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4.07 AVERAGE
4.07 AVERAGE
dark
funny
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
What an odd gem this book is. It starts out as an entertaining thriller set in a unique near-future world. I was digging it immensely, especially because the main protagonist, Stark, is extremely engaging. He was a perfect mix of humor and can-do that makes for some great lines.
For instance:
"[T]he stations zipped by soundlessly, and I geared myself up for whatever it was I had to gear myself up for. I didn’t have much to go on, so I just geared up generally."
Talking about not wanting to remember a thing: "but I knew I was safe: I always lose my mental notes."
On the topic of a long wait at a restaurant: "Then finally, like some optical illusion, the art student reappeared. I found myself frankly incredulous that she didn’t now have grey hair and walk with a stoop, and decided it must be her great-granddaughter bringing my order, concluding an ancient and mystic hereditary task passed down the family line."
Finally:
"Life is like a video game: when you get to a new screen, the thing to do is move as quickly as possible, before the situation gets any worse."
Then, about 50% of the way through (exactly 50% on my Kindle actually), this book gets weird. Your thriller is turned on its head and we go to dreamland...erm...Jeamland.
It almost lost me at that point if I'm being honest.
Luckily, I stuck with it, probably mostly because of the protagonist, because the weird doesn't let up, but the dreamland is really kind of a cool idea. I can see not everyone jiving with the ideas presented, but I finally grew to really like it.
Then, there are some well-done last-minute twists that sealed the deal on top of everything.
I don't want to give away too much. My recommendation, give it a go and push through the weird bit. It does put the whole story on its head, but I thought it worked.
4 out of 5 Stars (highly recommended)
For instance:
"[T]he stations zipped by soundlessly, and I geared myself up for whatever it was I had to gear myself up for. I didn’t have much to go on, so I just geared up generally."
Talking about not wanting to remember a thing: "but I knew I was safe: I always lose my mental notes."
On the topic of a long wait at a restaurant: "Then finally, like some optical illusion, the art student reappeared. I found myself frankly incredulous that she didn’t now have grey hair and walk with a stoop, and decided it must be her great-granddaughter bringing my order, concluding an ancient and mystic hereditary task passed down the family line."
Finally:
"Life is like a video game: when you get to a new screen, the thing to do is move as quickly as possible, before the situation gets any worse."
Then, about 50% of the way through (exactly 50% on my Kindle actually), this book gets weird. Your thriller is turned on its head and we go to dreamland...erm...Jeamland.
It almost lost me at that point if I'm being honest.
Luckily, I stuck with it, probably mostly because of the protagonist, because the weird doesn't let up, but the dreamland is really kind of a cool idea. I can see not everyone jiving with the ideas presented, but I finally grew to really like it.
Then, there are some well-done last-minute twists that sealed the deal on top of everything.
I don't want to give away too much. My recommendation, give it a go and push through the weird bit. It does put the whole story on its head, but I thought it worked.
4 out of 5 Stars (highly recommended)
"Did something like that happen to you? You'll never know because you'll never remember. Most people don't. I did."
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
I really loved this book and it was nothing like I was expecting it to be. The first thing I noticed outside of the action, sci-fi world being described was Smith's focus on relationships. You have this internal dialog going on with this guy who isn't very concerned about what is happening around him, any conspiracy or job, he is solely focused on his relationships with those around him. The entire world could be ending and his only motivation would be how his friends would take it. Would they be upset? If so, then he might as well help them out. It was refreshing to read a character who isn't searching for a higher purpose, isn't trying to save the world, is rather indifferent to things around him, and focuses on his relationships to others. He focuses on his friends, how much they mean to him, his detachment towards them, and his loneliness. It is just kind of nice to see that be the main purpose of a character, especially when the relationships are not based on romance. These are emotional ties based mostly on friendship and romance is either secondary or non-existent.
The book also captures some emotions that I think are common but are rarely put into words. Talking about that empty feeling of the mundane, the strangeness of walking down a street the opposite way that you are use to, making the road seem strange and unfamiliar, that point in your life when you dreams died and you realized you were not special and you were never going to be. These are subtle emotions that I don't feel are often articulated in other books, or in conversation. They are familiar to us but since they don't have that dramatic flare of joy or anger, we mostly let them pass unnoticed.
The world building was well done and I often don't read mysteries but it was great to have a book that had a little mystery built into it. I got to guess along with the book about what was really happening. Kept me entertained along with the bits of dark humor and the descriptions of the neighborhoods. You get some fun action in the first half and some dark surrealism in the second. Fully intend to read more by Michael Marshall Smith.
The book also captures some emotions that I think are common but are rarely put into words. Talking about that empty feeling of the mundane, the strangeness of walking down a street the opposite way that you are use to, making the road seem strange and unfamiliar, that point in your life when you dreams died and you realized you were not special and you were never going to be. These are subtle emotions that I don't feel are often articulated in other books, or in conversation. They are familiar to us but since they don't have that dramatic flare of joy or anger, we mostly let them pass unnoticed.
The world building was well done and I often don't read mysteries but it was great to have a book that had a little mystery built into it. I got to guess along with the book about what was really happening. Kept me entertained along with the bits of dark humor and the descriptions of the neighborhoods. You get some fun action in the first half and some dark surrealism in the second. Fully intend to read more by Michael Marshall Smith.
This is really two very different books back to back. The first is a hysterically funny SF detective novel, that is a case study in how to reproduce a bizarre world into the reader's mind without tedious exposition. The second is a very dark story about the power of the subconscious. The transition isn't harsh, but at some point you do find yourself looking around and wondering what hit you. Amazing book.
Jaw-droppingly amazing. Not only is it a really good sci-fi story (and sci-fi is not a favorite genre of mine), but it is also deeply philosophical. Beautiful, sad, uplifting...I loved every page and was sad to get to the end (an end that took me completely by surprise, and that almost never happens). I can't recommend this highly enough!
3.5
When it started I was sceptical and thought it was slightly pretentious.
The middle, the plot and the writing and most of the characters and the set up soon changed my mind, right up to the Big Twist at the end (which I feel like you figure out but is still well done), but the last page was a real let down. The final chapter didn’t fit with the tone of the book, was too neat and tidy and...optimistic.
I also felt that the female characters were pretty 1 dimensional which is always a let down.
Overall though I enjoyed it and enjoyed how it made me think.
When it started I was sceptical and thought it was slightly pretentious.
The middle, the plot and the writing and most of the characters and the set up soon changed my mind, right up to the Big Twist at the end (which I feel like you figure out but is still well done), but the last page was a real let down. The final chapter didn’t fit with the tone of the book, was too neat and tidy and...optimistic.
I also felt that the female characters were pretty 1 dimensional which is always a let down.
Overall though I enjoyed it and enjoyed how it made me think.
Just reread it for the first time in about fifteen years. Just as fresh as ever. I love the main characters voice, I could read it all day (and did) and I love the idea of the future city, in fact I didn't realise I've been modelling a lot of my ideal scifi on the ideas of this city. And that's bout the best thing you can ask of a sci fi novel, those ideas that are so right they just stick!