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paperbackmatt's review against another edition
4.0
An H.G. Wells , Time Machine concept based book. Michael J. Sullivan takes us into the future to a seemingly uptopic world, but little does our protagonist know that there is yet another visitor from the past. Is the visitor here to be a help or a hindrance? I would almost describe his protagonist as experiencing a 'coming-of-age' moment in his mid 50s in Hollow World's time setting.
Although this type of novel has been done before, and this form of science fiction has fallen to the wayside, I love the idea of revisiting these concepts. They prove to be a good setting for our modern day thriller/mystery/drama genres. Interestingly, I kept thinking to myself "Maybe I'll just skim through to the end of the book." As I wanted to finish it quickly to move onto other things - but every time I picked it back up I fell back into the story and enjoyed it every time.
If you're looking for a light enjoyable read and don't mind a little novelty-based science fiction, this is definitely the book for you! Hope you enjoy.
3.5/5 Stars (rounded up). :)
Although this type of novel has been done before, and this form of science fiction has fallen to the wayside, I love the idea of revisiting these concepts. They prove to be a good setting for our modern day thriller/mystery/drama genres. Interestingly, I kept thinking to myself "Maybe I'll just skim through to the end of the book." As I wanted to finish it quickly to move onto other things - but every time I picked it back up I fell back into the story and enjoyed it every time.
If you're looking for a light enjoyable read and don't mind a little novelty-based science fiction, this is definitely the book for you! Hope you enjoy.
3.5/5 Stars (rounded up). :)
rangerinblack's review against another edition
2.0
Its a shame because I lovelovelove the Riyria books, but had so many dislikes about this one. I guess they cant all be winners.
seak's review against another edition
4.0
Michael J. Sullivan has made a name for himself by not only mastering the self-published market, but by making the transition to traditional publishing. Successful on both fronts, Sullivan continues to publish books whether a publishing house wants to pursue it or not. This is ideal for an author because their ideas need not be limited by whether a traditional publishing house can make money or not. The author can just write stories.
In the case of Hollow World, it was the best of both worlds. Traditional publishing passed on the idea so Michael decided to self-publish it with the help of Kickstarter. There, he obtained the money for two excellent editors who are known for excellent work in traditional publishing markets. Once this got going and the interest was obvious, Tachyon publishing jumped on board - a smaller house, but with plenty of audience reach.
I jumped on the Michael J. Sullivan bandwagon when he was self-publishing his Riyria Revelations series (because that's how cool I am). I took a safe bet, what with blogs and forums being abuzz at the time, which is the effect Goodreads and blogging have had on my life. I tend not to read many bad novels anymore.
Wow, lots of rambling today.
Hollow World is a time travel novel about a distant future when individuality has been obliterated in favor of peace and longer life. Sullivan explains in the introduction that the reader shouldn't get bogged down in how time travel works in his novel because that's not the important part - it's about exploring the new world and the characters who are doing it. And at the same time, I was perfectly convinced that time travel could work the way it's explained.
But I think that was a good primer. This book is science fiction, but it's not really about the science. Okay, it's not about the science at all. It's about the future society, the trade-offs, the character interactions, and a compelling mystery to boot.
It's amazing how many trade-offs we, as a society, are willing to endure. We accept automobiles because of how useful they are, yet they cause how many thousands of deaths a year. David Foster Wallace has a short article on the trade offs of the patriot act and our lack of public discussion about whether we, as a society, were willing to sacrifice our privacy for security.
Are we willing to trade individuality for peace, for longer life, for the cure to cancer and any other disease? That's what Hollow World invites you to discover and that's only peripherally. Against this background, he throws in a page-turning mystery where in a world with no disease and crime is unheard of, murders are suddenly occurring.
Michael J. Sullivan proves his hand at science fiction and ideas just as he proved it in his excellent fantasy series, The Riyria Revelations and Chronicles. I had a great time with this one. Yes, there were some parts you have to suspend disbelief, but I was engaged with the story too much to care, and it is time travel so you have to expect that.
Hollow World is a place you want to keep exploring. Sullivan's typical style is present here, no getting bogged down with info-dumps. The pages fly by and you get the necessary information as you go. This was a great break in my typical epic fantasy heavy reading schedule and highly recommended.
4 out of 5 Stars (highly recommended)
In the case of Hollow World, it was the best of both worlds. Traditional publishing passed on the idea so Michael decided to self-publish it with the help of Kickstarter. There, he obtained the money for two excellent editors who are known for excellent work in traditional publishing markets. Once this got going and the interest was obvious, Tachyon publishing jumped on board - a smaller house, but with plenty of audience reach.
I jumped on the Michael J. Sullivan bandwagon when he was self-publishing his Riyria Revelations series (because that's how cool I am). I took a safe bet, what with blogs and forums being abuzz at the time, which is the effect Goodreads and blogging have had on my life. I tend not to read many bad novels anymore.
Wow, lots of rambling today.
Hollow World is a time travel novel about a distant future when individuality has been obliterated in favor of peace and longer life. Sullivan explains in the introduction that the reader shouldn't get bogged down in how time travel works in his novel because that's not the important part - it's about exploring the new world and the characters who are doing it. And at the same time, I was perfectly convinced that time travel could work the way it's explained.
But I think that was a good primer. This book is science fiction, but it's not really about the science. Okay, it's not about the science at all. It's about the future society, the trade-offs, the character interactions, and a compelling mystery to boot.
It's amazing how many trade-offs we, as a society, are willing to endure. We accept automobiles because of how useful they are, yet they cause how many thousands of deaths a year. David Foster Wallace has a short article on the trade offs of the patriot act and our lack of public discussion about whether we, as a society, were willing to sacrifice our privacy for security.
Are we willing to trade individuality for peace, for longer life, for the cure to cancer and any other disease? That's what Hollow World invites you to discover and that's only peripherally. Against this background, he throws in a page-turning mystery where in a world with no disease and crime is unheard of, murders are suddenly occurring.
Michael J. Sullivan proves his hand at science fiction and ideas just as he proved it in his excellent fantasy series, The Riyria Revelations and Chronicles. I had a great time with this one. Yes, there were some parts you have to suspend disbelief, but I was engaged with the story too much to care, and it is time travel so you have to expect that.
Hollow World is a place you want to keep exploring. Sullivan's typical style is present here, no getting bogged down with info-dumps. The pages fly by and you get the necessary information as you go. This was a great break in my typical epic fantasy heavy reading schedule and highly recommended.
4 out of 5 Stars (highly recommended)
dharmlost's review against another edition
5.0
Really enjoyed this book, and I am typically not a SciFi fan. Michael J. Sullivan just has a way with words that drew me in and did not let me stop reading even when I should have been sleeping. Highly recommend this book, it's really good and I want more.
danlewisfw's review against another edition
1.0
I think the author could have made their point without constantly needing to reset the protagonist so they could make the point again and again and again. Ruined an otherwise ok book.
grmatthews's review against another edition
5.0
This is a really interesting story. Time travel and a high concept society but at its heart the characters examine what it really means to be alive, to be "human". It is a book that deals with religion, sexuality and racism in such a thoughtful manner that, by the end, you are sad to leave the world.
I think you should read it.
I think you should read it.
dashichka's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 stars but rounded up cuz I love the author.
Good book but man was the main character weak and dumb and annoying. I just wanted to strangle him at times. Loved Pax. Loved the world and idea.
Good book but man was the main character weak and dumb and annoying. I just wanted to strangle him at times. Loved Pax. Loved the world and idea.
kagedbooks's review against another edition
5.0
I originally got this during the kickstarter but i'm just now reading it. I don't know why I put it off it is a great read, I flew through it in about a half and a half.
justasking27's review against another edition
4.0
I liked - no, loved - so many things about this book. If it weren't for the Very Obviously Wrong choice, this would be one of my new favorites. Even so, I loved exploring Hollow World and do hope there will be more chances to continue.