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47th out of 117 books
—
60 voters
The Last City
by
Nina D'Aleo (Goodreads Author)
An intoxicating blend of noir crime, science fiction and fantasy THE LAST CITY is BLADE RUNNER meets PERDIDO STREET STATION.
Scorpia – the last city of Aquais – where the Ar Antarians rule, the machine-breeds serve and in-between a multitude of races and species eke out an existence somewhere between the ever-blazing city lights and the endless darkness of the underside.
As...more
Scorpia – the last city of Aquais – where the Ar Antarians rule, the machine-breeds serve and in-between a multitude of races and species eke out an existence somewhere between the ever-blazing city lights and the endless darkness of the underside.
As...more
ebook, 400 pages
Published
August 1st 2012
by Momentum
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Nina D'Aleo's The Last City is a mash-up of sci-fi and fantasy, set I'm not sure where and peopled by I'm not sure what. If you're not much into fantasy or sci-fi then you'll have your patience sorely tested... but stick with it.
The population in The Last City is a bunch of differing races whose genetics have mashed with different animals, some illegally. So, you have a gangster with lion characteristics, spectral breeds which can merge into walls, and main characters who can read your heat to c...more
The population in The Last City is a bunch of differing races whose genetics have mashed with different animals, some illegally. So, you have a gangster with lion characteristics, spectral breeds which can merge into walls, and main characters who can read your heat to c...more
The blurb attracted me to this debut novel as I stumbled across it on Amazon.
An intoxicating blend of noir crime, science fiction and fantasy The Last City is Blade Runner meets Perdido Street Station.
Scorpia - the last city of Aquais - where the Ar Antarians rule, the machine-breeds serve and in-between a multitude of races and species eke out an existence somewhere between the ever-blazing city lights and the endless darkness of the underside.
As a spate of murders and abductions grip the city...more
An intoxicating blend of noir crime, science fiction and fantasy The Last City is Blade Runner meets Perdido Street Station.
Scorpia - the last city of Aquais - where the Ar Antarians rule, the machine-breeds serve and in-between a multitude of races and species eke out an existence somewhere between the ever-blazing city lights and the endless darkness of the underside.
As a spate of murders and abductions grip the city...more
The Last City by Nina D’Aleo is one of the growing number of novels that have been picked up by the PanMacmillan digital offshoot Momentum. It's available in both digital and print on demand format as per Momentums business model.
The Last City was characterised as Perdido Street Station meets Blade Runner. I haven't read the Miéville title but going on online summaries I can see the comparison. With D’Aleo’s Scorpia we have an ancient city, that is falling down in as much as it is being built up...more
The Last City was characterised as Perdido Street Station meets Blade Runner. I haven't read the Miéville title but going on online summaries I can see the comparison. With D’Aleo’s Scorpia we have an ancient city, that is falling down in as much as it is being built up...more
I don't know if I have enough superlatives to describe this book. It's billed as Bladerunner meets Perdido Street Station, but it's far closer to Mieville than Dick (assuming that by "Bladerunner" they mean "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep.) The calling card of Last City is the alpine levels of creativity, but there are too many things gone right.
The prose is always very good and sometimes even quite excellent. The intriguing plot is convincing without ever seeming contrived. But like with M...more
The prose is always very good and sometimes even quite excellent. The intriguing plot is convincing without ever seeming contrived. But like with M...more
A very good debut novel. The blurb says that "THE LAST CITY is BLADE RUNNER meets PERDIDO STREET STATION." But Nina D'Aleo is not Philip Dick or China Mieville and this is a good thing. She has a very interesting, unique voice that tells wonderful things. The setting is incredible, the characters very good, but what is really impressive is the ability with which the writer is juggling with almost every fantastic creature and fantasy concept from the last 1000 years. And in no moment what D'Aleo...more
The Last City is an intense combination of fantasy and sci-fi with a touch of noir. I have never read anything quite like it.
I will admit that the combination of genres made it initially a little difficult to get my head into the story, but D’Aleo’s incredible world building soon sucked me in. There is an ease to the world building in The Last City which comes as something as a surprise given the genre combination. The fantastical creatures, sci-fi tech, and futuristic landscape are all describe...more
I will admit that the combination of genres made it initially a little difficult to get my head into the story, but D’Aleo’s incredible world building soon sucked me in. There is an ease to the world building in The Last City which comes as something as a surprise given the genre combination. The fantastical creatures, sci-fi tech, and futuristic landscape are all describe...more
The Last City is a book of balance. D’Aleo writes an action packed book which is balanced by an incredible world and some tantalizing depth. Her characters are wonderfully weird, balanced by some very humanizing attributes. D’Aleo’s world is absolutely memorable due to how wonderfully unique it is. Her prose are stunning. Basically, for a debut work, this is a book that the author should be amazingly proud of, as it truly sets her apart from the crowd. I can’t wait to see what’s next. D’Aleo is...more
This is really a C+ grade
I liked this story a lot. The author has made an original, decadent world with an interesting mix of races that are not the usual suspects. It begins as a police procedural and then moves into end of the city, everything at risk mode. It also reads as if the author has these amazing intentions and ideas and begins to lose a bit of control over the story as everything is connected/wrapped up. I am looking forward to the next book with pleasure.
I liked this story a lot. The author has made an original, decadent world with an interesting mix of races that are not the usual suspects. It begins as a police procedural and then moves into end of the city, everything at risk mode. It also reads as if the author has these amazing intentions and ideas and begins to lose a bit of control over the story as everything is connected/wrapped up. I am looking forward to the next book with pleasure.
Fantastic world building, brilliantly realised cast of characters, and a fun adventure that reads like the beautiful love child of Perdido St Station, Mass Effect and Star Wars, with eyes the colour of Blade Runner.
If you love sci-fi / fantasy then you will really enjoy this.
If you love sci-fi / fantasy then you will really enjoy this.
Really great example of a large cast, intense sci-fi hybrid thriller. If you want my full impressions, check out my podcast review of this book at my website. I'm looking forward to more from D'Aleo!
While this was a riveting and imaginative sci-fi read, it felt too simple. There were too many grandiose ideas (some of which may be resolved in sequels) and it felt cramped. Compared to China Mieville it's extremely plain, with too much reliance on easy character verbs. The pace was good, the plot solid, if somewhat expected. Despite a good attempt at world building I never really got a solid picture in my mind, possibly because of having too much going on.
Interesting mix of sci-fi and fantasy, science & magic. The book tends to be somewhat incoherent early on, but everything comes together and the suspense holds you.
The Last City begins as a compelling murder mystery that rapidly spirals into a secret invasion of apocalyptic proportions. The world is rich with detail and life, and the characters are unique in their personalities, abilities and frailties. We follow the paths of an expert tracker team comprised of seemingly incompatible yet cunningly effective members, each with their own agenda and secrets, each from different species, bloodlines and arts--be they dark, machine or something more rare. What t...more
That was a great debut novel. A mix of genres and a bunch of interestinf characters.
For my taste there have been too many fights.
Full review in progress .. should be available end of September 2012.
For my taste there have been too many fights.
Full review in progress .. should be available end of September 2012.
I loved this book. It's the first one I've read in a while that actually made me want to get back to it. It's filled with great characters of all shapes and sizes (and flaws), has an intricately woven plot that keeps you turning the pages, and is set against a rich tapestry of world-building that stretches the imagination. I look forward to the follow-up book that's in the works!
Kindle freebie, 11/22/12
'twas okay.
So... this book was kind of amazing.
Dec 28, 2012
Liviu
marked it as started_finish_later
saw some reviews that interested me; the sample was ok'ish and there is some resemblance to the M. Sagara Cast series which i started but never got far into but as I was in a buy books mood and the book was only 3$ on Amazon Kindle, I thought it worth
second try as i really want to like this book and I keep getting bogged down in its style
second try as i really want to like this book and I keep getting bogged down in its style
I think that Nina D'Aleo created a amazing new world. This book grabbed my attention from the begining and I couldn't put it down. This book has the perfect mix of scifi/fantasy/mystery with a touch of romance. I can't wait for the next book hopefully it comes out soon. I would definitely recommend this book.
May 21, 2013
Tim the Wiz
marked it as to-read
May 17, 2013
Travis Hunt
marked it as to-read
May 09, 2013
Adina West
marked it as to-read
May 08, 2013
Matt
marked it as to-read
May 02, 2013
Dan S
marked it as to-read
Apr 16, 2013
Josh
marked it as to-read
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