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A review by ethancf
Quarter Share by Nathan Lowell
4.0
This was recommended to me several years ago by someone after I mentioned how much I enjoyed the low-stakes cozy sci-fi that I first encountered in Becky Chambers' debut novel - I wasn't able to find a paper copy at the time, so it sat on my TBR list until someone *else* suggested it to me but mentioned that it was available as a free audiobook in podcast form.
I absolutely devoured the book. It helps that it was broken down into 25-35 minute chunks, but it also helps that Lowell's writing is swift and confident, and his protagonist - the unfortunately named Ishmael Horatio Wang - is pleasant company.
Now, when I say low-stakes, I do mean low. Most of this book involves making coffee and selling belts. As far as the science fiction elements go, well, squint a little and this could take place on a merchant vessel today. There's very little imagination on display here, and nearly every story beat and worldbuilding element you'll probably have seen somewhere else. There's practically no conflict; everyone is very nice to each other and understanding when someone makes a mistake. The closest thing to an actual obstacle is when a secondary character gets violently mugged - but this happens off-screen and he almost immediately bounces back. The protagonist does not struggle and lucks his way into good fortune almost immediately after his initial setback. There's also not that much critical thinking going on. At the start of the book, Ishmael gets absolutely screwed over by being a non-laboring resident of a company town (well, planet, but again - the scifi is barely here). Just a couple hours later, he's praising the benefits of the free market as he wheels and deals trade goods across the galaxy, with not even a moment to reflect on the dissonance there.
It reminded me, more than anything else, of that middle section of The Name of the Wind, when Kvothe has gotten to the University and is advancing his way through the ranks and classes. Sure, he's broke, but he's so preternaturally talented at everything he tries (except talking to women) that it all works out anyway. This book's kinda like that, except if Ambrose was actually helpful and bailed Kvothe out every other chapter before things got too scary.
With that in mind, it certainly won't be for everyone. It definitely gets a little too cozy, and I found myself nodding off while they were discussing the trade margins on belt buckles compared to their mass. I mean, good grief, did we learn nothing from The Phantom Menace? However, I did find it nearly impossible to put down anyway. The audio production is a bit amateur but there's some charm to having the author read it to you himself, especially when you can hear him turning the pages in the background (something I've never encountered in an audiobook before, to my memory). Despite the lack of conflict, one of my favorite arcs in books is when characters start with nothing and slowly have to accumulate enough resources to get by - it's part of why the aforementioned Name of the Wind is so near and dear to my heart. Lowell nails this, and he does it in a way that absolutely has compelled me to pick up the next in the series.
I absolutely devoured the book. It helps that it was broken down into 25-35 minute chunks, but it also helps that Lowell's writing is swift and confident, and his protagonist - the unfortunately named Ishmael Horatio Wang - is pleasant company.
Now, when I say low-stakes, I do mean low. Most of this book involves making coffee and selling belts. As far as the science fiction elements go, well, squint a little and this could take place on a merchant vessel today. There's very little imagination on display here, and nearly every story beat and worldbuilding element you'll probably have seen somewhere else. There's practically no conflict; everyone is very nice to each other and understanding when someone makes a mistake. The closest thing to an actual obstacle is when a secondary character gets violently mugged - but this happens off-screen and he almost immediately bounces back. The protagonist does not struggle and lucks his way into good fortune almost immediately after his initial setback. There's also not that much critical thinking going on. At the start of the book, Ishmael gets absolutely screwed over by being a non-laboring resident of a company town (well, planet, but again - the scifi is barely here). Just a couple hours later, he's praising the benefits of the free market as he wheels and deals trade goods across the galaxy, with not even a moment to reflect on the dissonance there.
It reminded me, more than anything else, of that middle section of The Name of the Wind, when Kvothe has gotten to the University and is advancing his way through the ranks and classes. Sure, he's broke, but he's so preternaturally talented at everything he tries (except talking to women) that it all works out anyway. This book's kinda like that, except if Ambrose was actually helpful and bailed Kvothe out every other chapter before things got too scary.
With that in mind, it certainly won't be for everyone. It definitely gets a little too cozy, and I found myself nodding off while they were discussing the trade margins on belt buckles compared to their mass. I mean, good grief, did we learn nothing from The Phantom Menace? However, I did find it nearly impossible to put down anyway. The audio production is a bit amateur but there's some charm to having the author read it to you himself, especially when you can hear him turning the pages in the background (something I've never encountered in an audiobook before, to my memory). Despite the lack of conflict, one of my favorite arcs in books is when characters start with nothing and slowly have to accumulate enough resources to get by - it's part of why the aforementioned Name of the Wind is so near and dear to my heart. Lowell nails this, and he does it in a way that absolutely has compelled me to pick up the next in the series.