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intorilex's review against another edition
3.0
If your looking for weird its here. Rod is a teenager who buys the Earth, in a world where humans routinely live to be 400 years old. The sexism and misogyny can be glossed over because the story is told from a young teenagers perspective. The lack of fully fleshed out ideas and world building however left me with more questions than answers.
This book is actually two shorter books pieced together and that's why it didn't world well as a novel. Rod is able to explore deeper questions about his identity and his deepest desires in a refreshing way. The world is also a strange place because when humans have beaten disease and poverty they create underpeople. Underpeople are lab created humans mixed with animal DNA. They serve human beings and have no political power. Throughout the book you are given glimpses but never fully immersed into what their existence must be like.
“They had all forgotten that humanness is itself imperfection and corruption, that what is perfect is no longer understandable."
The ideas and world building were very unique, but the novel didn't flow well together. The dialogue was awkward at times, but still had it's own charm. I would recommend this to readers who enjoy sci-fi with weird worlds and people. If you can enjoy the novelty of ideas over your own reading enjoyment, it's worth your time.
This book is actually two shorter books pieced together and that's why it didn't world well as a novel. Rod is able to explore deeper questions about his identity and his deepest desires in a refreshing way. The world is also a strange place because when humans have beaten disease and poverty they create underpeople. Underpeople are lab created humans mixed with animal DNA. They serve human beings and have no political power. Throughout the book you are given glimpses but never fully immersed into what their existence must be like.
“They had all forgotten that humanness is itself imperfection and corruption, that what is perfect is no longer understandable."
The ideas and world building were very unique, but the novel didn't flow well together. The dialogue was awkward at times, but still had it's own charm. I would recommend this to readers who enjoy sci-fi with weird worlds and people. If you can enjoy the novelty of ideas over your own reading enjoyment, it's worth your time.
ac_lytle's review against another edition
3.5
Delightful sci-fi absurdity that feels like it has a dash of Vonnegut. Fun, but dragged a bit in the back third, and the actual mechanics of the story never really grabbed me. More of a world building book.
spitzig's review
4.0
This book was fun!
The characters were believable. Pretty different-should be since some were only parrt human. They could have been MORE developed, though.
The plot took a while to get started, and most much of the time, he was passive. Just doing what others told him. It was strange enough, though. The main character's planet's economy was based on sick sheep that produced an immortality drug. The idea that the main character's computer was intelligent enough to manuever his money enough to buy the Earth was not believable.
The author was the godson of Sun Yet San, the founder of the Republic of China and-now the government of Taiwan. He was the author of a book on Psychological Warfare. For a long time, it was the most popular textbook on the subject. Now, maybe that's different-the note on the author was written more than 40 years ago.
Strangely, he mentioned chai, a drink that became popular in the US 30 years after the book was written(and one of my favorite drinks).
The characters were believable. Pretty different-should be since some were only parrt human. They could have been MORE developed, though.
The plot took a while to get started, and most much of the time, he was passive. Just doing what others told him. It was strange enough, though. The main character's planet's economy was based on sick sheep that produced an immortality drug. The idea that the main character's computer was intelligent enough to manuever his money enough to buy the Earth was not believable.
The author was the godson of Sun Yet San, the founder of the Republic of China and-now the government of Taiwan. He was the author of a book on Psychological Warfare. For a long time, it was the most popular textbook on the subject. Now, maybe that's different-the note on the author was written more than 40 years ago.
Strangely, he mentioned chai, a drink that became popular in the US 30 years after the book was written(and one of my favorite drinks).
tjrtucker's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
qualiareedauthor's review
5.0
No one, and I mean NO ONE writes like Cordwainer. The fact that this is a pseudonym, and while he wrote much of his work, he was on stakeouts as a CIA operative just makes his work even stranger. I want the story/movie of this guys life.
CHECK OUT HIS WORK!!
CHECK OUT HIS WORK!!
bznk's review
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
rdmathison's review against another edition
4.0
Cordwainer Smith's Norstrilia is a delightful and inventive journey through a bizarre and captivating universe. This novel captures the essence of whimsy and originality, making it a must-read for fans of unconventional science fiction. Reminiscent of Jodorowsky's The Incal, Norstrilia immerses readers in its peculiarities and eccentricities through a rich collection of unique settings and engaging characters.
The book's beginning immediately grabs attention with a phenomenal hook that sets the stage for an adventurous narrative. The ending is equally impressive, providing a satisfying conclusion that ties together the story's various threads. However, the middle portion of the book does experience some saggy narrative lulls, occasionally losing momentum, which might detract from the overall experience for some readers.
Despite this minor shortcoming, Norstrilia remains a remarkable piece of science fiction literature. Its ability to blend the strange with the familiar makes it a fascinating read. The novel's strengths lie in its creativity, the depth of its world-building, and the uniqueness of its characters, all of which contribute to its charm and appeal.
The book's beginning immediately grabs attention with a phenomenal hook that sets the stage for an adventurous narrative. The ending is equally impressive, providing a satisfying conclusion that ties together the story's various threads. However, the middle portion of the book does experience some saggy narrative lulls, occasionally losing momentum, which might detract from the overall experience for some readers.
Despite this minor shortcoming, Norstrilia remains a remarkable piece of science fiction literature. Its ability to blend the strange with the familiar makes it a fascinating read. The novel's strengths lie in its creativity, the depth of its world-building, and the uniqueness of its characters, all of which contribute to its charm and appeal.
nealkelso's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
ewdocparris's review against another edition
5.0
The works of Cordwainer Smith are delightful and just plain weird. Norstrilia is double so.