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bergsteiger's review against another edition
5.0
I've been meaning to read a Tchaikovsky book for a long time and I finally got around to one. I won't say there is anything truly new here, but the execution of this story was masterful. If you are looking for a piece that explores the intersection of people with vastly different frames of reference and thoughtful psychological examination of characters then this is your book. Yes, it's a short read, but it's worth it. I am stoked to read some more Tchaikovsky in the near future!
iskander_rt's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
kris_tea516's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
I really enjoyed this book. It’s a relatively short book so he packs a lot in a short time. There were a few times where I was interrupted by a kid & I had to run it back, especially during the climax & resolution which I had to relisten to 3 times. LOL
There are so many questions I have about this world that I really wish it were the end or middle of a long series of books. I want to know all about this world.
Synopsis: Earthlings hundreds of years ago colonized this planet. A technologically modified human anthropologist, Nyr, was left with the purpose to observe the society that was left on the planet without any interaction with them and report back to Earth on their progress & the culture that they have created.
The civilization has come to think of the tower where Nyr resides as a temple and Nyr as a wizard. He has allowed himself to interact with the people in the past but also knew it was wrong, however he had made a pact with the people that he would help them if there was every something that threatened their existence.
Now, something is attacking the people so Lynesse has traveled to the tower to ask Nyr for his help.
spraffy's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
chanelchapters's review against another edition
4.0
Woman who wants to make her mummy proud teams up with a depressed anthropologist to slay a demon.
Said anthropologist is actually a super advanced human who knows science but the more primitive locals on the planet think he’s a full blown Gandalf the White. Nyr, the not-quite wizard was interesting but the FMC felt like stale bread. There is the tiniest whiff of a possible romance and perhaps a smidgen of plot but this was mostly about the differences between humans at vastly different ends of the evolutionary chain. Also a lot about Nyrs job ethics. The “demon” isn’t fully explained and it feels like the first chapter of a longer book but I thought it was interesting.
https://youtube.com/@chanelchapters
Said anthropologist is actually a super advanced human who knows science but the more primitive locals on the planet think he’s a full blown Gandalf the White. Nyr, the not-quite wizard was interesting but the FMC felt like stale bread. There is the tiniest whiff of a possible romance and perhaps a smidgen of plot but this was mostly about the differences between humans at vastly different ends of the evolutionary chain. Also a lot about Nyrs job ethics. The “demon” isn’t fully explained and it feels like the first chapter of a longer book but I thought it was interesting.
https://youtube.com/@chanelchapters
adamgeorgandis's review against another edition
4.0
I recently read all the novels nominated for this year's Nebula and Hugo Awards. Now, I have turned my attention to the Nebula- and Hugo-nominated novellas. To date, I have read the seven novellas nominated for the Nebula Award. Two of those novellas, Becky Chambers's A Psalm for the Wild-Built and Aliette de Bodard's Fireheart Tiger, were also nominated for the Hugo Award. Several days ago, I began reading the four other novellas nominated for the Hugo. I began with Catherynne Valente's The Past is Red, then tackled Alix E Harrow's A Spindle Splintered and Seanan McGuire's Across the Green Grass Fields. Elder Race was my final selection.
Before I read this smart, engaging novella, I had experienced Adrian Tchaikovsky's writing just once: his masterful Children of Time was my traveling companion in March 2018, when my daughter and I spent a week in Puebla, Mexico. I absolutely loved that book, and I realize as I write this review that I am LONG overdue to read its sequel!
After Across the Green Grass Fields, a book that, while very well written, seemed ill-suited to be nominated for a "grown up" Hugo, Elder Race was a kind of return to form. I enjoyed the novella very much. Its basic conceit is fascinating; as I read the work, I thought of countless other fantasy novels, smiling as I imagined their characters discovering secrets like those the anthropologist Nyr struggles - then does not struggle - to keep from Lynesse and her fellows. I found Elder Race a fully-realized work: in less than 200 pages, Tchaikovsky tells a complete story and provides a satisfying ending.
A great way to end an ambitious project! (Now I will have to decide whether to read all the Nebula- and Hugo-nominated novelets and short stories, as well. Those, at least, are freely available online!)
My final ranking of Hugo-nominated novellas:
1. Becky Chambers’s A Psalm for the Wild-Built
2. Adrian Tchaikovsky's Elder Race
3. Catherynne M Valente’s The Future is Red
4. Alix E Harrow’s A Spindle Splintered
5. Aliette de Bodard’s Fireheart Tiger
6. Seanan McGuire’s Across the Green Grass Fields
My combined ranking of Nebula- and Hugo-nominated novellas:
1. Becky Chambers’s A Psalm for the Wild-Built
2. Adrian Tchaikovsky’s Elder Race
3. Catherynne M Valente’s The Future is Red
4. Alix E Harrow’s A Spindle Splintered
5. Aliette de Bodard’s Fireheart Tiger
6. Catherine E Tobler’s The Necessity of Stars
7. Zin E Rocklyn’s Flowers for the Sea
8. Aimee Ogden’s Sun-Daughters, Sea-Daughters
9. Premee Mohamed’s And What Can We Offer You Tonight
10. Eugenia Triantafyllou’s The Giants of the Violet Sea
11. Seanan McGuire’s Across the Green Grass Fields
Before I read this smart, engaging novella, I had experienced Adrian Tchaikovsky's writing just once: his masterful Children of Time was my traveling companion in March 2018, when my daughter and I spent a week in Puebla, Mexico. I absolutely loved that book, and I realize as I write this review that I am LONG overdue to read its sequel!
After Across the Green Grass Fields, a book that, while very well written, seemed ill-suited to be nominated for a "grown up" Hugo, Elder Race was a kind of return to form. I enjoyed the novella very much. Its basic conceit is fascinating; as I read the work, I thought of countless other fantasy novels, smiling as I imagined their characters discovering secrets like those the anthropologist Nyr struggles - then does not struggle - to keep from Lynesse and her fellows. I found Elder Race a fully-realized work: in less than 200 pages, Tchaikovsky tells a complete story and provides a satisfying ending.
A great way to end an ambitious project! (Now I will have to decide whether to read all the Nebula- and Hugo-nominated novelets and short stories, as well. Those, at least, are freely available online!)
My final ranking of Hugo-nominated novellas:
1. Becky Chambers’s A Psalm for the Wild-Built
2. Adrian Tchaikovsky's Elder Race
3. Catherynne M Valente’s The Future is Red
4. Alix E Harrow’s A Spindle Splintered
5. Aliette de Bodard’s Fireheart Tiger
6. Seanan McGuire’s Across the Green Grass Fields
My combined ranking of Nebula- and Hugo-nominated novellas:
1. Becky Chambers’s A Psalm for the Wild-Built
2. Adrian Tchaikovsky’s Elder Race
3. Catherynne M Valente’s The Future is Red
4. Alix E Harrow’s A Spindle Splintered
5. Aliette de Bodard’s Fireheart Tiger
6. Catherine E Tobler’s The Necessity of Stars
7. Zin E Rocklyn’s Flowers for the Sea
8. Aimee Ogden’s Sun-Daughters, Sea-Daughters
9. Premee Mohamed’s And What Can We Offer You Tonight
10. Eugenia Triantafyllou’s The Giants of the Violet Sea
11. Seanan McGuire’s Across the Green Grass Fields
tiffeloise's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
gg_gabe's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
4.0
prs21376's review against another edition
4.0
I'm not going to say much about the story in this review to avoid spoilers. Just know that I have a great time reading it and I really enjoyed getting to know Nyr, Lynesse, and our merry band of travelers. My only real "criticism" is that it was too short. Otherwise, this was a lot of fun and I highly recommend it!