Reviews - The Rise and Fall of D.O.D.O.

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1.21k reviews for:

The Rise and Fall of D.O.D.O.

Nicole Galland, Neal Stephenson

3.8 AVERAGE

kwyma's review against another edition

4.0

This took me awhile to finish, but it was a fun read! Somehow these authors pegged a fantastic story with great characters that pulled me through the almost 750 pages.

yeahkaren's review against another edition

4.0

A couple people in the modern-day world learn that magic used to exist and photography caused it to stop working in 1851. Lots of time travel, lots of suspension of disbelief, too, but fun and fast-paced and very enjoyable read. I kept stopping to look up details, like, when were guns invented? (1364 was first known use of a firearm.) This is also what made me want to read some *really* old historical fiction. This was definitely set up for a sequel (which exists, though was written only by Galland), but I need a break before reading more of this type of novel.

unabridgedbibliophile's review against another edition

3.0

Well that was a way you could end the story I guess...?

I would have given this another star if not for the ending. It’s a unique blend of magic and science that I love and I had high hopes of loving this book since Seveneves by Neal Stephenson was one of my favorite books last year.

The story follows many characters through 5 years of trying to restore magic to our world to use its powers of time travel and to change the course of history. But only on the terms of a secret government organization.

As much as I liked the characters, especially Tristan, I really enjoyed how the authors blended magic and physics together into a plausible explanation of how this situation and plot would work.

janicec37's review against another edition

4.5

adventurous medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

A sci fi booo that spends a lot of time explaining the machines and tech is not always for me. But the story is interesting and eventually the pacing gets better so I will read the follow up.

vivivi's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous funny lighthearted mysterious slow-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: Yes

It's such a big book, but I'm glad I stuck with it. Honestly, it wasn't hard to read! It just to me a while. I really like the main cast and even the villains. The time travelling really works in the story and it was fun to see the rise and fall of DODO 😂 I love the restrictions that they placed on magic and how time travel is so complicated. There are also so many in-jokes that you can only really appreciate if you've read the whole book.

The format of the story, told through historical records, reports, notes, and journals, was excellent. I like Mel and Tristan! Their relationship was an absolute slow burn, and wasn't the focus of the story at all, but a fun side thing.

stannenb's review against another edition

5.0

The Rise and Fall of D.O.D.O is a Gordian Knot of a time travel novel. It manages to start in the 1850s which is, in the linear story, practically the end of the tale, which takes place in (one alternative universe of) modern time. That structure serves its narrative purpose well. You *want* to know just it all turned out that way. But this is a big book. It's easy to find yourself wishing that some of it had gotten pruned away in editing so you get to the conclusion faster. But it's a rollicking ride, with a satire of bureaucracy at the intersection of magic and time travel worthy of Charlie Stross.