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3.97 AVERAGE
3.97 AVERAGE
A thoroughly weird and unsettling book.
Classic SciFi thought experiments brought to life in a story. Asking questions in the context of characters that would feel dry otherwise
Classic SciFi thought experiments brought to life in a story. Asking questions in the context of characters that would feel dry otherwise
challenging
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
N/A
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I did not enjoy it. Ideas around cellular automata and virtual worlds but the story didn’t gel with me/didn’t age well.
challenging
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Some interesting ideas (self-emergence, organization) mix to life in this multiverse tale.
I enjoyed the idea behind this story & the way it was written to keep you guessing, to keep you wondering 'what on earth is happening'. However I'm unsure about the final phase of the story.
Story Telling - As I mentioned, I enjoyed how much this book made you think! You had to really focus on the story to understand which direction it was going in.
Characters - I wouldn't class this as a character led book. The characters all had annoying traits and thoughts, but that was the limit to the character building.
World Building - Is probably the best aspect of the book. I really enjoyed how the world grew and how the author explored immortality.
Story Telling - As I mentioned, I enjoyed how much this book made you think! You had to really focus on the story to understand which direction it was going in.
Characters - I wouldn't class this as a character led book. The characters all had annoying traits and thoughts, but that was the limit to the character building.
World Building - Is probably the best aspect of the book. I really enjoyed how the world grew and how the author explored immortality.
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Fun book that tests our imagination of what our future holds, questions around infinity and immortality.
Incredible introduction of many complex ideas in a very simple way. The world Egan paints here is truly vast (and self-reflectively so)
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
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
My least favourite Greg Egan read so far. Had it been my first, I might have rated it a 5, but it all felt somewhat convoluted, with questionable pacing. Still a Greg Egan book though, and the concepts driving the story will be burned into my brain forever.