Scan barcode
timinbc's review against another edition
5.0
I don't speak Russian so I will have to judge the English version on its own merits.
I liked it a lot.
Others have compared it to Harry Potter but I think that's off the mark. More like a combination of Jack Vance and Steven Brust.
Some have said it's a series of pointless episodes; I disagree. I kept catching little hints about what's really going on here and how it relates to our hero's home world. I may be wrong here, because if there really are ten volumes in this series it shouldn't take that long to reveal the framework. And why the world/country is called Echo. There's even a hint that, in which case there may not be much more to reveal.
Also, if I read many more in the series, I may throw the book across the room after the 30th mention of kamra. In this one, I actually went back and counted. From its first mention on page 11 to the end of page 110 - a hundred pages - we have at least 32 mentions of kamra.
But there is creativity here, and plenty of it. Memory birds. Magic at many levels, with bureaucratic restrictions on some of it and practical restrictions on other parts. A lot of delightfully nutty people.
Also wondered how Max managed an amorous evening with Melamori without ever letting go of the bad guy he had captured by miniaturization. I'm prepared to allow almost anything in fantasy, but we do have to be careful with the details.
I will look for #2, at least.
I liked it a lot.
Others have compared it to Harry Potter but I think that's off the mark. More like a combination of Jack Vance and Steven Brust.
Some have said it's a series of pointless episodes; I disagree. I kept catching little hints about what's really going on here and how it relates to our hero's home world. I may be wrong here, because if there really are ten volumes in this series it shouldn't take that long to reveal the framework. And why the world/country is called Echo. There's even a hint that
Spoiler
our hero may have actually died in his home worldAlso, if I read many more in the series, I may throw the book across the room after the 30th mention of kamra. In this one, I actually went back and counted. From its first mention on page 11 to the end of page 110 - a hundred pages - we have at least 32 mentions of kamra.
But there is creativity here, and plenty of it. Memory birds. Magic at many levels, with bureaucratic restrictions on some of it and practical restrictions on other parts. A lot of delightfully nutty people.
Also wondered how Max managed an amorous evening with Melamori without ever letting go of the bad guy he had captured by miniaturization. I'm prepared to allow almost anything in fantasy, but we do have to be careful with the details.
I will look for #2, at least.
andgineer's review against another edition
2.0
Понимаю, что эта книга для тинейджеров.
Но как же скучно :(
Какие-то натужные шутки, не слишком глубокие парадоксы и не впечатляющие выдумкой абсурдности.
Без удовольствия домучил книгу до середины, и бросил.
Я с удовольствием прочитал не так давно детские книжки Роберта Асприна - цикл Myth*, очень похожего стиля на эту книгу. Мне было и интересно и смешно их читать.
Возможно, причина в том, что Роберта Асприна я читал на не родном мне английском, а Макса Фрая на русском. Давно уже не заглядываю в словарь, читая на английском, но все же голова при этом напрягается больше, чем от книг на русском.
Возможно, сейчас это "не попало в настроение".
Но, думаю, причина проще - книги Макса Фрая гораздо менее талантливы, чем произведения Роберта Асприна.
Но как же скучно :(
Какие-то натужные шутки, не слишком глубокие парадоксы и не впечатляющие выдумкой абсурдности.
Без удовольствия домучил книгу до середины, и бросил.
Я с удовольствием прочитал не так давно детские книжки Роберта Асприна - цикл Myth*, очень похожего стиля на эту книгу. Мне было и интересно и смешно их читать.
Возможно, причина в том, что Роберта Асприна я читал на не родном мне английском, а Макса Фрая на русском. Давно уже не заглядываю в словарь, читая на английском, но все же голова при этом напрягается больше, чем от книг на русском.
Возможно, сейчас это "не попало в настроение".
Но, думаю, причина проще - книги Макса Фрая гораздо менее талантливы, чем произведения Роберта Асприна.
surfmonkey01's review against another edition
1.0
Was probably very good in the original Russian, but didn't survive the translation. Disappointing, really.
manzabar's review
2.0
This book comes off as a weird blend of Terry Pratchett, Tom Holt & Robert Rankin. It's interesting but only just enough that I finished reading it rather than abandoning it.
aclypse's review against another edition
5.0
the language max frei uses is artistic, yet pretty simple to understand. and there are not that many characters to get lost in them (like I usually do), but at the same time there is enough of them to choose your favorite one. thanks to the simple and comedic language the book is a simple and fast read. endless jokes and good humor only help spending time with the book.
I've enjoyed this book, therefore I plan to continue reading other books in this series.
I've enjoyed this book, therefore I plan to continue reading other books in this series.
masha__me's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
eacolgan's review against another edition
there was nothing unexpected about this book, its characters were either completely flat or too over-the-top, and the plots wrapped up far too neatly with no suspense to them whatsoever. it wasn't totally bad, it just wasn't good enough to bother continuing with when i have so many other things to read.
emiia's review against another edition
4.0
A good book with colourful characters. The story is engaging, and the humour really got me in the beginning. Unfortunately, it got a bit repetitive towards the end. Now I'm thinking whether I shouldn't have binged it. Nonetheless. Either a 3/4 star read (take it with a grain of salt). Otboi.
ekevka's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0