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aidareads's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
this got me out of a reading slump + made me laugh out loud on several occasions + it was amazing!!!! i’m so glad i discovered scalzi i’m gonna be munching on his work until there’s nothing left
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing
Moderate: Pandemic/Epidemic and Animal cruelty
Minor: Deadnaming
renpuspita's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Sadly, not much Kaiju featured here :')
I'm glad to find my first TOP READ 2024 with The Kaiju Preservation Society, also the first Scalzi's work that I'd read. KPS is pretty much stand alone, but I don't mind if in the future Scalzi decide to write more story in the Kaiju Earth, the alternative of Earth that have kaiju roaming here and there. Anyway, if you think this book will be like Pacific Rim with "WE ARE CANCELLING THE APOCALPSE" ala Marshal Stacker Pentecost, then you will be disappointed. We talk about preservation here, so the main focus of the story is of course, preserve them. Why tho? You will need to find it out in the book. Read it people!
In his Author's note, Scalzi said that KPS is a pop song, with some catchy tunes. That's why despite the book genre is science fiction, genre that I tend to avoid and prefer fantasy instead, I still having fun and a blast while reading it. Sure, there are some explanation about Kaiju biology and ecological system, square-cube laws (physics law. I FREAKIN HATE PHYSICS!!), , nuclear reactor, chemicals to use to avoid the predators and the kaiju as well, the possibility of multiverse (!!), interdimensional barrier, etcetra etcetra that sometimes make my mind boggling and my head spinning. But the way Scalzi present it with adding some humor and I think he try to not being a text book here, is what make me can enjoy it. Basically, KPS is more like Jurassic Park, but instead the ever famous T-Rex or Velociraptor, we get Kaijus! And not the genetically engineered kind ones.
One of the strength of this book is of course the characters itself. Told from our hero's 1st PoV, Jamie Gray, we will be introduced to so many wonderful characters. While Jamie is truly a zero to hero and nerd to the core, sometimes become a center of the attention, I liked that Scalzi also give some scenes to other characters as well. Make them more fleshed out, make me want to care for them and want to be BFF with them. The joke of this book is of course, everybody in the Gold Team of Tanaka Base are doctorate, including the team leader and the copter pilot, while Jamie failed his doctorate and end up fired by his asshole CEO. But, again, Jamie just shrug of that, and become what he best at, lifting things! His dry humor, sarcasm and witty remarks is a delight to read and combined with the bantering between his group of newbies, Aparna, Kahurangi and Niamh is the spotlight of the story. Beside Jamie, I liked Niamh the most. They have a rage issues and didn't hesitant to cuss and being angry all the time. The second is Martin Satie, the pilot. He is a cool person with also a cool position that make sense a lot after what happen when Sanders (Jamie's asshole CEO) try to bought him and Satie didn't hesitate throw him out from the copter if Sanders didn't shut up. Another is Tom Stevens, since he's the person who get Jamie a job in KPS. He's a nice person to be friends with andI hate with what happen to him! :'(
Like I said before, for a novel with Kaiju on the title, the appearance of the Kaiju is not that much. Only 4 in total, and one of them, Bella, is the main focus of the story. No, don't ask me why they name kaiju with a name taken from Twilight, you must READ it, lol. The kaijus itself are not like those portrayed in Pacific Rim, but more like in the Godzilla. Meaning, they mostly keeping to themselves rather than decide that humans is the snack. But that didn't mean there's no danger, since there also predators and the Kaiju parasites that didn't hesitant to add human into their menus. The climax of the story pretty much Hollywood-esque with the motive of the villain is easy to predict. Still fun to read, but yes, not that hard to guess the motive behind those greedy people. Since the setting of KPS was in pandemic, I think you might proceed with caution if pandemic is a triggering thing, because I know that COVID-19 is still there and the pain of the pandemic caused is still fresh. This book also filled with Scalzi's views toward the USA's presidential elections and his criticism toward the government but without too much "in your face."
If you like your science fiction with some humor and witty dialogue like The Martian (I watch the movie with Matt Damon on it); love anything Kaiju (Pacific Rim is one of the best movie all the time. The sequel is rubbish, sue me!), The Kaiju Preservation Society might right up to your alley!!
I'm glad to find my first TOP READ 2024 with The Kaiju Preservation Society, also the first Scalzi's work that I'd read. KPS is pretty much stand alone, but I don't mind if in the future Scalzi decide to write more story in the Kaiju Earth, the alternative of Earth that have kaiju roaming here and there. Anyway, if you think this book will be like Pacific Rim with "WE ARE CANCELLING THE APOCALPSE" ala Marshal Stacker Pentecost, then you will be disappointed. We talk about preservation here, so the main focus of the story is of course, preserve them. Why tho? You will need to find it out in the book. Read it people!
In his Author's note, Scalzi said that KPS is a pop song, with some catchy tunes. That's why despite the book genre is science fiction, genre that I tend to avoid and prefer fantasy instead, I still having fun and a blast while reading it. Sure, there are some explanation about Kaiju biology and ecological system, square-cube laws (physics law. I FREAKIN HATE PHYSICS!!), , nuclear reactor, chemicals to use to avoid the predators and the kaiju as well, the possibility of multiverse (!!), interdimensional barrier, etcetra etcetra that sometimes make my mind boggling and my head spinning. But the way Scalzi present it with adding some humor and I think he try to not being a text book here, is what make me can enjoy it. Basically, KPS is more like Jurassic Park, but instead the ever famous T-Rex or Velociraptor, we get Kaijus! And not the genetically engineered kind ones.
One of the strength of this book is of course the characters itself. Told from our hero's 1st PoV, Jamie Gray, we will be introduced to so many wonderful characters. While Jamie is truly a zero to hero and nerd to the core, sometimes become a center of the attention, I liked that Scalzi also give some scenes to other characters as well. Make them more fleshed out, make me want to care for them and want to be BFF with them. The joke of this book is of course, everybody in the Gold Team of Tanaka Base are doctorate, including the team leader and the copter pilot, while Jamie failed his doctorate and end up fired by his asshole CEO. But, again, Jamie just shrug of that, and become what he best at, lifting things! His dry humor, sarcasm and witty remarks is a delight to read and combined with the bantering between his group of newbies, Aparna, Kahurangi and Niamh is the spotlight of the story. Beside Jamie, I liked Niamh the most. They have a rage issues and didn't hesitant to cuss and being angry all the time. The second is Martin Satie, the pilot. He is a cool person with also a cool position that make sense a lot after what happen when Sanders (Jamie's asshole CEO) try to bought him and Satie didn't hesitate throw him out from the copter if Sanders didn't shut up. Another is Tom Stevens, since he's the person who get Jamie a job in KPS. He's a nice person to be friends with and
Like I said before, for a novel with Kaiju on the title, the appearance of the Kaiju is not that much. Only 4 in total, and one of them, Bella, is the main focus of the story. No, don't ask me why they name kaiju with a name taken from Twilight, you must READ it, lol. The kaijus itself are not like those portrayed in Pacific Rim, but more like in the Godzilla. Meaning, they mostly keeping to themselves rather than decide that humans is the snack. But that didn't mean there's no danger, since there also predators and the Kaiju parasites that didn't hesitant to add human into their menus. The climax of the story pretty much Hollywood-esque with the motive of the villain is easy to predict. Still fun to read, but yes, not that hard to guess the motive behind those greedy people. Since the setting of KPS was in pandemic, I think you might proceed with caution if pandemic is a triggering thing, because I know that COVID-19 is still there and the pain of the pandemic caused is still fresh. This book also filled with Scalzi's views toward the USA's presidential elections and his criticism toward the government but without too much "in your face."
If you like your science fiction with some humor and witty dialogue like The Martian (I watch the movie with Matt Damon on it); love anything Kaiju (Pacific Rim is one of the best movie all the time. The sequel is rubbish, sue me!), The Kaiju Preservation Society might right up to your alley!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Animal death, Gun violence, Pandemic/Epidemic, and Murder
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Fire/Fire injury, and Medical content
Minor: Deadnaming
trips's review
adventurous
funny
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
This book was fun, and like Scalzi says himself, like a pop song. Its not super deep, but it is fun and found myself nodding along with the plot.
It honestly reminded me of the summer action movie that gets pushed every year. Its not deep, things kind of happen for conveniences sake but it kept me entertained for a few hours and that's all I think Scalzi really wanted out of this too. A fun story for the sake of being entertaining.
The concepts were cool and the humor was great.
Anyone annoyed that the book is "too woke" is hilarious though, that also gave me a good laugh reading the comments.
It honestly reminded me of the summer action movie that gets pushed every year. Its not deep, things kind of happen for conveniences sake but it kept me entertained for a few hours and that's all I think Scalzi really wanted out of this too. A fun story for the sake of being entertaining.
The concepts were cool and the humor was great.
Anyone annoyed that the book is "too woke" is hilarious though, that also gave me a good laugh reading the comments.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Death, and Murder
Moderate: Violence
Minor: Blood and Deadnaming
thesapphiccelticbookworm's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
medium-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
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death, Murder, Gun violence, and Death
Minor: Deadnaming
schnaucl's review
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
I enjoyed it. It was a fun popcorn book.
There was some nice homages to classic science-fictions stories.
There was some attention paid to the science of the circumstances and some nice hand waiving with the person explaining things saying I'm not a scientist, you'll need to ask a scientist about that for the harder questions.
There was some nice homages to classic science-fictions stories.
There was some attention paid to the science of the circumstances and some nice hand waiving with the person explaining things saying I'm not a scientist, you'll need to ask a scientist about that for the harder questions.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Death, Gore, and Murder
Minor: Deadnaming
sarahrom's review
adventurous
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death and Violence
Minor: Deadnaming
uranaishi's review
adventurous
funny
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cursing, Medical content, Alcohol, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Blood, Death, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, and Murder
Minor: Classism, Colonisation, Deadnaming, Grief, Homophobia, Transphobia, and War
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