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dyingotters's reviews
24 reviews
The Years of Rice and Salt by Kim Stanley Robinson
4.0
I’ve never been interested in alternative history but this book was an enjoyable experience. We see the lives of slaves, revolutionaries, great scientists and philosophers all making history. The structures and themes of the book reflects the Chinese-dominant state of this alternative world, with stories sectioned into “books” and the idea of characters reincarnating over and over again to meet with the same groups of people in their past lives. And although we read about intellectuals questioning and deciphering their reality, whether or not Buddhism and reincarnations is real, it all goes back to love and connection. Maybe that is what history, and by proximity, existence, is about.
The Improbable Tales of Baskerville Hall by Ali Standish
1.75
Did not work as a novel nor as a Sherlock Holmes pastiche/Sherlock Holmes inspired story. A lot of potentials not carried out.
1. Undeveloped characters and unbuilt world. Having personality in your characters and world are arguably the most important things for your reader to like and relate to your story. I understand that this is for kids, and I'm not a kid, but children need engaging and relatable stories.
2. None of the elements in this story feel Sherlockian in its essence. Yes we have a Watson, but what is he except a doctor? Or Jimmie, or Irene, or Sebastian? And there are so many character names in canon Sherlock Holmes, why not name most or all of your characters after them? What if Dr. Grey was Dr. Clay? What if the Clover were the Irregulars? Even outside of names, there are so many effortless, obvious references you can make that would make the reading experience just a little more fun.
1. Undeveloped characters and unbuilt world. Having personality in your characters and world are arguably the most important things for your reader to like and relate to your story. I understand that this is for kids, and I'm not a kid, but children need engaging and relatable stories.
2. None of the elements in this story feel Sherlockian in its essence. Yes we have a Watson, but what is he except a doctor? Or Jimmie, or Irene, or Sebastian? And there are so many character names in canon Sherlock Holmes, why not name most or all of your characters after them? What if Dr. Grey was Dr. Clay? What if the Clover were the Irregulars? Even outside of names, there are so many effortless, obvious references you can make that would make the reading experience just a little more fun.