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3.86 AVERAGE
3.86 AVERAGE
adventurous
hopeful
3.5 stars
I'm actually not quite done with this book yet, but will be in th enext day or two. If my opinion changes by the end, I'll come back to make some edits.
I LOVED the original "Children of Time" book. Probably one of my top 3 favorite books of all time. It was so well thought-out and cleverly crafted that I could not put it down. I have read 3 or 4 of Tchaikovsky's other sci-fi books since then and liked them fairly well. I also have four more on my shelf to read. So it's safe to say that I'm a fan and expect quite a bit out of his books.
This one was a bit of a disappointment. It wasn't bad, really, just not well executed. The beginning of the book introduces us to new characters and settings in each chapter. The chapters are quite long and the characters are not that distinct in personalities, so Ihad a difficult time keeping track of the plot and whom I was following. It took about 300 pages to get around to the base delimma that binds everyone together. 300 pages! By then, Ihad a plot made up in my head where the trilobites had become so advanced that they left Earth millions of years ago, had peeked back to see what had happened, and were appalled by the new species (humans) treatment of the planet. However, the actual plot was parallel universes that all revolved around Earth. Meh. I've read about half a dozen parallel universe stories in the past few years, so that trope is wearing a bit thin. But even then, why do they all have to revolve around Earth? Ok, I'm in this far, let's see where it goes.
It goes nowhere for another 200 pages. We just meet more civilizations and characters (also not that well developed) and the mystery goes deeper. It's basically a series of kidnappings and dealings for one Earth scientist that can't possibly be the answer to the great probelm. There are much more informed and evolved species out there can figure this out without her help. I was just about ti give up but figured I'd skip a few chapters first to see if anything happens. those 60 lost pages helped. I landed right on the next revelation.
From here, Ithink Iknow how it's going to end and it is fairly satisfying. I just wish two things would have happened in this book: 1. Follow just 2-3 human characters and 2 alternative realities (leave the rest as brief convergences and in the excellent interludes), 2. shorten the book by about 200 pages. It was way too long and layered for me to get a grasp on what my heroes were doing.
4 stars for teh ideas and 3 stars for the execution.
I'm actually not quite done with this book yet, but will be in th enext day or two. If my opinion changes by the end, I'll come back to make some edits.
I LOVED the original "Children of Time" book. Probably one of my top 3 favorite books of all time. It was so well thought-out and cleverly crafted that I could not put it down. I have read 3 or 4 of Tchaikovsky's other sci-fi books since then and liked them fairly well. I also have four more on my shelf to read. So it's safe to say that I'm a fan and expect quite a bit out of his books.
This one was a bit of a disappointment. It wasn't bad, really, just not well executed. The beginning of the book introduces us to new characters and settings in each chapter. The chapters are quite long and the characters are not that distinct in personalities, so Ihad a difficult time keeping track of the plot and whom I was following. It took about 300 pages to get around to the base delimma that binds everyone together. 300 pages! By then, Ihad a plot made up in my head where the trilobites had become so advanced that they left Earth millions of years ago, had peeked back to see what had happened, and were appalled by the new species (humans) treatment of the planet. However, the actual plot was parallel universes that all revolved around Earth. Meh. I've read about half a dozen parallel universe stories in the past few years, so that trope is wearing a bit thin. But even then, why do they all have to revolve around Earth? Ok, I'm in this far, let's see where it goes.
It goes nowhere for another 200 pages. We just meet more civilizations and characters (also not that well developed) and the mystery goes deeper. It's basically a series of kidnappings and dealings for one Earth scientist that can't possibly be the answer to the great probelm. There are much more informed and evolved species out there can figure this out without her help. I was just about ti give up but figured I'd skip a few chapters first to see if anything happens. those 60 lost pages helped. I landed right on the next revelation.
From here, Ithink Iknow how it's going to end and it is fairly satisfying. I just wish two things would have happened in this book: 1. Follow just 2-3 human characters and 2 alternative realities (leave the rest as brief convergences and in the excellent interludes), 2. shorten the book by about 200 pages. It was way too long and layered for me to get a grasp on what my heroes were doing.
4 stars for teh ideas and 3 stars for the execution.
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
While I enjoy many books by Adrian Tchaikovsky this one was particularly disappointing. I finished it because I enjoyed the premise. However the clear polical agenda of this book ruined it. All of the characters felt forced into their minority roles and the main bad guy being a bigoted Nazi type was very shallow and cringe inducing.
Plot was very quick and almost makes you feel like you're being dragged along barely keeping up. Main characters have almost no development and remained unchanged throughout the whole book.
Plot was very quick and almost makes you feel like you're being dragged along barely keeping up. Main characters have almost no development and remained unchanged throughout the whole book.
I've been wanting to read a Tchaikovsky book for a while now, once the fantastic reviews of Children of Time came through. So I was super happy to see this appear on the PKD shortlist.
Tchaikovsky writes in a way that makes me think of Neal Stephenson ... huge concepts and dense science presented in a way that dumps staggering concepts into my head in an entertaining and compulsively readable way. And entertained I was. Multiple dimensions and worlds-shattering crises, and intellects working together to fix what's wrong.
But more than that, almost every aside, every tangent, was a treat. How can you not love a book that, with a throwaway paragraph, make me put it down and just THINK.
Magic becomes science and science reeks of magic, and through it all is the hope of better things to come. Loved this book!
Tchaikovsky writes in a way that makes me think of Neal Stephenson ... huge concepts and dense science presented in a way that dumps staggering concepts into my head in an entertaining and compulsively readable way. And entertained I was. Multiple dimensions and worlds-shattering crises, and intellects working together to fix what's wrong.
But more than that, almost every aside, every tangent, was a treat. How can you not love a book that, with a throwaway paragraph, make me put it down and just THINK.
Spoiler
When the neanderthals, as an aside, started to talk about coming across "modern" humans and seeing them as the ethereal, willowy, pale creatures of dance and song, and I realized that we are the legend of elves ... it popped my brain for a minute.Magic becomes science and science reeks of magic, and through it all is the hope of better things to come. Loved this book!
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
tense
slow-paced
3.5 stars
An inventive story populated by interesting characters. It's really well written and executed. Just what one expects from Tchaikovsky.
I liked this one, but didn't love it, and that is 100% on me and not the book. While I appreciated everything the story had to offer, it just wasn't to my taste at the moment. Another time I might love it, just not right now.
An inventive story populated by interesting characters. It's really well written and executed. Just what one expects from Tchaikovsky.
I liked this one, but didn't love it, and that is 100% on me and not the book. While I appreciated everything the story had to offer, it just wasn't to my taste at the moment. Another time I might love it, just not right now.
adventurous
dark
hopeful
informative
mysterious
reflective
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:
No
adventurous
funny
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:
Complicated
I'll start with saying Tchaikovsy is fast becoming one of my favourite SF writers. Dogs of War and Children of Time are very different and astonishingly brilliant works from him.
Unfortunately, The Doors of Eden didn't quite do it for me. Let's say it's my problem, not his.
It begins with a simple enough premise - girlfriends Lee and Mallory are out on the moors one day when 'something' happens and Mal vanishes into nothing.
Then the story becomes more complex. Years pass, and then a government physicist is attacked, secret services start looking into things - and is that Mal, too, back from the missing? It soon becomes clear that there are cracks between multiple universes, or parallel Earths, and something is trying to get through. But what, and why?
With the introduction of all these layers of story, characters and interludes that explain these other Earths, I lost the urge to push forward and keep reading. The book was long, and I am lazy! I kept putting it down so I could escape to easier reads for a little while and then return.
So by the end of the book, I wasn't super attached to any of the characters or their stories. The worldbuilding is deep and amazing, but it didn't for whatever reason pull me in. I battled to the end but it was tough.
A shame because the author is a fantastic writer and I wonder if others will enjoy it far more.
Unfortunately, The Doors of Eden didn't quite do it for me. Let's say it's my problem, not his.
It begins with a simple enough premise - girlfriends Lee and Mallory are out on the moors one day when 'something' happens and Mal vanishes into nothing.
Then the story becomes more complex. Years pass, and then a government physicist is attacked, secret services start looking into things - and is that Mal, too, back from the missing? It soon becomes clear that there are cracks between multiple universes, or parallel Earths, and something is trying to get through. But what, and why?
With the introduction of all these layers of story, characters and interludes that explain these other Earths, I lost the urge to push forward and keep reading. The book was long, and I am lazy! I kept putting it down so I could escape to easier reads for a little while and then return.
So by the end of the book, I wasn't super attached to any of the characters or their stories. The worldbuilding is deep and amazing, but it didn't for whatever reason pull me in. I battled to the end but it was tough.
A shame because the author is a fantastic writer and I wonder if others will enjoy it far more.
adventurous
medium-paced