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3.8 AVERAGE
3.8 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I went into Metro 2033 expecting a straightforward post-apocalyptic thriller, but ended up really enjoying its slow-burning, dark atmosphere and sharp social commentary. The writing and language were both excellent and highly quotable, and the world-building was imaginative and well thought out. The plot, while perhaps a bit repetitive at times, ultimately led to an intriguing conclusion that left me excited to see what happens in the next book in the series.
In some ways, I think the book can be read as an allegory for the challenges faced by post-Soviet Russian society: a sudden and unexpected societal upheaval leaves an ideological vacuum in its wake, fueling internal conflict and projecting aggression toward a perceived external enemy—whose intentions may, in fact, be more benevolent than they appear.
In other ways, the story follows the arc of a traditional hero's journey, with the young protagonist setting out on an epic quest and passing through a series of environments, each embodying a distinct ideology or worldview. The way these different philosophies were presented often bordered on caricature, and by the end, Artyom seems to embrace a kind of pseudo-mystical individualism—something that reminded me of the worldview in Paulo Coelho’s The Alchemist, which I found a bit odd.
All in all, a very interesting novel.
In some ways, I think the book can be read as an allegory for the challenges faced by post-Soviet Russian society: a sudden and unexpected societal upheaval leaves an ideological vacuum in its wake, fueling internal conflict and projecting aggression toward a perceived external enemy—whose intentions may, in fact, be more benevolent than they appear.
In other ways, the story follows the arc of a traditional hero's journey, with the young protagonist setting out on an epic quest and passing through a series of environments, each embodying a distinct ideology or worldview. The way these different philosophies were presented often bordered on caricature, and by the end, Artyom seems to embrace a kind of pseudo-mystical individualism—something that reminded me of the worldview in Paulo Coelho’s The Alchemist, which I found a bit odd.
All in all, a very interesting novel.
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
slow-paced
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Either the prose is too wordy and rambling, or the translation did a poor job at conveying the author's thoughts concisely. Great setting and mythos, a slog to read in English.
Somehow this book manages both to not answer nearly any of the questions it raises and also be way too long. Don't read it.
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced