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currymj's review
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? It's complicated
5.0
rachelhelps's review against another edition
2.0
Excellent world-building; terrible pacing. Teenage Matt and his friends live on the moon and have grown up with its culture of resenting earth and being able to jump really high (a more accurate title would have been Growing Up in Low Gravity). It's a slice-of-life sci-fye, but it feels like something big is about to happen, and when nothing does, it's disappointing (I don't mind slice-of-life, just don't pretend to be something else).
johnnyforeign's review against another edition
3.0
A friend of mine highly recommended John M. Ford, especially his "The Scholars of Night." So, I tried "Scholars," which I found tedious and hard to follow. Nonetheless, because I like science fiction, I thought I'd give "Growing up Weightless" a try. Again, tedious and hard to follow. The cover of "Growing up Weightless" features a quote from the esteemed science fiction author Gene Wolfe that proclaims it "the best novel laid on Luna since 'The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress.'" I haven't read many novels set on the moon, but I don't think Ford's novel even barely approaches Heinlein's novel, which is truly a classic of the genre. In general, I'd say Ford is talented, but a bit too clever and overly subtle for his own good.
nigellicus's review
5.0
Coming of age on the moon, when the great adventure is over and the accomplishments of the parents completely overshadow the lives of the children. Our hero feels trapped, oppressed and monitored and searches for a chalenge that’ll make his life worthwhile. An effective story from the late, lamented Ford.
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