Reviews

This Alien Shore by C.S. Friedman

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chromatick's review against another edition

4.0

I wanted to re-read this book from my youth because Friedman has written a sequel nearly 25 years later.

So how does a book from 1999 hold up today? Quite well actually. I've always enjoyed Friedman's writing and this book is no exception. The main character is very well written and interesting. The plot moves forward at a pretty good pace. The world-building is well done.

The main idea that drives the sci-fi in this novel is still interesting and the futuristic technology still feels fresh and not outdated.

I'm looking forward to reading the new novel now.

justiceofkalr's review against another edition

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4.0

This is one seriously cool concept with some amazing worlds and ideas. The problem is that the characters, and Jamisia in particular, kind of fell flat for me. Also some of the gender stuff was... not great (blanket statements about men being easily manipulated by women, the one male personality being strong and violent and almost a caricature of masculinity, Jamisia’s resorting to seducing her way out of every situation). So yeah. Awesome world with weak characters. Although I did like Masada quite a bit.

jkusters's review against another edition

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3.0

I had a hard time finishing this book. It took a long time for all of the actors in the story to appear, and I found very few of them to be particularly sympathetic. What kept me going was the need to understand the two central mysteries of the story. The conclusion was satisfying in that it answered all of the posed questions, brought justice to the guilty, and ended logically. I’m not sure I’d recommend the book, however. I thought it was excellently written; I just didn’t care for it much.

dakrone's review against another edition

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5.0

One of my favorite science fiction books.

foggy_rosamund's review against another edition

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2.0

DNF pg. 400

Set in far future, where almost everyone who has left Earth is disabled in some way, this book is profoundly anti-eugenics. The bad guys are portrayed as those who are not comfortable around disabled people, and who want to celebrate abled bodies, rather than variation. For this alone, I applaud this novel. However, I have many, many issues with the way in which Friedman writes: this book is far too long for the limited plot, there are too many POVs interspersed throughout so the reader never gets to hold onto one character, and while I am impressed that she portrays various different neurotypes, she doesn't do so in any depth, so her autistic character feels cliched, and her character with Dissociative Identity Disorder is completely inauthentic. However, for the sentiment and ideas, I applaud this book.

simplyleanna's review against another edition

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4.0

Great story but a hard read for non native English readers such as myself.

wodime's review against another edition

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slow-paced

4.0

okay okay so the jamisia plotline is kinda mid AND there sure are gender politics AND the ending is way too rushed, but man! space opera!!!! the guera stuff is all so insanely cool ;_;