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3.53 AVERAGE
3.53 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Still, thinking about the moose entangled in romantic melodrama lightened her mood a bit. At least some people were getting a little frisky distraction.
Sheesh, reviewing a second book with a great potential that I didn't end up loving is tough, but... here we go...
The theoretical aspects of this book were amazing. This book is really about personhood, how personhood as a concept is problematic, how we link personhood to inteligence etc. This book has A LOT of non-human characters - we have flying moose, plethora of different bots, sentient vehicles, partially mechanical cow, humans with a sensors that helps them "communicate" with/analyse the landscape. Not everything is rosy though... obviously. Because not all of these people are persons and that gives them different levels of independence, even though none of them is really free. The philosophical underlayings are top notch (even though some tweaks could make it even better) and the setting in general is amazingly done.
All she had were implants that made sensors recognize her as one of their own. She was the only ranger built this way; all her colleagues back home had to use bulky access devices if they wanted to ask a flower about its nitrogen uptake.
The whole book is separated into three parts, between which a lot of time passes and we follow different characters, even though some of them make reappearances. The parts mostly worked for me, but for a lot of people in my reading group they didn't and I can definitely see that. The plot was focused on a not traditional subjects - like planning public transport network and sometimes I had to ask myself what exactly are we doing there?
They waved goodbye to the raccoons, who grunted and sent them text links of local videos about how to wash your hands before going to work.
Overall, the plot was fine to me, but not really engaging and the same can be said about most of the characters. I really liked them in theory, but I didn't get especially attached. What I didn't expect was one of the hottest sex scenes I ever read in this book. But yeah... it happened and I really wish that Newitz realises soon that there are a lot of money in Erotica/Romances market and writes a few purely smutty reads.
A few weeks later, Destry awkwardly asked one of the cows in La Ronge for milk and was surprised to discover the person couldn't respond with words - she was what people called an "animal." The cow flickered an ear and lowered her head in what could have been assent or confusion. Destry couldn't bring herself to take milk from someone who had no words, so she ran back to tending trees with Frenchie and Destry Senior.
When I put the book down, I wasn't particularly motivated to pick it back up again and I suspect that if I didn't listen to the audiobook it would take me forever to finish it. The audiobook also has a ton of special effects that weren't especially pleasant to me while listening, so consider this if that might be a problem for you. In theory it fits the book well, but I didn't enjoy the sudden changes. We are having a ton of fascinating discussions thanks to this book, so I would really recommend it for a group read/buddy read, but keep in mind that... it's not really working that well as a story?
This was my first Newitz book and it certainly won't be the last. I have [b:Autonomous|28209634|Autonomous|Annalee Newitz|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1484305104l/28209634._SY75_.jpg|48237590] planned for next!
If you want to read more cozy hopeful version of this book, I think it might be really interesting to read [b:A Psalm for the Wild-Built|40864002|A Psalm for the Wild-Built (Monk & Robot, #1)|Becky Chambers|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1600789291l/40864002._SY75_.jpg|63655961] after or close to this one. They are kind of similar in some themes, but also have different takes.
BRed at WBtM: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/22508491-the-terraformers-by-annalee-newitz---june-22-2023
emotional
inspiring
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Fascinating world building. Cool characters. Timely, in-your-face, antifascist, anti-corporate, eco-scifi. Yes, just a little preachy, but not awful about it.
Interestingly, I've read a couple of eco-scifi books recently. They both also had very strong themes of individual consent and collective direct decision-making.
Interestingly, I've read a couple of eco-scifi books recently. They both also had very strong themes of individual consent and collective direct decision-making.
Just not vibing with the writing style and world so far, feels very distant.
challenging
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Honestly this book would be a 2 if not for the last part maiking up for it. Part 1 and 3 were good, but part 2?? This book is very thought provoking however, despite its absurdity
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Good novel about the split between good and profit - applied to a sci-fi terraforming setting
adventurous
hopeful
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
tense
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
This book echoes the epic storytelling of early science fiction. Destry and her partner moose are wonderful characters and the plot is so intriguing, I hope that the science Newitz describes will be possible. The story spans centuries which allows the reader to grasp the effects of environmental devastation. Three distinct parts gives the reader a chance to experience different kinds of relationships. The ending is uplifting, pointing to the possibility of a positive future for "The Planetary Industrial Complex." A great story for book group discussions and suitable for teens.