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emheld's review against another edition
4.0
Great start to a series, with inventive world-building and unique characters.
rosapalmera's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed the story and I thought the premise was really cool, the only thing I was a bit disappointed about was how quickly time passed towards the end of the book. We’ve been getting to know and love these characters for hundreds of pages and care about them and then suddenly we skip ahead on huge chunks of their life?
teganbeesebooks's review against another edition
3.0
Title: Dark Eden
Author: Chris Beckett
Type: Adult Fiction
Genre: Science Fiction/Speculative Fiction
Tea: Earl Grey Creme, has hints of something traditional and familiar, but has its own unique twist.
Rating: 3.5 out of 5
So I'm having a hard time with this one. What do I think of you, Dark Eden? Right now my rating is hovering at a 3 to 3.5, but has the possibility of a 4. There are so many things going on this book to take into consideration.
First off, basic premise with no spoilers: A group of people are living on a planet that was inadvertently discovered by astronauts and space police from Earth. The group is waiting for the day Earth comes back to find them, the day they were promised...about 200 years ago. This story is about this colony and the evolution of thought.
This book reads similarly to the story of Adam and Eve from Genesis in the Bible. We have a new family forming from two people. We have creatures being named. We have a group of people learning how to function and live. We have evil coming into the world. The difference here is these people are planted in one place and are not looking to expand themselves. This is where the evolution of thought comes in.
But before we get there, we have the beginning of the book, which did not catch my attention at all. I was honestly rather bored and felt like the same thing kept happening. I suppose that could be seen as the author's purposeful way of getting you to feel the monotony that John Redlantern and Tina Spiketree (our two main characters) suffer every day. I honestly probably would've put it down, but managed to get to the point where the world goes a little crazy.
I have a degree in anthropology and reading this from an anthropological perspective was very interesting. Seeing the evolution of a group of people, based on beliefs passed down to them from people from another planet was very interesting. These people did not look to advance themselves, only to wait in the same place, for Earth to find them. Their grasp on language is far more rudimentary than that on Earth, especially after they get rid of School, in order to have more hunters. They only know of the things on Earth that they are told about: cars, houses, Einstein, chess and the Sun (which they don't have). They live in a world of perpetual darkness, but not just the literal kind. The planet itself has adapted to the darkness by having everything on it, have its own light. The plants glow, even the Woolybucks (my best guess? Deer?) have head lanterns. The people are also stunting themselves physically, due to inbreeding many children are born with "bat faces" (harelips) and "claw feet." I honestly think most of them were blind to their predicament.
John Redlantern brings a little anarchy into our story by questioning the Oldest (grandchildren of the original founders) and determined to find life beyond their Circle Clearing.
This book is full of questions, Earth references, terrifying situations, the deterioration of a matrilineal society and some rather disturbing sexual relationships. Certain of aspects of this book intrigue me and I really enjoyed, but other parts were lacking. I didn't feel strongly about the two main characters, I was far more attached to a more minor character, Jeff Redlantern. I really would've liked to have read more about him or from his perspective.
I was disappointed with the ending and felt like there was really no resolution. Yes, one specific question was answered, but so many more were brought up and then not dealt with. I don't really know if there is a plan for a sequel. There is definitely the opening to do one, but I don't know if the was the plan or if the open ending is for the reader to decide what happens.
Despite some of these shortcomings, Dark Eden, is a great science fiction story. The world building is fantastic. All the creatures, which are similar to those on Earth but with mutations, were very intriguing. And the advance of Earth's society, even though we hear very little about it, is clearly ahead of what we have now, considering a Police Vehicle is sent out after the errant space ship.
Overall it was a mixed bag for me, but after more thought, the rating could change. Definitely check it out and see what you can find in this sci-fi tale.
Author: Chris Beckett
Type: Adult Fiction
Genre: Science Fiction/Speculative Fiction
Tea: Earl Grey Creme, has hints of something traditional and familiar, but has its own unique twist.
Rating: 3.5 out of 5
So I'm having a hard time with this one. What do I think of you, Dark Eden? Right now my rating is hovering at a 3 to 3.5, but has the possibility of a 4. There are so many things going on this book to take into consideration.
First off, basic premise with no spoilers: A group of people are living on a planet that was inadvertently discovered by astronauts and space police from Earth. The group is waiting for the day Earth comes back to find them, the day they were promised...about 200 years ago. This story is about this colony and the evolution of thought.
This book reads similarly to the story of Adam and Eve from Genesis in the Bible. We have a new family forming from two people. We have creatures being named. We have a group of people learning how to function and live. We have evil coming into the world. The difference here is these people are planted in one place and are not looking to expand themselves. This is where the evolution of thought comes in.
But before we get there, we have the beginning of the book, which did not catch my attention at all. I was honestly rather bored and felt like the same thing kept happening. I suppose that could be seen as the author's purposeful way of getting you to feel the monotony that John Redlantern and Tina Spiketree (our two main characters) suffer every day. I honestly probably would've put it down, but managed to get to the point where the world goes a little crazy.
I have a degree in anthropology and reading this from an anthropological perspective was very interesting. Seeing the evolution of a group of people, based on beliefs passed down to them from people from another planet was very interesting. These people did not look to advance themselves, only to wait in the same place, for Earth to find them. Their grasp on language is far more rudimentary than that on Earth, especially after they get rid of School, in order to have more hunters. They only know of the things on Earth that they are told about: cars, houses, Einstein, chess and the Sun (which they don't have). They live in a world of perpetual darkness, but not just the literal kind. The planet itself has adapted to the darkness by having everything on it, have its own light. The plants glow, even the Woolybucks (my best guess? Deer?) have head lanterns. The people are also stunting themselves physically, due to inbreeding many children are born with "bat faces" (harelips) and "claw feet." I honestly think most of them were blind to their predicament.
John Redlantern brings a little anarchy into our story by questioning the Oldest (grandchildren of the original founders) and determined to find life beyond their Circle Clearing.
This book is full of questions, Earth references, terrifying situations, the deterioration of a matrilineal society and some rather disturbing sexual relationships. Certain of aspects of this book intrigue me and I really enjoyed, but other parts were lacking. I didn't feel strongly about the two main characters, I was far more attached to a more minor character, Jeff Redlantern. I really would've liked to have read more about him or from his perspective.
I was disappointed with the ending and felt like there was really no resolution. Yes, one specific question was answered, but so many more were brought up and then not dealt with. I don't really know if there is a plan for a sequel. There is definitely the opening to do one, but I don't know if the was the plan or if the open ending is for the reader to decide what happens.
Despite some of these shortcomings, Dark Eden, is a great science fiction story. The world building is fantastic. All the creatures, which are similar to those on Earth but with mutations, were very intriguing. And the advance of Earth's society, even though we hear very little about it, is clearly ahead of what we have now, considering a Police Vehicle is sent out after the errant space ship.
Overall it was a mixed bag for me, but after more thought, the rating could change. Definitely check it out and see what you can find in this sci-fi tale.
kymme's review against another edition
1.0
Tried to get into this book multiple times, and finally got a good chunk of the way through and realized I just don't care enough to keep reading a book I have to make myself read. It's a bit like Clan of the Cave Bear (a book I loved) meshed with Pitch Black (a movie I hated) and the Pitch Black parts took over.
italsma's review against another edition
1.0
After reading much critical praise about this book, I was eager to read it and then extremely disappointed by the book itself. A brief list of reasons why... [includes some minor spoilers]
1. Although the book is celebrated for its linguistic style, the dialogue and language felt stilted and unnecessary. For every affected word, there were many reiterations of what the corresponding "Earth word" would be. Becomes redundant and continues throughout the entire book.
2. The majority of the interesting plot developments are left until the last 75 pages, leaving no time to work through them and ending on a rather anticlimactic cliffhanger.
3. Characterization and character development are close to zero. The actions and motivations are introduced within the first several chapters and hardly change through the course of the plot.
4. Complete lack of believable or authoritative female characters.
5. For the amount of praise for the world developing, I found it very lacking. Although there are many interesting creatures suggested, they weren't described with much detail and fell flat in comparison to other science fiction worlds.
Just a few remarks right after finishing. Overall disappointing read and seems unworthy of the critical praise.
1. Although the book is celebrated for its linguistic style, the dialogue and language felt stilted and unnecessary. For every affected word, there were many reiterations of what the corresponding "Earth word" would be. Becomes redundant and continues throughout the entire book.
2. The majority of the interesting plot developments are left until the last 75 pages, leaving no time to work through them and ending on a rather anticlimactic cliffhanger.
Spoiler
Despite the suggested and repeated difficulty of crossing the "Snowy Dark," the characters manage to cross it with relative ease and with a convenient ellipses of action.3. Characterization and character development are close to zero. The actions and motivations are introduced within the first several chapters and hardly change through the course of the plot.
4. Complete lack of believable or authoritative female characters.
5. For the amount of praise for the world developing, I found it very lacking. Although there are many interesting creatures suggested, they weren't described with much detail and fell flat in comparison to other science fiction worlds.
Just a few remarks right after finishing. Overall disappointing read and seems unworthy of the critical praise.
stephaniaesoterica's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
gjmaupin's review against another edition
3.0
Not bad. Until I realized it was obviously setting itself up for an unnecessary sequel. The post-Rowling literary world makes me so sad. Everything is not a series. But still. Quote good up to then.
kadomi's review against another edition
3.0
This SF novel leaves me feeling kind of conflicted. I overall enjoyed reading it, but it also frustrated the heck out of me. The story is set on the planet Eden where a human colony has existed for over 160 years. Apparently three dudes stole a spaceship, were chased by the Earth Police and crash-landed on Eden. Three dudes then went back to earth, leaving two people behind, Angela and Tommy. The colony are descendants of those two, waiting for a rescue troop from Earth to pick them up. The society has devolved into hunter gatherers on a planet that is inherently ill-suited to serve as home for humans. The planet is far away from the sun, so the only illumination are lumiscent flowers and trees. As their society is also inherently incestuous (the original couple had like 4 daughters and one son. Do the math), there are mutations, so called batfaces and clawfeet.
In comes John Redlantern, shit-stirrer and progressive. He is not satisfied with the status quo of life in their valley, the 560 people that they are. Supplies are running low. He wants to travel over The Dark, the snowy mountainside, to see what else is on Eden. And so he and his little group of rebels set out to see what's out there.
It's pretty much a sociological study as their society changes from peaceful matriarchy to more aggressive patriarchy.
My main issue is that all the viewpoint characters, but especially John, are entirely unrelatable. John is an unlikeable asshole, his sort of love interest Tina was entirely unrelatable for me as well. The ending didn't satisfy me either. My favorite part was probably the expedition, the trip into the unknown, but the rest? Not interested in the sequel.
2.5 stars for me
In comes John Redlantern, shit-stirrer and progressive. He is not satisfied with the status quo of life in their valley, the 560 people that they are. Supplies are running low. He wants to travel over The Dark, the snowy mountainside, to see what else is on Eden. And so he and his little group of rebels set out to see what's out there.
It's pretty much a sociological study as their society changes from peaceful matriarchy to more aggressive patriarchy.
My main issue is that all the viewpoint characters, but especially John, are entirely unrelatable. John is an unlikeable asshole, his sort of love interest Tina was entirely unrelatable for me as well. The ending didn't satisfy me either. My favorite part was probably the expedition, the trip into the unknown, but the rest? Not interested in the sequel.
2.5 stars for me
mikime's review
4.0
This is a novel about both the future and the past of humanity, in a way. The small group of people forming the "Family" were all originally born of the same couple of astronauts from Earth who crashed on the so-called Eden planet and decided to stay, while three other astronauts left on a not entirely reliable spaceship to try and go back to Earth, or at least call for help. Their story, the origin story of the people on Eden, is told and retold every year, and words and devices left by them are shown, repeated and revered as sacred and fundamental to the Family's survival, even though most of their meaning and functioning are lost. The Family follow the rules set by their original parents literally, in the hope of seeing some spaceship come back to pick them all up and take them back to Earth, where there is light from the sky and so many facilities and life is supposedly easy. Theirs is a dark world, an upside down, inside out world in a way, where all light and warmth come from the underground, the underwater, and from the inside of trees, flowers, and animals. The people lead a hunters&gatherers life mostly, and innocently and meekly follow the rules and the organisation in tribes with different schedules and living zones, but never too far from the original landing site, even as food resources are getting scarcer and scarcer ... until a restless kid, John, shockingly, decides to speak up and suggest a new course, a move from their valley, to at least explore and possibly settle in, a place beyond the dark and cold mountains around them..... He thus starts a series of events that will lead to the separation of a small group from Family and to a number of unheard of actions by some of the people, against all rules and reason. But they all also find out that Eden has a lot more to offer than they imagined, and a different truth about the past will emerge, changing everything for the people in Eden.
One of the most interesting things of this novel is the way the characters speak (and think), the way they adapted the language of their foreparents and changed it and sometimes just distorted its words for total lack of knowledge of what they refer to, what they really mean. It's really like children's speech, trying to talk of things beyond even their capacity of pronounciation, let alone understanding, thus reinforcing the idea of the people in Eden as innocent children.
One of the most interesting things of this novel is the way the characters speak (and think), the way they adapted the language of their foreparents and changed it and sometimes just distorted its words for total lack of knowledge of what they refer to, what they really mean. It's really like children's speech, trying to talk of things beyond even their capacity of pronounciation, let alone understanding, thus reinforcing the idea of the people in Eden as innocent children.