Reviews tagging 'Violence'

The Stars My Destination by Alfred Bester

5 reviews

fletchie's review

adventurous fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

An absolute blast to read. The pace of this book is something to behold.

If you're interested in an old school sci-fi romp that feels like it could've been written yesterday, then here it is. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Classism, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Body horror, Misogyny, Sexual harassment, War, Toxic relationship, Sexism, Gun violence, Violence, Toxic friendship, Panic attacks/disorders, Forced institutionalization, and Death

funcharge's review

adventurous dark inspiring tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Rape and Violence

lalu's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious fast-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

read in 2020

It's the 24th century. Gully Foyle (who is less than average in every aspect) is the only survivor after the space ship where he works gets destroyed. When an other space ship turns a blind eye to his distress signals, a manic urge to get revenge rises within him.

What other writers would have told in 700+ pages, Bester condenses to 240. There is no time for doubts, no time for hesitation - I could feel how driven the protagonist is.
What bothered me a lot was that apparently gender norms didn't change one bit between 1950 and ~2350. There's even a woman who secretly works in a man's job.
Apart from that it was an interesting and well written book, it just didn't meet my personal taste.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Violence, Confinement, Death, Medical content, Sexism, and Body horror

Minor: Rape

teabeakay's review

adventurous challenging dark slow-paced

• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

Honestly I'm not sure what the big deal is about this one. Perhaps it's just dated by its tropes. Certainly I can see how some of the concepts would have been novel in its time, but they only really comprise a small part of the book. The rest is just 'literature'.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Confinement, and Body horror

torpidcup's review

challenging dark emotional mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

Unmitigated insanity. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Confinement, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, and Torture

Moderate: Bullying, Death, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Misogyny, Murder, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Torture, Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual violence, and Rape

Minor: Violence, Sexism, Addiction, Drug use, and Ableism