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3.86 AVERAGE
3.86 AVERAGE
adventurous
inspiring
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
I've really enjoyed everything I've read by Tchaikovsky, but this one just didn't jibe with my mood I guess. I took my time reading it because I just wasn't drawn to it. I like the concept of overlapping worlds, and I'm sure I would have enjoyed the whole thing more another time, so I'm giving it 3 stars.
Thoroughly engaging, well-paced, and wildly creative albeit not quite as engrossing for me as the Children of Time novels.
That was a long talking book, and by the third go, round was getting annoyed but ended well.
Had me hooked for the first quarter.
Then it quickly devolved to something ludicrous and completely over the top.
Then it quickly devolved to something ludicrous and completely over the top.
adventurous
challenging
informative
mysterious
reflective
medium-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
Once again AT has written an impossibly imaginative vision of a world which nine the less feels very real and grounded. As always, the very ideas themselves presented in this book are a fantastic journey in and of themselves. There are also some very fun characters.
My only big issue was that I was really struck when reading this book that it felt like it was supposed to be two books that had been merged into one. As a result there is a kind of mini crescendo around half way through, and the book then morphs somewhat into what felt like a connected but very different narrative. This left the conclusion to the opening section feeling a little lack luster.
My only big issue was that I was really struck when reading this book that it felt like it was supposed to be two books that had been merged into one. As a result there is a kind of mini crescendo around half way through, and the book then morphs somewhat into what felt like a connected but very different narrative. This left the conclusion to the opening section feeling a little lack luster.
adventurous
funny
slow-paced
Honestly if the whole book was just the alternate evolutionary histories I would have been thrilled.
Tchaikovsky is my favorite author, so I don't know how objective I can truly be about his books at this point. This one isn't one of my favorites, though, while I do think this explores some really interesting topics, too.
The story revolves around parallel universes (which alongside time travel is one of my least favorite sci-fi tropes) and at points the plot edges on to get a little convoluted. It all wraps up in a neat little package, though, but it takes a little to get there.
Tchaikovsky has studied both psychology and zoology at university, and this is something that shines through basically everything he writes. His books discuss some truly fascinating concepts, his world-building is masterful, and his characters tend to feel very real and human (whatever species they may be). One reason for the disconnect I felt with this book might be the abundance of characters and different worlds here; I didn't really feel like I had enough time with any of them.
There's also a lot of social commentary in this book, specifically surrounding discrimination and bigotry. The lead scientist at the heart of the story is a trans woman, and two other main characters are in a sapphic relationship. So naturally the villain of the story is a stuffy Old Englishman who hates everything about that. Now, as an asexual cis woman I'm probably not the right person to comment on the representation here, but at least for me it felt pretty organic and respectful. There was blatant trans phobia (misgendering and dead naming) and homo phobia on page, but it was clearly there to underline a character's bigotry, and it was also addressed. Not a central theme or a recurring event, but still something that occurs.
Overall I did like the book as a whole, but so far I've preferred Tchaikovsky's other longer works to this one.
The story revolves around parallel universes (which alongside time travel is one of my least favorite sci-fi tropes) and at points the plot edges on to get a little convoluted. It all wraps up in a neat little package, though, but it takes a little to get there.
Tchaikovsky has studied both psychology and zoology at university, and this is something that shines through basically everything he writes. His books discuss some truly fascinating concepts, his world-building is masterful, and his characters tend to feel very real and human (whatever species they may be). One reason for the disconnect I felt with this book might be the abundance of characters and different worlds here; I didn't really feel like I had enough time with any of them.
There's also a lot of social commentary in this book, specifically surrounding discrimination and bigotry. The lead scientist at the heart of the story is a trans woman, and two other main characters are in a sapphic relationship. So naturally the villain of the story is a stuffy Old Englishman who hates everything about that. Now, as an asexual cis woman I'm probably not the right person to comment on the representation here, but at least for me it felt pretty organic and respectful. There was blatant trans phobia (misgendering and dead naming) and homo phobia on page, but it was clearly there to underline a character's bigotry, and it was also addressed. Not a central theme or a recurring event, but still something that occurs.
Overall I did like the book as a whole, but so far I've preferred Tchaikovsky's other longer works to this one.
Fascinating take on alternate universes and where and why they cross over.