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beastreader's review against another edition
4.0
Mr. Gregory is a new to me author. The reason I wanted to read this book is because the idea that someone can find God by taking a drug is intriguing in the idea itself. Although I have said it before that I usually stray away from books that defie other ideas of God or religion. This is just my thing. However I thought this book was not just about religion or drugs but about the people, greed, effects of drugs, loneliness, and survival. So for these reasons, the story was so much more complex. Which I was intrigued by the seedy underbelly side of the drug world. Ok, so maybe I shouldn't say seedy as I am sure not all the people involved in the making and selling of drugs are all bad. It is the image involved in the drugs that make them bad which I have briefly gotten to see this first hand. My husband lost his youngest brother to drugs.
Back to the book. There is some language used but for this type of book, I would expect this and was not offended. I just wanted to put this warning out there in case some people are offended by language. I would say this book is gritty in a good way. I was so fascinated by what was happening in the story that it made reading the book go by quickly. This book is worth checking out.
Back to the book. There is some language used but for this type of book, I would expect this and was not offended. I just wanted to put this warning out there in case some people are offended by language. I would say this book is gritty in a good way. I was so fascinated by what was happening in the story that it made reading the book go by quickly. This book is worth checking out.
kathythelibraryteacher's review against another edition
3.0
Thoughts on religion, drugs & free will
The premise of this book piqued my interest. A drug that brings man and god together set loose on a world determined that religion is a farce? A cult, a scientist, a start up, a criminal ring, and a collection of heroes suffering from various mental fireworks? It was an interesting concept. Sadly, I didn’t enjoy this book. I did not like the narrator and main character, Lyda. Ironically,the book just felt preachy. The author clearly has a point of view and communicated it through the story. Too bad the story was lost in the condescension.
The premise of this book piqued my interest. A drug that brings man and god together set loose on a world determined that religion is a farce? A cult, a scientist, a start up, a criminal ring, and a collection of heroes suffering from various mental fireworks? It was an interesting concept. Sadly, I didn’t enjoy this book. I did not like the narrator and main character, Lyda. Ironically,the book just felt preachy. The author clearly has a point of view and communicated it through the story. Too bad the story was lost in the condescension.
bunrab's review against another edition
4.0
First person unreliable is a difficult voice for an author to pull off, but Gregory not only manages to do it well, he makes it seem as though that's the only possible way this story could have properly been told. The insertions by "G.I.E.D." are a cool way to see parts of the story from another angle, although we still can't entirely depend on their reliability, all things considered. (You'll figure out what GIED stands for, no problem.)
The acknowledgments include Antonio Damasio and Oliver Sacks, as well as the Four Horsemen of the Atheist Apocalypse (well, not by that title, but by their names.) If you've never heard of these guys, then you might want to brush up on your "is there a neural basis for humans' tendency to believe in gods?" before reading the novel, because the science of that question is at the heart of it.
And in spite of that serious a topic, there are some great touches of humor, in a sly and dry way as well as occasionally in a physical-farce way.
BTW, Goodreads seems to think the main classification of this book is mystery - that's how it's suggesting that I recommend it to my friends - but it is science fiction, and medium-hard science at that, first and foremost.
The acknowledgments include Antonio Damasio and Oliver Sacks, as well as the Four Horsemen of the Atheist Apocalypse (well, not by that title, but by their names.) If you've never heard of these guys, then you might want to brush up on your "is there a neural basis for humans' tendency to believe in gods?" before reading the novel, because the science of that question is at the heart of it.
And in spite of that serious a topic, there are some great touches of humor, in a sly and dry way as well as occasionally in a physical-farce way.
BTW, Goodreads seems to think the main classification of this book is mystery - that's how it's suggesting that I recommend it to my friends - but it is science fiction, and medium-hard science at that, first and foremost.
powellki's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
I guessed about halfway through who the actual betrayer was.
nattyg's review against another edition
4.0
A solid book. A steller cast. A well-thought plot. A fascinating read.
quietdomino's review against another edition
2.0
What should be an interesting premise--designer drugs cause characters to hallucinate a constantly-present god supervising their lives--becomes in execution fairly generic. Side detail of vicious assassin who relaxes by ranching genetically engineered mini cattle in his apartment is the best.
therafa's review against another edition
4.0
After reading Spoonbenders and Harrison Squared I conclude that any book by Daryl Gregory is worth checking out. And what I like about Gregory is that every story takes you in a ride to an eerily familiar unknown. AFTERPARTY is no exception. A future where drugs give you your own personal God is with this takes place. I really don't know how to review this one was without giving away too much. I'll say that you will find thrills and laughs, great characters, an assassin that races micro cattle in his spare time and a child that holds secret meetings with a deck of cards.
If your interest is not piqued by this, I really don't know what will.
If your interest is not piqued by this, I really don't know what will.
branch_c's review against another edition
4.0
A truly creative and yet easily believable premise combined with great writing from Gregory make this a fantastic read. The characters are eccentrically interesting and the plot is anything but predictable, while at the same time the story is straightforward and clearly written with nothing that feels like a literary trick on the reader.
Have to add a note on the inappropriate comment from Bacigalupi that the publisher chose for the cover blurb: "giggling"? No, while there's humor here, it's of the subtle and sophisticated kind; not in any way "giggly". I understand that Bacigalupi's name alone was probably a selling point (though personally I found his Windup Girl to be overhyped and underwhelming), but the comment suggests that he didn't actually read this book, and can be safely ignored.
Anyway, like much of Gregory's writing, this book has its grim parts, but overall is polished and enjoyable.
Have to add a note on the inappropriate comment from Bacigalupi that the publisher chose for the cover blurb: "giggling"? No, while there's humor here, it's of the subtle and sophisticated kind; not in any way "giggly". I understand that Bacigalupi's name alone was probably a selling point (though personally I found his Windup Girl to be overhyped and underwhelming), but the comment suggests that he didn't actually read this book, and can be safely ignored.
Anyway, like much of Gregory's writing, this book has its grim parts, but overall is polished and enjoyable.