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3.49 AVERAGE
3.49 AVERAGE
challenging
reflective
slow-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:
Yes
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
challenging
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-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
challenging
mysterious
slow-paced
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Not a book I'd recommend to someone who hadn't already read some Vandermeer or similar authors or who I knew was into this kind of thing, but it's a book that gave me an experience I really enjoyed. And I would characterize it more like I was experiencing the book than following a story- the text is here to muddle the idea of a narrative, to explore how the world is made sense of by minds other than the empiricist tyranny of a human perspective. One of the most important characters is actively hostile to having their thoughts conveyed through language, acceding in order to use their words against the reader and humanity itself. Poetic and moving and strange.
Set in the same world as Borne, Dead Astronauts is beautifully surreal. Don't come in expecting a conventional narrative; instead, prepare for an experimental, poetic experience featuring nonhuman perspectives. It's difficult to classify, but definitely worth reading for fans of Jeff Vandermeer or anyone looking for something highly original.
Reading Borne first is advisable because it will provide you with context that might help you appreciate Dead Astronauts more thoroughly, but it's not required. If you enjoyed Dead Astronauts and/or Borne, read The Strange Bird for a story in the same setting with similarly excellent prose.
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of Dead Astronauts via a Goodreads giveaway.
Reading Borne first is advisable because it will provide you with context that might help you appreciate Dead Astronauts more thoroughly, but it's not required. If you enjoyed Dead Astronauts and/or Borne, read The Strange Bird for a story in the same setting with similarly excellent prose.
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of Dead Astronauts via a Goodreads giveaway.
challenging
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
2.5 stars rounded up - it breaks my heart to give a Jeff Vandermeer book a low rating, but this one was just not my favourite (as well as taking me almost a year to get through)