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not_mike's review against another edition
4.0
Hardcover, novel.
A good translation of Lao She's text. This version contains a biography of the author, a history of the text, and a brief history of China in the early 20th century. Each chapter begins with a context of the time as footnotes, establishing the context of what Lao She satirizes. Translated for a Western audience, as the whole text (apparently) was not broken up into chapters. While the SF premise is deceiving (man travels to Mars, meets a planet inhabited by cats that has an awful resemblance to the Chinese Republic), the weight of this work is in its a balance of humor akin to Dickens or Swift, the former of which the author was influenced by after reading his novels. While the beginning is lighthearted and comical, about the latter half of the novel (I'd say about 40%) is pretty grim and reads as if the author abandoned the whole Martian premise to tell a period of Chinese history in government change, revolution, and war.
A good translation of Lao She's text. This version contains a biography of the author, a history of the text, and a brief history of China in the early 20th century. Each chapter begins with a context of the time as footnotes, establishing the context of what Lao She satirizes. Translated for a Western audience, as the whole text (apparently) was not broken up into chapters. While the SF premise is deceiving (man travels to Mars, meets a planet inhabited by cats that has an awful resemblance to the Chinese Republic), the weight of this work is in its a balance of humor akin to Dickens or Swift, the former of which the author was influenced by after reading his novels. While the beginning is lighthearted and comical, about the latter half of the novel (I'd say about 40%) is pretty grim and reads as if the author abandoned the whole Martian premise to tell a period of Chinese history in government change, revolution, and war.
jakeyjake's review against another edition
4.0
This is an awesome satire of China that helped me get a feel for the real social, economic, and political issues were causing so much duress in the 1930s.
liquidsticks's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
1.5
jaytongue's review against another edition
dark
funny
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
A science-fiction dystopia that deals satirizes Lao She's impressions of post-dynastic and early communist China. The story is very referential of these dynamics, and a reader would benefit from awareness of Chinese history, culture, the cult of the emperor, and political movements such as communism and nationalism.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Sexual assault, Death, Police brutality, Rape, Violence, War, Addiction, Genocide, and Murder
deanjean_reads's review against another edition
4.0
Not so much science fiction than a deeply troubling and savage account of certain periods of Chinese history, and a very good swipe at our 'modern' civilisation today.
ghxostt's review against another edition
4.0
Ako posmatramo roman samo kao delo naucne fantastike nije nista specijalno: Kinez koji se nasukao na Mars ne moze da se vrati na svoju planetu i upoznaje nov narod i kulturu Mackolikih. Medjutim, Macji grad je mnogo vise od pukog romana o vanzemaljcima; Maciji grad je ogledalo desavanja u Kini prve polovine 20. veka. Govori o opijumu, klasnim razlikama, korupciji, siromastvu i gladi, losem obrazovnom sistemu i uticaju kolonizatora i imperijalista. Za razumevanje satire definitivno je neophodno poznavanje kineske istorije, pa mislim da oni koji ne znaju nista o drustvenim i politickim okolnostima Kine nece isto doziveti knjigu.
novkap's review against another edition
3.0
Would I read this again? No. However, I can appreciate this for what it is- a biting satire and commentary on political ideology and culture.
jlewr's review against another edition
5.0
Incredibly harsh satire of the issues Chinese society faced at the time. Many aspects of its criticism still stand for current Chinese society, but this is of course debatable.