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3.39 AVERAGE
3.39 AVERAGE
I recently finished this sci-fi novel that left me with mixed feelings. The plot was pretty much what you’d expect from the genre, filled with futuristic elements and imaginative world-building. However, there was something unique about this story: the depth of emotions that the author managed to weave into even the minor characters. This added a surprising layer of richness and complexity to the narrative, which I think can be attributed to the author’s distinctive writing style.
That being said, the book was definitely a slow burn. It took me a few days of taking breaks, coming back to the story, and pushing myself to keep reading before things really started to pick up. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but it’s something to keep in mind if you’re looking for a fast-paced read.
For fans of true sci-fi like Star Trek, Star Wars, or Dune (minus the heavy romance elements), I’d still recommend this book. The emotional depth gives it a fresh twist, making it a worthwhile read despite the slow start. If you have the patience to stick with it, you’ll find it a rewarding experience.
I would like to express my deep gratitude to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Del Rey and NetGalley for their generosity in allowing me to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review.
That being said, the book was definitely a slow burn. It took me a few days of taking breaks, coming back to the story, and pushing myself to keep reading before things really started to pick up. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but it’s something to keep in mind if you’re looking for a fast-paced read.
For fans of true sci-fi like Star Trek, Star Wars, or Dune (minus the heavy romance elements), I’d still recommend this book. The emotional depth gives it a fresh twist, making it a worthwhile read despite the slow start. If you have the patience to stick with it, you’ll find it a rewarding experience.
I would like to express my deep gratitude to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Del Rey and NetGalley for their generosity in allowing me to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Review of The Book of Elsewhere by Keanu Reeves and China Miéville
As someone who typically doesn’t venture into this genre, I was intrigued by the unique pairing of Keanu Reeves and China Miéville. As a huge fan of Keanu's acting career, i wanted to love this book. Unfortunately, it fell far short of expectations. The narrative felt disjointed, with abrupt shifts in tone and plot that made it difficult to follow or connect with the story.
The writing itself was surprisingly poor for China Miéville's caliber, lacking the polish or depth one might expect. The characters felt underdeveloped, and the world-building—a strength often associated with Miéville—came across as fragmented and incomplete.
Finishing the book was a struggle, and I found myself counting down the pages. When it was over, I felt more relief than satisfaction. Unfortunately, this was not a rewarding reading experience, and I wouldn’t recommend it.
As someone who typically doesn’t venture into this genre, I was intrigued by the unique pairing of Keanu Reeves and China Miéville. As a huge fan of Keanu's acting career, i wanted to love this book. Unfortunately, it fell far short of expectations. The narrative felt disjointed, with abrupt shifts in tone and plot that made it difficult to follow or connect with the story.
The writing itself was surprisingly poor for China Miéville's caliber, lacking the polish or depth one might expect. The characters felt underdeveloped, and the world-building—a strength often associated with Miéville—came across as fragmented and incomplete.
Finishing the book was a struggle, and I found myself counting down the pages. When it was over, I felt more relief than satisfaction. Unfortunately, this was not a rewarding reading experience, and I wouldn’t recommend it.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Book Of Elsewhere, is about an ancient warrior known as "B" a.k.a. "Unute" who is unable to die and has witnessed the rise and fall of countless civilizations. The narrative follows B's quest to find a way to end his immortality, which leads him to collaborate with a U.S. black-ops group. However, when a mortal soldier unexpectedly comes back to life, it sets off a chain of events that reveal a mysterious force at play, one as formidable as B himself.
I was totally pumped to dig into this book after stumbling upon Keanu Reeves and China Miéville's interview on BBC Breakfast. Like, seriously, Keanu could publish a grocery list, and I'd be like, "Yep, that's going on the wall!"
I was totally pumped to dig into this book after stumbling upon Keanu Reeves and China Miéville's interview on BBC Breakfast. Like, seriously, Keanu could publish a grocery list, and I'd be like, "Yep, that's going on the wall!"
It's an unusual tale told in disparate stories that all culminate in a fascinating showdown. The book is creative and interesting and well worth reading.
By itself, The Book of Elsewhere is a solid, not-quite-remarkable sci-fi novel. It's ably crafted, thanks to Mieville's pen, and Reeves's character B is an interesting-enough take on the undying hero. B's world is one in which Atlantis was real and civilizations have been rising and falling for tens of millennia, lost to all except the eidetic memory of B, who has literally seen it all. The book pairs a present-day narrative, in which B and the black ops unit he's partnered with stand on the cusp of a deeper understanding of his own nature, with forays into his recent or deep past. The narrative effect compliments B's own attitude - when you've had eighty millennia to suss things out, is there anything more to discover? Whether hidden knowledge could be revealed, and what it might change for the unchanging B, is the core question of the book. The weary, melancholy, occult-tinged, action-flecked narrative that results is not for everyone, but I thoroughly enjoyed it.
If we step back, though, and regard the book in Reeve's broader oeuvre, it gets a lot more interesting. The Book of Elsewhere, like the BRZRKR comic series its roughly based on, unambiguously stars Reeves himself - or, the character Reeves metamorphoses into in so many of his films, the Weary Warrior. What does it mean, how does it feel when the hero fights not because morality, ambition, or revenge compels him to do so, but because the world around him insists that he fights, gives him no other option, even to the point of denying him the final exit of death? In this context, The Book of Elsewhere is not just a occult sci-fi romp, but another mask for Reeve's own Campbellian Hero - except this Hero has no more boons to fight for, and only one face, that of Reeves.
If we step back, though, and regard the book in Reeve's broader oeuvre, it gets a lot more interesting. The Book of Elsewhere, like the BRZRKR comic series its roughly based on, unambiguously stars Reeves himself - or, the character Reeves metamorphoses into in so many of his films, the Weary Warrior. What does it mean, how does it feel when the hero fights not because morality, ambition, or revenge compels him to do so, but because the world around him insists that he fights, gives him no other option, even to the point of denying him the final exit of death? In this context, The Book of Elsewhere is not just a occult sci-fi romp, but another mask for Reeve's own Campbellian Hero - except this Hero has no more boons to fight for, and only one face, that of Reeves.
Was really interesting, but couldn’t understand in the audio format
Hmmm... I wanted so much to like this. Keanu Reeves seems like a nice guy in a world of bloated egoes and China Mieville has a knack for weird story (and I love his nonfiction most of all). Yet... it took me about halfway to even understand who was who in this book. The story only took off really in the last quarter. Maybe it was the audiobook that made it difficult to follow, maybe I'm just dense. But I felt like these were hours that could have been much better spent. :(
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A real mixed bag. I struggled until around the half-way mark, I think mainly because of the overwrought writing style. The story is great: very cinematic and tense. The supporting characters are diverse and for a load of army people very reflective and interesting, not just faceless, violent grunts. There are some interesting plot developments but it is a little hard to follow, again because of the narrative style, I think. B, or Unute, is a fascinating character and the flashback tales from different POVs were my fave chapters. I am keen to read the graphic novel after this.