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shieldbearer's review against another edition
adventurous
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Honestly handles fantastic racism far better than a lot of other fantasy and science fiction, but that doesn't mean it handles it well. It still lacks a lot of nuance. the romance was stiff and uninspired.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Murder, Sexism, Death, Misogyny, and Police brutality
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Violence, Xenophobia, Confinement, Death of parent, Forced institutionalization, and War
angel_kiiss's review
challenging
informative
mysterious
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? No
3.5
If you've never read Asimov, start with this one. If you have read Asimov, do not start with this one.
As might be expected, Asimov's first novel starts slow with exciting story beats but a lack of plot but picks up quickly in the end as the real conflict of the story begins. The main character is interesting but you have to remind yourself that he is a 62-year-old man and not a young man out of time.
Staying true to Asimov, however, the romance plot is forced and uninteresting, with the only female character being reduced to the beautiful, intelligent-but-innocent stereotype that is found in most of Asimov's writing. But if your reading Isaac Asimov, you're not here to read about women in science fiction, you're reading because it's Isaac Asimov: Granddaddy of science fiction.
As might be expected, Asimov's first novel starts slow with exciting story beats but a lack of plot but picks up quickly in the end as the real conflict of the story begins. The main character is interesting but you have to remind yourself that he is a 62-year-old man and not a young man out of time.
Staying true to Asimov, however, the romance plot is forced and uninteresting, with the only female character being reduced to the beautiful, intelligent-but-innocent stereotype that is found in most of Asimov's writing. But if your reading Isaac Asimov, you're not here to read about women in science fiction, you're reading because it's Isaac Asimov: Granddaddy of science fiction.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Ableism, Misogyny, and Sexism
Minor: Confinement, Police brutality, and Torture
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