Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.07 AVERAGE
4.07 AVERAGE
rating is based on personal preference, not the quality of the book. I need to try this one again sometime. It hit a tough spot of death and identity and existence and was just too existential for me to fully enjoy.
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Compelling start with a fascinating concept, as Bob discovers who and what he has become in a new era and regime. The worldbuilding was interesting to sink into, and Bob's voice was light and irreverent enough that a dark setting and situation felt more like an amusing challenge than a devastation.
However, the narrative left a few things to be desired. I was entertained by two of the four stories (helping along a burgeoning but struggling sentient species and planet colonization) but overall found the writing to be overly technical, weighed down with details I absolutely did not need, and a little too enamored with its own jokes and pop culture references. I mean, look. I really did appreciate the copious Star Trek references. Those, I was absolutely fine with. (This book might be a little insufferable if you are not a big Star Trek fan, actually.) But otherwise, the jokes and references got a little overbearing. And I have quite a high tolerance for techno babble, but you have to do it lightly and in a way that makes some intuitive sense to the audience. I found this techno babble to be too copious, long, boring, and nonsensical.
Also, I thought Bob could use more flaws. This "I'm basically a genius and am going to save multiple worlds without missing a beat for my silly joke" thing got a little repetitive after a while. The "clan of cloned genius robots saves the day because humans can't cooperate" shtick was a little irritating, but that might just be me. I like sci-fi that points to the best of humanity, personally, not hero that saves the day. Yeah, it's a collective, but they're all variations on the same personality, so it doesn't hit the same.
However, Bob's breezy, confident, determined, and earnest voice gave the story a lot of heart. Exploring some of these concepts was interesting - differences within an army of robot clones, determining parameters for interfering in an early sentient species to help them survive. The worldbuilding was unexpected and kind of creative. I was entertained just enough to finish. But I don't think I'll read the next one.
However, the narrative left a few things to be desired. I was entertained by two of the four stories (helping along a burgeoning but struggling sentient species and planet colonization) but overall found the writing to be overly technical, weighed down with details I absolutely did not need, and a little too enamored with its own jokes and pop culture references. I mean, look. I really did appreciate the copious Star Trek references. Those, I was absolutely fine with. (This book might be a little insufferable if you are not a big Star Trek fan, actually.) But otherwise, the jokes and references got a little overbearing. And I have quite a high tolerance for techno babble, but you have to do it lightly and in a way that makes some intuitive sense to the audience. I found this techno babble to be too copious, long, boring, and nonsensical.
Also, I thought Bob could use more flaws. This "I'm basically a genius and am going to save multiple worlds without missing a beat for my silly joke" thing got a little repetitive after a while. The "clan of cloned genius robots saves the day because humans can't cooperate" shtick was a little irritating, but that might just be me. I like sci-fi that points to the best of humanity, personally, not hero that saves the day. Yeah, it's a collective, but they're all variations on the same personality, so it doesn't hit the same.
However, Bob's breezy, confident, determined, and earnest voice gave the story a lot of heart. Exploring some of these concepts was interesting - differences within an army of robot clones, determining parameters for interfering in an early sentient species to help them survive. The worldbuilding was unexpected and kind of creative. I was entertained just enough to finish. But I don't think I'll read the next one.
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
If you like Andy Weir, then you'll probably like this series.
I have to say I think some fans of this series do it a disservice. Before reading this, I thought this would be more of a silly space comedy. I had heard it recommended next to Dungeon Crawler Carl and Hitchhiker's. While I agree that Bobiverse has its comedic moments, it's not completely focused on that angle. It's not continually laugh-out-loud funny. It sits with its own drama and melancholy more often than not. It focuses more on its own specific scientific and technological dilemmas, which is why it reminds me more of Andy Weir than anything else.
The audiobook is good, but it's an Audible exclusive. I'm wondering if that's why it's the length it is. Because the only real complaint I had for this was the ending. It just ends, and not in a legitimate cliffhanger way. It's as if it was written continuously and broken up before publication.
I have to say I think some fans of this series do it a disservice. Before reading this, I thought this would be more of a silly space comedy. I had heard it recommended next to Dungeon Crawler Carl and Hitchhiker's. While I agree that Bobiverse has its comedic moments, it's not completely focused on that angle. It's not continually laugh-out-loud funny. It sits with its own drama and melancholy more often than not. It focuses more on its own specific scientific and technological dilemmas, which is why it reminds me more of Andy Weir than anything else.
The audiobook is good, but it's an Audible exclusive. I'm wondering if that's why it's the length it is. Because the only real complaint I had for this was the ending. It just ends, and not in a legitimate cliffhanger way. It's as if it was written continuously and broken up before publication.
adventurous
dark
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
funny
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:
No
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated