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its_fuct's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
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
5.0
electra_reads's review against another edition
adventurous
inspiring
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
5.0
the_morrigan8's review against another edition
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
mikimeiko's review against another edition
3.0
I enjoy an alternate history as much as the next person, though it sometimes harder to understand the difference when it comes to American history. This time, it wasn't: the 1950s of this universe are so dramatically apart from our own that no one could miss it. I really enjoyed the part set in the "present", Yasmine's and Harriet's story; I could have done without the infinite grandfather's story, or the doctor's letters. Interesting book anyway.
stardustinthepages's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
utopologist's review against another edition
4.0
This was an excellent little story about what would have happened if John Brown's raid on Harper's Ferry had succeeded and sparked national slave uprisings. Much of the story was in epistolary format, which fit the setting quite well. The weakness of the book is that it isn't long enough to really tell any sort of story in the "present" setting. We get a hint of international socialist countries, the USSA's Five-Year Plan, hydrogen-powered personal vehicles, and a Mars landing, but these things are sort of sprinkled in without much of a compelling storyline. The compelling part is the story from the past and knowing that it resulted in a new country being formed out of the South as well as a socialist US.
luisvilla's review against another edition
5.0
Should be part of the canon
One measure of the best scifi is that it makes you think about your own world through a critical lens. By that measure this is certainly some of the best sci-fi ever written. And it is entertaining to boot.
One measure of the best scifi is that it makes you think about your own world through a critical lens. By that measure this is certainly some of the best sci-fi ever written. And it is entertaining to boot.
tamouse's review against another edition
5.0
This is properly speculative fiction, not science fiction, which it is often listed under because the author writes that. But [b:Fire on the Mountain|6877778|Fire on the Mountain|Terry Bisson|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1328742404s/6877778.jpg|161175] is not about science, nor about the future, but about the past, notably the past of the U.S. prior to the Civil War.
Genre-related things aside, and you should put them *well* aside, this is an astounding piece of fiction. The voices from this work, which is primarily told in letters from the past, gives voice to something I do not get to see very often: Black voices. Especially in the days of outrages against the Black community, against all people of colour, by the forces directly in the employ of White, feudalistic rulers, is a necessary read.
Genre-related things aside, and you should put them *well* aside, this is an astounding piece of fiction. The voices from this work, which is primarily told in letters from the past, gives voice to something I do not get to see very often: Black voices. Especially in the days of outrages against the Black community, against all people of colour, by the forces directly in the employ of White, feudalistic rulers, is a necessary read.
chirson's review against another edition
4.0
This is not a perfect novel: I feel like the parallel between the fire in the belly and the fire on the mountain, and its symbolism, is pointed out a little more than necessary, and the ending feels vaguely incomplete; I kept thinking there had to be a little more. But at the same time it's this book's exact charm; the shoes need to get wet and it takes effort and work, and there's alternative history, and socialism, and flying, and space; it's a cool book and its structure does some very clever things. I'm really happy I could buy and read it.
(And I guess I'd never have come across it without Jo Walton's recommendation.)
(And I guess I'd never have come across it without Jo Walton's recommendation.)
polychromatic_hedgehog_parable's review against another edition
Sorry that's all I was interested in writing about this book, apparently. Hilarious.