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cavetoad's review against another edition
adventurous
slow-paced
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.0
Started out well with good pacing and interesting characters but then it bogged down in the last 1/3. Almost bailed on it. An ok but not surprising ending.
halcyonb's review against another edition
5.0
Really enjoyed this books. Gripping plot. The characters were a strong point and themes of letting go of dreams, perseverance. Gets you invested with an easy root for good vs evil. Dotted with great ideas like but although not as grand as the first book.
Unexpectedly long
Other note:
- something I found interesting and not commonly written is that many of the characters,.especially qeng ho, are cognizant of their place within their little economic system. I guess that is central to their civilization as "traders"
Unexpectedly long
Other note:
- something I found interesting and not commonly written is that many of the characters,.especially qeng ho, are cognizant of their place within their little economic system. I guess that is central to their civilization as "traders"
aedireads's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
ahoffmeyer's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
tense
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? Yes
4.5
aranafyre's review against another edition
4.0
This book took me so long to read. It was good but just took forever. I also really wanted more about the zones of thought from book 1. This did not have any of that.
Humans from two different cultures, the Qenv Ho and the Emergents, approach the on/off star and the single planet that hosts sentient spider creatures. The star is off for about a couple of hundred years and the spiders traditionally hibernate in deepnesses. The two human factions fight it out when they arrive and the survivors have to wait for the spider culture to advance in technology far enough to help rebuild their fleet.
The characters were well written and interesting. I wanted to know what happened to them. Overall I felt like the plot was a bit too tidy. Things were relatively predictable and easy though that’s not quite the right word because the characters suffer a lot. I was both happy it ended the way it did and sighed about it being exactly what I expected.
Humans from two different cultures, the Qenv Ho and the Emergents, approach the on/off star and the single planet that hosts sentient spider creatures. The star is off for about a couple of hundred years and the spiders traditionally hibernate in deepnesses. The two human factions fight it out when they arrive and the survivors have to wait for the spider culture to advance in technology far enough to help rebuild their fleet.
The characters were well written and interesting. I wanted to know what happened to them. Overall I felt like the plot was a bit too tidy. Things were relatively predictable and easy though that’s not quite the right word because the characters suffer a lot. I was both happy it ended the way it did and sighed about it being exactly what I expected.
buttcord's review against another edition
adventurous
reflective
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? It's complicated
5.0
spikeanderson1's review against another edition
3.0
decent- too drawn out, but decent certainly some original thinking and solid writing
spitzig's review against another edition
3.0
LOVED it. Vinge made alien spiders into people. However, that's not as impressive as making a collectively conscious pack of dogs into people(A Fire upon the Deep, the first book). Also, while it had an interesting way of considering civilizations rise and falling, it wasn't as epic or cosmopolitan as A Fire upon the Deep.
The book had quite a few well done main characters. The plot was good. Basically, espionage.
The book had quite a few well done main characters. The plot was good. Basically, espionage.
sonice's review against another edition
5.0
Hooo boy, 5.0 stars. More of this! More!
This was a masterpiece of plotting and storytelling. We get the main overarching storyline, which builds the tension over the course of the novel and is both fascinating and horrifying, as well as several smaller character focused plot threads that are weaved expertly underneath. Some of these – hell, all of them – are real jaw droppers, especially when you give them some extra thought. Qiwi’s whole situation. The truth about Reynolt. Pham and Sura, Sherk and Victoria. Ezr and Trixia if you feel like some emotional pain and suffering. There is just so much happening in this book and all of it was incredible.
This book has some big, creative ideas as well - space spiders, nanotech, designer viruses - and it does a great job of using them to ask some serious questions. Where is the line (if there is one) between technological advancement and the loss of our humanity? Do the ends always justify the means? How much sacrifice and loss is acceptable in the pursuit of vision and ambition? I love me some philosophy, and that itch is satisfyingly scratched here.
Personally, I liked this even better than A Fire Upon The Deep, which might be something of a hot take. If you’ve read that one and haven’t checked this out, make it a priority.
I guess the third and final book is not all that great? That’s a shame. I’d love another entry of this calibre.
This was a masterpiece of plotting and storytelling. We get the main overarching storyline, which builds the tension over the course of the novel and is both fascinating and horrifying, as well as several smaller character focused plot threads that are weaved expertly underneath. Some of these – hell, all of them – are real jaw droppers, especially when you give them some extra thought. Qiwi’s whole situation. The truth about Reynolt. Pham and Sura, Sherk and Victoria. Ezr and Trixia if you feel like some emotional pain and suffering. There is just so much happening in this book and all of it was incredible.
This book has some big, creative ideas as well - space spiders, nanotech, designer viruses - and it does a great job of using them to ask some serious questions. Where is the line (if there is one) between technological advancement and the loss of our humanity? Do the ends always justify the means? How much sacrifice and loss is acceptable in the pursuit of vision and ambition? I love me some philosophy, and that itch is satisfyingly scratched here.
Personally, I liked this even better than A Fire Upon The Deep, which might be something of a hot take. If you’ve read that one and haven’t checked this out, make it a priority.
I guess the third and final book is not all that great? That’s a shame. I’d love another entry of this calibre.