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3.85 AVERAGE
3.85 AVERAGE
Not quite as mind blowing as singularity sky, but I enjoyed it. Fun ideas/characters.
The first half of this drew me in with a complex plot that focused on various factions’ efforts to prevent something from happening decades in the future. The puzzle came together in an intriguing way and ramped up the tension. Unfortunately it started to fizzle towards the end–the characters started become more like caricatures, there were some questionable plot devices (space nazis?), and the big reveal at the end was anti-climactic.
Not as good as the first book. Entertaining enough to finish, but it was a little all over the place.
The Singularity happens, immanentizes as a sapient Eschaton, and is more or less beneficent. Deals with overpopulation more mercifully than it might have, thought with a huge disregard for people who were separated by a city from their friends and family on that fateful day. But it more or less set up communities to succeed and it still takes an interest. A little quirky in how it expresses that interest, and a little blind to the potential danger of planets of self engineered ubermenches, but coincidences seem to work in its favor. A LOT of coincidences.
Also features scary clowns.
Not Stross at the heights of his powers, but a good bus book.
Also features scary clowns.
Not Stross at the heights of his powers, but a good bus book.
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cursing, Genocide, Sexual content, Violence, Murder
3.5 stars.
This unfortunately loses some of the gonzo charm of Singularity Sky, but is still a fun trip through the Eschaton universe. I wish Stross had put a little more effort into fleshing out the new major characters - they get just enough space in the narrative to come off as if they're supposed to be round characters, without actually feeling like round characters. It's frustrating to get to the end of a novel and realize that what you thought were detours were actually intended to be main roads.
This unfortunately loses some of the gonzo charm of Singularity Sky, but is still a fun trip through the Eschaton universe. I wish Stross had put a little more effort into fleshing out the new major characters - they get just enough space in the narrative to come off as if they're supposed to be round characters, without actually feeling like round characters. It's frustrating to get to the end of a novel and realize that what you thought were detours were actually intended to be main roads.
What an amazing space opera. If you like Asimov, Niven, Pournelle, Doctorow, you will really like this book. Wow!!!! Couldn't put it down.
Sequel to last year's nominee, Singularity Sky, a 24th century space opera combined with spy story; perhaps a bit reminiscent of the more successful of Bujold's early work. The "Iron Sunrise" of the title is an artificially (though possibly accidentally) triggered supernova that wipes out an entire solar system. Features nassty neo-Nazis in space, tough teenage girl protagonist, explosively brilliant prose, plot twisting up and down (though I did think the final twist was a bit too similar to the end of one of his other recent stories).
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Stross, Charles. Iron Sunrise. Eschaton No. 2. Ace 2004.
This second installment in the Eschaton series begins with a unique way to commit genocide and has plenty of dramatic tension and action to keep you flipping pages. Eschaton agents Rachel and Martin are back, this time with help from a resourceful teenage refugee and her invisible friend who communicates via email. There are the kind of over-the-top assassins that Stross loves and a wonderfully witty plot, and one joke that made my jaw drop—an interstellar passenger liner from the White Star Line. Evidently, nobody in the future remembers the Titanic. But [If you hate spoilers, stop reading now], if you like things neatly rounded out, you should not read the epilogue. Stross was obviously setting up for later novels in the series that never got written. So come on, Charlie, it has been 15 years. Get out your old notes and finish the series!
This second installment in the Eschaton series begins with a unique way to commit genocide and has plenty of dramatic tension and action to keep you flipping pages. Eschaton agents Rachel and Martin are back, this time with help from a resourceful teenage refugee and her invisible friend who communicates via email. There are the kind of over-the-top assassins that Stross loves and a wonderfully witty plot, and one joke that made my jaw drop—an interstellar passenger liner from the White Star Line. Evidently, nobody in the future remembers the Titanic. But [If you hate spoilers, stop reading now], if you like things neatly rounded out, you should not read the epilogue. Stross was obviously setting up for later novels in the series that never got written. So come on, Charlie, it has been 15 years. Get out your old notes and finish the series!