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4.02 AVERAGE
4.02 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
hopeful
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
adventurous
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
All right, I'm technically cheating, saying I finished it because DNF at 81%, because I really would like to read something that I don't actively dislike.
There were good parts in this, don't get me wrong. I enjoyed Ozzie and Orion, even if I could've done without the homophobia and sexism throughout the book. There were parts that held my interest--when this book had action, it was exciting. The problem was that there's so much build-up to the action that I don't want to sit there and wait for it to happen.
As someone else pointed out, the women in here are good for romps or are otherwise sexless. I could sort of overlook that, if the story had held my interest. But I was also holding out hope that Judas Unchained was better. Upon hearing that it wasn't...I give up. I see no point in finishing this if I'm never going to read the sequel.
Also, as someone pointed out, it's like civilization is stuck in 2010, yet somehow transplanted into the future. That makes no sense. Granted, some science fiction is dated now (like Cyteen), but even so.
I feel like there were also too many planets thrown at me that they started to blend into each other. Also, I miss my Belters and my Inners. (Yes, I miss The Expanse. So sue me).
Also, we spent so much time on the Ice Citadel I began to feel like *I* was physically stuck there. Ugh.
Yeah, so, DNF. Sorry. The good does not outweigh the bad here.
There were good parts in this, don't get me wrong. I enjoyed Ozzie and Orion, even if I could've done without the homophobia and sexism throughout the book. There were parts that held my interest--when this book had action, it was exciting. The problem was that there's so much build-up to the action that I don't want to sit there and wait for it to happen.
As someone else pointed out, the women in here are good for romps or are otherwise sexless. I could sort of overlook that, if the story had held my interest. But I was also holding out hope that Judas Unchained was better. Upon hearing that it wasn't...I give up. I see no point in finishing this if I'm never going to read the sequel.
Also, as someone pointed out, it's like civilization is stuck in 2010, yet somehow transplanted into the future. That makes no sense. Granted, some science fiction is dated now (like Cyteen), but even so.
I feel like there were also too many planets thrown at me that they started to blend into each other. Also, I miss my Belters and my Inners. (Yes, I miss The Expanse. So sue me).
Also, we spent so much time on the Ice Citadel I began to feel like *I* was physically stuck there. Ugh.
Yeah, so, DNF. Sorry. The good does not outweigh the bad here.
challenging
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I didn't hate this book, but I probably couldn't tell you much about it. It was pretty dense and some of the writing was rather misogynistic. I didn't connect to any character and that caused me to struggle with it.
adventurous
slow-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:
N/A
2.5 stars. But this could have been 4 or 5 if Hamilton had a better editor, I think.
I'm frustrated by this book. The core of the story is very good, but Hamilton included what I thought were too many unrelated or only tangentially-related plotlines. Each of them were fine, and nice explorations of his Commonwealth universe, but I would have enjoyed this more -- and perhaps actually continued on to read the sequel -- if more of the excess was trimmed.
I'm frustrated by this book. The core of the story is very good, but Hamilton included what I thought were too many unrelated or only tangentially-related plotlines. Each of them were fine, and nice explorations of his Commonwealth universe, but I would have enjoyed this more -- and perhaps actually continued on to read the sequel -- if more of the excess was trimmed.
challenging
dark
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Good god, this book took a while to finish off!
Don't get me wrong, it's a fantastic novel...it's just that Hamilton's descriptions can occasionally drag on in a way that overloads the reader.
That said, the story itself, despite having multiple storylines which seem to be disconnected from one another at first, is masterfully told. It's been a long time since a science fiction has had me so invested in its characters, events, and *slowly* unfolding storyline.
I spent two nights with no sleep just to finish it up, for the love of whatever deity you worship!
My personal favourite character was one Nigel Sheldon, one of the two inventors of the wormhole technology which allows for the Commonwealth's existence, basically.
I'm giving Pandora's Star 5 stars, although some of the descriptions were really exhausting to read. The story, the characters and the setting are all a solid 5, and even though I was seriously considering a four-star rating at one point, I've decided to give it 5!
Don't get me wrong, it's a fantastic novel...it's just that Hamilton's descriptions can occasionally drag on in a way that overloads the reader.
That said, the story itself, despite having multiple storylines which seem to be disconnected from one another at first, is masterfully told. It's been a long time since a science fiction has had me so invested in its characters, events, and *slowly* unfolding storyline.
I spent two nights with no sleep just to finish it up, for the love of whatever deity you worship!
My personal favourite character was one Nigel Sheldon, one of the two inventors of the wormhole technology which allows for the Commonwealth's existence, basically.
I'm giving Pandora's Star 5 stars, although some of the descriptions were really exhausting to read. The story, the characters and the setting are all a solid 5, and even though I was seriously considering a four-star rating at one point, I've decided to give it 5!
Imaginative and enjoying. The only downside is the length...and I think the only it was so long is because he seemed to have quite a few 'unrelated interludes' that didn't really tie back to the main plot or story.
I started by reading the brick that is the paperback. Unfortunately I found it too dense to push into the meat of the story. However this book (and series) shines as an audio book. With the narrator making this sound more like a BBC Radio Drama it is so engaging.
But Peter, you really need to chill with the sex scenes.
But Peter, you really need to chill with the sex scenes.