The worldbuilding is impressive. I enjoyed the numbers as part of names thing quite a bit for more easily keeping characters straight.
That said, the mThe worldbuilding is impressive. I enjoyed the numbers as part of names thing quite a bit for more easily keeping characters straight.
That said, the mystery wasn't exactly engaging and all the empire political intrigue just means that literally anything could have caused it. The actual happenings weren't overly compelling.
Also, I feel like there's a pretty big plot hole in how the technology works that got papered over.
I'll still probably read the sequel when it comes out, but it won't be at the top of my queue.
3 stars
2021 Re-read: I must say that I didn't understand at all the adulation heaped on this novel nor the Hugo win. This book seemed to me on the first read like a solid first novel with quite a few flaws. I enjoyed it more on the re-read. There were still a few too many coincidence/plot devices that I expect from a less experienced author, and I still don't think it approached the brilliance of several other books that year, but I did actually enjoy it more this time than last. I'm bumping it from 3 stars to 4....more
"If everyone would just let me do my stupid job for one minute."
I adore the sardonic tone and the grumpily competent, lovable person who doesn't know "If everyone would just let me do my stupid job for one minute."
I adore the sardonic tone and the grumpily competent, lovable person who doesn't know how to feel loved.
I had a grin on my face for many parts of this book, and there were a number of laugh out loud moments. That said, it's a little uneven in a few places; it almost has a feel of a few novelettes smooshed together. One of the the writing devices that annoyed me during the book made sense at the end, which is always nice. The weakest piece was probably the main plot, which may have gotten a little too convoluted or maybe was just more than it needed to be.
Honestly, this is one of those rare times when I don't really need for the plot to be big or important or perfect. I don't need alien mysteries or galaxy-spanning consequences. I just want to be with this character as they are put into one difficult situation after another and watch them learn and grow and adjust and become.
October 2020 Series Reread: I needed a pick-me-up so I went back and reread the novellas, and I figured I might as well read this again as well even though it's only been a few months... I think the weaknesses of the book stood out to me a little more this time, but overall I was surprised at how little my opinion changed for each of these 5 stories. I love murderbot. Can't wait for more......more
I know that I'm giving out too many 5 star reviews this year, but... This book is really good. Maybe not perfect, but highly worth reading. It's set iI know that I'm giving out too many 5 star reviews this year, but... This book is really good. Maybe not perfect, but highly worth reading. It's set in an alternate mid 20th century (Dewey actually *did* win) with all of the attendant sexism and racism. A brilliant, overachieving, flawed female protagonist trying to overcome the various obstacles put in her way to become an astronaut. An interesting premise at the beginning of the book with the meteor strike, and the climate change it ushers in kicks off all of the comparisons to our current political battles. This is a great story and sheds a useful light on many contemporarily relevant issues. Also, this is the first of two prequel books to a novelette that won a Hugo Award in 2014. I'm very much looking forward to reading the next two. This is the second book on my short list for Best Novel Hugo in 2019....more
I reread the first two books right before reading this... There are definitely parts of the previous books that I enjoy more than this one overall. ThI reread the first two books right before reading this... There are definitely parts of the previous books that I enjoy more than this one overall. That being said, there is a certain craftsmanship that goes into finishing a series the way the author does. This trilogy is an experience, and I will be surprised if this book doesn't give Jemisin an unprecedented third Hugo award for her trilogy....more
I enjoyed this, but not as much as Penric's Demon, which this beat out for the Hugo Award. This novella suffers from needing to both introduce a new wI enjoyed this, but not as much as Penric's Demon, which this beat out for the Hugo Award. This novella suffers from needing to both introduce a new world and tell an interesting story in so few pages. I'm looking forward to the sequel....more
An exceptional story. It still played with Second Person narrative which was a little disorienting at times. My biggest frustration is not rememberingAn exceptional story. It still played with Second Person narrative which was a little disorienting at times. My biggest frustration is not remembering enough of the details of the first book. I'm thinking I might reread the first two books when the third one comes out. These books are completely worth rereading....more
Original and interesting. Some parts were a little dry, others perhaps overly simplistic, but overall this is a fascinating and unique story from a ChOriginal and interesting. Some parts were a little dry, others perhaps overly simplistic, but overall this is a fascinating and unique story from a Chinese author. Probably my choice for the Hugo award, and I eagerly await the sequels. ...more
A short short story (like go read it really quickly and come back). I was prepared to not like this based on my distaste for Left Hand of Darkness. LiA short short story (like go read it really quickly and come back). I was prepared to not like this based on my distaste for Left Hand of Darkness. Likely because it was so short, I actually enjoyed the descriptive imagery this time. Plus that imagery was what made the message so intriguing. I can see why it won a Hugo....more
Interesting premise and a fun book. I felt that some of the approach was awkward, though. The protagonist's 'confusion' with gender and pronouns was mInteresting premise and a fun book. I felt that some of the approach was awkward, though. The protagonist's 'confusion' with gender and pronouns was more frustrating than amusing, and there was too much of the organizational structure that was confusing and not explained until over halfway into the book. I can see why this was nominated for a Hugo, and I'm definitely looking forward to the sequels.
Update: I'm dropping another star after further consideration of the plot... as in, the character's plan makes absolutely no sense for most of the novel, until it works out ok at the end by complete accident. It's like the author figured out the awesome ending then spent her time figuring out what all plot devices she needed to get there. This is a good, but overrated and deeply flawed book....more
This book is not a bad book, but I don't think it deserved a Hugo. This book wanted to be funny, but I did not find it so. It had a couple cute momentThis book is not a bad book, but I don't think it deserved a Hugo. This book wanted to be funny, but I did not find it so. It had a couple cute moments, to be sure, but in general I didn't find it nearly as clever as it wanted itself to be. The story itself was so mired in the 'cool concept' that I don't think it realized its potential in plot, and certainly prevented real character development. I know a number of people loved the first part and thought the end was silly. I thought most of the first part was inane, but the end was at least inane with a purpose. Ok, specifically, the last two codas. I found the final 40 pages of the book had better realized with more interesting characters that allowed fo significantly better emotional connection. Perhaps I should look at the rest of the book as a way of setting that up? Still not quite enough for 4 stars as a Hugo winner....more
All of the things I like about Heinlein's story telling with none of the things I don't like. An imaginative and engaging story, well deserving of itsAll of the things I like about Heinlein's story telling with none of the things I don't like. An imaginative and engaging story, well deserving of its Hugo....more
A whimsical and charming book. This was a slower read for me as I didn't find the plot especially engrossing. The style, however, was wonderful. I appA whimsical and charming book. This was a slower read for me as I didn't find the plot especially engrossing. The style, however, was wonderful. I appreciated the somewhat halting and more literal approach of having the narration be by diary. I enjoyed the protagonist's relationship to friends and classmates and family and books. The magic in the book was never so blatant that the story could easily be perceived by an outsider as having happened completely in the character's imagination. I also enjoyed hearing the author's discussion of the various classic science fiction writers(Heinlein Robert was obviously not fascist, and Philip K. Dick is overrated); and her discussions included many works I've neither read nor heard of. So, 5 stars for a book with a slow-moving, less engaging plot because it is wonderfully written and it appealed to me such that I must highly recommend it....more
I have no idea what to say about this book. I kept hoping that some sense would be made of certain things. The what, sure, but not the why. It was somI have no idea what to say about this book. I kept hoping that some sense would be made of certain things. The what, sure, but not the why. It was somewhat difficult to get into, but was more gripping toward the end... I'd give it 2 stars, but it'll probably haunt me enough that I think it needs 3. It is definitely not a book I would have voted for as a Hugo....more
I struggled with this book. The idea was interesting, but I just wasn't emotionally invested in any of the characters and that made the book a slow reI struggled with this book. The idea was interesting, but I just wasn't emotionally invested in any of the characters and that made the book a slow read for me....more
Well written, fast read, enjoyable characters. Gaiman's style doesn't appeal to me in general, but I liked this book.Well written, fast read, enjoyable characters. Gaiman's style doesn't appeal to me in general, but I liked this book....more
I enjoyed this book, but it didn't quite work for me. The writing style is gorgeous; I can see how Chabon is capable of winning a Pulitzer prize. I enI enjoyed this book, but it didn't quite work for me. The writing style is gorgeous; I can see how Chabon is capable of winning a Pulitzer prize. I enjoyed the characters and appreciated their motivations. I'm not a big fan of alternate history, but I appreciated the world building here. I liked the exploration of the Jewish culture and the symbolism of chess in the story.
I mostly struggled with the plot. It was too contrived in parts and too convoluted in others. I think I would have enjoyed it more if (view spoiler)[it hadn't careened off onto a world-wide terrorist/messiah angle (hide spoiler)]... Essentially I think the scope of the plot got away from the story.
I'm very surprised this won a Hugo award, since it is merely alternate history with nothing science about its fiction. The only other winner in this category is PKD's The Man in the High Castle, but that one at least had the characters coming to realize that they were in the wrong timeline.
While Forever Peace has some interesting ideas, and is moderately entertaining, its execution is lacking. The author has a detached style of narrationWhile Forever Peace has some interesting ideas, and is moderately entertaining, its execution is lacking. The author has a detached style of narration makes everything seem unimportant, and the characters aren't engaging enough to make any of it seem to matter.
This book makes me think of another Hugo winner that I recently read, Where Late the Sweet Birds Sang. Both books explore the idea that humanity may transition through the use of science toward becoming both more and less than human in a communal interaction of sorts. Where Wilhelm explored this idea with nuance and skepticism, Haldeman blithely asserts it as obviously superior and uses it as a form of a magic fix for what ailing humanity.
I don't really understand why Haldeman has won all the awards for this and his previous book, I don't see their value....more
This book is more enjoyable than Red Mars. The story feels more cohesive and the tone is overall more uplifting. A lot of the confusing pieces in the This book is more enjoyable than Red Mars. The story feels more cohesive and the tone is overall more uplifting. A lot of the confusing pieces in the previous book were discussed in more detail in this book and that made them feel less arbitrary or like mere plot devices....more
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