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3.53 AVERAGE
3.53 AVERAGE
I didn't realize that this book was basically four short stories set in the same world, a world where the use of magic has resulted in an infestation of bramble growth that is destroying the landscape and livelihoods. There was no relationship between the stories other than the setting. The stories are quite dark. The final story was in my opinion the most compelling.
it took me over 2 years to finish lmao, i just couldn't get into it
This world has a simple premise - magic use is common amongst everyday people, but due to an ancient curse, each time magic is used, bramble grows. The four stories set in this world don't follow from each other and minimally address incidents that happened before. What's interesting are the dilemmas that emerge from managing this situation. Is an authoritarian regime justified in rooting out (killing) petty magic users for the greater good? As one villain says, everyone imagines that their one small spell is harmless and justified, but collectively this usage spells suicide for the community. It was interesting for me because I see the magic use as analogous to energy consumption and how easy it is to ignore its consequences because, like bramble, are shared amongst everyone and this makes it hard to attribute blame or responsibility.
adventurous
dark
tense
3.5 - interesting concept - four novellas in one book. It was a bit disorienting at first but I enjoyed it.
dark
tense
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Four great stories in the same universe where magic causes a devastating bramble to overtake cities. While the bramble is the enemy made apparent, each story reveals that humanity, in particular class warfare and religion, are really what's strangling the characters.
Female protagonist, interesting characters, and amazing world-building, I hope to see more of this universe in the future.
Female protagonist, interesting characters, and amazing world-building, I hope to see more of this universe in the future.
Algo que siempre me ha gustado de Bacigalupi es que usa su obra de fantasía/ ciencia ficción para crear paralelos con la vida actual que son particularmente relevantes. Si usa sociedad sabe que el uso de cierta magia (cofcof productos y tecnologías) esta destruyendo el mundo, ¿porque les cuesta tanto dejar de usarla? Es algo que vemos día a día y no es difícil entender lo que está pasando socialmente en estas historias.
Ninguna de las historias tiene un final completamente satisfactorio y la forma en que todo está organizado deja qué desear pero creo que en general pone sobre la mesa temas que necesitamos leer más y más en estos tiempos. Es fácil leer historias postapocalípticas donde lo que sea que pasa es culpa de un mal nebuloso y no explorado. Bacigalupi, esta vez con Buckell, constantemente nos invita a afrontar las responsabilidades de la humanidad cuando hay un escenario catastrófico a gran escala.
Ninguna de las historias tiene un final completamente satisfactorio y la forma en que todo está organizado deja qué desear pero creo que en general pone sobre la mesa temas que necesitamos leer más y más en estos tiempos. Es fácil leer historias postapocalípticas donde lo que sea que pasa es culpa de un mal nebuloso y no explorado. Bacigalupi, esta vez con Buckell, constantemente nos invita a afrontar las responsabilidades de la humanidad cuando hay un escenario catastrófico a gran escala.
dark
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
It's depressing. Among the trigger warnings are sexual assault and suicide, though there are certainly others. It's a very dark and depressing world state.
The world concept was so cool sounding that I picked up the book, excited to read it. None of these stories end particularly happily. You could argue the first one does, to some extent, but it's open ended and you have no idea if they really get to the copper mine where they might be safe.
I left individual reviews on the first two stories, but here is my review of the ones contained within this book. My favorite of the bunch was the Executioness. While it doesn't end happily, the story of the character Tana is by far the most compelling to me. I really enjoyed her character arch and the choices she makes as she is faced with new challenges.
All of the stories seem to have the quality of a fairy tale or a fable about them, particularly tinged with a southern/eastern Asian vibe - which is odd considering both authors are white men. Tobias S. Buckell also writes as two female characters, however I found he wrote them well.
Still, the overall tone of suffering in this world is oppressive. I'm not sure which of my friends I would feel comfortable suggesting this book to, aside from the Executioness. On the whole, this was not a win for me.
The world concept was so cool sounding that I picked up the book, excited to read it. None of these stories end particularly happily. You could argue the first one does, to some extent, but it's open ended and you have no idea if they really get to the copper mine where they might be safe.
I left individual reviews on the first two stories, but here is my review of the ones contained within this book. My favorite of the bunch was the Executioness. While it doesn't end happily, the story of the character Tana is by far the most compelling to me. I really enjoyed her character arch and the choices she makes as she is faced with new challenges.
All of the stories seem to have the quality of a fairy tale or a fable about them, particularly tinged with a southern/eastern Asian vibe - which is odd considering both authors are white men. Tobias S. Buckell also writes as two female characters, however I found he wrote them well.
Still, the overall tone of suffering in this world is oppressive. I'm not sure which of my friends I would feel comfortable suggesting this book to, aside from the Executioness. On the whole, this was not a win for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Suicide