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naomiq's review against another edition
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
1.5
This book was sooo hard to follow. It was so confusing. Everything about it, and not in a good way. I would have DNF'd if I wasn't reading it for book club. I love a good sci-fi book, but this was bad. It was a drag to get through and the ending wasn't even satisfying. I really don't know what I read and I'm not gonna remember any of it because I wasn't engaged, I was just confused. I'm glad it's over with, but I'm annoyed that I spent my time finishing it.
kellymariez's review
adventurous
challenging
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
karinlib's review
4.0
I loved this debut space opera. I went into this book with no expectations, without reading any reviews. I found that I couldn't put it down, except when real life interfered (which happened way too often). So I won't say to much.
A fleet of spaceships from the homeworld are closing in on their Destination World, and they would have to decelerate very soon, and there was much to be done before Braking Day. Generations have lived on the ships, and not everyone is sure that they want to live on a planet.
I am looking forward to reading more by this author.
A fleet of spaceships from the homeworld are closing in on their Destination World, and they would have to decelerate very soon, and there was much to be done before Braking Day. Generations have lived on the ships, and not everyone is sure that they want to live on a planet.
I am looking forward to reading more by this author.
firegorn's review
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
ergative's review
3.5
I was surprised by how much I ended up liking this. I found the beginning a bit hard to take, with the tedious crush on the dumb girl who needs help and the incredibly clumsy use of future space!slang. But the plot itself was great! There was a great mystery at the heart of it that developed really well once it got moving, and I found myself fully engaged by the end. This is one of those books that I wouldn't have finished without the motivation of bookgroup, but which I'm glad I finished in the end. But also I won't be reading any more by this author. Because in a world where everyone has cybernetic implants, I simply don't believe that only the engineers have recording functions.
hank's review
4.0
This was one of the better sci-fi that I have read this year. A great mix of characters and well put together plot. The framework of generational starships headed to their destination planet and the multiple hopes and fears that go along with it made a good background for the story.
I don't think I had ever thought about the idea of being born in space making someone not actually want to land on the destination planet. It makes total sense and also makes sense that it would be the main driver of conflict on the ship.
My reviews have been mostly terrible lately, note to self, quit job, spend more time on reviews.
I don't think I had ever thought about the idea of being born in space making someone not actually want to land on the destination planet. It makes total sense and also makes sense that it would be the main driver of conflict on the ship.
My reviews have been mostly terrible lately, note to self, quit job, spend more time on reviews.
dude_watchin_with_the_brontes's review
4.0
Interesting and complex plot, generally enjoyable.
I was distracted a lot at first trying to figure out the main characters' ages, because they seem to have the maturity of teenagers and the responsibilities of adults. I decided they're probably teens and that childhood just doesn't last as long on Archimedes as it does where I'm from. I'm surprised it's not being marketed as YA. It looks like 13 people on goodreads agree with me and have categorized it as such.
I read this for a sff book club and I'm looking forward to hearing the others' thoughts!
I was distracted a lot at first trying to figure out the main characters' ages, because they seem to have the maturity of teenagers and the responsibilities of adults. I decided they're probably teens and that childhood just doesn't last as long on Archimedes as it does where I'm from. I'm surprised it's not being marketed as YA. It looks like 13 people on goodreads agree with me and have categorized it as such.
I read this for a sff book club and I'm looking forward to hearing the others' thoughts!
thevalleystream's review
4.0
The English Bookshop SF Reading Group June 2023.
The story follows Ravi on the ship Archimedes travelling for Tau Ceti, where they are supposed to start a new life. They left Earth due to it having become overrun and controlled by AI called LOKI, which they frown upon. What's interesting is that they are not against being dependent upon technology. They are now completely augmented humans, all connected through The Hive, where you cannot hide and cannot leave. Oyebanji shows the pros and cons with both these philosophies in a way I really enjoyed. And the technology he creates is cool and, to me, well researched.
This was an impressive debut. Overall, it felt like Oyebanji wanted to do so much, he wanted to write about so much, that not all got explored as much as I would have liked. And it should definitely be a series to satisfy that. And because of that some of the story got flatter, like the characters. But not so much that it bothered. I will definitely want to read more from Oyebanji in the future!
The story follows Ravi on the ship Archimedes travelling for Tau Ceti, where they are supposed to start a new life. They left Earth due to it having become overrun and controlled by AI called LOKI, which they frown upon. What's interesting is that they are not against being dependent upon technology. They are now completely augmented humans, all connected through The Hive, where you cannot hide and cannot leave. Oyebanji shows the pros and cons with both these philosophies in a way I really enjoyed. And the technology he creates is cool and, to me, well researched.
This was an impressive debut. Overall, it felt like Oyebanji wanted to do so much, he wanted to write about so much, that not all got explored as much as I would have liked. And it should definitely be a series to satisfy that. And because of that some of the story got flatter, like the characters. But not so much that it bothered. I will definitely want to read more from Oyebanji in the future!
dogfood's review
2.0
Der US-Journalist Andrew Liptak gibt in seinem Newsletter über Science Fiction, regelmäßig einen Überblick über Neuerscheinungen des kommenden Monats. In dem Zitat einer Vorabkritik eines Buchmagazins hieß es zum Roman „Oyebanji builds intrigue upon intrigue through the novel’s first half and pays off the suspense with a series of jaw-dropping revelations. Innovative worldbuilding, a plot packed with surprises, and Oyebanji’s nuanced exploration of social and cultural shifts make this a must-read for space opera fans.“
Derart angespitzt, erwarb ich das Buch… und las… wartete … las weiter … wartete … quälte mich durch … und dann war das Buch zu Ende.
Das Set-Up klang viel versprechend. Mehrere zehntausend Menschen beschließen die von Künstlicher Intelligenz dominierte Erde zu verlassen, um in einem anderen Sonnensystem eine neue Zivilisation zu gründen. Dazu wurden drei „Generationen-Schiffe“ gebaut und gestartet. Nach sieben Generationen bzw ca. 130 Jahren, ist man fast am Zielplaneten angekommen. In ein paar Tagen steht der „Braking Day“ an, der Tag an dem die drei Schiffe um 180 Grad wenden, um ihre Triebwerke als Bremstriebwerke einzusetzen.
Hauptfigur des Romans ist Ravi Macleod, ein junger Maschinist in Ausbildung (sowas wie „dualer Student“). Während Arbeiten nahe der Außenhülle der „Archimedes“, sieht er eine Frau ohne Raumanzug im Weltraum schweben. Es wird immer deutlicher dass es sich um Visionen handelt, die auch seine Träume dominieren. Es scheint, als würde irgendwas mit ihm kommunizieren wollen…
Die besten Momente hat das Buch, wenn es sich um World Building kümmert. Wie sieht so ein Generationsschiff aus. Was macht so ein Flug über sieben Generationen mit den Menschen.
Der Plot, der dann aber daraus entsteht, entpuppt sich als zunehmend simpel gestrickt und das macht das Buch zunehmend freudloser.
Es zeigt sich zuerst an den Handlungsträger|innen im Buch. Abgesehen von der initialen Charakterbeschreibung, ist kaum klar, wie sie ticken, was sie antreibt und warum sie so geworden sind, wie sie geworden sind. Auch wenn die Figuren durchaus unterschiedlich klingen, scheinen sie alle aus der gleichen DNA-Suppe zu stammen.
Dieses fehlende „warum ist es so, wie es ist“ breitet sich dann von den Charakteren auch auf den Plot aus. Die Motivation der beiden Hauptkonflikte im Roman hat die Fallhöhe eines unterdurchschnittlichen Derrick-Krimis und ist komplett unglaubwürdig. Es ist leider noch nicht einmal „crazy“-unglaubwürdig, sondern „ich habe gerade 400 Seiten gelesen und man serviert mir diese Fürze als Auslöser für die Handlung? Srsly?“-unglaubwürdig.
Schade, schade, schade. Denn das World Building, bzw, die Ideen dahinter, waren vielversprechend, wenn auch teilweise plump rübergebracht.
Daher nur 2 von 5 Sternen.
Derart angespitzt, erwarb ich das Buch… und las… wartete … las weiter … wartete … quälte mich durch … und dann war das Buch zu Ende.
Das Set-Up klang viel versprechend. Mehrere zehntausend Menschen beschließen die von Künstlicher Intelligenz dominierte Erde zu verlassen, um in einem anderen Sonnensystem eine neue Zivilisation zu gründen. Dazu wurden drei „Generationen-Schiffe“ gebaut und gestartet. Nach sieben Generationen bzw ca. 130 Jahren, ist man fast am Zielplaneten angekommen. In ein paar Tagen steht der „Braking Day“ an, der Tag an dem die drei Schiffe um 180 Grad wenden, um ihre Triebwerke als Bremstriebwerke einzusetzen.
Hauptfigur des Romans ist Ravi Macleod, ein junger Maschinist in Ausbildung (sowas wie „dualer Student“). Während Arbeiten nahe der Außenhülle der „Archimedes“, sieht er eine Frau ohne Raumanzug im Weltraum schweben. Es wird immer deutlicher dass es sich um Visionen handelt, die auch seine Träume dominieren. Es scheint, als würde irgendwas mit ihm kommunizieren wollen…
Die besten Momente hat das Buch, wenn es sich um World Building kümmert. Wie sieht so ein Generationsschiff aus. Was macht so ein Flug über sieben Generationen mit den Menschen.
Der Plot, der dann aber daraus entsteht, entpuppt sich als zunehmend simpel gestrickt und das macht das Buch zunehmend freudloser.
Es zeigt sich zuerst an den Handlungsträger|innen im Buch. Abgesehen von der initialen Charakterbeschreibung, ist kaum klar, wie sie ticken, was sie antreibt und warum sie so geworden sind, wie sie geworden sind. Auch wenn die Figuren durchaus unterschiedlich klingen, scheinen sie alle aus der gleichen DNA-Suppe zu stammen.
Dieses fehlende „warum ist es so, wie es ist“ breitet sich dann von den Charakteren auch auf den Plot aus. Die Motivation der beiden Hauptkonflikte im Roman hat die Fallhöhe eines unterdurchschnittlichen Derrick-Krimis und ist komplett unglaubwürdig. Es ist leider noch nicht einmal „crazy“-unglaubwürdig, sondern „ich habe gerade 400 Seiten gelesen und man serviert mir diese Fürze als Auslöser für die Handlung? Srsly?“-unglaubwürdig.
Schade, schade, schade. Denn das World Building, bzw, die Ideen dahinter, waren vielversprechend, wenn auch teilweise plump rübergebracht.
Daher nur 2 von 5 Sternen.