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beckhaze's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
Graphic: Racism, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Death, Blood, Alcohol, Sexism, Addiction, Misogyny, Police brutality, Cursing, Racial slurs, and Alcoholism
eachz's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Alcohol, Alcoholism, Gore, Death, and Violence
spacecorn's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
I argue that it shouldn't be any other way.
When you think of science fiction, what do you typically think of? Star Wars, Star Trek, Back to the Future, Metropolis, heck even Dune. What do all of these pieces of media have in common?
They all feature things so improbable that they tiptoe the line between science and fantasy, and most importantly, they are all set in the future.
I would argue that Roadside Picnic is a true science fiction novel. It is set in the present day and features normal people facing the cosmic horror of the unknown. Now yes, you could argue that the events of the book are extremely unlikely, but what would you place your money on? Lightsabres or the Zone? I don't mean to bash these franchises, I love conventional sci-fi to bits, but this book has made me rethink the term 'sci-fi' altogether.
Roadside Picnic invites the reader to explore a conceptual world, merely glimpsing through a window at how the authors predict humanity would react to the appearance of the zones. Yes, it doesn't have much of a plot, but that's because it doesn't need one. It could almost be read as a thesis paper, with characters holding different views on the events of the book and conversing with each other about said views.
Roadside Picnic is a truly remarkable piece of Science Fiction that has made me rethink the entire genre, and I implore anyone with a fascination with the unknown or interest in the sciences to read it.
Graphic: Alcoholism and Alcohol
Moderate: Death
Minor: Sexual content and Body horror
linnybear's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
tl;dr it's fine I guess? read Lem instead
Graphic: Alcoholism, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, and Death
Moderate: Sexism and Fatphobia
Minor: Gun violence, Pregnancy, and Domestic abuse
elizlizabeth's review against another edition
3.0
Moderate: Death and Alcoholism
helloits_sam's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Moderate: Alcoholism, Death, Alcohol, Body horror, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, and Pandemic/Epidemic
Minor: Ableism and Misogyny
yasmin_raev's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Alcoholism, Death, Murder, and Violence
Minor: Infidelity
lynxpardinus's review
4.25
Graphic: Alcoholism, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Alcohol, and Medical content
Moderate: Medical trauma, Misogyny, Sexism, Ableism, Body shaming, Pedophilia, Toxic friendship, Violence, Confinement, Fatphobia, Gaslighting, Body horror, and Death of parent
Minor: Toxic relationship, Child abuse, War, Domestic abuse, and Racism
mlewis's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Alcohol, Alcoholism, Death, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Body horror, War, and Misogyny
Minor: Pandemic/Epidemic and Pregnancy
pricklybriar's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
While I wouldn’t say this is a character-driven narrative, Red’s relationship with his family is touching, and there is some evolution in his character.
Roadside Picnic is definitely of it’s time, but still inspired and well worth reading.
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Alcoholism