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cerebulon's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
inspiring
tense
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Sexism, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Death, Classism, Colonisation, Drug use, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Sexual violence, Death, Domestic abuse, Rape, Torture, Violence, Trafficking, Slavery, Racism, War, Transphobia, Sexual assault, Religious bigotry, Addiction, Body horror, and Forced institutionalization
acopytopy's review
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
A descriptive and gripping book for most of its run, this story ends unimpressively. Nevertheless, it boasts a vivid writing style and a hectic range of ideas. Having never read a Culture book before this, I understood the basics of the setting well enough and enjoyed how unique and interesting it was.
That said, I lowered the rating quite a bit because I personally disliked the ending.
The issue with this book is that none of it matters. The Culture is spread throughout the galaxy, but the events of this novel revolve around 1 man and 1 planet. This would be completely fine if the events on Azad were either significant to the Culture or if they had personal significance to Gurgeh. Since there appeared to be little impact on the Culture itself, I expected there to be a deeper impact on Gurgeh's life.
Throughout the book, I wondered who Gurgeh would finally grow to be. He starts out as an unpleasant individual, and his personality and goals are in constant flux as he learns more about life outside the Culture. I expected these few years to change the course of his life dramatically. Would he gain wisdom and become a professor? Would he become paranoid and retreat into the wilderness to avoid drones forever? Would he continue on to do more great things as an official member of Special Circumstances? Would he finally tell his friends or the universe at large that he cheated in a game against a child?
The answer to these questions was disappointing, to say the least. Gurgeh is left in a depressive state after the traumatic events that occurred to him, and the last we see of him, he is left in the exact position he began the story in: standing on the balcony of his home. The only change in lifestyle we are made aware of is that he has finally had sex with the background character he wanted to have sex with. This ending changes from disappointing to outright insulting when afterwards, Mawhrin-Skel directly and flippantly tells the reader that Gurgeh is long dead. What happened after Gurgeh came back from Azad? You don't get to know.
After how much I enjoyed the rest of the book, especially the climax, the ending alone was enough to lower my rating.
That said, I lowered the rating quite a bit because I personally disliked the ending.
Throughout the book, I wondered who Gurgeh would finally grow to be. He starts out as an unpleasant individual, and his personality and goals are in constant flux as he learns more about life outside the Culture. I expected these few years to change the course of his life dramatically. Would he gain wisdom and become a professor? Would he become paranoid and retreat into the wilderness to avoid drones forever? Would he continue on to do more great things as an official member of Special Circumstances? Would he finally tell his friends or the universe at large that he cheated in a game against a child?
The answer to these questions was disappointing, to say the least. Gurgeh is left in a depressive state after the traumatic events that occurred to him, and the last we see of him, he is left in the exact position he began the story in: standing on the balcony of his home. The only change in lifestyle we are made aware of is that he has finally had sex with the background character he wanted to have sex with. This ending changes from disappointing to outright insulting when afterwards, Mawhrin-Skel directly and flippantly tells the reader that Gurgeh is long dead. What happened after Gurgeh came back from Azad? You don't get to know.
After how much I enjoyed the rest of the book, especially the climax, the ending alone was enough to lower my rating.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault and Sexual content
timpark's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Child abuse and Sexual assault
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