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ariaugustine 's review for:
Vagabonds
by Hao Jingfang
A gargantuan beast of beautiful prose, compelling characters, and an unexpected twist on the science fiction genre. Let's not beat around the fact that this book is 640 PAGES LONG, but when you're enjoying a futuristic deep dive into conflict between Earth and Mars, what did you expect?? I'm a huge sucker for intrinsic detailing, historic chronologies, and war that surpasses the boundaries of space. So long as it's written well and maintains my attention, I'll probably love it. I especially LOVED the dystopian leanings of Vagabonds in a sea of militaristic battles and philosophical questions. It makes the book rather difficult to read and a bit lengthy, but I like that, so....
I also loved how Earth and Mars were distinguished from the other. Not just in terms of how they each lived, but also in culture and cultivation of ideas. On Earth, everything seems to be about selling yourself or your thoughts versus on Mars, where it's more of a collective society. This really brought forth the capitalism versus socialism--something that will likely resonate with many readers. It kind of reminded me of The Expanse, minus the aliens. I really liked how neither society was painted as better than the other; they were just different and sometimes difference = war.
Luoyang is a truly compelling main character. After having lived on Earth for a time, she returns to Mars not quite sure of where exactly she belongs. Though there was lots of social science talk in this book, I absolutely adored how her character grew into her own and examined her experiences caught between these two conflicting worlds.
Overall, I'd recommend this book to anyone looking to get the hell out of their comfort zone. It's a risky, beautiful, and thoughtful story, but it IS 600+ pages. It's not for the faint of heart.
I also loved how Earth and Mars were distinguished from the other. Not just in terms of how they each lived, but also in culture and cultivation of ideas. On Earth, everything seems to be about selling yourself or your thoughts versus on Mars, where it's more of a collective society. This really brought forth the capitalism versus socialism--something that will likely resonate with many readers. It kind of reminded me of The Expanse, minus the aliens. I really liked how neither society was painted as better than the other; they were just different and sometimes difference = war.
Luoyang is a truly compelling main character. After having lived on Earth for a time, she returns to Mars not quite sure of where exactly she belongs. Though there was lots of social science talk in this book, I absolutely adored how her character grew into her own and examined her experiences caught between these two conflicting worlds.
Overall, I'd recommend this book to anyone looking to get the hell out of their comfort zone. It's a risky, beautiful, and thoughtful story, but it IS 600+ pages. It's not for the faint of heart.