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3.85 AVERAGE
3.85 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Sci fi soaked in mythos steeped in philosophy
This was one of the “harder” reads I’ve had in a while. Has standard twists but presented in abrupt ways.
The plot and cast are engaging in their own way. The writing is superb. It’s the mesh of these two facets that felt rough to me.
Perhaps it’s a sign of the times (60s sci-fi)
Would recommend to anyone wanting a taste of old school literary SF that isn’t dune or LHoD.
This was one of the “harder” reads I’ve had in a while. Has standard twists but presented in abrupt ways.
The plot and cast are engaging in their own way. The writing is superb. It’s the mesh of these two facets that felt rough to me.
Perhaps it’s a sign of the times (60s sci-fi)
Would recommend to anyone wanting a taste of old school literary SF that isn’t dune or LHoD.
This is a baroque book that in some ways I'm the ideal audience for. It plays on many aspects of the story of the Buddha in India, how his rebellion was recuperated by Hinduism. Buddhism in this story is fake, a story Sam tells others to justify his rebellion against his fellow Gods, who are also fake: their divinity is merely the result of superior technology, and their religion used to enslave their descendants, who are intentionally kept stupid. In this way, it reminds me a lot of the first book of Asimov's Foundation: there, science is also associated with religion to keep people stupid and compliant and under control.
Yet I find it hard to like this book. There's so many different characters, and all of them seem made out of cardboard. I could find no depth in Sam, in Yama, or any of the other characters, and so it was hard also to sympathize with any of them. There's massive battles that I found myself not caring who won or lost: most characters in this book don't really die anyway, they're just reincarnated.
Yet I find it hard to like this book. There's so many different characters, and all of them seem made out of cardboard. I could find no depth in Sam, in Yama, or any of the other characters, and so it was hard also to sympathize with any of them. There's massive battles that I found myself not caring who won or lost: most characters in this book don't really die anyway, they're just reincarnated.
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
medium-paced
Zelazny does so many things well! It is confusing, therefore, when he does something poorly. Most of this book is just marvelous... mind-bending ideas and well-executed scifi concepts mixed with poetry and philosophy, and just some darn good Texas-standoff style scenes... really great.
So, was he facing a deadline while writing the last twenty-pages? That and a few other chapters just seem written and then submitted. And the reminiscence frame narrative was not executed terribly well and might just have well been tossed.
Bah. All readers of science fiction and fantasy should read this book. And probably already have. It's great.
So, was he facing a deadline while writing the last twenty-pages? That and a few other chapters just seem written and then submitted. And the reminiscence frame narrative was not executed terribly well and might just have well been tossed.
Bah. All readers of science fiction and fantasy should read this book. And probably already have. It's great.
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
I didn't understand everything, but I found myself thinking I'd try to pick up more on a reread.
Slow and impenetrable to start but became more enjoyable after the first chapter. Retelling of the Hindu gods as space travellers.
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I really appreciated the use of religions that are, from my perspective, often ignored in science fiction. The dialogues between characters didn’t feel very deep or realistic to me, but it is a shorter book. Some really great concepts and would not have minded if there had been more flushing out of them.
challenging
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, War, Classism
slow-paced
Some books just don’t pass the test of time.
Įspūdingas užmanymas, tik per daug dėmesio išoriniams fejerverkams ir sudėtingumui, per mažai – personažams. Jie irgi įspūdingi, bet jausmas lyg stebėtumei pro stiklą. Niekad taip ir neparūpsta, o tada ir pats veiksmas abejotino svarbumo. Be to, kadangi personažai nereflektuoja, kas vyksta, žiauriai sunku suprasti, kurie įvykiai svarbūs. Tiksliau atrodo, kad svarbūs visi, bet tada istorija tampa monotoniška, be aiškių ups and downs.
Tai gaila, kad buvo nuobodoka, nes norėjau, kad patiktų.
Tai gaila, kad buvo nuobodoka, nes norėjau, kad patiktų.