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3.8 AVERAGE
3.8 AVERAGE
I was initially drawn to the book because I'm both a big Neal Stephenson fan and a fan of linguistics-focused scifi and fantasy (consider Sylvain Neuvel's Themis Files series). The linguistics aspect of the book was less prominent than I had hoped, but the book had Stephenson's signature in-depth-but-approachable math and science elements, much like Cryptonomicon and Anathem. Nicole Galland's historical fiction contributions were also very well done, especially the segments in and the use of .
The book has a somewhat meandering beginning, but the climax and resolution hook you very well. Having borrowed the book from a library, I was worried for a while that I wouldn't finish, but the pace really accelerated in the back end. The book has a solid amount of humor and generally feels lighthearted. While there is a central conflict, it never seems particularly dire and the characters don't do much growing.
That said, I thoroughly enjoyed the book and would recommend it to anyone who is a fan of Stephenson's or time travel sci-fi in general.
Spoiler
Byzantine ConstantinopleSpoiler
Norse-style poetryThe book has a somewhat meandering beginning, but the climax and resolution hook you very well. Having borrowed the book from a library, I was worried for a while that I wouldn't finish, but the pace really accelerated in the back end. The book has a solid amount of humor and generally feels lighthearted. While there is a central conflict, it never seems particularly dire and the characters don't do much growing.
That said, I thoroughly enjoyed the book and would recommend it to anyone who is a fan of Stephenson's or time travel sci-fi in general.
An extremely enjoyable full-cast production, with some voices I (happily) recognized from other books I've read.
I enjoyed this, but at 26 hours (!!!!) it could clearly have used some editing, despite being very fun.
If you're into slow burn romance, you might like this -- there's some tension (remarked-upon several times throughout the novel) between Melisande and Tristan that doesn't get resolved until about the last 10 pages or so! (It's not really a romance novel, though.)
I would definitely be interested in listening to more from any of the performers, and I'm definitely interested in borrowing more books from either of the authors.
The book also sets up what could be an opening for a sequel -- but I'm not sure if I'd read a sequel. Maybe if it was from the point of view of?
I enjoyed this, but at 26 hours (!!!!) it could clearly have used some editing, despite being very fun.
If you're into slow burn romance, you might like this -- there's some tension (remarked-upon several times throughout the novel) between Melisande and Tristan that doesn't get resolved until about the last 10 pages or so! (It's not really a romance novel, though.)
I would definitely be interested in listening to more from any of the performers, and I'm definitely interested in borrowing more books from either of the authors.
The book also sets up what could be an opening for a sequel -- but I'm not sure if I'd read a sequel. Maybe if it was from the point of view of
Spoiler
Grainne
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Almost 40% and I didn’t care enough about any of it to keep going.
This was a pretty good book. It is LONG - and I will say that is why I knocked it a star. At times it just felt a little too drawn out for now reason. However, the story overall was a good one. Well written and intriguing. I liked most of the characters. It was a neat idea. I listened to this one and it really passed the time. Stephenson can get into the weeds with overexplanation of science sometimes, but this one wasn't too bad. Good read if you are looking for a tome.
DNF at 23%. I can't bring myself to care one little fig for any of this.
The audiobook is dreadfully dull, but I don't think it's the reader doing a bad job. She has a fine range of voices and characters. But the book itself is so muddling and repetitive and mansplainy and boring and atrocious that I simply cannot care. It's too long by half, tries to achieve so much, and does Nothing at all.
Tristan is a horrible, gross character. He's rude to Mel, dismissing her ideas and then stealing them when they turn out to actually have some merit (eg, her discovery of the Schrodinger's cat experiment professor, and her subsequent schmoozing to get them in the door when Tristan has zero social clues for what's happening, as though that's the only thing a woman can do). People spend half the book mansplaining things to her as a way to convey information to the audience, which is a clumsy conceit. Especially because she keeps lampshading it by internally eye rolling and saying, "But I know this already" to herself, or whatever, while still allowing it to happen because the author couldn't think of a better way to present the information. Just because you make a point of showing how bad the character mansplaining thing is doesn't make you clever because you keep doing it. It just gets exhausting. Further, as cruel and snobby and secretive as Tristan is (a less charismatic Mulder Fox, if you will), the audience is clearly meant to LIKE him. Mel certainly does. It's 20% into the book and she's already thinking he's super hot stuff, an intellectual puzzle worth diving into. Feels hideously like author mirroring self into the character and I hate it hate it hate it.
Random words and phrases are "fuzzed out" for being too modern in Mel's reaccounting, but completely at random as some swears are fine in some contexts while others aren't, and some phrases are left alone while others are changed, and there's no rhyme or reason to it.
There are too many characters and not enough actually happening. Book is too long by far, and any time it seems like it might start getting interesting, it gets boring or casually sexist again and I'm So Done. It's Boring. How is a sci fi book about time travel boring.
The audiobook is dreadfully dull, but I don't think it's the reader doing a bad job. She has a fine range of voices and characters. But the book itself is so muddling and repetitive and mansplainy and boring and atrocious that I simply cannot care. It's too long by half, tries to achieve so much, and does Nothing at all.
Tristan is a horrible, gross character. He's rude to Mel, dismissing her ideas and then stealing them when they turn out to actually have some merit (eg, her discovery of the Schrodinger's cat experiment professor, and her subsequent schmoozing to get them in the door when Tristan has zero social clues for what's happening, as though that's the only thing a woman can do). People spend half the book mansplaining things to her as a way to convey information to the audience, which is a clumsy conceit. Especially because she keeps lampshading it by internally eye rolling and saying, "But I know this already" to herself, or whatever, while still allowing it to happen because the author couldn't think of a better way to present the information. Just because you make a point of showing how bad the character mansplaining thing is doesn't make you clever because you keep doing it. It just gets exhausting. Further, as cruel and snobby and secretive as Tristan is (a less charismatic Mulder Fox, if you will), the audience is clearly meant to LIKE him. Mel certainly does. It's 20% into the book and she's already thinking he's super hot stuff, an intellectual puzzle worth diving into. Feels hideously like author mirroring self into the character and I hate it hate it hate it.
Random words and phrases are "fuzzed out" for being too modern in Mel's reaccounting, but completely at random as some swears are fine in some contexts while others aren't, and some phrases are left alone while others are changed, and there's no rhyme or reason to it.
There are too many characters and not enough actually happening. Book is too long by far, and any time it seems like it might start getting interesting, it gets boring or casually sexist again and I'm So Done. It's Boring. How is a sci fi book about time travel boring.
adventurous
funny
mysterious
fast-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:
No
I liked this a lot, but not enough to read the sequel, I don't think. Overly detailed shenanigans, right up my alley. I like where this one ended up.
Ok. So I am something of a Neal Stephenson Whore, having read (and enjoyed) just about everything he has written, so saying I enjoyed this book doesn't really tell you much. So how about this: This book is WAY more relaxed than Seveneves. It it is often funny and pretty much a satire about secret government organizations (exemplified by the title, natch). The characters are relatively well developed and likeable (mostly), though intentionally a bit stereotyped (I assume) and even the bad guys have some redeeming features (mostly). But, as always, there is the science. Here we are getting into quantum physics and string theory of a sort. All told, read the book. You will enjoy it.