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A review by jeremyreads
All the Birds in the Sky by Charlie Jane Anders
5.0
All the Birds in the Sky by Charlie Jane Anders is one of the most unique and interesting books I have read in awhile. It blends science fiction and fantasy, as its two protagonists are a witch and a scientist. The two meet in elementary school and become fast friends, as they are both outsiders shunned by the other kids. Patricia has recently learned she can speak with animals, while Laurence is working on creating artificial intelligence with scrap computers. The struggles of elementary school lead to the two splitting, and they eventually go to separate schools, a school of magic for Patricia, and a disciplinary military academy for Laurence. Many years later they meet again by chance. Laurence is now researching wormholes that can transport people off the climate change ravaged Earth. Patricia works for an organization of witches looking for their own solution for the failing planet. Laurence and Patricia find themselves in conflict over their different survival plans, while also falling in love.
I loved this book; one of the best I’ve read this year so far. All the Birds has been nominated for a Hugo and it absolutely deserves it. My interpretation of the story is that it is about communication. Most of the novel’s conflicts arise because the characters do not speak to each other honestly about their thoughts and feelings and plans. Granted, they both have suffered emotional traumas that make it hard to trust others, but at one point I found these two so frustrating, that I had to put the book down for a couple days. All relationships require good communication, so intentions do not get misconstrued and disagreements do not threaten to tear people apart. It is something that I struggle with myself.
Full disclosure, I listened to the audio book version, but I still consider that reading. The performance was very well done, and the reader makes efforts to differentiate the characters, rather than simple read aloud.I particularly enjoyed watching the romance blossom between Laurence and Patricia, which may be why I would get so angry with them when they start screwing it up. I’m a little embarrassed to say, but there is a sex scene that I also found really steamy and incredibly intimate.
Another idea that crossed my mind towards the end of the novel is the solution is not either magic or science, but a kind of blending of the two. No one has all the answers, but together we may find compromise and a path forward
I loved this book; one of the best I’ve read this year so far. All the Birds has been nominated for a Hugo and it absolutely deserves it. My interpretation of the story is that it is about communication. Most of the novel’s conflicts arise because the characters do not speak to each other honestly about their thoughts and feelings and plans. Granted, they both have suffered emotional traumas that make it hard to trust others, but at one point I found these two so frustrating, that I had to put the book down for a couple days. All relationships require good communication, so intentions do not get misconstrued and disagreements do not threaten to tear people apart. It is something that I struggle with myself.
Full disclosure, I listened to the audio book version, but I still consider that reading. The performance was very well done, and the reader makes efforts to differentiate the characters, rather than simple read aloud.I particularly enjoyed watching the romance blossom between Laurence and Patricia, which may be why I would get so angry with them when they start screwing it up. I’m a little embarrassed to say, but there is a sex scene that I also found really steamy and incredibly intimate.
Another idea that crossed my mind towards the end of the novel is the solution is not either magic or science, but a kind of blending of the two. No one has all the answers, but together we may find compromise and a path forward