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erikars's review
Apparently this is a fairly rare book which my husband happened to find a copy of at some point. Despite the fact that I failed to listen to the very good advice of skipping the first few chapters (advice given, no less, in the introduction of the book), I greatly enjoyed it. The book is a history of 18 different species of man, starting with us, the first men, and ending with the last men who see the end of human kind. Given that this book explored 18 different species of man, it was interesting to observe Stapledon's ideas of what, other than ancestry, made all of these species human. Overall, a good read, but if you do get a hold of it, take the advice of the introduction, and skip over all the parts that are supposed to take place in the present.
rui11224's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
aoswal's review
informative
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
thomasgoddard's review against another edition
5.0
This was one of the best books I've read recently. I'm a big fan of the author, as his novel Starmaker made a lasting impression on me. This was equally wonderful.
It's written as a future human explaining the history of humanity across the span of aeons. From our modern world through leaps in technology and lapses onto dark ages that persist for millennia. We rise and fall and rise again and we evolve and adapt and populate new worlds. And we achieve such feats! It's darkly hopeful. That's the only way I can explain it. Some of the future is bleak. But so much is spectacular and miraculous and it left me with such a sense of emotional motion sickness. I had to step away after it ended and come to terms with the fact that I will never see all of this play out. I have to make do with the span we have already had; from microorganisms to monkeys. Which is pretty amazing in its own right.
Top notch sci-fi. It'll make your head spin with the sheer scope. And it was written in 1930! Two billion years is over all too quickly, it really kept me engaged and I think I'll read this again and again.
It's written as a future human explaining the history of humanity across the span of aeons. From our modern world through leaps in technology and lapses onto dark ages that persist for millennia. We rise and fall and rise again and we evolve and adapt and populate new worlds. And we achieve such feats! It's darkly hopeful. That's the only way I can explain it. Some of the future is bleak. But so much is spectacular and miraculous and it left me with such a sense of emotional motion sickness. I had to step away after it ended and come to terms with the fact that I will never see all of this play out. I have to make do with the span we have already had; from microorganisms to monkeys. Which is pretty amazing in its own right.
Top notch sci-fi. It'll make your head spin with the sheer scope. And it was written in 1930! Two billion years is over all too quickly, it really kept me engaged and I think I'll read this again and again.
joeydumont's review
4.0
For a book written in 1930, the ideas put forward are definitely out there. There are technologies that resemble modern technologies, like interconnect networks, but in a very different context and shape than what we would expect.
However, I couldn't determine if Stapledon was trying to say something about his contemporary society, lay down ideals and goals for the human race, or just wanted to express his own out of this world ideas.
The author clearly believes that the ultimate goal of society should be a peaceful world society, all living in harmony for a singular purpose. The price of this, of course, is individuality, or at least a part of our individuality.
I don't believe this is desirable, as it poorly reflects the fractal nature of humanity's culture, hobbies, and interests. I understand that Stapledon's vision encompasses billions of years, but he himself had these ideas in mind.
Overall, I think this book is a good read, but it's not clear if it has a message to convey, or simply ideas to communicate.
However, I couldn't determine if Stapledon was trying to say something about his contemporary society, lay down ideals and goals for the human race, or just wanted to express his own out of this world ideas.
The author clearly believes that the ultimate goal of society should be a peaceful world society, all living in harmony for a singular purpose. The price of this, of course, is individuality, or at least a part of our individuality.
I don't believe this is desirable, as it poorly reflects the fractal nature of humanity's culture, hobbies, and interests. I understand that Stapledon's vision encompasses billions of years, but he himself had these ideas in mind.
Overall, I think this book is a good read, but it's not clear if it has a message to convey, or simply ideas to communicate.
theoricparrot's review against another edition
dark
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
trailofmonkeys's review against another edition
DNF. Hard going. Might try again one day, skipping the first 25%
rhyslindmark's review
2.0
Expansive in scope, especially for a book written in the 1930s. I read it because it was one of the first books to reference an alien hivemind.
Those chapters were ok. Stapledon was clearly worried about the Borg removing human individuality and agency.
Overall, the book is impressive for its time but boring. I skimmed the last 50%.
Those chapters were ok. Stapledon was clearly worried about the Borg removing human individuality and agency.
Overall, the book is impressive for its time but boring. I skimmed the last 50%.
joepasaran's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.0