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3.8 AVERAGE
3.8 AVERAGE
challenging
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Third book club novel, and it's not quite hit the mark as much as the others. This is a post-apocalyptic sci-fi novel which has spawned multiple games and book sequels, having become somewhat of a cult classic. What's more impressive is that [a:Dmitry Glukhovsky|3159299|Dmitry Glukhovsky|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1336150682p2/3159299.jpg] wrote the story at 16 and released it online, getting it published as a fully fledged book at 19.
Artyom is living a normal life beneath the Earth in the Moscow metro. After meeting the mysterious man known only as Hunter, he is sent through the metro on a mission to save his station, VDNKh, from the threat of the 'Dark Ones'. Unfortunately these underground tunnels are filled with strange and unknown horrors, seemingly hell bent on making sure people don't make it to their destination.
Struggling to make his way to Polis, the exalted city of the metro where his journey should end, Artyom meets many people along the way. Each of these living strange and very different lives, with their own culture and beliefs, though only separated by a short distance. His journey is not just a physical one, but an emotional and spiritual one as he searches to find the meaning behind his quest, and to save the place he calls home.
The first thing I look at in a sci-fi and fantasy novel is the world building. Here, the large-scale world-building was somewhat lacking, and the rules of this new, destitute world were not fully explained or explored. However, the idea of humanity living in the metro, with an unlivable surface, is fantastic. Though confusing at times, I really enjoyed exploring the metro and discovering some of its secrets. The feelings of loneliness and fear inherent in the metro, and the way it affects all the characters, is deep and interesting.
My main problem was that for most of the book, not a lot happened. It felt like Artyom was just being swept along. This was probably purposeful, but it got slightly frustrating being introduced to new characters and them disappearing a few pages later. Artyom's motivations for his venture also seemed a little thin, and remain mostly unexplained ().
I don't want to say too much, but the ending of the novel was by far the best part of the book. It explained a lot of the things I had an issue with, and was really well written. It left me feeling a little hollow for a good few hours (even separated by a sleep), and hit incredibly hard. It's a shame this mostly happened in the last 10 pages of the book.
I think [a:Glukhovsky|3159299|Dmitry Glukhovsky|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1336150682p2/3159299.jpg] was attempting to make a commentary on religion and morality, which occasionally felt out of place and slowed down the pace of the story a great deal. I don't feel this was entirely necessary, and I would have preferred more rigorous world-building in place of the pages spent on morality and sacrifice.
Overall I think it's worth a read, but English readers may struggle a little as the translation is slightly off. The idea behind the book is fantastic, and the wrap up is phenomenal, but there are some aspects of the book which were lacking for me. If you're up for something a little darker with an interesting base idea, then this will be for you.
Artyom is living a normal life beneath the Earth in the Moscow metro. After meeting the mysterious man known only as Hunter, he is sent through the metro on a mission to save his station, VDNKh, from the threat of the 'Dark Ones'. Unfortunately these underground tunnels are filled with strange and unknown horrors, seemingly hell bent on making sure people don't make it to their destination.
Struggling to make his way to Polis, the exalted city of the metro where his journey should end, Artyom meets many people along the way. Each of these living strange and very different lives, with their own culture and beliefs, though only separated by a short distance. His journey is not just a physical one, but an emotional and spiritual one as he searches to find the meaning behind his quest, and to save the place he calls home.
The first thing I look at in a sci-fi and fantasy novel is the world building. Here, the large-scale world-building was somewhat lacking, and the rules of this new, destitute world were not fully explained or explored. However, the idea of humanity living in the metro, with an unlivable surface, is fantastic. Though confusing at times, I really enjoyed exploring the metro and discovering some of its secrets. The feelings of loneliness and fear inherent in the metro, and the way it affects all the characters, is deep and interesting.
My main problem was that for most of the book, not a lot happened. It felt like Artyom was just being swept along
Spoiler
though of course this was eventually explained with the Dark OnesSpoiler
sort ofI don't want to say too much, but the ending of the novel was by far the best part of the book. It explained a lot of the things I had an issue with, and was really well written. It left me feeling a little hollow for a good few hours (even separated by a sleep), and hit incredibly hard. It's a shame this mostly happened in the last 10 pages of the book.
I think [a:Glukhovsky|3159299|Dmitry Glukhovsky|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1336150682p2/3159299.jpg] was attempting to make a commentary on religion and morality, which occasionally felt out of place and slowed down the pace of the story a great deal. I don't feel this was entirely necessary, and I would have preferred more rigorous world-building in place of the pages spent on morality and sacrifice.
Overall I think it's worth a read, but English readers may struggle a little as the translation is slightly off. The idea behind the book is fantastic, and the wrap up is phenomenal, but there are some aspects of the book which were lacking for me. If you're up for something a little darker with an interesting base idea, then this will be for you.
Really mixed feelings about this book, on the one hand it is a phenomenal read, the book keeps you till 2 a.m. reading, keeping the suspense, the reader not knowing what will happen next.
But on the other hand it is plainly boring, I dare say stupid, where the author over allegories and metaphors tries to describe our own real world, logic, philosophy and religion, which he in my opinion, fails miserably.
I honestly skipped those passages, that it is, flew by them and kept reading the story which is the most interesting point. I understand, and the author says in the book himself, that he hates linear story lines in books. However, I can't feel to also disagree with him on this point, it is really rejecting to the reader when the author just suddenly skips ahead in the story and leaves loose ends, or undefined ends with some characters which I honestly can't stand.
The most intriguing and fun part of the whole book are the mysteries and dangers surrounding tunnels, stations, and the surface which when you read about, you really can't stop reading, worrying about the characters which find themselves in dire situations. When you then pass those chapters and again come to those, let's call them "philosphical" passages, you find them even more boring, and not making any sense which turns down the reader even more. I would compare it with Tolstoy's War and Peace, where Tolstoy also tried to force his "meaning of life and time" on the reader, but just made you sleepy.
All in all, it is an interesting read, which fascinates your imagination.
I am fighting myself about how many stars to give to this book, choosing between 4 and 3 stars, the best grade would be 3.5 stars.
But on the other hand it is plainly boring, I dare say stupid, where the author over allegories and metaphors tries to describe our own real world, logic, philosophy and religion, which he in my opinion, fails miserably.
I honestly skipped those passages, that it is, flew by them and kept reading the story which is the most interesting point. I understand, and the author says in the book himself, that he hates linear story lines in books. However, I can't feel to also disagree with him on this point, it is really rejecting to the reader when the author just suddenly skips ahead in the story and leaves loose ends, or undefined ends with some characters which I honestly can't stand.
The most intriguing and fun part of the whole book are the mysteries and dangers surrounding tunnels, stations, and the surface which when you read about, you really can't stop reading, worrying about the characters which find themselves in dire situations. When you then pass those chapters and again come to those, let's call them "philosphical" passages, you find them even more boring, and not making any sense which turns down the reader even more. I would compare it with Tolstoy's War and Peace, where Tolstoy also tried to force his "meaning of life and time" on the reader, but just made you sleepy.
All in all, it is an interesting read, which fascinates your imagination.
I am fighting myself about how many stars to give to this book, choosing between 4 and 3 stars, the best grade would be 3.5 stars.
dark
reflective
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes