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gossamerwingedgazelle's review against another edition
2.0
I quit partway though this book, because it was just unreadably cheesy. A friend says that the other books in the series don't depend on this one, so I'll be trying one of them instead.
imakandiway's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.75
kennethtcox's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
outcolder's review against another edition
3.0
"The Library" is sort of a bad guy, frowning on innovation and independent research? A talking tree that tinkles? Dolphins that tell dirty limericks? A macho space hippy that meditates so much that tens of pages of psychedelic guided imagery actually move the story forward? I want to love it, but the adventure-detective plot (complete with helpfully named "parlor scene") didn't grab me and there wasn't enough awe or big questions to make up for that like in other science fiction. The author is a for-real astrophysicist but he piled on so much inscrutable alien-tech that the magic outweighed the hard SF bits, so I also didn't finish it thinking, "I would like to know more about plasma physics," or anything. Basically, a great premise that didn't deliver to my expectations. But my judgement might be impaired because I have been in pain.
searsanne's review against another edition
Poor character development, poor explanation of the world
scytale's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
barbalbero's review against another edition
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
emandem123's review against another edition
3.0
The characterization is well done, and the story is good until about halfway through! Then the author starts trying a little too hard and the reality of space travel and galactic races he had created begins to unravel.
kaboomcju's review against another edition
adventurous
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
4.0
karinlib's review against another edition
3.0
This is one of those books that I had been meaning to read for a long time. I really liked the idea of exploring the sun, and the concept of uplift, hence the 3 star rating. I would have given it more, but I found myself confused a lot of the time. I'm hoping that his other books are better written.