Reviews

The Hair Carpet Weavers by Andreas Eschbach

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saecookie's review against another edition

mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot

4.5

I see people saying the key to the big mystery is weak.
I find that its weakness is exactly the point. Yes, it was "JUST" about that. It's horrifying. Power will do that. That's the point.

Content Warnings

jordibal's review against another edition

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4.0

4,5/5 Si para ti la [b:The Cyberiad|18194|The Cyberiad|Stanisław Lem|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1166889908s/18194.jpg|2371216] y demás fábulas de robots de [a:Stanislaw Lem|8806938|Stanislaw Lem|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-ccc56e79bcc2db9e6cdcd450a4940d46.png] son ciencia ficción, pues esto también lo será. Pero para mí las fábulas como estas, a pesar de incluir elementos propios de la cifi como los agujeros negros (y no entro en más detalles, que cualquier cosa que adelante sería spoiler), son pura fantasía: los elementos cifi solo sirven para hacer más enorme/magna/dantesca la historia. Si me la leo en clave de cifi, no me la creo y eso no puede ser, así que prefiero leerla en clave fantástica. Moraleja: no te metas con alguien como yo, que somos muy sensibles en relación a según qué cosas y se nos lleva la ira. :P
En cualquier caso, y discusiones chorras aparte sobre etiquetas, gran lectura. Me ha sorprendido que el traductor, [a:José María Faraldo|2055096|José María Faraldo|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-ccc56e79bcc2db9e6cdcd450a4940d46.png], sea el mismo que el de [a:Sapkowski, Andrzej|8449371|Sapkowski, Andrzej|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-ccc56e79bcc2db9e6cdcd450a4940d46.png]; se ve que es un crack.

marialy's review against another edition

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5.0

Una historia muy original, me encanto como entrelaza todo. Deja la sensación de que la vida es asi, esta toda entrelazada y al mismo tiempo son infinitas historias. Los tejedores de cabellos pertenece a una ciencia ficción que parece ser antigua y con una narración muy descansada. A veces me dio la impresión de ser cruel con los personajes. El emperador es alguien que sorprende y aun todavía me pregunto qué sucedió con él. También me gusto que no se puede predecir el final, la verdadera razón de las alfombras de cabellos es una cosa loca.
Conclusión es un libro muy muy bueno.

savageadage's review

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mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot

4.5

annerlee's review against another edition

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3.0

I read (on Goodreads) that the first chapter of this novel won a literature prize as a short story... I can believe it... It definitely had punch!

The other chapters followed in a similar way: a collection of interlinked short stories, puzzle pieces that slowly slipped into place to reveal a picture of the whole. The puzzle of the first chapter is finally solved at the very end.

The book develops into science fiction, but I wasn't at all sure how / whether this was going to happen. The first few chapters are set in a 'mediaeval' society that could easily be placed in a fantasy novel (if it wasn't for the non-functioning laser pistol hanging from a soldier's belt, or the stumbling across books that mention other planets).

At first, I really enjoyed the structure: chapters were linked by following just one element or character into the new setting of the next. The story meandered along and revisited now-familiar landmarks and characters seen from different viewpoints. I was slowly drawn into the detail of a close-knit society, and began to puzzle over, then gain some insight into its strange customs. The society revolves around supporting and celebrating carpet weavers, who each spend a lifetime weaving just one intricate masterpiece - a carpet made of human hair.

The problem for me was, the narrative 'meandered' for too long and I began to lose interest.

As the novel progressed, I needed more structure or a character to build up a relationship with. Each 'short story' chapter meant renewed emotional investment on my part. But each new set of characters were left behind; dropped; just as we were getting emotionally attached!

As you may have gathered, this novel revolves around the mystery of the carpets and it was worth finishing, if only to find out what the devil was going on. The flourish and twists at the end were actually quite clever. When they finally arrived, they were poignant and turned the tale on its head (please excuse the pun) as good endings should. However, I resented that the ~~carrot~~ carpet was repeatedly dangled in front of my nose in the final chapters... Yes, I knew there was a mystery to be solved. Yes, I know what the mystery is... stop teasing and let me have it!! Please!! You repeat yourself!

The structure IS clever, but (for me) it went on for too long, without picking up speed and without building up tension in a meaningful way. Having said that, I did enjoy it for the most part. I read this book in German, something I haven't done for a long time, and I really enjoyed the structure, vocabulary and turn of the language. So a solid 3 star rating from me.

PS Apologies to all you German speakers... I chickened out and wrote my review in English (shame on me..)