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gmvader's review against another edition
5.0
Many years ago the Old Father’s ventured into the stars and settled on distant planets. They founded a colony and trade port on Nanagada, using the nearby wormhole to trade among the stars. Then they encountered the Loa and the Teotl – two powerful races locked in a war that destroyed worlds. In order to stop the spread of the war to Earth and the other colonies some of the men of Nanagada destroyed the wormhole with a massive EMP pulse that knocked out all technology in the system and cut them off from the rest of the galaxy.
Now, many years have passed and the Azteca – a race descended from a remnant cult of Aztec Indians – are coming over the Wicked High Mountains, demanding blood sacrifice in the name of their gods, the Teotl.
Thus starts a race for survival for John DeBrun and the mysterious stranger, Pepper, who shows up with secrets about John’s past.
The Jamaican colonists on Nanagada give the book a unique feel that sets it apart from other science fiction.
The most important thing to know about this book, though, is that it is awesome. It happens fast and moves along one beat after the next until the ending is a drumroll. It’s a story of triumph and mystery and war and characters that are faced with difficult choices for themselves and for others. I will be looking for more of Buckell’s work in the future.
Now, many years have passed and the Azteca – a race descended from a remnant cult of Aztec Indians – are coming over the Wicked High Mountains, demanding blood sacrifice in the name of their gods, the Teotl.
Thus starts a race for survival for John DeBrun and the mysterious stranger, Pepper, who shows up with secrets about John’s past.
The Jamaican colonists on Nanagada give the book a unique feel that sets it apart from other science fiction.
The most important thing to know about this book, though, is that it is awesome. It happens fast and moves along one beat after the next until the ending is a drumroll. It’s a story of triumph and mystery and war and characters that are faced with difficult choices for themselves and for others. I will be looking for more of Buckell’s work in the future.
mjfmjfmjf's review against another edition
3.0
Interesting read. Basically Aztec Gods as aliens on a distant colony world stuck behind a destroyed wormhole. I apparently read book in this series some time ago and I guess I didn't realize it was part of a series, even a loose one. It had interesting pacing, readable but slow. And the interesting technology was almost always just barely off screen. There was also some pretty definite use of a Caribbean dialect. Nothing about this really blew me away. But it hints of possibilities in an author that I continue to follow.
essinink's review against another edition
On Hold: Page 53
Grabbed this because I've sort of liked Tobias Buckell's other work, but this really isn't grabbing me, and I haven't touched it in a couple weeks. Returning to library--maybe try again later.
Grabbed this because I've sort of liked Tobias Buckell's other work, but this really isn't grabbing me, and I haven't touched it in a couple weeks. Returning to library--maybe try again later.
grandgranini's review against another edition
2.0
Generic space opera with a caribbean flavor. Actually had trouble getting through to the end, and forgot all about the plot as soon as I closed the book. Won't be reading the sequels. Great cover illustration though.
abhrasach's review against another edition
4.0
Okay, if you'd told me "steampunk Aztecs in space," I would have laughed. But picking it up with no idea what it was about, I was sucked right in and enjoyed the ride.
lleullawgyffes's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
garretreece's review against another edition
2.0
Interesting but poorly paced book with dialog that made me consider personally emailing the author and yelling at him. The characters and storylines are inconsistent to boot. Not really recommended.
woolfardis's review against another edition
1.0
Confusingly either an alternate Caribbean/Aztec set sci-fi or a steampunk militia fantasy without much world building. It tends to drift. Not written well and whilst I appreciate the dialogue was supposed to make you feel like they couldn't speak "English" well, it was just jarring and unnecessary. Didn't get that far, but apparently John's hand grows back once he regains his memory? Like a man with one hand can ever have a full memory? Or a full life?
seak's review against another edition
4.0
I've been hearing about Tobias S. Buckell's Xenowealth series for years and finally got around to it last month. My schedule made reading time difficult to find, so it probably suffered somewhat from that, but overall, I really enjoyed Crystal Rain, book 1 in the Xenowealth series.
John DeBrun has no memory of his past, but there are a few odd things he's realized about himself, such as the fact that he doesn't seem to age or get sick (unbreakable!). We find him established with a wife and son and living in a Caribbean-esque world that leans toward the steampunk.
In this Caribbean-style world, just about everyone talks in dialect. As far as a unique world, I haven't come across this yet and I thought it was interesting ... at first. Then, it got frustrating and difficult to read after a while. It really threw me off and I never got used to it even by the end. Kudos to putting it in there and diversifying the genre, nonetheless.
The Caribbeans are attacked by the neighboring culture who live across the Wicket High mountain range and who are intent on domination. Again, the actual reasons behind the attack (and the interesting surprises) are much more than one country ruling another and has more to do with who is pulling the strings as we learn as the story progresses.
I don't want to spoil too much, but the payoff in the end is really great after the mysteries finally start to unfold. I blazed through the last hundred pages and it helped I actually found that mysterious reading time I was looking for.
Again, I fear spoiling too much, but this is a brilliant mix of fantasy and science fiction that started off slowly, but really built to a great ending. I did have some problems, but overall I highly enjoyed Crystal Rain and I'm looking forward to the sequels. The reveals were worth the minor difficulties and I think going into the next book, those hiccups will be overcome.
3.5 out of 5 Stars (recommended)
John DeBrun has no memory of his past, but there are a few odd things he's realized about himself, such as the fact that he doesn't seem to age or get sick (unbreakable!). We find him established with a wife and son and living in a Caribbean-esque world that leans toward the steampunk.
In this Caribbean-style world, just about everyone talks in dialect. As far as a unique world, I haven't come across this yet and I thought it was interesting ... at first. Then, it got frustrating and difficult to read after a while. It really threw me off and I never got used to it even by the end. Kudos to putting it in there and diversifying the genre, nonetheless.
The Caribbeans are attacked by the neighboring culture who live across the Wicket High mountain range and who are intent on domination. Again, the actual reasons behind the attack (and the interesting surprises) are much more than one country ruling another and has more to do with who is pulling the strings as we learn as the story progresses.
I don't want to spoil too much, but the payoff in the end is really great after the mysteries finally start to unfold. I blazed through the last hundred pages and it helped I actually found that mysterious reading time I was looking for.
Again, I fear spoiling too much, but this is a brilliant mix of fantasy and science fiction that started off slowly, but really built to a great ending. I did have some problems, but overall I highly enjoyed Crystal Rain and I'm looking forward to the sequels. The reveals were worth the minor difficulties and I think going into the next book, those hiccups will be overcome.
3.5 out of 5 Stars (recommended)