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3.86 AVERAGE
3.86 AVERAGE
“We are going to mend the universe, if it can be mended. Or we will watch it die, because someone should.”
This damn book! It is everything I never knew I needed. For some reason I’d gotten it into my head that modern sci fi wasn’t for me and so I’d stayed away from a bunch of books I’d seen around and thought were interesting. Very glad I decided to take a chance on it.
The story starts with a bunch of characters from our Earth (yes there are parallel Earths!) as they have experiences that clue them into the fact that there is more out there than was previously assumed. As the story goes on, their narratives intertwine with each other as well as with those of some people from these parallel Earths.
I loved this book so much. It takes that first contact trope and does such boss things with it that I will confidently say right now that I want to read more explorations of the theme. One of my favorite things about the book were the interludes where the evolutionary history of the parallel Earths was told - I’m a sucker for that kind of sh*t.
I loved the Nissa! And I loved Dr. Rat .
Once our characters have come together, we are then on a quest, led by the Nissa, to save the universe by trying to find a way to stop the fabric of reality from ripping apart and having all the worlds collide in all kinds of disastrous ways.
“There will be other minds, all working. Only one needs to find the answer, but difference is strength. To save everything, we need as much difference as possible.”
The Nissa really have the right of it. They aim to bring together different modes of thinking and problem solving from the best minds in all the Earths with compatible intelligence in hopes of finding someone who will find the answer and save all our a**es...and then lots and lots of very exciting things happen.
The last 100-ish pages of this were just *chef’s kiss*...perfect cresting of events.
I highly recommend this to anyone interested in exploring the whole parallel worlds shtick.
PS: F*ck Rove
This damn book! It is everything I never knew I needed. For some reason I’d gotten it into my head that modern sci fi wasn’t for me and so I’d stayed away from a bunch of books I’d seen around and thought were interesting. Very glad I decided to take a chance on it.
The story starts with a bunch of characters from our Earth (yes there are parallel Earths!) as they have experiences that clue them into the fact that there is more out there than was previously assumed. As the story goes on, their narratives intertwine with each other as well as with those of some people from these parallel Earths.
I loved this book so much. It takes that first contact trope and does such boss things with it that I will confidently say right now that I want to read more explorations of the theme. One of my favorite things about the book were the interludes where the evolutionary history of the parallel Earths was told - I’m a sucker for that kind of sh*t.
I loved the Nissa! And I loved Dr. Rat
Spoiler
(RIP bruh, you were a real one)Once our characters have come together, we are then on a quest, led by the Nissa, to save the universe by trying to find a way to stop the fabric of reality from ripping apart and having all the worlds collide in all kinds of disastrous ways.
“There will be other minds, all working. Only one needs to find the answer, but difference is strength. To save everything, we need as much difference as possible.”
The Nissa really have the right of it. They aim to bring together different modes of thinking and problem solving from the best minds in all the Earths with compatible intelligence in hopes of finding someone who will find the answer and save all our a**es...and then lots and lots of very exciting things happen.
The last 100-ish pages of this were just *chef’s kiss*...perfect cresting of events.
I highly recommend this to anyone interested in exploring the whole parallel worlds shtick.
PS: F*ck Rove
It took me a while to get into this story. Every alternate chapter (or thereabouts) is a sometimes technical excerpt and I found this, at times, to be rather confusing. Eventually it all cones together and overall it was an enjoyable read.
adventurous
challenging
informative
mysterious
reflective
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:
No
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Well this one was genuinely entertaining! Kind of like a Dan Brown novel but for science-fiction. Most definitely plot-driven rather than character- or theme-driven. Not that the character work was terrible by any means; it just wasn't this tale's focus.
So no, not on the same level as Children of Time or Children of Ruin, but still loads of fun. I eagerly snacked on the speculative evolutionary biology (though it wasn't realized as thoroughly and convincingly as I would've liked or expected) and had an interesting time with the parallel universes leitmotiv (I also had the German Dark in mind a lot, given I finished its last season right before I started this novel). None of the science - outside of the speculative biology - was terribly hard. And the theming (outside of a warning against over-population?) wasn't that deep either. But that's fine; I largely enjoyed it for the imaginative romp it was.
One thing I cannot forgive the author, however, is the insufficient amount of time we got to spend with the dinobirb people! I wanted more dinobirb people!!! I expect them to get the attention they deserve in their very own novel! 😜😆🦖
So no, not on the same level as Children of Time or Children of Ruin, but still loads of fun. I eagerly snacked on the speculative evolutionary biology (though it wasn't realized as thoroughly and convincingly as I would've liked or expected) and had an interesting time with the parallel universes leitmotiv (I also had the German Dark in mind a lot, given I finished its last season right before I started this novel). None of the science - outside of the speculative biology - was terribly hard. And the theming (outside of a warning against over-population?) wasn't that deep either. But that's fine; I largely enjoyed it for the imaginative romp it was.
One thing I cannot forgive the author, however, is the insufficient amount of time we got to spend with the dinobirb people! I wanted more dinobirb people!!! I expect them to get the attention they deserve in their very own novel! 😜😆🦖
adventurous
challenging
funny
hopeful
fast-paced
Tchaikovsky is a master at Evolutionary Science Fiction!! Loved this book.
*3.5*
I really enjoyed parts of this but I was pretty disconnected throughout and wasn't too invested in the majority of it.
That being said, I really want to read the children of time series - just waiting for it to be available via the lib.
I really enjoyed parts of this but I was pretty disconnected throughout and wasn't too invested in the majority of it.
That being said, I really want to read the children of time series - just waiting for it to be available via the lib.
Lee and Mal go hunting for cryptids on Bodmin Moor and find more than they bargained for. Mal goes missing. Years pass. Government physicist Kay Amal Khan is attacked. MI5’s Julian and Alison get involved into the case and find a connection to that mysterious disappearance on the moor. They all go places that are not of this Earth. More would be spoilers...
Interludes tell us of alternate paths of evolution. Tchaikovsky does this well. It reminded me strongly of Children of Time and its intricate world building.
I listened to the audiobook, narrated by an actress who has appeared on Dr Who. I hope she was chosen on purpose. Not only, because she does a very good job, but also because that adds a nice nerdy touch to this audiobook.
I read the blurb before diving into this book, but somehow expected something more fantastical, out-of-this-world and bizarre. The Guardian called this „a dizzyingly inventive techno-thriller which explores issues of evolutionary biology and contemporary politics. That description is a good fit.
Not bad. Fun world building. It didn‘t knock me off my feet, although that might be more my not so stellar success rate with audiobooks than the book itself. I also didn‘t quite understand the ending, aka I expected something else to happen and was confused how it didn‘t and why the alternative ending was feasible. I might have nodded off briefly somewhere in between though and simply missed the explanation. Again, that is on me, not the book. There were no lengths, the pacing was good throughout the book. I was never bored. I liked the characters and the fact that there were shades of grey and that not everybody was just black or white. Bonus points for the relaxed representation of a trans character, a same-sex relationship and gender in general. So, yes, probably 4 stars after all. Oh, I loved the trilobites! Wood lice? Cool idea!
I might not be averse to reading a sequel, if it should materialize.
Interludes tell us of alternate paths of evolution. Tchaikovsky does this well. It reminded me strongly of Children of Time and its intricate world building.
I listened to the audiobook, narrated by an actress who has appeared on Dr Who. I hope she was chosen on purpose. Not only, because she does a very good job, but also because that adds a nice nerdy touch to this audiobook.
I read the blurb before diving into this book, but somehow expected something more fantastical, out-of-this-world and bizarre. The Guardian called this „a dizzyingly inventive techno-thriller which explores issues of evolutionary biology and contemporary politics. That description is a good fit.
Not bad. Fun world building. It didn‘t knock me off my feet, although that might be more my not so stellar success rate with audiobooks than the book itself. I also didn‘t quite understand the ending, aka I expected something else to happen and was confused how it didn‘t and why the alternative ending was feasible. I might have nodded off briefly somewhere in between though and simply missed the explanation. Again, that is on me, not the book. There were no lengths, the pacing was good throughout the book. I was never bored. I liked the characters and the fact that there were shades of grey and that not everybody was just black or white. Bonus points for the relaxed representation of a trans character, a same-sex relationship and gender in general. So, yes, probably 4 stars after all. Oh, I loved the trilobites! Wood lice? Cool idea!
I might not be averse to reading a sequel, if it should materialize.
I am always amazed at Tchaikovsky’s ability to conjure up completely novel life forms and cultures.
Full Review Here
The Doors of Eden is a bulky read. Not only due to being around 600 pages long, but because of the scope of what is covered. We start on Earth, then explore other universes, travel through space and deal with different creatures. There’s a lot going on – but it works.
There’re a lot of characters in The Doors of Eden, and I can’t do them all justice. I loved the representation of sexuality though and typically, it’s the humans that are the douches, not the ‘aliens’.
Lee and Mal are a fun pair. Lee is in over her head as soon as world starts colliding, but she knows what she wants: Mal. She’ll deal with anything if it means she stays by Mal’s side – even if she doesn’t know what’s going on.
Julian is your typical spy-behind-a-desk – not as used to action as he likes to think. I really liked Julian: he’s overwhelmed for most of the book but always stayed true to his principles. Julian’s “wait, what?” often gave the readers the chance to catch their breath.
Kay and Alison are both intriguing. They have connections to these other worlds due to their respective skill-sets. They are often the explanation for both characters and readers what is going on. Their development was abstract, but they were still engaging.
There’re too many characters to talk about! But the great cast makes you feel both hopeful for humanity, and fear for it.
In a nutshell, The Doors of Eden has a simple premise: the end of the universe. Not just ours, but every division that’s been occurring since the beginning of time.
There’s nothing simple about this book.
We start hunting monsters. We end up deep in space with three different species trying to save the world by stopping dimensions crashing into each other.
It’s more than that, though. It tackles the big questions about humanity – and whether we’re worth saving.
This is a lengthy novel with far-fetched events taking place. It needed strong writing, and it delivered.
Insertions from another perspective, and a Groundhog Day style event, threw me a few times. But you soon pick up what is going on, and it doesn’t pull you away from the story.
The writing takes you to these other worlds, introduces the inhabitants. You care for the characters; you fear for the universe. What more can you want?
I had high expectations for this book and it didn’t disappoint. There’s a lot going on, so I imagine if you’re not a science fiction/fantasy reader, it wouldn’t be your thing. But for those of you that are, I highly recommend The Doors of Eden and hope this review shows how much. I’m looking forward to picking up more of his work.
The Doors of Eden is a bulky read. Not only due to being around 600 pages long, but because of the scope of what is covered. We start on Earth, then explore other universes, travel through space and deal with different creatures. There’s a lot going on – but it works.
There’re a lot of characters in The Doors of Eden, and I can’t do them all justice. I loved the representation of sexuality though and typically, it’s the humans that are the douches, not the ‘aliens’.
Lee and Mal are a fun pair. Lee is in over her head as soon as world starts colliding, but she knows what she wants: Mal. She’ll deal with anything if it means she stays by Mal’s side – even if she doesn’t know what’s going on.
Julian is your typical spy-behind-a-desk – not as used to action as he likes to think. I really liked Julian: he’s overwhelmed for most of the book but always stayed true to his principles. Julian’s “wait, what?” often gave the readers the chance to catch their breath.
Kay and Alison are both intriguing. They have connections to these other worlds due to their respective skill-sets. They are often the explanation for both characters and readers what is going on. Their development was abstract, but they were still engaging.
There’re too many characters to talk about! But the great cast makes you feel both hopeful for humanity, and fear for it.
In a nutshell, The Doors of Eden has a simple premise: the end of the universe. Not just ours, but every division that’s been occurring since the beginning of time.
There’s nothing simple about this book.
We start hunting monsters. We end up deep in space with three different species trying to save the world by stopping dimensions crashing into each other.
It’s more than that, though. It tackles the big questions about humanity – and whether we’re worth saving.
This is a lengthy novel with far-fetched events taking place. It needed strong writing, and it delivered.
Insertions from another perspective, and a Groundhog Day style event, threw me a few times. But you soon pick up what is going on, and it doesn’t pull you away from the story.
The writing takes you to these other worlds, introduces the inhabitants. You care for the characters; you fear for the universe. What more can you want?
I had high expectations for this book and it didn’t disappoint. There’s a lot going on, so I imagine if you’re not a science fiction/fantasy reader, it wouldn’t be your thing. But for those of you that are, I highly recommend The Doors of Eden and hope this review shows how much. I’m looking forward to picking up more of his work.