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danileighta's review against another edition
4.0
Such an interesting take on Sherlock Holmes set in space! This is just a novella, but the characters become real right away (maybe because of their relationship to the good detective and Watson). The book both felt fresh and futuristic, and antique in some ways. Shipminds, Deep Space, and a mystery you can't stop thinking about. This was a fun read and comes highly recommended.
stellarian's review against another edition
4.0
I liked it - deep spaces was fascinating as a concept and I enjoyed the main characters.
iceman76's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
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
3.0
entamewitchlulu's review against another edition
mysterious
fast-paced
- 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? Yes
3.0
karinlib's review against another edition
4.0
I am thoroughly enjoying the world building in de Bodard's works.
thedisreputabledog's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
slow-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
4.0
emilyrandolph_epstein's review against another edition
5.0
A brilliant reimagining of Sherlock Holmes wherein Holmes is a woman and Watson is a female sentient space ship. De Bodard's prose is lush and vivid and her characterization is perfection. I hope we get to see more of this particular pair of partners in detection.
rosieclaverton's review against another edition
4.0
Gorgeous novella inspired by Holmes & Watson and East Asian traditions. The worldbuilding feels effortless and isn't overexplained. I devoured it.
mary_soon_lee's review against another edition
4.0
"The Tea Master and the Detective" is one of the six nominees for the 2018 Nebula Award in the novella category. It's an elegant variation on Holmes and Watson set in a science fiction future, where Holmes is a woman and Watson a shipmind. I found the central character (the shipmind) both sympathetic and engaging, the Vietnamese cultural elements pleasing, and the whole story a most agreeable diversion. It didn't rivet me, but it entertained me very well. Recommended.
N.B. I have long been partial to characters who are brainships/shipminds, from my first exposure via Helva in Anne McCaffrey's "The Ship Who Sang," through to Ann Leckie's "Ancillary Justice." I was therefore very happy to discover that two of this year's Nebula novella nominees involve such characters, the other one (ART) being found in Martha Well's marvellous "Artificial Condition."
N.B. I have long been partial to characters who are brainships/shipminds, from my first exposure via Helva in Anne McCaffrey's "The Ship Who Sang," through to Ann Leckie's "Ancillary Justice." I was therefore very happy to discover that two of this year's Nebula novella nominees involve such characters, the other one (ART) being found in Martha Well's marvellous "Artificial Condition."