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murder_baker's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
kookykoi's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
yevolem's review
2.0
This was a SF portal fantasy and a metafantasy. By metafantasy I mean that this was meant to be an escapist fantasy for the author, characters, and the readers who wanted to escape the COVID-19 pandemic. It's utterly filled with three elements: cultural affiliation signifiers; pop culture references; and Scalzi's brand of humor. If you don't like all of those, you're already in for an uphill trek to enjoyment. The protagonist's catchphrase was, "I lift things", which he repeats often in various ways. I'm mostly indifferent, so that certainly didn't help at all.
For me those weren't the problem though. What was, was that I just didn't find it interesting, engaging, fun, or enjoyable. Somehow a story about literal kaiju in an alternate Earth was made to be prosaic, banal, and insipid. I felt nothing at all for any of the characters, or really anything in the book. If it weren't for that it's relatively short I wouldn't have finished. The title is very accurate though and that was part of the problem.
Maybe others would like it more, the current GR ratings would suggest that. I think it would've worked better in a visual medium, whether that would be a movie, TV series, graphic novel, or whatever else. I'm not angry, just disappointed.
For me those weren't the problem though. What was, was that I just didn't find it interesting, engaging, fun, or enjoyable. Somehow a story about literal kaiju in an alternate Earth was made to be prosaic, banal, and insipid. I felt nothing at all for any of the characters, or really anything in the book. If it weren't for that it's relatively short I wouldn't have finished. The title is very accurate though and that was part of the problem.
Maybe others would like it more, the current GR ratings would suggest that. I think it would've worked better in a visual medium, whether that would be a movie, TV series, graphic novel, or whatever else. I'm not angry, just disappointed.
ladylothlorien's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Scalzi has a long author’s note at the end where he talks about this book being light like a fun pop song. I agree. There is some tension with a bad guy at the end but overall it’s just a fun book about a guy who gets a job lifting things for an organization that studies and helps kaiju in another dimension. I listened to this book as I am a diehard Wil Wheaton fan and Wil was clearly having a great time. An enjoyable pop song that I’ll come back to again when I need a little pick me up.
amandadelbrocco's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
This is my second John Scalzi book and it definitely will not be my last. I'm not a huge fan of sci-fi but his books have been so fun and accessible, at least so far.
Content Warnings
Minor: Pandemic/Epidemic
COVID-19 pandemic is heavily mentioned through the beginning of the book.wizkid99's review against another edition
2.0
2.5/5
This book felt like the author had a scientific theory or hypothesis and had to write a fictional story surrounding it, because it reads like a series of events with no plot but a good concept... Wish it were fleshed out further but the author describes why it reads like a "pop song" in the acknowledgements so I understand.
That being said, what is with the annoying characters and their sassy (just for the sake of it) dialogue?
This book felt like the author had a scientific theory or hypothesis and had to write a fictional story surrounding it, because it reads like a series of events with no plot but a good concept... Wish it were fleshed out further but the author describes why it reads like a "pop song" in the acknowledgements so I understand.
That being said, what is with the annoying characters and their sassy (just for the sake of it) dialogue?
vaguelyrestless's review against another edition
Not enjoying Wheaton's narration, unfortunately. Placed a hold on the ebook