A review by andrewmull2
Aelita by Alexei Tolstoy

adventurous funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

I thought this was best to read as if you were picking up a magazine from the 1920s (when this book was written) and reading a comic. A sort of retro-futurism experience. The story is campy but fun. The characters are almost caricatures yet good set pieces. Where this Tolstoy really takes big swings though is in his prose. A lot of times I felt a clear and vivid picture of each scene, with colorful and vibrant descriptions. A lot of other times I was left thinking wtf is going on here. Overall it is an enjoyable read and doesn't take itself too seriously.