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obiflankenobi's review against another edition
4.0
Short, fast paced, imaginative and a very fun read.
The only drawback, for me, is that every character is "sassy", so it feels kinda forced, but it goes well with the mood of the book so is not a big deal.
Also, the references to the pandemic somehow made it feel more real than pre-pandemic works where no one wears face masks or is worried about shaking hands. Almost like it is another world.
The only drawback, for me, is that every character is "sassy", so it feels kinda forced, but it goes well with the mood of the book so is not a big deal.
Also, the references to the pandemic somehow made it feel more real than pre-pandemic works where no one wears face masks or is worried about shaking hands. Almost like it is another world.
shawnaj72's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
kaitlinnancy's review
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
nanshiii's review against another edition
4.0
John Scalzi's strength is writing snappy dialogue that is easy to digest and not be that serious. It's very Marvel-esque in that sense and made this an easy to read novel. I will say, the easy to read aspect stems from how the voice of this novel is very much Millennial who is chronically online aka the voice of my generation.
The plot was pretty predictable but I found the world building, where we have it, pretty nice. I was entertained for a good two thirds of the book while Jamie and friends (they kind of meld together after a while) ramp up at their jobs. The hand-wavey IT'S SCIENCE IT JUST WORKS fit the overall not so serious tone of the book. Overall this was a good reprieve from the depressing books I've been reading lol
Book 1 from 2023 book club. Borrowed from Libby.
The plot was pretty predictable but I found the world building, where we have it, pretty nice. I was entertained for a good two thirds of the book while Jamie and friends (they kind of meld together after a while) ramp up at their jobs. The hand-wavey IT'S SCIENCE IT JUST WORKS fit the overall not so serious tone of the book. Overall this was a good reprieve from the depressing books I've been reading lol
Book 1 from 2023 book club. Borrowed from Libby.
jessiebatista's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
haz_atlantis's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
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
4.25
joceyreads's review against another edition
3.0
This was a fun light romp with an interesting sci-if blockbuster premise. Deep characters? Not really but it was an entertaining ride.
reptilinius's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief and Pregnancy
Minor: Death
arockinsamsara's review against another edition
5.0
In his acknowledgments at the end, Scalzi says:
All I can say is that it is incredibly fun, and I devoured it in a day. It is an exciting and well-built world, with a lot of interesting characters who felt real and exciting and diverse (including queer characters and characters that use non-binary pronouns, and none of this is commented on or treated as exceptional in any way, but rather delightfully normal), and who have real lives and personalities. A pop song doesn't have to have substance, but KPS does, and even though the plot goes pretty much where you expect it to go the journey getting there is well-paced and fun and worth every moment. I smiled through every page of this book, and for that I'm more than grateful.
KPS is not, and I say this with absolutely no slight intended, a brooding symphony of a novel. It's a pop song. It's meant to be light and catchy, with three minutes of hooks and choruses for you to sing along with, and then you're done and you go on with your day, hopefully with a smile on your face. I had fun writing this, and I needed to have fun writing this. We all need a pop song from time to time, particularly after a stretch of darkness.
All I can say is that it is incredibly fun, and I devoured it in a day. It is an exciting and well-built world, with a lot of interesting characters who felt real and exciting and diverse (including queer characters and characters that use non-binary pronouns, and none of this is commented on or treated as exceptional in any way, but rather delightfully normal), and who have real lives and personalities. A pop song doesn't have to have substance, but KPS does, and even though the plot goes pretty much where you expect it to go the journey getting there is well-paced and fun and worth every moment. I smiled through every page of this book, and for that I'm more than grateful.
libraryofalibrarian's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0