For the moment I'm putting this on hold, as I just wasn't getting any particular enjoyment out of it, in spite of it being inventive and decently writ...moreFor the moment I'm putting this on hold, as I just wasn't getting any particular enjoyment out of it, in spite of it being inventive and decently written. I may come back to it later...and maybe not. I think I'll avoid rating it until (and unless) I finish it.(less)
For a SF novel about the same age as I am, it holds up pretty well. It has a grand vision and good enough -- though by no means spectacular -- word-sm...moreFor a SF novel about the same age as I am, it holds up pretty well. It has a grand vision and good enough -- though by no means spectacular -- word-smithing to support that vision. One of its themes resonates with his 2001: A Space Odyssey: the concept of an alien civilization watching over the human race until we are ready for the next step in our evolution, a non-biological step.
Should be an interesting read for most science fiction fans.(less)
Very entertaining near-future "Robinson Crusoe" story (with no Friday). Though a bit of a "one damned thing after another" story -- I suppose by its v...moreVery entertaining near-future "Robinson Crusoe" story (with no Friday). Though a bit of a "one damned thing after another" story -- I suppose by its very nature it almost had to be -- the science and technology were believable, and the solutions made sense and depended mainly on problem-solving as opposed to luck. The only things keeping me from giving it 5 stars were the somewhat flat characterizations, the way the main character never really "felt" like a real astronaut to me (he seemed too young and to smart-assish to me, though that made for some fun comic relief in many places), plus it needed a bit of editing and a bit more proof-reading, as well as fixing a few minor formatting issues. Overall highly recommended to sci-fi and survival story fans, and one of the small percentage of "indie" books I've read that I really liked.(less)
Interesting and some original plot elements, but overall nothing about the characters -- especially the main character and narrator -- that has me ach...moreInteresting and some original plot elements, but overall nothing about the characters -- especially the main character and narrator -- that has me aching to buy the next installment in order to find out what happens to them. The writing was decent, though a bit stuffy sounding (perhaps intentionally so?).(less)
This was a fun, nostalgic read (if nostalgic science fiction isn't too much of an oxymoron?). It worked for me better the other time I read it probabl...moreThis was a fun, nostalgic read (if nostalgic science fiction isn't too much of an oxymoron?). It worked for me better the other time I read it probably around 40 years ago, when I wouldn't have noticed as much such things as no female characters, the unlikely concept of one person making several major scientific and technological breakthroughs all by himself, and almost no remorse for what amounts to an act of genocide.
Still, I enjoyed it in a "guilty pleasure" sort of way, and if you enjoy "golden era" sci-fi, it might be worth a look -- plus it's not very long.(less)
A pleasant enough read, but the humor was generally too sophomoric/slapstick for me with not enough satire or anything else to put a bit of meat on it...moreA pleasant enough read, but the humor was generally too sophomoric/slapstick for me with not enough satire or anything else to put a bit of meat on its bones.
I gave this 5 stars mainly for its audacity. It was not something that I consumed out of pure love for the story and characters. Few -- if any -- of t...moreI gave this 5 stars mainly for its audacity. It was not something that I consumed out of pure love for the story and characters. Few -- if any -- of the characters were truly loveable, and when you get right down to it, there was not all that much plot per page. It does not scream to be made into a summer blockbuster movie.
What it does have is some creative writing (often dabbling with techniques that make it feel avante-garde at times, even though it was written nearly 30 years ago), musings on sociological issues still relevant today, and overall a "flavor" that makes it stand far out from the run of the mill space opera (the fact that the story takes place during an interplanetary war is almost beside the point).
Definitely not have-ray-gun-will-travel, but worth a look if you want to challenge yourself a bit.(less)
3 stars seemed a little low, and 4 a bit high, so I'm erring on the generous side, as I think it's worth taking a look at this Chinese writer's work,...more3 stars seemed a little low, and 4 a bit high, so I'm erring on the generous side, as I think it's worth taking a look at this Chinese writer's work, especially since you can start off with this free (at least for now) story -- is 55 pages a short story or novella?
Anyway, the translation seems to be pretty good, and the tone and style reminded me a lot of '60s style sci-fi concentrating on the science, with some of the less optimistic forebodings or later decades. I'll probably take a look at one of his novels pretty soon, to see how he develops things in that longer form; plus it's interesting to me to see what someone in a different culture -- at least as different as any developed nations can be in this communication age -- is doing in my favorite genre.
In this installment of Banks's "Culture" universe, we learn a bit more about what subliming is and even more about how civilizations choose to sublime...moreIn this installment of Banks's "Culture" universe, we learn a bit more about what subliming is and even more about how civilizations choose to sublime and actually effect it. Mostly, though, we follow a few human(oid) characters and more AI characters (from androids to space ship Minds) as they bounce around the area of space inhabited by a civilization preparing to sublime, competing to find a clue to something that happened a millennium ago, and which may have a serious effect on the pending sublimation. It's interspersed with enough frightfully swift combat to make a biologic's mind spin, along with political intrigue, musings on the mysteries of life and intelligence, as well as a bit of kinky sex -- something for everybody.(less)
While it has not aged quite as well as a fine wine might after 40 years, I still enjoyed this story, and it was a refreshing change of pace compared t...moreWhile it has not aged quite as well as a fine wine might after 40 years, I still enjoyed this story, and it was a refreshing change of pace compared to so many current novels that seem to be obliged to weave multiple plots and numerous characters across at least 600 or more pages. In comparison, "Trumpets" seemed almost like a novella (especially after having just finished Pandora's Star).
There is very little in the way of typical scifi techno-babble, and no hard science at all, really. Instead, it's about the story (not all that complex, though original -- and it includes trumpets!) and the characters (nothing too deep, but a decent variety and a surprise or two); making for an enjoyable read that you fast-readers can probably consume in a couple evenings (or one long evening?).(less)
Reasonably enjoyable read, though sort of a one-trick pony. I might have enjoyed it more if I were a bit younger and had been more into the video game...moreReasonably enjoyable read, though sort of a one-trick pony. I might have enjoyed it more if I were a bit younger and had been more into the video game scene of the '80s.(less)
I re-read this as a palette cleanser of sorts, knowing I would enjoy it and that it was a fairly short novel (by today's standards). I was pleasantly...moreI re-read this as a palette cleanser of sorts, knowing I would enjoy it and that it was a fairly short novel (by today's standards). I was pleasantly surprised that I forgot exactly how it ended, so that I still got a bit of a twist at the climax that I wasn't expecting.
It takes a bit of effort on the reader's part to navigate the non-linear story and alternating viewpoints, but Zelazny's liquid prose keeps dragging you along anyway.(less)
I was willing to cope with the 2nd person present tense, as I'd managed to deal with it and still enjoy Halting State in spite of it. But this install...moreI was willing to cope with the 2nd person present tense, as I'd managed to deal with it and still enjoy Halting State in spite of it. But this installment has added lots of phonetic spellings to provide a Scottish accent -- not just in dialogue but in the narrative, too.
I for one do not want to have to sound out every third word and translate it into its actual English word. Therefore, I just did something I've never done before: I returned a Kindle book for a refund that I did not purchase by accident.
Come on, Charlie. You're an imaginative author and very good wordsmith. Please stop trying to see how difficult you can make it on your readers to actually read your stories.(less)
While it scores a lot of points for originality, it loses many of them for generally unbelievable characters, too much monologuing, and generally blan...moreWhile it scores a lot of points for originality, it loses many of them for generally unbelievable characters, too much monologuing, and generally bland writing. Not a bad book, but when compared to the rest of Pratchett's canon, rather a disappointment. As I don't think I've read anything by Stephen Baxter, I do not at this time have any way to judge how much of the writing might be affected by his style, or if this is just a case of a collaboration not really working (unlike Pratchett's collaboration with Neil Gaiman in Good Omens: The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch, which succeeded marvelously).
Worth a read if the synopsis interests you, but not one I expect to ever re-read.(less)
It starts off with an author's introduction telling the reader how important this book is. The writing and story, however, do not match up even closel...moreIt starts off with an author's introduction telling the reader how important this book is. The writing and story, however, do not match up even closely with that hype. It's written in present tense (like this review), which usually feels like a trick to create tension when an author is otherwise incapable of doing so. Together, this leaves me leaving a one-star review for a book I gave up on after the Kindle sample: not something I normally do, but I feel it needs some more realistic ratings here. (less)
I find that I have very little interest in dystopian novels these days. There was nothing wrong with the writing, though it suffered a bit from many s...moreI find that I have very little interest in dystopian novels these days. There was nothing wrong with the writing, though it suffered a bit from many such novels of that period which describe a "future" that is already past now. Therefore I'm abandoning this for now, and likely won't pick it up again unless I find myself wanting to feel more depressed for some odd reason.(less)
There was a lot of good stuff going on in this book. I could nit-pick some things about the science and some of the characters, but it all hung togeth...moreThere was a lot of good stuff going on in this book. I could nit-pick some things about the science and some of the characters, but it all hung together pretty well as a compelling story that pulled me along. My biggest complaint, however, is that after committing the time to read a thousand pages, I really don't like ending on a cliff-hanger (literally!) -- I want some sort of resolution as a reward for that commitment, even if it's only a partial resolution with the knowledge there is more to come to finish the whole story.(less)
This was a pleasant surprise for me. Though it has been around longer than I have, I'd never gotten around to reading it, thinking -- perhaps inspired...moreThis was a pleasant surprise for me. Though it has been around longer than I have, I'd never gotten around to reading it, thinking -- perhaps inspired by the movie adaptation -- that it was about some arbitrary alien invasion. In fact, it presupposes a self-inflicted "invasion" as a result of human experimentation along with similarly inflicted damages from space-based weapons. It then quickly becomes a tale of post-apocalyptic survival.
The book stands up pretty well in spite of its age. Some of the language reveals its early 1950's heritage; but as it does not delve into any real specifics behind its technological threats, there is little scientific content that is obviously obsolete. The core of the story is much more centered on the human and societal interactions (is that redundant?), not the technological issues.
All in all I would recommend this as a good read, taken in the context of when it was written (soon after WW-II and the dawn of the Atomic Age).(less)
The writing is excellent and the story original. It suffers a little bit now, decades after its writing, from its combination of flying cars coexistin...moreThe writing is excellent and the story original. It suffers a little bit now, decades after its writing, from its combination of flying cars coexisting with music still on phonograph records in the 1990s, but when taken in the context of when it was written, it still feels like a very modern novel.(less)
A very interesting read if you've read Slaughterhouse Five, in view of Sirens of Titan being, perhaps, Vonnegut's initial, not quite successful attemp...moreA very interesting read if you've read Slaughterhouse Five, in view of Sirens of Titan being, perhaps, Vonnegut's initial, not quite successful attempt to deal with many of the issues more adroitly addressed in Slautherhouse Five (which was published about 10 years later), based on the impact World War II had on his psyche and philosophy.
In that context I found it to be quite interesting if not entirely satisfying, but if you are new to Vonnegut, I would recommend starting with Cat's Cradle and then Slaughterhouse Five.(less)
As much as I loved the first couple Hitchhiker's books, I think I like the two Dirk Gently books even better, they being a bit less wacky and parodyin...moreAs much as I loved the first couple Hitchhiker's books, I think I like the two Dirk Gently books even better, they being a bit less wacky and parodying, though still full of Adams' wonderful British wit.
I recently found this and the next book, The Long Dark Tea-Time of the Soul, available for Kindle, so decided to give them a re-read. I enjoyed it just about every bit as much as I did years ago, and am very much looking forward to Tea-Time soon, as probably my favorite book of his.(less)
Excellent writing, imaginative and twisting plot, and a dash of satirical social commentary made this a great read for me. Some of the technical detai...moreExcellent writing, imaginative and twisting plot, and a dash of satirical social commentary made this a great read for me. Some of the technical details and language date the book to its 1969 origins, which might be the only negative for younger readers, but which this older reader found entertaining in a nostalgic way.
Possibly not for those who want their science fiction full of weird aliens, hyper-drives, lots of action scenes, and obvious good and bad guys; but if you like to have your brain twisted a bit by a novel, you should love this.(less)
Reasonably entertaining and a few clever moments, but suffered a bit from grammar issues (in particular mixed tenses and missing commas) and an odd fo...moreReasonably entertaining and a few clever moments, but suffered a bit from grammar issues (in particular mixed tenses and missing commas) and an odd formatting issue (at least on the Kindle) that had all the text indented on the left, wasting maybe 15% of the screen.
I couldn't quite pull the trigger and give this 5 stars. It was an entertaining, even compulsive read, and I highly recommend it to any science fictio...moreI couldn't quite pull the trigger and give this 5 stars. It was an entertaining, even compulsive read, and I highly recommend it to any science fiction readers. It has some occasional moments of biting satire, well-drawn characters you want to follow, and a clever plot full of originality. The only thing lacking a bit for me was an overarching sense of artistry and theme that would make me want to re-read it some day, which is ultimately my acid test for allotment of the prized 5-star rating.(less)
A classic of the genre, this is a generally well-paced sci-fi action yarn with a bit of extra meat on its bones that raises it above the "Have power a...moreA classic of the genre, this is a generally well-paced sci-fi action yarn with a bit of extra meat on its bones that raises it above the "Have power armor, will zap alien" type of story. I say "generally," because sometimes it bogs down in trying to explain the citizenship thing that Heinlein likes to expound upon in it from time to time.(less)
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