Reviews

The Sheep Look Up by John Brunner

diziet_sma's review

challenging dark funny medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

lyrrael's review

2.0

I've heard so much about this book -- it's been on my to-read list for what seems like forever. However, it read much more like A Clockwork Orange (which I detest) rather than When Late the Sweet Bird Sang (which I love). Disappointment. Nothing against the book, really -- just not for me.

the_prickly_reader's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

viscious's review

dark

3.5

nerdofdoom's review

5.0

ox

offenbach's review

4.0

Extremely dated. And disjointed/hard to follow.

Incredibly chilling - not because of the setting he describes (full of over the top environmental disasters and diseases -

Spoiler

think loads of DDT references and babies cooked in the womb by microwaves

), but because of how realistic the actions of the people within this world are.

Very, very dark.

marten_'s review against another edition

challenging dark reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

mdpenguin's review against another edition

dark inspiring sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

Well this was prescient.  It didn't take into account the way that the nascent environmental protection laws would concentrate pollution in low-income communities and countries, slowing the destruction of the environment, and it didn't predict the loss in Vietnam and the subsequent elimination of the draft nor the disgrace of Nixon, but it certainly rhymes with reality more than I think that any of us would want.  It's a bit scattered and I found it hard to keep track of the characters, but that didn't make it a difficult read and it was still easy to get into it.

fermentedsorcerer's review

challenging dark

5.0

storyonlystory's review

5.0

After immersing myself in the world of The Sheep Look Up I look out the window and the sun shines strongly in a blue sky, the world is green and teeming with life, the rain is pure, our homes and bodies are clean, and we have an abundance of food. It all seems like magic.

This is a book that takes a little while to get into but once you do you won't put it down. There are a lot of characters to keep up with - fair warning - doesn't hurt to keep a sheet of paper for notes. If this book doesn't inspire you to take care of this planet I don't know what will.