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lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
reflective
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:
Yes
I'm not sure exactly how scientifically accurate the main plot mechanism is, but it's presented well enough to go along with which is the main thing in this kind of work. As a vehicle for thoughts about the challenges of maintaining security in the age of quantum computing, I enjoyed it. I suspect that how much you get out of this may depend on how much you know about the topics in play - perhaps there's a sweet spot where you know enough to engage with it but not so much that you get hung up on the details.
Fun... but the overly-expository and -explanatory dialogue breaks the spell that Weir manages to cast with every one of his stories.
mysterious
fast-paced
Too many attempts at creating twists, too little time spent on anything else. Luckily it was extremely short and, therefore, only a slight waste of time.
It's not the worst story out there, and has the typical Andy Weir flair (whether that's a good thing or not), but I wouldn't recommend it.
It's not the worst story out there, and has the typical Andy Weir flair (whether that's a good thing or not), but I wouldn't recommend it.
This was such a great story, 100% my favorite in the series.
Not because the characters are great (they are not), but because it is not at all a far fetched scenario. It is the here and now... ok, maybe not 'right now' but soon.
It touches on the impact of fast technological development on our current technologies and the way we use them.
With a trivial application, such as generating winning numbers in a casino, it presents a great example of how the misuse of a new technology, can have such a catastrophic impact in a whole industry, and society in general.
Today, we rely on computers for every aspect of our lives. Quantum computers offer a whole new world of possibilities when compared to the 'classical' computers we use today, so it just follows that these technology leaps will result in a complete shift in life as we know it.
I can understand the very low reviews, I mean, nobody is going to read on random number generation, qubit entanglement and storage technologies for a 28 page story.
But if you already are into those topics, then it is a pretty entertaining read. I just wish it had come as novel instead of a short story.
Not because the characters are great (they are not), but because it is not at all a far fetched scenario. It is the here and now... ok, maybe not 'right now' but soon.
It touches on the impact of fast technological development on our current technologies and the way we use them.
With a trivial application, such as generating winning numbers in a casino, it presents a great example of how the misuse of a new technology, can have such a catastrophic impact in a whole industry, and society in general.
Today, we rely on computers for every aspect of our lives. Quantum computers offer a whole new world of possibilities when compared to the 'classical' computers we use today, so it just follows that these technology leaps will result in a complete shift in life as we know it.
I can understand the very low reviews, I mean, nobody is going to read on random number generation, qubit entanglement and storage technologies for a 28 page story.
But if you already are into those topics, then it is a pretty entertaining read. I just wish it had come as novel instead of a short story.
Interesting concept. Wish Weir could have expanded on this and made it at least novella length.
3.5 stars. Randomize is another novella in the Forward Collection. These books can be read as a stand-alone, and are available free to Prime users, including the audio versions. My husband and I listened to this one on a recent road trip.
While this wasn’t our favorite in the collection, we actually enjoyed this more than the reviews would indicate. Randomize doesn’t have the magic of The Martian, but it did keep our attention with its steady pacing and interesting plot. It had a clever ending, too.
I’m interested in what Andy Weir has in store for us next!
While this wasn’t our favorite in the collection, we actually enjoyed this more than the reviews would indicate. Randomize doesn’t have the magic of The Martian, but it did keep our attention with its steady pacing and interesting plot. It had a clever ending, too.
I’m interested in what Andy Weir has in store for us next!
Interesting idea, but I didn't really connect with it.
medium-paced