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neonskylite's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
I don't understand the complaints about how the Riddleyspeak is pointless or difficult to understand - to paraphrase Hoban himself in the afterword the reader who sounds things out and uses a little imagination can understand it, and that hurdle is worth all the benefits Riddleyspeak brings to the novel. It slows down the reader's understanding so they experience things at the same pace as Riddley (who hasn't had the tension ruined when a character finds an Object that they don't know but is plainly obvious? How many people realised the Salt 4/Saul & Peter was saltpetre to make gunpowder first go around ?) and reveals so much about the post-atomic society - experimenting becomes spare the mending, as doing science would be associated with preventing the irradiated world from healing. He parbly ben the best looking new spel I seen any how there hadnt ben none for a long time befor him nor I aint looking to see none agen
The fires col
My storys tol
The fires col
My storys tol
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexual violence, and Child abuse
slinky179's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
Basically anything you've heard about this book is true. The work put into it and the language is truly astounding. For those interested in linguistics and social science fiction, this is an easy recommend. It is an extremely difficult read and has quite an odd mix of tones. It can be light hearted and humorous a la tom sawyer, but can be very dark and gruesome. Also expect stretches of several pages where you arent picking up a lick of information.
I am a very big Gene Wolfe fan and I found this about as or even more difficult than anything I've read by him (or anyone else). Similar experience to a first read of shadow of the torturer but even more heavily shrouded in language and ambiguity.
Immensely beautiful with some stunning poetry written in a language that doesn't exist, so the effort does pay off. Would not recommend this if you are looking for plot or even characters. This is very much an introspective novel about history, social evolution, and human nature.
I am a very big Gene Wolfe fan and I found this about as or even more difficult than anything I've read by him (or anyone else). Similar experience to a first read of shadow of the torturer but even more heavily shrouded in language and ambiguity.
Immensely beautiful with some stunning poetry written in a language that doesn't exist, so the effort does pay off. Would not recommend this if you are looking for plot or even characters. This is very much an introspective novel about history, social evolution, and human nature.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Rape, and Child abuse
Moderate: Gore
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