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scribal's review against another edition
3.0
Gave it 3 stars because the descriptions of the trees were so cool I will always remember them. Otherwise I would have done a 2.
Great idea for a world--plants that harness a planet's hot core and make light and food. But trite story--and yes based quite directly on the Old Testament. There's lots of basic psychological insight but delivered at a YA level. I do not ever want to read such a boring predictable "let's rebuild human society from scratch" story again!
Although I want to know more about the world, how it might actually work....but the author has to make the world human-habitable (oxegen atmosphere etc) so making it scientifically consistent is pretty much off the table.
Reread "40,000 in Gehenna" right after to cleanse my palate. Now there's a book that truly faces up to the possibilities of a small group of humans adapting to a new world.! Next up might be "Mission of Gravity" just for world-building calibration
Great idea for a world--plants that harness a planet's hot core and make light and food. But trite story--and yes based quite directly on the Old Testament. There's lots of basic psychological insight but delivered at a YA level. I do not ever want to read such a boring predictable "let's rebuild human society from scratch" story again!
Although I want to know more about the world, how it might actually work....but the author has to make the world human-habitable (oxegen atmosphere etc) so making it scientifically consistent is pretty much off the table.
Reread "40,000 in Gehenna" right after to cleanse my palate. Now there's a book that truly faces up to the possibilities of a small group of humans adapting to a new world.! Next up might be "Mission of Gravity" just for world-building calibration
gwimo's review against another edition
3.0
This book was not great. It most certainly not the worse I've read either. It teeters on a balance at being awful, but some plot points tip it towards being worthwhile. I don't know what to say other than that. I only recently found out it was a series (and the open ending suggests more interesting things are to come), but the repetitive vocabulary of the characters irks me greatly greatly. I don't know if it's worth my time to continue on or just stop here.
alexayres47's review against another edition
4.0
Pro: it really makes you think.
Con: the things you'll be thinking about are super disturbing and creepy.
Con: the things you'll be thinking about are super disturbing and creepy.
nwhyte's review against another edition
4.0
http://nwhyte.livejournal.com/2067379.html[return][return]story of an accidental human colony on a distant, cold world, decided from two survivors of a lost expedition, and now subject to politics and splintering. It's of course reminiscent of Tunnel In The Sky (Heinlein) or The Face of Evil (Doctor Who), but Beckett brings a nice dimension of rebellious, factionalised youth, of control of history and culture, of the power of new ideas in an alien environment. I really liked it, and a couple of trailing plot threads indicate that there is room for a sequel.
laufox's review against another edition
5.0
Truly wondrous. This book was on my shelf for 6 or 7 years. I regret not reading it sooner because it is fantastic and strange and beautiful.
vannababes's review against another edition
DNF at page 11
I just really didn't like what I was reading.
I just really didn't like what I was reading.
jamestomasino's review against another edition
3.0
The book starts slowly which is good as it introduces not just unfamiliar words but a setting that is quite alien in flora, fauna, and understanding of its inhabitants. By the 40% mark I was beginning to tire until BAM! everything started moving quite quickly. The time spent with our core characters in the beginning was a wise investment as it lets the book's action sequences hit more dramatically with a sense of depth behind small actions. Overally this is a really interesting read that meshes some of those feelings I had from Clan of the Cave Bear with those of Lord of the Flies. I will most likely read the other two books in the trilogy.
wolf_mom's review against another edition
dark
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
A slow start that picks up steam by the end. It took me a little while to get into the story, but as the characters developed and the world was explained I found myself more and more invested. There were some parts that were hard to read, and others where I wanted to shake the main characters. It's about the characters in this world as much as it is about what is happening. It was a melancholic story wandering through the lives of these people on a dark world trying to discover meaning.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault and Suicide
hylian_narwhal's review against another edition
3.0
True rating; 3.25 stars
For the most part I was interested in this novel, but it seems like it gets lost in the world building and the plot becomes the subplot in comparison to how much is given to the description of the world, the characters and their community instead of what's actually happening in the here and now.
For the most part I was interested in this novel, but it seems like it gets lost in the world building and the plot becomes the subplot in comparison to how much is given to the description of the world, the characters and their community instead of what's actually happening in the here and now.
spoerk's review against another edition
3.0
If this was YA, it'd be toted as "the next hunger games" in that everyone would read it and praise it.
But it's not YA, and therefore feels a little flat.
Which begs the question, why do we expect so little from YA? And also, why do I think it falls flat?
I don't know. I'll think on it.
But it's not YA, and therefore feels a little flat.
Which begs the question, why do we expect so little from YA? And also, why do I think it falls flat?
I don't know. I'll think on it.