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roseyrose42's review
1.0
...I stopped reading after calling a tampon a pussy missile. I was going to try and get through this but honestly, just...no.
merryberries's review
3.0
I'm always a fan of reluctant hero/anti-hero stories, which is why I picked up Mercury Rising, the story of Brooklyn Lamontagne, a man who was in the wrong place at the wrong time and ended up in prison for it. Instead of staying in prison, he volunteers for a ten-year term in the Earth Orbital Forces (EOF). Earth has united against aliens (the Mercurians), and all Brooklyn wants to do is serve out his decade as a computer technician. But, as it goes for reluctant heroes, he ends up right in the middle of the action despite his best efforts to avoid it.
I found this book a little hard to get into, and very long. Greene certainly left doors open for future stories in this universe, and the reader is left with loose ends untied. Overall 3.25/5 stars, but would probably rate higher if you're a die-hard sci-fi fan.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
I found this book a little hard to get into, and very long. Greene certainly left doors open for future stories in this universe, and the reader is left with loose ends untied. Overall 3.25/5 stars, but would probably rate higher if you're a die-hard sci-fi fan.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
thestainlesssteelrat's review
5.0
This cements Mr Greene as one of my favourite new authors.
A slice of alternate history with an accelerated space program and encounters with aliens set in 1960s-80s.
Deft use of cultural touchstones and, as always, beautifully drawn characters kept this story rocketing.
This is the first in a planned trilogy with the second book slated for 2023.
I highly recommend RWW Greene to anyone.
Go get this book and then do yourself a favour and buy his first two standalone novels as well.
A slice of alternate history with an accelerated space program and encounters with aliens set in 1960s-80s.
Deft use of cultural touchstones and, as always, beautifully drawn characters kept this story rocketing.
This is the first in a planned trilogy with the second book slated for 2023.
I highly recommend RWW Greene to anyone.
Go get this book and then do yourself a favour and buy his first two standalone novels as well.
curiously_curious's review
5.0
After seeing this book in a sale, I checked my library and I found an audio version. Not an avid listener of audio books, and after becoming used to the voice actor, I began to enjoy the story. Entertaining, light-hearted, funny and all in all a good story. Gritty and punk are the two words I would use to describe Mercury Rising. I enjoyed it and I'd recommend it to others. My only disappointment was that I had to go at the pace of the audio book, otherwise I would have read it faster.
joosty's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
intothevolcano's review
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
Mercury Rising really comes into its own in the last third of the book - which unfortunately leaves the first two-thirds seeming quite unsatisfactory. I understand the need to show the realities (albeit in an alternate timeline) of the 1970s setting, however there are ways to show this without sinking to that era's level. In these initial sections as well, there are no female characters who are more than the vaguest paper cutout.
However, once the book hits its stride, the premise is really interesting. The characters and writing style seem more engaging for this added layer. Although as the plots unfurls, it becomes more obvious that this is the start of a series - and some pacing issues result - I'm overall really keen to see how this continues to play out. As the world involved widens, there's also the opportunity for some more well fleshed-out characters.
At times disappointing, but all in all an intriguing start.
Thanks to Angry Robot and Netgalley for the ARC.
However, once the book hits its stride, the premise is really interesting. The characters and writing style seem more engaging for this added layer. Although as the plots unfurls, it becomes more obvious that this is the start of a series - and some pacing issues result - I'm overall really keen to see how this continues to play out. As the world involved widens, there's also the opportunity for some more well fleshed-out characters.
At times disappointing, but all in all an intriguing start.
Thanks to Angry Robot and Netgalley for the ARC.
kat_184's review
mysterious
slow-paced
2.75
Started off solid in the prologue, but then the writing style changed to a dull prose and grating dialogue that I struggled to stay interested. 60% into the book and I had to skim read to the end just to finish it. Makes me excited to read the rest of The Expanse books.
Sadly just not for me.
Sadly just not for me.
annarella's review
5.0
I loved this book. I loved the retrò atmosphere, the pop references, the mix of classic and contemporary sci-fi with alternate history.
I love these things and I loved the well developed and interesting characters. It was great to read about the changes in Brooklyng and how he evolves from being someone who's involved in a crime to a person who is facing something bigger than him.
The first chapter in this story could have been written by Heinlein: the hero and the fight could be in some of his book. And I think the author pays homage to Heinlein in other parts of the story or maybe it's just my impression.
It's one of the most original sci-fi book I read in these years. I knew that the author is a talented storyteller but I think this is his best work so far.
I was fascinated by this parallel universe where humans settled on the Moon and other planets but the computer are those of the 70s. Where there's a collaboration between the most powerful countries and Kennedy never dies.
And i liked the references to music and pop culture.
I think this is something new and classic in the sci-fi world and hope a lot of people will love it.
I can't wait to read the next book by this author, this one is strongly recommended.
Many thanks to Angry Robots and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine
I love these things and I loved the well developed and interesting characters. It was great to read about the changes in Brooklyng and how he evolves from being someone who's involved in a crime to a person who is facing something bigger than him.
The first chapter in this story could have been written by Heinlein: the hero and the fight could be in some of his book. And I think the author pays homage to Heinlein in other parts of the story or maybe it's just my impression.
It's one of the most original sci-fi book I read in these years. I knew that the author is a talented storyteller but I think this is his best work so far.
I was fascinated by this parallel universe where humans settled on the Moon and other planets but the computer are those of the 70s. Where there's a collaboration between the most powerful countries and Kennedy never dies.
And i liked the references to music and pop culture.
I think this is something new and classic in the sci-fi world and hope a lot of people will love it.
I can't wait to read the next book by this author, this one is strongly recommended.
Many thanks to Angry Robots and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine
thebookcoyote's review
4.0
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
This book takes place in an alternate universe version of the 1960's and 1970's, a world where Kennedy wasn't assassinated and where the space program continued to the point where the moon was colonized and first contact was made with extra-terrestrials. When the book starts, the earth is at war with an alien species, and the 'hero' gets out of prison by enlisting to join that fight. It's an interesting book, covering about thirty years in all, and it explores many of the different parts of this new world - training on Earth, missions on the moon, aboard ships, and with a human colony of POW's under the surface of Venus, to name a few. All in all, this is a good book. It's a fast read and the world building is fun. My only complaint would be that in covering so many things in one book, the reader doesn't really have time to explore all of them as thoroughly as might be desired. Still, a fun book, and worth reading.
This book takes place in an alternate universe version of the 1960's and 1970's, a world where Kennedy wasn't assassinated and where the space program continued to the point where the moon was colonized and first contact was made with extra-terrestrials. When the book starts, the earth is at war with an alien species, and the 'hero' gets out of prison by enlisting to join that fight. It's an interesting book, covering about thirty years in all, and it explores many of the different parts of this new world - training on Earth, missions on the moon, aboard ships, and with a human colony of POW's under the surface of Venus, to name a few. All in all, this is a good book. It's a fast read and the world building is fun. My only complaint would be that in covering so many things in one book, the reader doesn't really have time to explore all of them as thoroughly as might be desired. Still, a fun book, and worth reading.