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3.62 AVERAGE
3.62 AVERAGE
Zoo City continues the Angry Robot trend of being an interesting idea, decently executed, but not particularly well-written. In general though, I've enjoyed all of the books of theirs that I have read, so I'm not gonna knock it.
The premise of Zoo City is pretty interesting - criminals who have killed someone end up with an animal and a touch of magical power. It's set in South Africa, and the "Zoos" have largely migrated to sketchy areas of town since the rest of society is uncomfortable reintegrating them. Although the book doesn't touch on it much, it's mentioned that reactions to Zoos around the world are quite different, often amounting to witch hunts. The zoos have various talents - the protagonist finds 'lost things', another can 'blank out' other magics, one can go invisible, etc. There doesn't seem to be much of a rhyme or reason to the powers, but none of them are superheroes and they are generally acknowledged to be suffering for their state as criminals/Zoos.
The plot falls apart a little as the mystery unfolds, but some of the subplots are pretty interesting. We meet email scammers, African teen pop stars, and refugees from war torn areas nearby. The world is interesting enough to be worth dealing with some cheesy characters and silly plot, and the book is short enough that you don't feel like you're dragging through anything. So far, so good Angry Robot.
The premise of Zoo City is pretty interesting - criminals who have killed someone end up with an animal and a touch of magical power. It's set in South Africa, and the "Zoos" have largely migrated to sketchy areas of town since the rest of society is uncomfortable reintegrating them. Although the book doesn't touch on it much, it's mentioned that reactions to Zoos around the world are quite different, often amounting to witch hunts. The zoos have various talents - the protagonist finds 'lost things', another can 'blank out' other magics, one can go invisible, etc. There doesn't seem to be much of a rhyme or reason to the powers, but none of them are superheroes and they are generally acknowledged to be suffering for their state as criminals/Zoos.
The plot falls apart a little as the mystery unfolds, but some of the subplots are pretty interesting. We meet email scammers, African teen pop stars, and refugees from war torn areas nearby. The world is interesting enough to be worth dealing with some cheesy characters and silly plot, and the book is short enough that you don't feel like you're dragging through anything. So far, so good Angry Robot.
This was a great novel! I hope the writer returns to Zoo City for more books that are this excellent.
This book is kind of weird. Good weird, but still weird. I honestly had no idea what was going on until the end, and even then it was touch and go for awhile.
Zinzi December is a zoo. In Beukes' UF version of reality, zoos are people who have committed a serious crime. Immediately upon commitment of said crime, the criminal has an animal companion materialize near them. If any harm comes to this animal after it's bonded to the human, the human is killed by something called the Undertow. I'm not entirely how to explain the Undertow in any succinct manner, so if you're curious, read the book.
Zinzi and her Sloth have a knack for finding lost things, and are contracted on a missing persons case by a music mogul. Nothing about the ensuing case is simple, though.
Beukes has created a truly unique and interesting version of reality, and I wouldn't mind learning more about Zinzi's world. The book read as confusing at times simply because there were so many unfamiliar elements to the story. It's like reading a jigsaw puzzle - every chapter gives you information to start putting pieces together to build Zinzi's world. If you prefer your fiction uncomplicated, this book probably isn't for you. If you like happy endings, this book probably isn't for you, either.
Zinzi December is a zoo. In Beukes' UF version of reality, zoos are people who have committed a serious crime. Immediately upon commitment of said crime, the criminal has an animal companion materialize near them. If any harm comes to this animal after it's bonded to the human, the human is killed by something called the Undertow. I'm not entirely how to explain the Undertow in any succinct manner, so if you're curious, read the book.
Zinzi and her Sloth have a knack for finding lost things, and are contracted on a missing persons case by a music mogul. Nothing about the ensuing case is simple, though.
Beukes has created a truly unique and interesting version of reality, and I wouldn't mind learning more about Zinzi's world. The book read as confusing at times simply because there were so many unfamiliar elements to the story. It's like reading a jigsaw puzzle - every chapter gives you information to start putting pieces together to build Zinzi's world. If you prefer your fiction uncomplicated, this book probably isn't for you. If you like happy endings, this book probably isn't for you, either.
Zoo City is a decent novel, with a lot of great, shiny moments, and also a lot of weaknesses. It’s neo-noir fantasy— a detective story set in an alternate now. Populated with interesting, fascinating characters, the mystery is badly plotted and the fantasy worldbuilding left with gaping, unexplained holes.
Beukes really shines in her location. Johannesburg, I place I have never been and will likely never go, felt real— rooted and intense. I loved the way Beukes captured the language of the people and the feel of the city. I also loved the way Beukes incorporated non-narrative devices to build her world: snippets of news articles, documentary reviews, etc., that provided immediate shortcuts into this alterna-world. For someone used to short bursts of information via internet sources, it was immediate and accessible.
4 of 5 stars. Weaknesses aside, I would recommend this to most mystery fans looking to branch out, most “new weird” fans looking for new authors, and most uh, everybody else.
Beukes really shines in her location. Johannesburg, I place I have never been and will likely never go, felt real— rooted and intense. I loved the way Beukes captured the language of the people and the feel of the city. I also loved the way Beukes incorporated non-narrative devices to build her world: snippets of news articles, documentary reviews, etc., that provided immediate shortcuts into this alterna-world. For someone used to short bursts of information via internet sources, it was immediate and accessible.
4 of 5 stars. Weaknesses aside, I would recommend this to most mystery fans looking to branch out, most “new weird” fans looking for new authors, and most uh, everybody else.
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Violence
Such a great, creative concept. It's a quick read but a fun one. Beukes creates wonderfully juicy, memorable and funny prose. I'd say her descriptions are like candy but that would be selling it short. She creates full course meals with her writing- Thanksgiving dinners even- in every page. A few of my favorite quotes: "All it takes is one Afghan warlord to show up with a Penguin in a bulletproof vest....", "She opens the door onto a spacious lounge with chairs arranged in a loose arc, facing a huge open fireplace- big enough to cook children in." And my favorite, about her car "....behaving like a rhinoceros on roller-skates spoiling for a fight, ..."
I can't get enough and I'm looking forward to reading more from her.
I can't get enough and I'm looking forward to reading more from her.
Music, murder, magic. Lauren Beukes blends up a classic post-cyberpunk novel set in South Africa, where people's sins are made visible in the form of magically bonded animals. It's an interesting conceit, and the action moves along well enough, but somehow it lacks the pulse-pounding intensity of the original stuff, like Neuromancer or George Alec Effinger's When Gravity Fails trilogy. But hey, a new voice is a rare thing these days, and a few flaws can be forgiven.
Contemporary urban fantasy mystery novel set in Johannesburg in a world where committing a crime* gets you an animal familiar and a particular magical skill. Fun and twisty mystery, tightly-woven adventures and a style that consistently holds my attention throughout. The novel's interspersed with 'multimedia' snippets--prisoner narratives, newspaper columns, e-mails, etc.--that actually flow well with the story and provide intriguing texture, and I really like the integration of magic into the contemparary landscape. Protagonist Zinzi December is engaging without being superheroic, and I would read more of her adventures given the chance.
Zinzi December grew up rich and privileged, but her drug addiction led to the death of her brother and jail time. Now she lives in Zoo City, the ghetto for the animalled--people who are guilty of something so bad that an inexplicable force gave them an animal, which they are connected to for life. They cannot be separated from their animal without great pain. Animals are a source of shame and social stigma, and with a sloth in tow, Zinzi is forced out of journalism and into working odd jobs. With her creditor making increasing demands, she decides to take a lost persons case.
This is an unexpectedly lively book, with a strong, unique voice to the main character. The Johannesburg of the future is a bustling contrast of wealth and poverty, technology and old magics. Zinzi's friends and contacts are each interesting puzzles in their own right. The action is bloody, the magic rightfully scary, and the plot as twisted as classic noir. It was all too grim for my taste, but the darkness felt earned, not pasted on to earn cool points. (My one real caveat is the last chapter, which feels a little abrupt.)
This is an unexpectedly lively book, with a strong, unique voice to the main character. The Johannesburg of the future is a bustling contrast of wealth and poverty, technology and old magics. Zinzi's friends and contacts are each interesting puzzles in their own right. The action is bloody, the magic rightfully scary, and the plot as twisted as classic noir. It was all too grim for my taste, but the darkness felt earned, not pasted on to earn cool points. (My one real caveat is the last chapter, which feels a little abrupt.)