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jdcorley's review against another edition
dark
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Stross' horror comedy spy outing is a delight whether or not you've read Deighton or any of the other "English spy bureaucracy" thrillers, where the cynicism and make-work is inextricably tangled with the violence and high stakes. Imaginative use of techno-magic, often thrown into other stories very unthinkingly, adds to the top notch world building. Yet unlike Deighton and the other spy bureaucrats the characters lack the melancholy and depression of seeing the world as it is. Nobody in The Laundry is sad, a major misstep in adaptation. Nevertheless you'll have a real good time, and Stross' end note essays are an interesting look into how he considered it all.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder and Violence
Minor: Infidelity
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