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bethtabler's review against another edition
2.0
Thank you to Tor.com and Netgalley for providing me a copy of this story in exchange for my open and honest opinion.
“An island of bliss in a sea of amnesia”
This story touches on some important issues. What it means to live. What it means to die. When do you live enough life? Classicism. Love and marriage over a long period of time. Yet, even with its loftier goals of deep discussion and narrative, the story falls bitterly, and entirely flat.
The story involves four different characters over the course of a few weeks.
Cav – Scientist, 84. Cav works on a space station with his wife Gunjita. They study a drug that can halt and reverse aging, but is not successful yet. He has rejuvenated once already and has not rejuvenated the second and final time. Cav has reservations about the rejuvenation process and the socio and psychological ramifications.
“Death was a journey, composed of little deaths, little steps along the way. Sometimes the steps were close together, tightly packed, and death came rapidly.”
Gunjita – Scientist, 82. Cavs newly rejuvenated wife. Also a scientist and working in concert with Cav in zero-g.
Dash – Friend and newly rejuvenated doctor. He has a new special ability in his fingertips.
Asteroid with weird Organic Splatter – This object is a point of contention between Gunjita and Cav. Is it alive, or inert?
Cav and Gunjita work in a space station studying an anti-aging drug that. If they are successful they could roll back death turning humans into Methuselah. If you are rich enough to afford it. Obvious class conflict. Extended life is given only to those born to privilege or circumstance. The repercussions of this are something that Cav struggles with. Cav and Gunijta find an asteroid speckled with what looks like vomit. Cav believes that the speckle could be sentient and Gunjita believes that it is not. This causes a rip in their marriage. This story attempts to speak very plainly about age and marriage. Yet, I found that the marriage depicted in the story lacked realism and edged towards vapid. As a couple that had been married for 50 years as well as two prominent and respected scientists, their discussion of science and relationships are shallow, and at times verged on tedious. This paired with the characterization of youth versus age threw me out of the story many times. The trope of youth as a place of wonder and excitement, while age is the place to be endured till you can afford to be rejuvenated again, is flat and unrealistic. Youth does not make you a magically vibrant person. Nor, does age make you wise.
This story had quite a lot of graphic representations of scientific horrors involving embryos and could be triggering for some. I just found it to be gratuitous on top of the bloated and unrealistic narrative.
This is a bitter story, full of sound and fury, Signifying nothing. Because in the end, you feel nothing. Nothing towards the story, the characters, their plight. Nothing. Maybe that was Blumlein’s intent. Because in the end, it is all nihilism. Although I wanted to like this story, Blumlein is a skilled writer, I didn’t. I cannot get behind the sentiment, characterization, pacing, or message. I do not recommend.
“An island of bliss in a sea of amnesia”
This story touches on some important issues. What it means to live. What it means to die. When do you live enough life? Classicism. Love and marriage over a long period of time. Yet, even with its loftier goals of deep discussion and narrative, the story falls bitterly, and entirely flat.
The story involves four different characters over the course of a few weeks.
Cav – Scientist, 84. Cav works on a space station with his wife Gunjita. They study a drug that can halt and reverse aging, but is not successful yet. He has rejuvenated once already and has not rejuvenated the second and final time. Cav has reservations about the rejuvenation process and the socio and psychological ramifications.
“Death was a journey, composed of little deaths, little steps along the way. Sometimes the steps were close together, tightly packed, and death came rapidly.”
Gunjita – Scientist, 82. Cavs newly rejuvenated wife. Also a scientist and working in concert with Cav in zero-g.
Dash – Friend and newly rejuvenated doctor. He has a new special ability in his fingertips.
Asteroid with weird Organic Splatter – This object is a point of contention between Gunjita and Cav. Is it alive, or inert?
Cav and Gunjita work in a space station studying an anti-aging drug that. If they are successful they could roll back death turning humans into Methuselah. If you are rich enough to afford it. Obvious class conflict. Extended life is given only to those born to privilege or circumstance. The repercussions of this are something that Cav struggles with. Cav and Gunijta find an asteroid speckled with what looks like vomit. Cav believes that the speckle could be sentient and Gunjita believes that it is not. This causes a rip in their marriage. This story attempts to speak very plainly about age and marriage. Yet, I found that the marriage depicted in the story lacked realism and edged towards vapid. As a couple that had been married for 50 years as well as two prominent and respected scientists, their discussion of science and relationships are shallow, and at times verged on tedious. This paired with the characterization of youth versus age threw me out of the story many times. The trope of youth as a place of wonder and excitement, while age is the place to be endured till you can afford to be rejuvenated again, is flat and unrealistic. Youth does not make you a magically vibrant person. Nor, does age make you wise.
This story had quite a lot of graphic representations of scientific horrors involving embryos and could be triggering for some. I just found it to be gratuitous on top of the bloated and unrealistic narrative.
This is a bitter story, full of sound and fury, Signifying nothing. Because in the end, you feel nothing. Nothing towards the story, the characters, their plight. Nothing. Maybe that was Blumlein’s intent. Because in the end, it is all nihilism. Although I wanted to like this story, Blumlein is a skilled writer, I didn’t. I cannot get behind the sentiment, characterization, pacing, or message. I do not recommend.
fusrodah's review against another edition
3.0
Turned out to be less science-y and more philosophical than expected, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. The ending did leave much to be desired though.
jzacsh's review against another edition
3.0
UPDATED: Okay, I gave this book another try. Liked it much more, revisiting it in a different mood. But still not a favorite book. I feel like there was huge potential for exploring the impact of this new Sci-fi future in people (longevity), but it ended up really just being a very abstract fiction about someone choosing suicide.
ORIGINAL 2019-11-16 (2 stars):
Couldn't get further than 38% through this book. The main two characters' relationship problem is kind of interesting, but then the main plot line (the science/research they're up to) is just not compelling enough. I just wasn't hooked enough to know what would happen next.
ORIGINAL 2019-11-16 (2 stars):
Couldn't get further than 38% through this book. The main two characters' relationship problem is kind of interesting, but then the main plot line (the science/research they're up to) is just not compelling enough. I just wasn't hooked enough to know what would happen next.
urlphantomhive's review
2.0
I got longer in an end-of-year sale shopping spree from tor.com, one of my favorite publishers. As a result, I didn't know too much about it before starting besides there being research on a space ship.
However, I could never really connect with the story or the characters. It is more philosophical in tone. If one can rejuvenate a limited number of times, is it more selfish to do so or not to do so? Personally, I wasn't convinced about the max. 2 times rejuvenation - it felt like a little bit a cheap solution to the question whether people would live forever now.
This one was not really for me.
Find this and other reviews on my blog https://www.urlphantomhive.com
However, I could never really connect with the story or the characters. It is more philosophical in tone. If one can rejuvenate a limited number of times, is it more selfish to do so or not to do so? Personally, I wasn't convinced about the max. 2 times rejuvenation - it felt like a little bit a cheap solution to the question whether people would live forever now.
This one was not really for me.
Find this and other reviews on my blog https://www.urlphantomhive.com
verkisto's review against another edition
4.0
Longer is a story set in a future where people who can afford it can "juve" -- they can reboot their bodies from their 80s to their 20s while retaining all memories and experiences they've lived up until then. Cav and Gunjita have juved once already, and Gunjita has juved her second -- and final -- time. The two are working in orbit on a procedure that will allow people to juve more than twice, but Cav is unwilling to juve his second time. His reluctance is causing a rift between them, which is widened when they capture an interstellar asteroid and find what Cav is convinced is life on its exterior.
Longer is an engaging treatise of life, change, morality, and love. It's a moving story that captures the readers through its characters and ends on a note that leaves you with questions, but doesn't leave you unsatisfied. This is a book that will make you think and make you care. It's a little dry in parts, because Blumlein writes about hard science, but the journey is worth it.
Longer is an engaging treatise of life, change, morality, and love. It's a moving story that captures the readers through its characters and ends on a note that leaves you with questions, but doesn't leave you unsatisfied. This is a book that will make you think and make you care. It's a little dry in parts, because Blumlein writes about hard science, but the journey is worth it.
quirkycatsfatstacks's review against another edition
4.0
I received a copy of Longer through NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Longer is one of those science fiction novels that'll make you think. More than that, it'll make you feel. I'm not ashamed to admit that Longer made me cry like a baby at times. It cut through me and forced me to view the tale on an emotional level.
This novel follows two scientists – Gunjita and Cav. Both are working on an orbiting space station run by Gleem Galatic. Their both married to their work, and are significantly older than they appear.
But there's so much more going on than that. Gunjita has become rejuvenated in her works, while Cav is drowning in doubt and so many more complicated feelings and emotions. Their journey here will make you question so much about science and life.
In this world people have the option to juve when they hit a certain age. That is, they can set back their biological clocks to a younger version of themselves. The earlier you juve, the more time you've lost. But the later you juve, the riskier it becomes. And one can only juve twice in a lifetime.
Warnings: This is a heavy and beautifully written novel. As such, it does cover some sensitive subjects. Such as human experimentation, and the decision to end one's life.
Longer was a shockingly moving novel. It was beautifully written and contemplated some of the most difficult aspects of human life and nature. All while having very strong science fiction themes throughout.
This novel captivated me from start to finish. And I did admittedly read it all in one sitting – I just couldn't walk away from it. I was tempted to put it down once or twice when I started to cry, but I so desperately had to see it through by that point.
In a way it reminded me of Death of a Salesman, but it had a stronger emotional impact on me. Perhaps it's because I felt connected to both main characters? I connected to Cav more than I ever connected to Willy Lowman. And I'm not ashamed to admit that both sides of the situation made me cry.
I'm still curious about other elements introduced in this novel. Bits and pieces that didn't have direct conclusions or answers. It was intentionally done, and I like that. But I still can't help but wonder...which I'm sure was on purpose.
I loved the debate that was raised in Longer. Subtly at first, but with more and more force as the novel went on. It's something that I've wondered and debated about myself. And I'm sure I'm not the only one. It's a great conversation started, if nothing else.
I still can't get over how much Longer impacted me. It was poignant and beautifully written, and it still took my completely by surprise.
For more reviews check out Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks
Longer is one of those science fiction novels that'll make you think. More than that, it'll make you feel. I'm not ashamed to admit that Longer made me cry like a baby at times. It cut through me and forced me to view the tale on an emotional level.
This novel follows two scientists – Gunjita and Cav. Both are working on an orbiting space station run by Gleem Galatic. Their both married to their work, and are significantly older than they appear.
But there's so much more going on than that. Gunjita has become rejuvenated in her works, while Cav is drowning in doubt and so many more complicated feelings and emotions. Their journey here will make you question so much about science and life.
In this world people have the option to juve when they hit a certain age. That is, they can set back their biological clocks to a younger version of themselves. The earlier you juve, the more time you've lost. But the later you juve, the riskier it becomes. And one can only juve twice in a lifetime.
Warnings: This is a heavy and beautifully written novel. As such, it does cover some sensitive subjects. Such as human experimentation, and the decision to end one's life.
Longer was a shockingly moving novel. It was beautifully written and contemplated some of the most difficult aspects of human life and nature. All while having very strong science fiction themes throughout.
This novel captivated me from start to finish. And I did admittedly read it all in one sitting – I just couldn't walk away from it. I was tempted to put it down once or twice when I started to cry, but I so desperately had to see it through by that point.
In a way it reminded me of Death of a Salesman, but it had a stronger emotional impact on me. Perhaps it's because I felt connected to both main characters? I connected to Cav more than I ever connected to Willy Lowman. And I'm not ashamed to admit that both sides of the situation made me cry.
I'm still curious about other elements introduced in this novel. Bits and pieces that didn't have direct conclusions or answers. It was intentionally done, and I like that. But I still can't help but wonder...which I'm sure was on purpose.
I loved the debate that was raised in Longer. Subtly at first, but with more and more force as the novel went on. It's something that I've wondered and debated about myself. And I'm sure I'm not the only one. It's a great conversation started, if nothing else.
I still can't get over how much Longer impacted me. It was poignant and beautifully written, and it still took my completely by surprise.
For more reviews check out Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks
tpanik's review against another edition
3.0
Succinct and intelligent, this is reminiscent of Waiting for Godot, but set in space.
This was an ARC.
This was an ARC.
kateofmind's review against another edition
3.0
Almost got four stars, but the ending/epilogue felt a bit abrupt. I might change my mind about the fourth star, as the book has a lot to recommend it. I need to think about it some more. Review soon at Skiffy and Fanty.
civreader's review against another edition
3.0
3.5*
Some interesting and cool ideas, good characterization. But for some reason it didn’t click with me as much as I’d expected.
Some interesting and cool ideas, good characterization. But for some reason it didn’t click with me as much as I’d expected.
evelyn14's review against another edition
2.0
Unfortunatley I was not a fan..
Full review: http://evelynreads.com/arc-review-longer/
Full review: http://evelynreads.com/arc-review-longer/