Reviews

Really wanted to like this because I’m dying to see the movie. Bong Joon-Ho has his work cut for him. Love the premise, and some of the death scenes are truly haunting, but the story as written is so inert. So little happens, it’s pretty much a comedy of errors where Mickey 7 and Mickey 8 try not to be identified as clones, and both have a weird little love affair with poorly developed women. There’s a couple action scenes, but they’re confusingly written and not particularly unique. There are also multiple interludes about the lore of the colonization missions and the expendables that are infinitely more eventful than the actual story, all of which would’ve made better books.

The plot finally kicks into gear in the last 30 pages, where some neat twists start to come into play, but Ashton entirely skips over two of the most compelling moments (one of them smutty, the other a critical conversation that he simply decided not to write, because I’m pretty sure he can’t) that could’ve tied into the themes nicely, instead opting for a stunningly underwhelming climax and cliffhanger for a sequel that I absolutely will not read.

It tries to have a morbid charm that falls very flat. It’s a lot of “so, that just happened” after something gruesome. I do think the movie will improve upon this, and this story will definitely land better if delivered through a strong script, but it is certainly going to have to completely turn this dull thing inside out.

3 stars for the scattered great moments that show the potential of this concept and world.

bearlylupe's review against another edition

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adventurous funny lighthearted fast-paced

4.0

victormelquiades's review

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adventurous funny reflective fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

joelchatts's review

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adventurous funny medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

tandemjon's review

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adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad slow-paced

Strong character development? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

An excellent book with a weird premise with Mickey as an expendable - a disposable human . Well written, believable characters and a good plot. Strange but fun.

lads's review

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adventurous funny lighthearted mysterious 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

3.75

let_the_wookie_read's review

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funny hopeful lighthearted slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

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