Scan barcode
breezer's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
ajahax's review against another edition
4.0
Rated 4 stars, but really a 3.5 star read.
Overall, the pacing of this novel was good and the characters were okay (I was a big fan of Kiva). However, the world building lacked for me (overwhelming focus on the nobility; I would have liked to see a focus on the working class) and left me disappointed. It is a coin toss if I'll read the next book in this trilogy. Perhaps if I have nothing else to read.
Overall, the pacing of this novel was good and the characters were okay (I was a big fan of Kiva). However, the world building lacked for me (overwhelming focus on the nobility; I would have liked to see a focus on the working class) and left me disappointed. It is a coin toss if I'll read the next book in this trilogy. Perhaps if I have nothing else to read.
daneelolivaw67's review against another edition
3.0
Sembra un Dallas o un Dinasty (soap anni '80) ambientato nel futuro. La storia è comunque godibile e scorrevole. Una sorta di metafora sulla globalizzazione e la sua fine, storia di amori, sesso e potere. Qui troviamo le navi con i nomi più inverosimili che possano esistere, del tipo "Si signore, questo è il miobambino" ecc.
tanishamahajan's review against another edition
challenging
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
asdvj's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
mattp3's review
4.0
So this is John Scalzi's go at a Dune-like, and I must admit it's pretty fun. The Macguffin is pretty well thought out and at least partly original. Scalzi pulls off the vibrant, bold and sarcastic characters with aplomb, though his prose is typically casual. His science fiction could be improved, especially since technology only seems to have improved from current where the plot demands, which is a bit jarring. However he does buck the trend of sci-fi authors being useless at people, so for that I am thankful. I'll be ploughing straight into the next one in the series.
kizalia's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
logistical's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
bulwark's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-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
timinbc's review against another edition
3.0
First off, why can't the industry agree that when a book is #1 of a set IT SAYS SO ON THE COVER?
So ... you have to like Scalzi's breezy style to like this. And you REALLY have to not mind profanity. There's so much that it becomes funny after a while. And most of it is Kiva, who is a rather good character.
First off, I thought, "Oh noes, not ANOTHER book about a smart young woman who no one dreamed would become emperor. This is just Wagers' Behind The Throne again!" But then Scalzi changed direction. Could this be a tribute to Wagers? Later there's a minor character named Jemisin. And Cardenia? Is that Cordelia Naismith/Vorkosigan?
And don't tell me that Every Single Time you saw "Nohamapetan" you didn't think "Nahasapeemapetilon." There's no way that isn't intentional.
The plot's decent. The action's good. The characters are a good mix. OK, the dialogue is totally 2016, but I am not sure I want my authors speculating on future talk styles (although I do wonder whether teenagers will still "be all like, you know, he goes Eww and I'm all like lol" in 2150.)
This book is the potato chips of science fiction, and there's nothing wrong with that.
Old Man's War was more substantial, but I see no reason why this one needs to be compared to it beyond that.
So ... you have to like Scalzi's breezy style to like this. And you REALLY have to not mind profanity. There's so much that it becomes funny after a while. And most of it is Kiva, who is a rather good character.
First off, I thought, "Oh noes, not ANOTHER book about a smart young woman who no one dreamed would become emperor. This is just Wagers' Behind The Throne again!" But then Scalzi changed direction. Could this be a tribute to Wagers? Later there's a minor character named Jemisin. And Cardenia? Is that Cordelia Naismith/Vorkosigan?
And don't tell me that Every Single Time you saw "Nohamapetan" you didn't think "Nahasapeemapetilon." There's no way that isn't intentional.
The plot's decent. The action's good. The characters are a good mix. OK, the dialogue is totally 2016, but I am not sure I want my authors speculating on future talk styles (although I do wonder whether teenagers will still "be all like, you know, he goes Eww and I'm all like lol" in 2150.)
This book is the potato chips of science fiction, and there's nothing wrong with that.
Old Man's War was more substantial, but I see no reason why this one needs to be compared to it beyond that.