Scan barcode
A review by destrier
Grail by Elizabeth Bear
3.0
The last 1/4 of [b:Dust|2353644|Dust (Jacob's Ladder, #1)|Elizabeth Bear|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1388549771l/2353644._SY75_.jpg|2360366] and the first 3/4 of Grail would have made one very good sci-fi book (the middle entry, [b:Chill|6344843|Chill (Jacob's Ladder, #2)|Elizabeth Bear|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1320498889l/6344843._SY75_.jpg|6531104] offers nothing). Combined, those have three real characters, a sentient blow-torch, a very cool worldship ecosystem, a good philosophical discussion of how to channel humanity's impulses and what its obligations are absent an axiomatic god, a few sex scenes that aren't too cringey, and some refreshingly detailed discussion of how characters actually eat/sleep/work/live in their spaceship. There are women written well, in addition to convincing lesbian, asexual, trans, and intersex characters [sorry, the one gay character is a throwaway].
The rest is drivel. Bear is obsessed with these indistinguishable characters who are all centuries-old, incestuous siblings mimicking indistinguishable Lord of the Rings characters and mostly whining and moping like angsty teenagers. There's some history and mythology that is boring associated with them which is irrelevant. Just when the series really got good, in Grail, it falls apart again. The ending swirls back to "epic" battles that I mostly skimmed through because I just wanted all of these annoying characters to die (except who were obviously in no danger).
It feels like Bear or a negligent editor misread what was most interesting and original about the series and focused on exactly the wrong parts, leaving the good parts underfocused. Before the ending I was excited to read more by Bear. I thought that by the end of the trilogy she'd found her footing. Sadly, I am not any longer.
The rest is drivel. Bear is obsessed with these indistinguishable characters who are all centuries-old, incestuous siblings mimicking indistinguishable Lord of the Rings characters and mostly whining and moping like angsty teenagers. There's some history and mythology that is boring associated with them which is irrelevant. Just when the series really got good, in Grail, it falls apart again. The ending swirls back to "epic" battles that I mostly skimmed through because I just wanted all of these annoying characters to die (except
Spoiler
Rien, Mallory, and Amanda,It feels like Bear or a negligent editor misread what was most interesting and original about the series and focused on exactly the wrong parts, leaving the good parts underfocused. Before the ending I was excited to read more by Bear. I thought that by the end of the trilogy she'd found her footing. Sadly, I am not any longer.