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4.03 AVERAGE
4.03 AVERAGE
I'm not a big fan of short stories but this book was very much worth the reading.
Undoubtedly one of the best SF-writers of modern times.
Undoubtedly one of the best SF-writers of modern times.
Por desgracia, este libro de relatos no ha conseguido engancharme lo más mínimo. De los 10 relatos que incluye, sólo 3 me han parecido medianamente interesantes ("En beneficio de la humanidad", "Maldición 5.0" y "Con sus ojos").
Me temo que se me quitan bastante las ganas de leer, a corto plazo, la trilogía de este autor.
Me temo que se me quitan bastante las ganas de leer, a corto plazo, la trilogía de este autor.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
challenging
reflective
fast-paced
This shit is just a bunch of hypotheticals a kid would ask but instead of saying “I don’t know” they’re given a serious answer
3.5*
Just what I needed. Lighter fare than I've been consuming lately.
In general, the science fiction is fairly consistent with work from the "golden age of science fiction." More smooth, thankfully, and without that irritating hokiness that seemed to pervade fiction of the 1950s and 60s. Less sexist? Possibly, although there are no major female characters--the closest we come to an important female character is in "The Micro-Era" in which the leader of post-apocalyptic Earth who is not only microscopic but also acts like a child. Oh- and there's the super-victimy character in "With Her Eyes." Liu mostly steers away from political topics, which is nice... although it is probably a necessity for him. I looked for differences between Anglo-American science fiction and Liu's work to try to figure out if there are any particular hallmarks of Chinese sci-fi... aside from the sexism, all I came across were some subtle differences in attitude that I am unable to articulate.
In any collection, some stories will be better than others. I really enjoyed "The Wandering Earth," "Sun of China," and "Curse 5.0" although the end of "Sun" got a bit obnoxious in the manner described below and the author cast himself as a character in "Curse."
As is the case with a lot of science fiction, many of these stories are thought experiments. Liu, unfortunately, is lazy about how he sets them out, frequently employing a character to deliver a very long monologue to explain to dumbass earthlings (and the reader) how things work in his realm of existence. I cannot express how much I hate this form of exposition. Liu is a particularly egregious offender.
Just what I needed. Lighter fare than I've been consuming lately.
In general, the science fiction is fairly consistent with work from the "golden age of science fiction." More smooth, thankfully, and without that irritating hokiness that seemed to pervade fiction of the 1950s and 60s. Less sexist? Possibly, although there are no major female characters--the closest we come to an important female character is in "The Micro-Era" in which the leader of post-apocalyptic Earth who is not only microscopic but also acts like a child. Oh- and there's the super-victimy character in "With Her Eyes." Liu mostly steers away from political topics, which is nice... although it is probably a necessity for him. I looked for differences between Anglo-American science fiction and Liu's work to try to figure out if there are any particular hallmarks of Chinese sci-fi... aside from the sexism, all I came across were some subtle differences in attitude that I am unable to articulate.
In any collection, some stories will be better than others. I really enjoyed "The Wandering Earth," "Sun of China," and "Curse 5.0" although the end of "Sun" got a bit obnoxious in the manner described below and the author cast himself as a character in "Curse."
As is the case with a lot of science fiction, many of these stories are thought experiments. Liu, unfortunately, is lazy about how he sets them out, frequently employing a character to deliver a very long monologue to explain to dumbass earthlings (and the reader) how things work in his realm of existence. I cannot express how much I hate this form of exposition. Liu is a particularly egregious offender.
medium-paced
Interesting concept, and well-executed. Can't wait to see how it translates to the big screen!
Solidly science fictional, huge scale stories - this is what I'm here for!
I had to take it slowly as a number of the stories were relentlessly depressing, throwing hardship, destruction and death over and over - not just at the characters, but at the whole planet.
Many of the stories are linked together in ways that only become obvious mid-story - one thing I liked was that even these linked stories could be read in any order.
I had to take it slowly as a number of the stories were relentlessly depressing, throwing hardship, destruction and death over and over - not just at the characters, but at the whole planet.
Many of the stories are linked together in ways that only become obvious mid-story - one thing I liked was that even these linked stories could be read in any order.
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No