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thetasigma906's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-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
3.0
nwhyte's review
"http://nwhyte.livejournal.com/1346818.html[return][return]I only realised after reading this that I had already heard the excellent audio adaptation which includes Sophie Aldred and Anneke Wills. The original book is very good too, and I think would be reasonably penetrable for someone who hadn't previously followed the Bernice Summerfield stories. Nicely observed emotional politics between and among Benny and her students, and the various aliens with whom Benny's ex gets them involved. To a certain extent I felt it was the story that Colony In Space should have been. A good one (only the second Benny novel I have read, the first being the equally enjoyable Walking to Babylon)."
nwhyte's review against another edition
http://nhw.livejournal.com/976612.html[return][return]another archaeological dig-goes-wrong story but introduces the character of Jason, Benny's ex-husband, and lots of emotional angst as well as the actual plot. I was completely absorbed in it, and yet failed to spot the voices of Sophie Aldred and Anneke Wills until I read the sleeve notes afterwards.
unevendays's review
3.0
I did enjoy this book, although I feel it did Ursula Le Guin a bit of a disservice. The anarchistic society on Ursu was clearly modelled after Le Guin's book 'The Dispossessed' (even using the name 'Ursulan', but didn't really go into any of the qualities that make 'The Dispossessed' such a good book. It was used simply as an exotic backdrop for the story, which is a bit of a shame really.
The story wasn't bad (although Emile and Tomeka have to be two of the most annoying characters I have ever encountered) and liked the 'Visionaries' idea, especially how it was put to use. I did feel that the Ursulans were maybe a bit too sanguine about being occupied by the Sunless, but generally it was well executed.
The story wasn't bad (although Emile and Tomeka have to be two of the most annoying characters I have ever encountered) and liked the 'Visionaries' idea, especially how it was put to use. I did feel that the Ursulans were maybe a bit too sanguine about being occupied by the Sunless, but generally it was well executed.
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