
Some of these are funny, many of them are disquieting and leave the reader a little uneasy. I didn’t dislike it, though I’m not sure I can really say that I liked it, either.
Of course, as with any anthology, some stories will work better than others, and which ones go which way will change from person to person. For me, I think “Alien Virus Love Disaster”, “Moonkids”, and “I’m Sorry Your Daughter Got Eaten By a Cougar” were my favorites (or, at least, the ones I found most interesting).
Of course, as with any anthology, some stories will work better than others, and which ones go which way will change from person to person. For me, I think “Alien Virus Love Disaster”, “Moonkids”, and “I’m Sorry Your Daughter Got Eaten By a Cougar” were my favorites (or, at least, the ones I found most interesting).