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3.53 AVERAGE
3.53 AVERAGE
Quite a disappointment, because I think this really could have been something cool. If you enjoy Becky Chambers-esque, preachy, kumbaya and hopey-dopey novels, with very idealistic concepts (based on very 2020s ideas of society but somehow set in the super far future) and characters who are basically just vessels for the author sharing their ideas, this book is for you! Enjoy!
In the future, I think I'll be skipping any book described as cozy.
In the future, I think I'll be skipping any book described as cozy.
This book is totally delicious. I was initially a bit lukewarm towards it, but I think I was mostly just being impatient with the storyline. Newitz builds such an amazing and rich world in The Terraformers and the story literally spans centuries. While I’m a bit biased in my enjoyment of the book (sentient trains and talking moose), there’s something for everyone. Newitz has an impressive cast of characters, all lovable and punchable in their own way, and has enough corporate overlord hatred for anyone to get behind. Best of all, despite its unquestionable status as a sprawling science fiction epic, it is adorably cozy. So many sweet moments of characters falling in love, and a consistent theme of people caring for each other, their homes and the environment, even in the face of great danger.
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
adventurous
dark
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-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:
Complicated
adventurous
hopeful
tense
medium-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:
Complicated
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
tense
medium-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:
Yes
Annalee Newitz is hospicing modernity
This book is the definition of "I can excuse racism, but I draw the line at animal cruelty".
What a strange, interesting book this was!
I was able to follow the world building easily, which says a lot about Newitz’s writing ability, because I typically struggle with fantasy stories and world building. This book, I simply rolled with the bizarre premise and it grew on me.
Without giving away any spoilers, I’ll say there were two abrupt transitions in the story. The first one was completely disconcerting for me and I was shook. By the time the second one happened, I was more ready for it but still found it a bit jarring. I can’t say much more without potential spoilers. I will say I longed for a more thorough explanation of the events which the reader misses during that first transition, even at the end of the book. I need others to read this so I can talk about and process this, to be honest.
Overall, the story is creative and thought-provoking, the characters are diverse and interesting, and the plot is fast-paced and exciting. A fun read, for sure!
I was able to follow the world building easily, which says a lot about Newitz’s writing ability, because I typically struggle with fantasy stories and world building. This book, I simply rolled with the bizarre premise and it grew on me.
Without giving away any spoilers, I’ll say there were two abrupt transitions in the story. The first one was completely disconcerting for me and I was shook. By the time the second one happened, I was more ready for it but still found it a bit jarring. I can’t say much more without potential spoilers. I will say I longed for a more thorough explanation of the events which the reader misses during that first transition, even at the end of the book. I need others to read this so I can talk about and process this, to be honest.
Overall, the story is creative and thought-provoking, the characters are diverse and interesting, and the plot is fast-paced and exciting. A fun read, for sure!
Thank you so much to Tor Books and Netgalley for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Told in three parts, we follow people on the planet of Sask-E in the far-flung future. We have conquered the universe and bioengineering, making it possible to imbue robots, animals, and humanoids with human-level intelligence and consciousness. Anyone with consciousness is considered a "person," though some are created with artificial limiters on their speech, making others view them as less of a person than them. In this story, three generations do their part in making Sask-E a free place to live for all types of people.
Newitz's The Future of Another Timeline is one of my favorite books, so I jumped at the opportunity to read this one early. As with Timeline, I was astonished by the amount of imagination here and how different this society is from our own. Our characters include humans, cows, moose, and even trains, all of which have a natural lifespan of hundreds of years. Cities and buildings can be grown by things called trellises. Life of the current day is so far in the past that it is mythology. However, there are several things that are not new to the reader - video games, fights for autonomy from indigenous communities, clubs, and control of communication lines from those in power. Newitz again brings their expertise as a historian of urban centers to use as they show how this planet develops over time under different corporate regimes. Different sets of characters each have their own battles to fight - literal battles to legal ones - to fight the corruption the world faces. This novel is dedicated to keeping balance in the environment amidst development, ensuring that urban centers are there to serve the public, and being staunchly against eugenics. I would have liked to see more development from our characters, but this story is more about the big ideas. With fun protagonists and a hopeful message, The Terraformers is a great story about our impact on the environment and each other.
Overall, I really enjoyed the themes and worldbuilding in this scifi story. I'd recommend this to fans of Becky Chambers, but who want to see more worldbuilding!
Told in three parts, we follow people on the planet of Sask-E in the far-flung future. We have conquered the universe and bioengineering, making it possible to imbue robots, animals, and humanoids with human-level intelligence and consciousness. Anyone with consciousness is considered a "person," though some are created with artificial limiters on their speech, making others view them as less of a person than them. In this story, three generations do their part in making Sask-E a free place to live for all types of people.
Newitz's The Future of Another Timeline is one of my favorite books, so I jumped at the opportunity to read this one early. As with Timeline, I was astonished by the amount of imagination here and how different this society is from our own. Our characters include humans, cows, moose, and even trains, all of which have a natural lifespan of hundreds of years. Cities and buildings can be grown by things called trellises. Life of the current day is so far in the past that it is mythology. However, there are several things that are not new to the reader - video games, fights for autonomy from indigenous communities, clubs, and control of communication lines from those in power. Newitz again brings their expertise as a historian of urban centers to use as they show how this planet develops over time under different corporate regimes. Different sets of characters each have their own battles to fight - literal battles to legal ones - to fight the corruption the world faces. This novel is dedicated to keeping balance in the environment amidst development, ensuring that urban centers are there to serve the public, and being staunchly against eugenics. I would have liked to see more development from our characters, but this story is more about the big ideas. With fun protagonists and a hopeful message, The Terraformers is a great story about our impact on the environment and each other.
Overall, I really enjoyed the themes and worldbuilding in this scifi story. I'd recommend this to fans of Becky Chambers, but who want to see more worldbuilding!