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A review by frasersimons
Atlas Alone by Emma Newman
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
This was a bit conflicting for me. The ending was fun but a bit tropey, yet it also fits the character work done, and does slightly plug the holes in the world building, especially for the factions, which were on the very light side, this go around.
It’s an improvement over the last one. Better, and more interesting plot and plotting; questions about the ship and the circle are answered; there is a murder mystery with a twist. It is also quite myopic. Dee interacts with so few people that the plot is a bit of a razors edge, the solipsism contributing to it feeling contrived, but the consequences feeling somewhat justified. I do think I overall enjoy the plot enough and how it relates to Dee in the end. Had it been more fleshed out, this could have been really great, though.
**Spoiler thoughts**
One of the detractors is that it ends up being technophobic, which feels somewhat antiquated, even if it does walk a certain line, since it’s the arguably true that Dee behaved and acted the way she did, and it does call into question her character, dealing with them in a satisfying way. But the whole morally grey but just self aware A.I thing feels like it there could have been more payoff across the series, rather than it being sprung on solely in this one. It feels like it slightly cheapens it.
It’s an improvement over the last one. Better, and more interesting plot and plotting; questions about the ship and the circle are answered; there is a murder mystery with a twist. It is also quite myopic. Dee interacts with so few people that the plot is a bit of a razors edge, the solipsism contributing to it feeling contrived, but the consequences feeling somewhat justified. I do think I overall enjoy the plot enough and how it relates to Dee in the end. Had it been more fleshed out, this could have been really great, though.
**Spoiler thoughts**
One of the detractors is that it ends up being technophobic, which feels somewhat antiquated, even if it does walk a certain line, since it’s the arguably true that Dee behaved and acted the way she did, and it does call into question her character, dealing with them in a satisfying way. But the whole morally grey but just self aware A.I thing feels like it there could have been more payoff across the series, rather than it being sprung on solely in this one. It feels like it slightly cheapens it.