Scan barcode
hirvimaki's review against another edition
3.0
This is a tough one for me to review. Although I enjoy scifi, I'm not what you'd call a scifi connoisseur, and perhaps, at least in part, this book falls more into that camp. I enjoyed parts of it very much. And I did not enjoy other parts very much. The overture pulled me right in. I liked Tchaikovsky's characterizations and had almost immediate empathy for the main characters. There is enough mystery and intrigue to keep you moving forward, wanting to know more. And as the plot unfolds it is very exciting and engaging. And then it reaches this crescendo and it all just gets...too much. It's like the zaniness of What the Butler Saw, but this ain't funny. It felt like the literary equivalent of watching a Michael Bay action sequence. Not that it is bad, it is just...too much. It's hard to focus on any one thing because a million things are right there in front of you. And really, I know this is the point. Tchaikovsky is showing you the BIG picture. And it is really, really big. And right there, right in the chaos and tumult, he lost me. I became disappointed in both his science(fiction) and his philosophy. My level of let down was on par to the revelation that the Force is just a high count (20,000 per cell) of Midi-chlorians, thank you very much. Say goodbye to the mystery and the fun. If I were the sort of person that puts down a book when I sour a little (or a lot) on the direction it goes, I would have set it aside. But then I would have missed that ending. I really enjoyed that ending. This book went from a solid four stars to a star and half and back up to three stars. Which, if you do read it, you might agree is kind of fitting.
willjacks's review against another edition
3.0
Not my favourite of Tchai’s books, but trust me when I say he goes DEEP.
Most of the time, you don’t really know what’s going on, but for me I didn’t necessarily care. The science-y happenings and explanations in the first two thirds are interesting, and revelations make an impact.
By the end though, nothing makes any sense to me. Some may say it’s wonderful and how SF should be etc., others may say it’s dry and altogether pointless. For me, I kept reading because I loved the character’s voices and mannerisms. Put these characters in a room for just dialogue and I’m on board 100%. Talk all the nonsense about alternate realities and infinitesimal this or that, I might’ve skipped past it altogether.
Overall, still worth a read.
Most of the time, you don’t really know what’s going on, but for me I didn’t necessarily care. The science-y happenings and explanations in the first two thirds are interesting, and revelations make an impact.
By the end though, nothing makes any sense to me. Some may say it’s wonderful and how SF should be etc., others may say it’s dry and altogether pointless. For me, I kept reading because I loved the character’s voices and mannerisms. Put these characters in a room for just dialogue and I’m on board 100%. Talk all the nonsense about alternate realities and infinitesimal this or that, I might’ve skipped past it altogether.
Overall, still worth a read.
angelajuniper's review against another edition
adventurous
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? It's complicated
3.5
ineffablebob's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
The Doors of Eden is the kind of far-reaching science fiction epic I've come to expect when picking up an Adrian Tchaikovsky book. This one reads like a globe-hopping spy thriller, only instead of traveling between feuding countries, our protagonists end up meeting beings from and traveling to alternate realities while racing against time to prevent the end of the multiverse. I did think that the character development suffered, as it largely revolved around playing up LGBT traits - sexual orientation or gender identity or repressed polyamory - which I understand as a parallel to the variety of realities, but made the characters feel one-dimensional. But there's so much going on that deep, complex characters aren't really needed to keep things interesting. Loved it, highly recommended.
dboyd22's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
milansabic's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
mallorywht's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
desolation73's review against another edition
3.0
Let me tell you sci fi isnt my most favourite genre in reading so far, so if your a fan of this book it might be me not the book. This book is for me over ambitious and misfires big time but the general consensus seems to be that it is Adrian's worst book anyway.
Guns of the Dawn however is a really good book a flintlock fantasy that draws you in and is extremely readable, this book failed to inspire me. But I will still be reading him as its 1 all and my next Tchaikovsky when I come back to him will be Children In Time.
My expierience with Sci fi so far goes as far as three body problem which was translated from chinese and the first two red rising books, the first of those I really struggled with but when I read Golden Son I think I understood the story a bit better.
Guns of the Dawn however is a really good book a flintlock fantasy that draws you in and is extremely readable, this book failed to inspire me. But I will still be reading him as its 1 all and my next Tchaikovsky when I come back to him will be Children In Time.
My expierience with Sci fi so far goes as far as three body problem which was translated from chinese and the first two red rising books, the first of those I really struggled with but when I read Golden Son I think I understood the story a bit better.
annekap's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
3.5
I love the way Tchaikovsky’s mind works. The interludes were particularly clever and thought-provoking.
Overall just a bit too long & drawn out and I never fully connected with the characters. I wanted it to be another Children of Time and it didn’t quite hit.
Overall just a bit too long & drawn out and I never fully connected with the characters. I wanted it to be another Children of Time and it didn’t quite hit.