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3.99 AVERAGE
3.99 AVERAGE
Respectfully: what the hell did I just read?
I found the sections of military jargon to be tedious, but as a lover of hard sf I think the rest of the book more than makes up for them; when this book is good, it's SO good. There are some fascinating and unique concepts introduced here that I can't stop thinking about. I was interested in all of the main cast once their souls were bared, and I genuinely liked how messy they all are. Maybe I'm a weirdo.
Anyway, 4.5/5 because I almost put this book down in Act 2, but rated up to 5 because I did love most of it and we can't give half stars (and I'm feeling generous). I really want more, please!!
I found the sections of military jargon to be tedious, but as a lover of hard sf I think the rest of the book more than makes up for them; when this book is good, it's SO good. There are some fascinating and unique concepts introduced here that I can't stop thinking about. I was interested in all of the main cast once their souls were bared, and I genuinely liked how messy they all are. Maybe I'm a weirdo.
Anyway, 4.5/5 because I almost put this book down in Act 2, but rated up to 5 because I did love most of it and we can't give half stars (and I'm feeling generous). I really want more, please!!
I really liked this book for most of it. There was a thing with souls about 75% of the way through that lost me for a bit, but it brought it back around.
However, this has that Neal Stephenson problem that you'll understand if you've read more than one Neal Stephenson book, in that it feels like the author probably should just started another book. The ending is...well, it certainly exists. I don't consider this a real problem (i.e. Neal Stephenson is still one of my favourite authors even though most of his books end by dribbling like the last bit of ketchup in a glass bottle).
I really enjoyed it even if it went on a little bit too long.
However, this has that Neal Stephenson problem that you'll understand if you've read more than one Neal Stephenson book, in that it feels like the author probably should just started another book. The ending is...well, it certainly exists. I don't consider this a real problem (i.e. Neal Stephenson is still one of my favourite authors even though most of his books end by dribbling like the last bit of ketchup in a glass bottle).
I really enjoyed it even if it went on a little bit too long.
such an amazing first chapter and such a mess after. oh well…
dark
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
A very divisive book. I can understand why as it is undeniably very dense, difficult to recommend, and drags at certain points (especially in act 2) but I cannot think of anything that should have been cut-- everything slots together much better than it should have.
The genre-flipping is what I see critiqued the most frequently in other reviews and though I think it works in favor of the narrative as it runs parallel to the events of the story, the relationship between Ssrin and Anna was put on hold until the final act which I found disappointing even if the other characters introduced were excellent (which they are! love you Chaya, Aixue, and Khaje)
Despite its flaws I cannot get this book out of my head and have been thinking about it for months since I've finished. Just an incredibly audacious and self-indulgent novel that I will be comparing to others for years. Hoping for a sequel and more weird soul physics in my future !!
The genre-flipping is what I see critiqued the most frequently in other reviews and though I think it works in favor of the narrative as it runs parallel to the events of the story, the relationship between Ssrin and Anna was put on hold until the final act which I found disappointing even if the other characters introduced were excellent (which they are! love you Chaya, Aixue, and Khaje)
Despite its flaws I cannot get this book out of my head and have been thinking about it for months since I've finished. Just an incredibly audacious and self-indulgent novel that I will be comparing to others for years. Hoping for a sequel and more weird soul physics in my future !!
Anna has struggled to hold down a job and make a life, ever since that fateful day in Kurdistan. But the day that she finds an alien in Central Park everything changes, as the alien says that their souls are connected. Now the world is being threatened by the Exordia as two aliens fight over a mysterious craft that has appeared in the Kurdish mountains. Anna joins a secret military group to lead them to the craft, and join up with scientists there who are studying it to try to help save the world. Will this diverse group from around the world find a way to work together to save the world?
This book thought it was much smarter than it was, and got too concerned with its “big ideas” that it didn’t have enough time for plot or character arcs. There is too much info-dumping, too much over-explanation, and too much technobabble. Starting with Act III, it gets really confusing because it does a lot of jumping around between different characters, and also jumping back and forth in the timeline. There are labels for when things happen, but they are not consistent (sometimes it’s “K + X Days” and sometimes it’s “XXX Hours Left” and sometimes there is nothing), so the time labels are not actually helpful. Oh, and somehow the ship built from mathematics needs a soul because reasons. I had to stop and restart this several times because I got so frustrated with it.
(I received an Uncorrected Proof Copy via a Goodreads Giveaway).
This book thought it was much smarter than it was, and got too concerned with its “big ideas” that it didn’t have enough time for plot or character arcs. There is too much info-dumping, too much over-explanation, and too much technobabble. Starting with Act III, it gets really confusing because it does a lot of jumping around between different characters, and also jumping back and forth in the timeline. There are labels for when things happen, but they are not consistent (sometimes it’s “K + X Days” and sometimes it’s “XXX Hours Left” and sometimes there is nothing), so the time labels are not actually helpful. Oh, and somehow the ship built from mathematics needs a soul because reasons. I had to stop and restart this several times because I got so frustrated with it.
(I received an Uncorrected Proof Copy via a Goodreads Giveaway).
DNF at page 96.
I had such high hopes. It started out fantastic, then it completely lost me.
I REALLY wanted to like this book, but life is too short to read books you feel you have to slog through.
I had such high hopes. It started out fantastic, then it completely lost me.
I REALLY wanted to like this book, but life is too short to read books you feel you have to slog through.
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Completely original and unexpected
I have always been a great fan of Seth Dickinson and have been looking forward to this, but even without that bias I would have been mesmerized by Exordia.
Much like in the Baru Cormorant series, there is something new, interesting and relevant from one page to the next and it all flows without becoming too obsessed with theorizing and world-building. New metaphysics and universe-defining elements are introduced without purple prose or excessive emotional displays. The writing maintains a good blend of detail and progression, and there is no padding or weak sections. Dialogue and internal narration carries meaning and pathos without any melodrama.
The concepts and the scope that are introduced, including the villains and their technology, make for a tense and sometimes scary read. The members of the cast have real flaws and defined psychologies you don't expect to see in an action-oriented sci-fi.
The only thing I wished for was more pages.
I have always been a great fan of Seth Dickinson and have been looking forward to this, but even without that bias I would have been mesmerized by Exordia.
Much like in the Baru Cormorant series, there is something new, interesting and relevant from one page to the next and it all flows without becoming too obsessed with theorizing and world-building. New metaphysics and universe-defining elements are introduced without purple prose or excessive emotional displays. The writing maintains a good blend of detail and progression, and there is no padding or weak sections. Dialogue and internal narration carries meaning and pathos without any melodrama.
The concepts and the scope that are introduced, including the villains and their technology, make for a tense and sometimes scary read. The members of the cast have real flaws and defined psychologies you don't expect to see in an action-oriented sci-fi.
The only thing I wished for was more pages.