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3.64 AVERAGE
3.64 AVERAGE
Wow, this had the potential to be so good, but it did absolutely nothing for me. I loved the world, very cool setting. I love that there’s a murder…but those two points alone weren’t enough to spike my interest.
The romance was odd and uncomfortable. I get that it was suppose to be, but the writing was awkward.
Read this as a recommendation and unfortunately it was a miss for me.
The romance was odd and uncomfortable. I get that it was suppose to be, but the writing was awkward.
Read this as a recommendation and unfortunately it was a miss for me.
3.5 stars.
One review called this both cozy and exciting and I couldn't agree more. Noir space steampunk novel. Some vague environmental vibes of Cathryn Valente, but definitively its own flavors and dish. An engaging little read. Fair warning that the writing style is classic noir and may take a few to get used to if that isn't your normal cuppa.
One review called this both cozy and exciting and I couldn't agree more. Noir space steampunk novel. Some vague environmental vibes of Cathryn Valente, but definitively its own flavors and dish. An engaging little read. Fair warning that the writing style is classic noir and may take a few to get used to if that isn't your normal cuppa.
A fun cozy sci-fi mystery. I wish it was longer and the mystery, characters, and consequences could have been more expanded. For what it was, it was a pleasant and entertaining read.
Perhaps further books in the series will make me love them more. I liked it, but I can't really rave about it.
Mossa is a (police) Investigator who is trying to solve the disappearance and assumed death of a man far from home, fallen at the literal end of the (transportation) line. She reunites with her old college roommate, who now works at the same academic institution as the man in question. It becomes a frantic race to piece together all the bits of the puzzle before something bad happens to one of them. Sounds good, was interesting to try to understand the motivations in a completely different time and place, but...
oh right. It takes place way in the future, on a GAS PLANET where they somehow have devised platforms to live on and railway cars (and gondolas?) to ride in. I spent too much time trying to picture how this looked and map out the science of it all in my head. Did the "rings" literally ring all the way around the planet? Last time I checked, Jupiter was REALLY BIG, so I kept getting hung up on how far apart these platforms are, and how big the population was and.... losing track of the characters I was supposed to care about. (I did want a map pretty badly.) The language of the book is also very formal, and while I don't object to learning new words while reading, it felt overdone. Pretentious. Much like some of the Valdegeld faculty, I guess. And also, while I *love* a Sapphic Holmes and Watson, I didn't see any chemistry between them. Just mild pining in one direction, and fondness/loyalty from the other. Neither narrative voice really convinced me that they were bound to be together.
So. Was it interesting? Yes. Will I read #2? Probably also yes. But I doubt it'll show up on my top 5 of the year list. (If I ever made one.)
Mossa is a (police) Investigator who is trying to solve the disappearance and assumed death of a man far from home, fallen at the literal end of the (transportation) line. She reunites with her old college roommate, who now works at the same academic institution as the man in question. It becomes a frantic race to piece together all the bits of the puzzle before something bad happens to one of them. Sounds good, was interesting to try to understand the motivations in a completely different time and place, but...
oh right. It takes place way in the future, on a GAS PLANET where they somehow have devised platforms to live on and railway cars (and gondolas?) to ride in. I spent too much time trying to picture how this looked and map out the science of it all in my head. Did the "rings" literally ring all the way around the planet? Last time I checked, Jupiter was REALLY BIG, so I kept getting hung up on how far apart these platforms are, and how big the population was and.... losing track of the characters I was supposed to care about. (I did want a map pretty badly.) The language of the book is also very formal, and while I don't object to learning new words while reading, it felt overdone. Pretentious. Much like some of the Valdegeld faculty, I guess. And also, while I *love* a Sapphic Holmes and Watson, I didn't see any chemistry between them. Just mild pining in one direction, and fondness/loyalty from the other. Neither narrative voice really convinced me that they were bound to be together.
So. Was it interesting? Yes. Will I read #2? Probably also yes. But I doubt it'll show up on my top 5 of the year list. (If I ever made one.)
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
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
relaxing
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:
Yes
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
This was a nice little Sci-Fi Mystery! There wasn’t any moment that felt dull or boring and that may be due to being a short 170 something pages but also credit to how the mystery was paced.
Our investigation is seen through the POV of the old college friend of the detective who was asked to tag along as a consultant due to her specializations. This gives the novel an almost movie like feel where we are always with the detective but we don’t know what’s going on inside their head unless their share it or inspire others to draw the same conclusions with suggestions etc.
The book being set on a different plant thousands of years after earths demise was really interesting because they created this entire field of study that’s essentially Jurassic park but for Earth at its prime before the damaging of the Ozone and global warming. They are trying to recreate Earths biosphere when it was at its prime to eventually return civilization to permanently in a stable and safe living environment. Information isn’t shoehorned in and gets introduced naturally so it didn’t feel like too much at once.
The romance wasn’t much but it was perfect for the pacing as it helped connect dots and quicken reaction times due to their intrinsic trust in each other. Felt natural and not forced and didn’t deter the plot at all.
Overall this was a great mystery and would recommend if you like Sci-if and mystery.
Our investigation is seen through the POV of the old college friend of the detective who was asked to tag along as a consultant due to her specializations. This gives the novel an almost movie like feel where we are always with the detective but we don’t know what’s going on inside their head unless their share it or inspire others to draw the same conclusions with suggestions etc.
The book being set on a different plant thousands of years after earths demise was really interesting because they created this entire field of study that’s essentially Jurassic park but for Earth at its prime before the damaging of the Ozone and global warming. They are trying to recreate Earths biosphere when it was at its prime to eventually return civilization to permanently in a stable and safe living environment. Information isn’t shoehorned in and gets introduced naturally so it didn’t feel like too much at once.
The romance wasn’t much but it was perfect for the pacing as it helped connect dots and quicken reaction times due to their intrinsic trust in each other. Felt natural and not forced and didn’t deter the plot at all.
Overall this was a great mystery and would recommend if you like Sci-if and mystery.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence
Minor: Suicide attempt
Nothing bad about this book, I just wasn't vibing with it
challenging
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
The Mimicking of Known Successes is a quirky science fiction murder mystery with a dash of romance by Malka Older. Tordotcom has made a name in publishing excellent novellas, and this is no exception – it was nominated for both the Hugo Award and the Nebula Award for Best Novella. While the title may be a bit of a mouthful, it fits the unique academic nature of the book, which is billed as a cozy Holmesian murder mystery and sapphic romance. The mood and feel of the book are enough like Victorian England to suit the Sherlock Holmes comparison, but its setting is 100 percent science fiction. Presumably, this is centuries in the future, as humans thrive on open-aired platforms above Giant while hoping to “reset” Earth and return home.
If I were to describe this book using only one word, it would be, “lovely.” The writing, the characters, the descriptions – all splendid. The title is a quote from the book (which I absolutely love), explaining how scholars plan to recreate the perfect living environment on Earth so they can return to the planet one day. It’s the main character’s sole focus – and she’s not alone. Valdegeld University is “the great center of learning and culture” on one of the floating platforms where humanity now lives, and one of its scholars disappeared from an isolated platform with no explanation. Senior Investigator Mossa is intrigued. She didn’t think the scholar went there to kill himself, so if he went over the edge, he might have been pushed or thrown. She decides to return to Valdegeld and enlist the help of her university sweetheart, Pleiti. Together they follow the trail of the missing scholar.
Their investigatory relationship is very Holmes and Watson. Mossa is very much a meticulous detective who keeps her investigations to herself while letting Pleiti do most of the talking. The romance is tentative and subtle, as brief hints of their past relationship colors their current attraction. While their mutual attraction is obvious, they are both hesitant to act on it, and their interactions add depth to the story.
There’s a lot to love about this universe. My favorite is the Koffre Institute for Earth Species Preservation, which is part zoo and part museum, where Earth species of plants and animals were reconstituted. Researchers believed that not only did humanity need other life in order to flourish, but they needed to study the inhabitants of Earth if they ever wanted to recreate them on their home world. Referred to as the Preservation Institute or the mauzooleum, Pleiti muses that “many non-scholars visited as well, finding some importance in seeing for themselves these creatures and plants, even if they were not, quite, in their native habitat; a respite perhaps, or a warped window on what our lost life on Earth might have been like.”
Scholars from Valdegeld like Pleiti are dedicated to the “vaunted field of Classical studies,” and study old Earth books to analyze the descriptions of flora and fauna. Pleiti tells Mossa that she studies the British Isles in the mid-twentieth century, and is amazed by a story book intended for children – “a very useful book about rabbits and their adventures.” It’s a delightful addition. It also makes the reader think about books in a new light – even children’s stories.
The Mimicking of Known Successes may not be for everyone – it takes a few chapters to get into and the dialogue is very prim, proper, and formal – but I very much enjoyed it.