When the planet of Moscow was annihilated, its few survivors launched a counter-attack against the most likely culprit: the neighboring system of N...
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reviews
May 23, 2008
Evan
rated it: 
What starts off as some excellent, mind-bending weirdness diffuses into an uninteresting thriller.
There were too many character threads, and too many of the characters began to talk like one another as the book progressed. Not to mention Stross's linguistic tics and frequent cliches which litter the novel's second half. The book became a political thriller thinly disguised as SF.
Which is all way too bad, because the first chapters are some of the best, most original, More...
There were too many character threads, and too many of the characters began to talk like one another as the book progressed. Not to mention Stross's linguistic tics and frequent cliches which litter the novel's second half. The book became a political thriller thinly disguised as SF.
Which is all way too bad, because the first chapters are some of the best, most original, More...
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Oct 30, 2011
Elf
rated it: 
Iron Sunrise is a sequel of sorts to Singularity Sky. Rachel and Martin are back, but they don't play a part until late in the story. The introductory character is Wednesday, a goth chick who goes from seventeen to twenty through the course of the book and who suffers a lot of hardships in between.
My main emotion upon ending the book is disappointment. Charlie has two problems, and they're becoming more apparent the more often I read his work. This book sets the stage for an ongoin More...
My main emotion upon ending the book is disappointment. Charlie has two problems, and they're becoming more apparent the more often I read his work. This book sets the stage for an ongoin More...
Jul 17, 2011
Kevin
rated it:
I enjoyed Singularity Sky, and my review for it is here.
My main criticism of Singularity Sky - and it was not a particularly strong criticism - was that it felt like there wasn't a huge amount at-stake during the narrative.
This is not a problem that Iron Sunrise has, and I liked it more as a result.
The book follows the two core characters from Singularity Sky and introduces others. The most central new character is Wednesday, a refugee teenager who witnessed more More...
My main criticism of Singularity Sky - and it was not a particularly strong criticism - was that it felt like there wasn't a huge amount at-stake during the narrative.
This is not a problem that Iron Sunrise has, and I liked it more as a result.
The book follows the two core characters from Singularity Sky and introduces others. The most central new character is Wednesday, a refugee teenager who witnessed more More...
Apr 24, 2011
Kate
rated it:
I used to have a religious no-quitting policy when it came to finishing books. Even if the thing was terrible, I would slog through it till the last page, worried I was doing the author a disservice by not giving it a fair shake. Now, however, I'm a busy adult with a full-time job and a to-read list the length of my arm. I've gotten a lot more lax about finishing books I don't particularly care for.
Iron Sunrise is not a terrible book. From what I read, it's okay. The first section is More...
Iron Sunrise is not a terrible book. From what I read, it's okay. The first section is More...
Aug 18, 2011
Steven
rated it:
The second book in Stross's Eschaton universe, The Iron Sunrise is a fun sort of who-dun-it spy thriller in space.
Ultimately, this book was quite enjoyable, and hard to put down in the final few hundred pages. The title "iron sunrise" is an interesting weaponized nova generator; but is only part of the backdrop of the bulk of the story. It took me a while to figure out who everybody was; (there was some confusion between Frank and Franz in my mind), but once I finally started More...
Ultimately, this book was quite enjoyable, and hard to put down in the final few hundred pages. The title "iron sunrise" is an interesting weaponized nova generator; but is only part of the backdrop of the bulk of the story. It took me a while to figure out who everybody was; (there was some confusion between Frank and Franz in my mind), but once I finally started More...
Feb 21, 2010
Ilia
rated it: 
First - if you are only going to read one Stross book, you must read Accelerando. He was smart enough to release it for free - you can download it right here - http://www.goodreads.com/book/17863/eboo... .
If nothing else, at least read the first third of it. That should get your fingers twitching to get your hands on some of that near-future personal tech (I'd kill for the glasses alone - the "outboard brain" as he calls it).
That said, Iron Sunrise is mo More...
If nothing else, at least read the first third of it. That should get your fingers twitching to get your hands on some of that near-future personal tech (I'd kill for the glasses alone - the "outboard brain" as he calls it).
That said, Iron Sunrise is mo More...
Feb 20, 2009
Nicolas
rated it:
J'avais gardé de Crépuscule d'acier une excellente impression et c'est auréolé de ce premier tome fabuleux que j'avais choisi d'entamer le second tome des aventures de Rachel Mansour et Martin ... j'ai oublié son nom ... dans l'univers de l'Eschaton.
Dans cette histoire, au lieu d'une civilisation post-singularité, nos héros affrontent donc une bande de pseudo-terroristes relevant d'une civilisation eugéniste et gravement expansionniste. Est-ce que ça va de pair ? Aucune idée. Toujours est- More...
Dans cette histoire, au lieu d'une civilisation post-singularité, nos héros affrontent donc une bande de pseudo-terroristes relevant d'une civilisation eugéniste et gravement expansionniste. Est-ce que ça va de pair ? Aucune idée. Toujours est- More...
May 13, 2009
Tim
rated it:
When this book was published, Charles Stross was science fictionâs most recent sensation. After years of relative anonymity, heâd been shortlisted for SF awards for his novels (both SF and fantasy) and novellas. Iron Sunrise, which garnered the best novel nomination for the 2005 Hugo Awards, is a follow-up to Singularity Sky, which was shortlisted for the 2004 Hugo for best novel.[return][return]Like its predecessor, Iron Sunrise is 21st century space opera. For those unfamiliar with the ter
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Nov 14, 2011
Christopher
rated it:
Stross's second published novel is a qualitative leap forward over the first two novels he wrote (though those ain't bad by any stretch of the imagination). This is a terrific thriller with awesome scope, imagination, memorable and strange characters, and some great application of scientific speculation (the second piece I've encountered, for example, that imagines what the practical uses of a Faraday cage might be). There is some minor editing (or lack thereof) problems in one or two scenes tha
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Jun 18, 2011
Michael
rated it:
I just finished both of Charles Stross' Eschaton related books, "Singularity Sky" and "Iron Sunrise". Both were really fun, and somewhat dense (as in geeky science info-dumping dense, especially in the former) reads. It sparked enough interest in me to pursue other books about singularity events and post singularity life (Vernor Vinge, Ken MacLeod, others...help?) which I found very engaging, unique and imaginative in Stross's hands.
On top of that...they both had a More...
On top of that...they both had a More...
Oct 02, 2009
I don't know if there's too much to say about this in general - it meets all the standard criteria of recent space opera novels. There's a moderately well described universe and characters. There was a singularity, a time traveling AI who sets the stage but stays generally out of the way except to motivate characters and occasionally save them from trouble, a variety of different planets with different cultures, super spies, and a heroic future-journalist, an even more heroic future-goth-teena
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Jan 09, 2010
Oscar
rated it: 
Una novela cuyo clímax se encuentra al principio de su lectura, la verdad es que ya tiene poco que ofrecer. Una estrella es detonada artificialmente para que destruya un planeta, Moscú. Los supervivientes achacan el ataque a su vecino, Nueva Dresde. Pero, ¿han sido realmente ellos o hay terceros con intereses de por medio? Novela ramplona, con personajes planos y malos malísimos de manual. Vamos, nada nuevo en el horizonte. La historia va dando tumbos hasta un final predecible hasta decir basta.
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Jan 27, 2008
Rachel
rated it:
I actually liked this one better than Singularity Sky -- maybe because it was a bit more linear, and spent more time on a smaller cast of characters, so it was easier to be sympathetic to them. The story revolves around Wednesday (also known as Victoria Strowger), a goth teen who happens to be an associate of Herman (agent of the Eschaton). She and her family are evacuated from their space station home, and on the way out, her incessant Herman-prompted snooping causes her to run across a secre
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Mar 21, 2010
Raj
rated it:
The follow-up to Singularity Sky, this has some of the same characters and is set in the same universe, although reading the first one isn't necessary to enjoy this one. And it is an enjoyable book, a good space opera with some nice ideas and an ending that tied up the plot in this book but set up new threads for future books in the same universe. Well worth reading.
Jun 06, 2011
Eric
rated it:
Space Nazis and a hit man clown. This would have been entertaining if it had been a comedy. As it was, it was bloody violent, and one of the main characters wavered between adolescent whining and masterfully in-charge of herself. Maybe I'm just old, but that didn't work for me. He spent way too much time detailing the death of a planetary system. I'd heard so much about Stross' work, and seen a number of good reviews, but having read Schismatrix back in the day, I'm now inclined to reread that o
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Mar 23, 2009
PABlo
rated it: 
I couldn't put this one down! In fact, I was enjoying Stross' style of writing so much, I found myself repeatedly skipping backwards to instantly re-read passages that had the power to make me want to go back & milk a passage for even more details from somewhere in-between-the-lines. Talk about entertaining the reader with "what-if" possibilities. I now have a number of new references to add to the lexicon of near-future cyberpunk images in my experiences of that genre.
Jan 07, 2009
David
rated it:
Wow.
I rarely dish out five stars, but this author's writing is a near-perfect match for my tastes. The pseudo science sparkles, the characters are perfectly larger-than-life space-operatic, the pacing and story are good. Stomach churning graphic violence and casually explicit sex put in occasional appearances. Stylistically, the author shares my penchant for sardonic similes.
Highly recommended for adults that like hard sci fi.
I rarely dish out five stars, but this author's writing is a near-perfect match for my tastes. The pseudo science sparkles, the characters are perfectly larger-than-life space-operatic, the pacing and story are good. Stomach churning graphic violence and casually explicit sex put in occasional appearances. Stylistically, the author shares my penchant for sardonic similes.
Highly recommended for adults that like hard sci fi.
Aug 31, 2011
Tancredi
rated it:
"Uploadateli tutti, il dio non nato riconoscerà i suoi"...
... che è come la versione fantascientifica del più celebre "uccideteli tutti, Dio riconoscerà i suoi". Non a caso il genocidio (qui su scala planetaria) è il tema portante.
E' un grande romanzo di fantascienza, un'epica space-opera, con una trama dai risvolti geopolitici, trasferiti ovviamente in un grande universo densamente popolato.
Certo, gli manca quel qualcosa in più che porta Stross a scri More...
... che è come la versione fantascientifica del più celebre "uccideteli tutti, Dio riconoscerà i suoi". Non a caso il genocidio (qui su scala planetaria) è il tema portante.
E' un grande romanzo di fantascienza, un'epica space-opera, con una trama dai risvolti geopolitici, trasferiti ovviamente in un grande universo densamente popolato.
Certo, gli manca quel qualcosa in più che porta Stross a scri More...
Dec 21, 2009
Tim
rated it:
Excellent plot, well written. If you like hard SF space opera, this is a must read. Downside is minor, and it is the jerky nature of early scenes, moving abruptly from one setting and grouping of characters to another. And there is no sense when you will get back to them again. The story still works well enough. If you are looking for well crafted mind-expanding ideas, I highly recommend.
Aug 22, 2011
Suna
rated it:
I'm all over the shop these weeks, so I am just cutting and pasting this quote for my own reference for when I start my review proper.
To be continued.
"And we were nearly at war with these people?" she asked.
"The usual stupid reasons. Competitive trade advantage, immigration policy, political insecurity, cheap
slow transport—cheap enough to facilitate trade, too expensive to facilitate federalization or the other
adjustments human nations make to minimiz More...
To be continued.
"And we were nearly at war with these people?" she asked.
"The usual stupid reasons. Competitive trade advantage, immigration policy, political insecurity, cheap
slow transport—cheap enough to facilitate trade, too expensive to facilitate federalization or the other
adjustments human nations make to minimiz More...
Dec 11, 2009
Chris "Stu"
rated it:
Not as awesome and monumental as "Singularity Sky," but a good extension of that book and illustration of the universe after the singularity has been achieved and the "Eschaton," a godlike machine intelligence has spread mankind throughout the galaxy. The backbone of this universe could support many more stories, and hopefully Stross will get around to writing them.
Sep 07, 2009
Martin
rated it:
I didn't care for this one as much as the first in the series (Singularity Sky), but it was still enjoyable. I liked the characters, especially the new ones, but with four main characters I didn't get to spend as much time with each as I would have liked. I also thought he had a lot of trouble figuring out how to wrap things up, so it meandered for a while before ending abruptly.
I'd still give a third in the series a try if one comes out.
I'd still give a third in the series a try if one comes out.
Jun 30, 2009
Tim
rated it:
This right here is some pretty awesome hard SF. Well, I guess it's "hard SF" in that all of the sciencey bits make sense, but not necessarily that they drive the story. And it's really the story that makes this awesome. Despite the multiple plot threads that seem disparate at the beginning of the story, it's a very compelling pageturner of a book. Good stuff.
Oct 29, 2009
Jonathanstray
rated it:
Good old-fashioned space opera, including AIs, interstellar war-blogging, and the illegal destruction of a system by supernova,.
The empire is held together by quantum-entanglement faster-than-light communication channels, which is both plausible and a device I haven't seen before.
Well, it's plausible if interstellar empires are plausible.
The empire is held together by quantum-entanglement faster-than-light communication channels, which is both plausible and a device I haven't seen before.
Well, it's plausible if interstellar empires are plausible.
May 02, 2010
Colin
rated it:
this is a sequel to 'Singularity Sky' and returns the reader to the post-singularity future where the Eschaton has split Earth into multiple different colonies on habitable worlds. It's a fascinating view of what different governments and societies could be created if separated by light speed travel. Part sci-fi, part thriller, part chase movie and for me, it worked on all those levels.
Jan 06, 2010
David
rated it:
So I read Singularity Sky on the way home for Christmas, and read Iron Sunrise on the way back. I'm actually not sure if Stross meant for IS to be a sequel, but I generally fell in love with the Eschaton over the break. It's nice to have something to work for.
Jun 26, 2011
Chris
rated it:
Pretty good, but flimsy in bits. They have super-duper guns with active sensors, but don't use emissions detectors for them. In the end, we're missing a credible trigger finger. The ending wraps up too quickly & easily. And, of course, the coincidences are piled way to high & deep -- everybody in the plot, good and bad, randomly encounters the rest of the characters on a huge ship. There are no extraneous characters (aside from bodyguards & thugs),
Apr 27, 2010
Markt5660
rated it:
More serious than other works I've read by this author. Although I enjoyed the story, I miss the humor of Halting State. This story reminded me of Peter F. Hamilton. The only thing I was a little disappointed in was throwing yet one more "character who isn't what they appear" right near the end. I didn't think they were necessary to wrap up the story. I'm also a little sorry I read this before Singularity Sky (which is the prequel to this story).
Jul 28, 2011
This was broadly better than Singularity Sky, and introduced the creepy ReMastered, a sort of Teutonic/Nordic supremecist superrace, with designs on hegemony.
Again, a great read from Stross, who keeps getting better all the time!
Again, a great read from Stross, who keeps getting better all the time!
Aug 09, 2011
Katy
rated it:
Decent hard sci fi - kind of a rollicking good ending. Unfortunate that the book cover didn't mention that it's #2 of a series. I didn't really feel I needed to read #1 though, so maybe they're just tied by the characters, and not so much the plot line. There's a #3, too, but I'm not rushing out to read it. It was, however, excellent for a book from a $1 grab bag of sci fi books I got at the library used book sale...
