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3.86 AVERAGE
3.86 AVERAGE
adventurous
hopeful
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
My favorite part was the speculative evolution interludes (got real excited about Anomalocaris being mentioned, because I'm a big nerd). I was less interested in the human stories. It's well executed, Tchaikovsky is always good at drawing lots of threads together, and I liked the "Chapter 17, part 1, again" bit (especially on audio, it made me laugh), but I can't say this is my favorite of his.
DNF @ 6 %
This was well-written and I sensed the potential, though it didn't draw me in and I was ticked off by the thought of going through 18 hours of audiobook when there are so many other things I'm excited to read. I think the threads are all there for a cool current-sci-fi/alternate reality/portal-fantasy(??) mystery story with casual queer rep (nice), so if that sounds like your thing, give it a try.
This was well-written and I sensed the potential, though it didn't draw me in and I was ticked off by the thought of going through 18 hours of audiobook when there are so many other things I'm excited to read. I think the threads are all there for a cool current-sci-fi/alternate reality/portal-fantasy(??) mystery story with casual queer rep (nice), so if that sounds like your thing, give it a try.
Adrian Tchaikovsky has now earned just pick up all of his books and read them status from me. Whats awesome about that is there are quite a few of books out there of his I have yet to read. I think this was the 5th book and all have been spectacular.
He has a bit of a penchant for worlds where other beings have evolved and he is a master at it. If you like hard science fiction then check out his books.
He has a bit of a penchant for worlds where other beings have evolved and he is a master at it. If you like hard science fiction then check out his books.
Adrian Tchaikovsky delivers a masterful novel detailing the implications of multi-dimensional 'Earths' and the variations of timelines on a magnitudinal yet fascinating scale.
As a starting novel into the realm of Adult Sci-Fi/Fantasy, I vastly enjoyed this narrative with multiple perspectives. Following the story from various viewpoints, crossing the same segment of time, is challenging and also enjoyable. From Lee's, Khan's and Julia's perspectives as beginnings, there is no relevant connection established. But as more occurrences...well...occur...there is a distinguishable factor that connects the protagonists. They have different personalities and drives that propel the narrative forward in a multitude of ways and that keeps the reader interested.
As more characters are introduced and the storyline becomes clearer, the world-building and interludes become prevelant as the main overriding context for the narrative. I can't explain enough how profound this novel felt as an introduction and can fully recommend this to anyone, on any reader level, that this book, although alien, does not leave you feeling alienated.
As a starting novel into the realm of Adult Sci-Fi/Fantasy, I vastly enjoyed this narrative with multiple perspectives. Following the story from various viewpoints, crossing the same segment of time, is challenging and also enjoyable. From Lee's, Khan's and Julia's perspectives as beginnings, there is no relevant connection established. But as more occurrences...well...occur...there is a distinguishable factor that connects the protagonists. They have different personalities and drives that propel the narrative forward in a multitude of ways and that keeps the reader interested.
As more characters are introduced and the storyline becomes clearer, the world-building and interludes become prevelant as the main overriding context for the narrative. I can't explain enough how profound this novel felt as an introduction and can fully recommend this to anyone, on any reader level, that this book, although alien, does not leave you feeling alienated.
This wanted to be a SciFi thriller so badly and it was just too damn long for it. Too many POVs, possible weird transphobic vibes?
Very dull. It got off to a good start with the first couple of chapters, but then it loses all momentum until the last 10% or so (at which point it ends way too quickly & easily). I was nodding off every time I picked it up to read.
The "evolutionary biology" interludes are especially dull, which is disappointing because it's really the only thing Tchaikovsky's actually good at.
The villain is cartoonish in his villainy. He's a racist, homophobe, transphobe, captain-of-industry, willing to sacrifice his entire planet (and the rest of the universe) for personal gain. Basically he's the far-left's fever-dream of evil personified. And his plan is incredibly stupid. (Better-written books make you think that the villain might have a point. But this isn't one of those books.)
Lots of deus ex machina. There's literally an all-knowing, all-powerful god computer. Pretty ridiculous.
It's also pretty heavy-handed in its messaging. I don't mind "message" books, if they're subtle, but this one isn't.
The "evolutionary biology" interludes are especially dull, which is disappointing because it's really the only thing Tchaikovsky's actually good at.
The villain is cartoonish in his villainy. He's a racist, homophobe, transphobe, captain-of-industry, willing to sacrifice his entire planet (and the rest of the universe) for personal gain. Basically he's the far-left's fever-dream of evil personified. And his plan is incredibly stupid. (Better-written books make you think that the villain might have a point. But this isn't one of those books.)
Lots of deus ex machina. There's literally an all-knowing, all-powerful god computer. Pretty ridiculous.
It's also pretty heavy-handed in its messaging. I don't mind "message" books, if they're subtle, but this one isn't.
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Ingenious but did not hold me until the end. Science buffs will just love it.
adventurous
informative
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Loveable characters:
Complicated
This is a SF by [a:Adrian Tchaikovsky|1445909|Adrian Tchaikovsky|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1282303363p2/1445909.jpg], one of the most interesting authors in current SF (according to me). It is a story connecting possible evolutions, parallel universes and multiple references, which should endear the fandom. I read is as a part of monthly reading for October 2020 at SFF Hot from Printers: New Releases group.
The story starts with two teenage girls, Lee and Mal, who weren’t much liked by their classmates (Lee is of Pakistani origin as was seen as other, Mal is from a rich family, who “come over from a very posh school that had told her she was better than everyone else. Being thirteen, she’d told her new peers that too, and had been surprised to discover they hadn’t agreed”), but founds a common interest in science (a book [b:The Nature of Things: The Secret Life of Inanimate Objects|461600|The Nature of Things The Secret Life of Inanimate Objects|Lyall Watson|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1405259878l/461600._SY75_.jpg|450053] was their first common ground). A friendship growth to love (nothing racy) and joint interest in seeking cryptozoological creatures. In one of their expeditions (they do it for fun, not really believing in cryptozoology, but wanting to be different) they got more than they expected.
A few year later another line starts: forty-something man, working for domestic security, and with some (unsuccessful) attempts to style himself as James Bond, with a help of a woman data analyst, found that a far-right group with links high up, plans to “teach” a transgender mathematician, who works on Her Majesty government.
All chapters are starting with Excerpts from Other Edens: Speculative Evolution and Intelligence by Professor Ruth Emerson of the University of California, a work that describes how sentience and sapiens could have developed, from Cambrian period onward, with quite a diverse versions of sapient lifes from trilobites to felines. These inserts are real gems, well thought off and often rather unexpected.
All characters actively make homages to other SF and fantasy, from checking wardrobes for doors into other worlds to teaching non-humans to cite from famous movies.
While I guess both a lesbian pair and the transgender were added to be in line with current fandom, it was done quite gracefully and naturally, unlike a lot of works that make it for wokeness sake.
This is definitely a worthy nominee for the next year SFF awards.
The story starts with two teenage girls, Lee and Mal, who weren’t much liked by their classmates (Lee is of Pakistani origin as was seen as other, Mal is from a rich family, who “come over from a very posh school that had told her she was better than everyone else. Being thirteen, she’d told her new peers that too, and had been surprised to discover they hadn’t agreed”), but founds a common interest in science (a book [b:The Nature of Things: The Secret Life of Inanimate Objects|461600|The Nature of Things The Secret Life of Inanimate Objects|Lyall Watson|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1405259878l/461600._SY75_.jpg|450053] was their first common ground). A friendship growth to love (nothing racy) and joint interest in seeking cryptozoological creatures. In one of their expeditions (they do it for fun, not really believing in cryptozoology, but wanting to be different) they got more than they expected.
A few year later another line starts: forty-something man, working for domestic security, and with some (unsuccessful) attempts to style himself as James Bond, with a help of a woman data analyst, found that a far-right group with links high up, plans to “teach” a transgender mathematician, who works on Her Majesty government.
All chapters are starting with Excerpts from Other Edens: Speculative Evolution and Intelligence by Professor Ruth Emerson of the University of California, a work that describes how sentience and sapiens could have developed, from Cambrian period onward, with quite a diverse versions of sapient lifes from trilobites to felines. These inserts are real gems, well thought off and often rather unexpected.
All characters actively make homages to other SF and fantasy, from checking wardrobes for doors into other worlds to teaching non-humans to cite from famous movies.
While I guess both a lesbian pair and the transgender were added to be in line with current fandom, it was done quite gracefully and naturally, unlike a lot of works that make it for wokeness sake.
This is definitely a worthy nominee for the next year SFF awards.