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Singing the Dogstar Blues
Singing the Dogstar Blues
Seventeen-year-old Joss is a rebel, and a student of time travel at the prestigious Centre for Neo-Historical Studies. This year, for the first time, the Centre has an alien student? Mavkel, from the planet Choria. And Mavkel has chosen Joss, of all people, as his roommate and study partner. Then Mavkel gets sick. Joss quickly realizes that his will to live is draining away. The only way she can help Mavkel is by breaking the Centre?s strictest rules . . . and that means going back in time to change history.
261 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1998
19 people are currently reading
2022 people want to read
About the author
Alison Goodman
14 books4,488 followersAlison is the author of seven novels so far including the award winning Dark Days Club trilogy (aka as the Lady Helen trilogy) and EON and EONA, a New York Times Bestselling fantasy duology. Her upcoming novel --The Benevolent Society of Ill-Mannered Ladies-- is book 1 in a new series, and will be published in the USA, UK and Australia at the end of May 2023.
Alison lives in Australia and has recently completed her PhD, so can now call herself Dr Al.
Alison lives in Australia and has recently completed her PhD, so can now call herself Dr Al.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 145 reviews
February 15, 2021
► Aren't you tired of YA scifi novels that breed gorgeous aliens as if their intergalactic lives depended on it?
"You," she said, "are literally the most gorgeous thing I've ever seen." - The Alienated disaster
► Aren't you tired of watching every one of these MCs morphing the book into some love-triangle-ish Human vs Alien
► Aren't you tired of reading nonsensical and cheesy dialogues when you only asked for some novelty?
Then Singing the Dogstar Blues is the book you're seeking out : well-written, no love-triangle, no whining about boys (or girls, for that matter), no instalove, but friendship and mystery blended in an intriguing concept.
However, this is not an action-packed novel. I warn you, some parts, if not boring, are pretty dull : indeed Singing the Dogstar Blues suffers from an uneven pacing (or, I have a short attention span, because all the reviews I read state how fast-paced it is - color me perplexed at myself). Yet again, I still really much enjoyed following Joss and Mav's adventures.
Set in a futurist world where aliens - the Chorians - and humans are building an alliance, the Centre, a special school that teaches time-travel, finds itself under the spotlights when Mavkel becomes the first Chorian to attend it and is paired with Joss, a rebellious teenager who's been trying to avoid being fired - again. All is good in the world? Ugh, no. Try secrets, rivalries and assassins lurking instead. Welcome to the Centre.
Throughout the novel, I grew attached to these characters : first Joss, an independent and strong-minded female-lead who managed to keep my annoyance away (WOOT!) and then Mav, who's perhaps the cutest alien I ever read about... Never mind the flappy ears, the two mouths and four noses. He's not cut out for Most Gorgeous Alien of the Year, and that's what made him so incredibly appealing to me. Lonely after the death of his pair - when you're used to share a mind with someone, I suppose that being alone covers an entire different feeling - he aims to be paired with Joss, who is, understandably, very much reluctant to fulfill his goals. Their growing friendship (yes, you read correctly, friendship it is) was very interesting to follow and I couldn't get enough of them (100 more pages would have been perfect, in my opinion).
As for the sci-fi elements, I must say that I was confused in the beginning by the made-up words, but nothing insurmountable as I was hooked right away. The world building was intriguing and not too complex to grasp (this is the no-hard-scifi reader talking), yet there were several occurrences when I seriously wondered what the fuck they were talking about. This said, it didn't make the plot confusing, because it was usually only a matter of knowing what object they were mentioning. I, for one, can live with that.
Unfortunately, I have to admit that I would have loved for the story to be more developed. Although the premise was great and promising, the novel didn't quite meet my expectations and the execution failed to take best advantage of it. Take the time-travel, for instance : it is barely explained. See, I am not the kind of reader who needs everything to be scientifically accurate or plausible (because come on, scifi novels ain't textbooks), but I appreciate when the author makes some kind of effort to explain how the technology used works. If the way everything is showed rather than told is more than welcome (trust me, I cannot finish a scifi book relying on info-dumping), I still feel as if something was missing.
My biggest issue, though? All the "big" reveals were painfully obvious and I saw them coming miles away, resulting in a rather anticlimactic and rushed ending that left me a little disappointed.
► All in all, is it worth reading? Honestly, YA novels which don't rely on romance are so fucking rare that for this reason alone, I'd say yes. Not to mention that Singing the Dogstar Blues may not be perfect, but it stays thoroughly enjoyable and refreshing.
For more of my reviews, please visit:
July 21, 2011
As seen on The Readventurer
Singing the Dogstar Blues is that rare specimen of YA fiction called science fiction. That's right, not dystopia or rather dystopian romance, not sci-fi romance, but real deal sci-fi. There are no love triangles in it, no angst, no moping around boys. Gee, no wonder nobody read it. My library book was bought 6 years and looks as if nobody ever even touched it.
Joss Aaronson is a 1st year student at a time travel school. She is about to be paired up with her permanent TT partner who would accompany her on all her adventures. Her partner turns out to be the first alien admitted to the TT school Mavkel. For some reason he feels Joss is his perfect mate. Mavkel's race is deeply dual. Its species live in telepathically connected pairs. Mavkel needs to establish a psychic connection with Joss without which he can't exist. After several failed attempts to connect, the couple's last resort is to travel back into the past to seek the missing ingredient to assist their union.
Great things about Singing the Dogstar Blues:
1) time travel! - I craved more of it though.
2) aliens! - Mavkel is the cutest alien with a fab personality and the whole concept of his society is very curious.
3) futuristic setting! - loved the cyberpunky feel of it.
4) emphasis on developing of friendship instead of romance!
5) a heroine who kicks ass and who is rebellious without being annoying.
6) mystery! - yes, an actual mystery involving assassins, sperm donors and DNA.
I mean, what's not to like here? Why aren't there more books like this? It is always such a pleasure to read teen books that are both entertaining, light and not dumb. I can't read Le Guin's complex and thought-provoking sci-fi all the time, right? Some fun teen sci-fi is necessary too.
Singing the Dogstar Blues is that rare specimen of YA fiction called science fiction. That's right, not dystopia or rather dystopian romance, not sci-fi romance, but real deal sci-fi. There are no love triangles in it, no angst, no moping around boys. Gee, no wonder nobody read it. My library book was bought 6 years and looks as if nobody ever even touched it.
Joss Aaronson is a 1st year student at a time travel school. She is about to be paired up with her permanent TT partner who would accompany her on all her adventures. Her partner turns out to be the first alien admitted to the TT school Mavkel. For some reason he feels Joss is his perfect mate. Mavkel's race is deeply dual. Its species live in telepathically connected pairs. Mavkel needs to establish a psychic connection with Joss without which he can't exist. After several failed attempts to connect, the couple's last resort is to travel back into the past to seek the missing ingredient to assist their union.
Great things about Singing the Dogstar Blues:
1) time travel! - I craved more of it though.
2) aliens! - Mavkel is the cutest alien with a fab personality and the whole concept of his society is very curious.
3) futuristic setting! - loved the cyberpunky feel of it.
4) emphasis on developing of friendship instead of romance!
5) a heroine who kicks ass and who is rebellious without being annoying.
6) mystery! - yes, an actual mystery involving assassins, sperm donors and DNA.
I mean, what's not to like here? Why aren't there more books like this? It is always such a pleasure to read teen books that are both entertaining, light and not dumb. I can't read Le Guin's complex and thought-provoking sci-fi all the time, right? Some fun teen sci-fi is necessary too.
March 30, 2012
For me, this book balances science fiction, humour and interesting characters in a way that grabbed me far more than any Douglas Adams book ever did. To be honest, the author had me at "flappy-eared alien".
Science fiction when it is told well is easily one of my favourite genres, but too much of it turns into some crappy dystopian romance or is written for a male readership... the only sci-fi I can honestly say I've enjoyed in recent years is Margaret Atwood and Ursula K. Le Guin. But I loved the world building in this novel and the characters were different and intriguing - especially Mavkel. I somehow managed to find it totally believable that these Chorians - a bunch of genderless, flappy-eared aliens with four noses, two mouths and two brains - had made contact with Earth in the future and both humans and aliens were now trying to share their technological knowledge.
There's mystery and time travel too and a heroine who doesn't annoy me. What more could I possibly want?
I don't know why this isn't a series, there's so much here that could be explored. The world created is exciting and has the potential to hold many more stories, and the novel closes with very little of it discovered by the reader. I find it strange and rather funny that in an age where every author who comes up with the slightest hint of originality will most definitely write at least a trilogy, this is only a standalone. More please, Ms. Goodman.
August 28, 2011
I’m always on the lookout for a fun space-related story. Singing the Dogstar Blues isn’t set in space but there is a very futuristic feel to it and ALIENS so it definitely hit my sweet spot. If you are wondering if this book reads at all like Goodman’s other book Eon, the answer, at least for me, is absolutely not. I enjoyed Eon but the pacing was off and I wasn’t especially attached to any of the characters. That’s not the case here. Joss Aaronson attends a prestigious time-jumping school and holds one of 12 coveted spots in the program for her year. She is a comp, which basically means that her mother used a donor to have her and comps are looked down on as genetically manipulated because people can use up to even 5 or 6 donors to create the child of their choice. She is snarky, sassy, and unlike Eon/a, it doesn’t take her eras to figure out what is going on around her. Thank goodness for that.
Overall, the book has a bit of a campy and adventurous feel. The plot primarily revolves around Joss and her new school partner, Mavkel, the first alien to be admitted. As expected, there are enemies and allies in the school administration and amongst the students but Joss and Mavkel hold this entire story on their backs and they succeed in doing so. I couldn’t picture what Mavkel actually looked like but it didn’t hinder the character development. His personality came through even with a language barrier and extensive cultural differences. He and Joss bond over music and that is where the title of the book comes from.
There are hints that this was Goodman’s first novel—the writing definitely favors utility rather than description, for instance. Since this is what I prefer in my sci-fi, I was more than happy with the style. And Ms. Goodman actually surprised me with a plot twist near the end. (don’t click it unless you want it to be ruined) I wish this book started a series so we could find out how Joss and Mavkel’s partnership continued to develop during their school years. As it is, I guess I will just have to hope that Alison Goodman writes some more sci-fi one of these days.
Overall, the book has a bit of a campy and adventurous feel. The plot primarily revolves around Joss and her new school partner, Mavkel, the first alien to be admitted. As expected, there are enemies and allies in the school administration and amongst the students but Joss and Mavkel hold this entire story on their backs and they succeed in doing so. I couldn’t picture what Mavkel actually looked like but it didn’t hinder the character development. His personality came through even with a language barrier and extensive cultural differences. He and Joss bond over music and that is where the title of the book comes from.
There are hints that this was Goodman’s first novel—the writing definitely favors utility rather than description, for instance. Since this is what I prefer in my sci-fi, I was more than happy with the style. And Ms. Goodman actually surprised me with a plot twist near the end. (don’t click it unless you want it to be ruined) I wish this book started a series so we could find out how Joss and Mavkel’s partnership continued to develop during their school years. As it is, I guess I will just have to hope that Alison Goodman writes some more sci-fi one of these days.
August 28, 2019
I love reading standalones but I'd also love to read more in this world!
December 10, 2012
3.5 stars
I had attempted to read this once before but that was back when my reading horizons were fairly narrow and I was the sort of uninformed moron who, when presented with science fiction, automatically thought: “Wait, what if nerd hunters drive by and tranq and tag me?” [1] I only made it through a few pages before putting it aside. Maybe it just wasn’t the right book at the time. Whatever the case, I’m probably still a moron, but hopefully a slightly more open-minded and informed one.
This time, I read straight through quite quickly and I found a lot to like in this novel. It’s fast-paced and engaging, and despite the light tone of the narration, it’s clear that Goodman has put a lot of careful thought into the concepts that flesh out the story. Singing The Dogstar Blues takes place in Melbourne-of-the-distant-future, where spirited protagonist Joss is attending an elite time travel program at the university’s Centre for Neo-Historical Studies. When she is partnered with the centre’s first alien student, Mavkel, Joss is drawn into a race to break the rules and alter the course of history.
While the plot is inventive and kept me guessing, Goodman deals with a range of interesting issues in this novel, albeit in a brisk manner. One of the most interesting elements of the story is Mavkel and Joss’ changing dynamic over the course of the story. Mavkel is a character who’s world is marked by duality (gender, birth pairs etc) and interconnectedness (a broken bond between a pair usually results in death) – while Joss is a solitary and somewhat prickly character who has her own complex reasons for spurning personal attachments. By thrusting these two together in a situation where they are compelled to work together, Goodman forces Joss to acknowledge certain truths about herself and re-examine her existing connections with others.
I really enjoyed the exploration of the cultural, emotional and physical differences between Mavkel and Joss – particularly Goodman’s take on Chorian gender and the discussion around gender pronouns. Similarly there’s an interesting use of social class in the story, and Joss’ position as a “comp” (a child created using donors and genetic manipulation), that lends the novel a subtle gravity.
This book is a lot of fun, and I thought Goodman’s worldbuilding was creative and fresh. I’m not sure I’m qualified to comment on her use of a rubber-band theory of time travel, because timey stuff makes my head hurt after a while, but I think I grasped the concept here better than in say, Looper, which made me ask so many questions I wanted to bash my head against a wall.
The climax felt a little rushed to me, with the action and subsequent denouement falling into place at breakneck speed– but Goodman handles the final twists and revelations well, which makes for a surprising and clever ending.
If you’re looking for an intriguing sci-fi without romantic or dystopian trimmings, I’d definitely recommend this.
[1] Why yes I have been watching a lot of Veronica Mars lately..
I had attempted to read this once before but that was back when my reading horizons were fairly narrow and I was the sort of uninformed moron who, when presented with science fiction, automatically thought: “Wait, what if nerd hunters drive by and tranq and tag me?” [1] I only made it through a few pages before putting it aside. Maybe it just wasn’t the right book at the time. Whatever the case, I’m probably still a moron, but hopefully a slightly more open-minded and informed one.
This time, I read straight through quite quickly and I found a lot to like in this novel. It’s fast-paced and engaging, and despite the light tone of the narration, it’s clear that Goodman has put a lot of careful thought into the concepts that flesh out the story. Singing The Dogstar Blues takes place in Melbourne-of-the-distant-future, where spirited protagonist Joss is attending an elite time travel program at the university’s Centre for Neo-Historical Studies. When she is partnered with the centre’s first alien student, Mavkel, Joss is drawn into a race to break the rules and alter the course of history.
While the plot is inventive and kept me guessing, Goodman deals with a range of interesting issues in this novel, albeit in a brisk manner. One of the most interesting elements of the story is Mavkel and Joss’ changing dynamic over the course of the story. Mavkel is a character who’s world is marked by duality (gender, birth pairs etc) and interconnectedness (a broken bond between a pair usually results in death) – while Joss is a solitary and somewhat prickly character who has her own complex reasons for spurning personal attachments. By thrusting these two together in a situation where they are compelled to work together, Goodman forces Joss to acknowledge certain truths about herself and re-examine her existing connections with others.
I really enjoyed the exploration of the cultural, emotional and physical differences between Mavkel and Joss – particularly Goodman’s take on Chorian gender and the discussion around gender pronouns. Similarly there’s an interesting use of social class in the story, and Joss’ position as a “comp” (a child created using donors and genetic manipulation), that lends the novel a subtle gravity.
This book is a lot of fun, and I thought Goodman’s worldbuilding was creative and fresh. I’m not sure I’m qualified to comment on her use of a rubber-band theory of time travel, because timey stuff makes my head hurt after a while, but I think I grasped the concept here better than in say, Looper, which made me ask so many questions I wanted to bash my head against a wall.
The climax felt a little rushed to me, with the action and subsequent denouement falling into place at breakneck speed– but Goodman handles the final twists and revelations well, which makes for a surprising and clever ending.
If you’re looking for an intriguing sci-fi without romantic or dystopian trimmings, I’d definitely recommend this.
[1] Why yes I have been watching a lot of Veronica Mars lately..
August 2, 2017
*** Read and "reviewed" first on November 1st 2011 *** Flappy-eared, double-nosed, telepathic aliens, music, danger, time-travel, friendship in unexpected places, searching for your roots, futuristic futures, Blade-Runner-style bars, gut-wrenching loneliness, highly-original, tongue-in-cheek twists, bluesy sadness, snarky humor. Wow. Just my kind of sci-fi. This my second five-star-read within eight days. I feel so lucky - kind of like overdosed on "Bliss-sticks". Thank you, all you Goodreaders who have been - voluntarily or involuntarily - pushing this at me. Especially Flannery, who sent me her copy (which is now at Janina's - long story).
November 1, 2011
A very charming, light and funny little book.
YA sci-fi (real YA sci-fi, not romance disguised as sci-fi) is still a rare thing to find, and I very much enjoyed this story about time travel, aliens, a DNA mystery and an unlikely friendship. Joss is spunky and rebellious without being annoying, Mavkel a very fascinating and endearing character. I loved how their friendship developed, how the Chorians communicated and how their society worked. The overall tone of the book was light, but not without meaning; funny, but not trying too hard and the author didn't feel the need to dump too much information about the world on the reader. I very much like the feeling of getting to know the setting by myself and not being told what it's supposed to be like.
Towards the end, though, I felt like some things were a little rushed. I would have wished for some more depth: a lot if conflicts were hinted at, but not picked up again and in the end, I was left with a lot of open questions – not about the plot, but more about the background of the story in general. I would have loved to learn more about the Chorians, about the scientific aspect behind time travel (how does it actually work?) and about Joss's family.
Nevertheless, recommended if you are into lighter sci-fi with a futuristic setting, and would like to read a book without a focus on romance for once. I would have wished to be just a little more invested emotionally, but in comparison to Froi of the Exiles, the book didn't really stand a chance in that department.
#11 Aussie YA Challenge 2011
YA sci-fi (real YA sci-fi, not romance disguised as sci-fi) is still a rare thing to find, and I very much enjoyed this story about time travel, aliens, a DNA mystery and an unlikely friendship. Joss is spunky and rebellious without being annoying, Mavkel a very fascinating and endearing character. I loved how their friendship developed, how the Chorians communicated and how their society worked. The overall tone of the book was light, but not without meaning; funny, but not trying too hard and the author didn't feel the need to dump too much information about the world on the reader. I very much like the feeling of getting to know the setting by myself and not being told what it's supposed to be like.
Towards the end, though, I felt like some things were a little rushed. I would have wished for some more depth: a lot if conflicts were hinted at, but not picked up again and in the end, I was left with a lot of open questions – not about the plot, but more about the background of the story in general. I would have loved to learn more about the Chorians, about the scientific aspect behind time travel (how does it actually work?) and about Joss's family.
Nevertheless, recommended if you are into lighter sci-fi with a futuristic setting, and would like to read a book without a focus on romance for once. I would have wished to be just a little more invested emotionally, but in comparison to Froi of the Exiles, the book didn't really stand a chance in that department.
#11 Aussie YA Challenge 2011
February 10, 2010
It’s been a while since I’ve read a straight-up science-fiction YA novel, and yet SINGING THE DOGSTAR BLUES proves to be one of the best of its genre. With a great protagonist and a fully realized world, this small book will suck you in so fast you won’t even realize when you’ve lost your heart to it.
Joss is, without a doubt, my kind of girl. A bit jaded, a bit too smart for her own good, she is thoroughly entertaining to read about. Her tongue-in-cheek observations and flagrant disregard for Centre rules make her the opposite of the passive protagonist I typically dread in YA lit, and yet she’s not so rebellious as to be unrelatable. She is, in a sense, the kind of “bad girl” most readers have secretly imagined themselves being.
Science fiction is difficult to write because it involves creating a thorough world and to consider the implications of adding any detail to the story. Luckily, Alison Goodman’s world in SINGING THE DOGSTAR BLUES is remarkably believable and “real”: I could very nearly see all that Joss sees through the sharp and precise writing.
The one complaint I had about this book was the predictability of the ending. I figured out how things were going to unfold several chapters before Joss did. This is a recurring weakness in Goodman’s novels (her YA fantasy Eon: Dragoneye Reborn had the same thing happen), and yet doesn’t majorly detract from my utter delight in reading this book. Overall, I can solidly recommend SINGING THE DOGSTAR BLUES as one of the YA science fiction novels ever written. Don’t miss out on this one!
Joss is, without a doubt, my kind of girl. A bit jaded, a bit too smart for her own good, she is thoroughly entertaining to read about. Her tongue-in-cheek observations and flagrant disregard for Centre rules make her the opposite of the passive protagonist I typically dread in YA lit, and yet she’s not so rebellious as to be unrelatable. She is, in a sense, the kind of “bad girl” most readers have secretly imagined themselves being.
Science fiction is difficult to write because it involves creating a thorough world and to consider the implications of adding any detail to the story. Luckily, Alison Goodman’s world in SINGING THE DOGSTAR BLUES is remarkably believable and “real”: I could very nearly see all that Joss sees through the sharp and precise writing.
The one complaint I had about this book was the predictability of the ending. I figured out how things were going to unfold several chapters before Joss did. This is a recurring weakness in Goodman’s novels (her YA fantasy Eon: Dragoneye Reborn had the same thing happen), and yet doesn’t majorly detract from my utter delight in reading this book. Overall, I can solidly recommend SINGING THE DOGSTAR BLUES as one of the YA science fiction novels ever written. Don’t miss out on this one!
January 19, 2010
Don't be put off that this book is a little "old" now (published in the - gasp! - '90's, which in YA makes it practically a dinosaur). This sci fi story for young adults is pure brilliance, and a little time hasn't diminished its relevance.
Joss is a university student studying time travel sometime in the future, when her college roommate is a Chorian (alien) named Mavkel. Mav and Joss are a sort of experiment in human/alien living relations for the university. In Mav's culture, everyone has a twin whose existence completes their own; Mav's twin has died, and he is left trying to find a way to communicate, since for the Chorians, everything is done through music, a sort of harmonizing speech with their twin. Without a twin, Mav is lost, set adrift in an enormous university with unfamiliar living habits and a lot of unwanted publicity. Meanwhile, sharp-tongued Joss is trying to work on her own identity, not helped by her famous newscaster mother, who used a gene donor to conceive. Joss is caught up with university activists questioning the social value and rank of "naturally" born humans, versus those pre-selected for specific traits via gene donors, and the new addition of aliens in their midst. The question of humanity and conception is especially pertinent as university students consider who is naturally, and artificially, most "gifted" intellectually, and how those strengths are weighted as they compete for opportunities. But when Mav's health begins to decline, Joss has to decide how much she will offer her Chorian roommate to save him.
Goodman has a wicked sense of humor, and the book is full of witty speak (in part via the futuristic cultural slang she develops) and comical situations, mostly centered around Joss and Mav trying to overcome their enormous culture differences to understand each other better. The pacing and action are good, and Mav is absolutely endearing, as is Joss, whose blunt commentary lends a nice twist to otherwise painful and bittersweet scenes. But most notably, the questions of identity and cross-cultural relations are handled deftly and thoughtfully.
My only complaint is why Goodman has never, to my knowledge, written any follow-up books about this world or these characters. The text is ripe with all kinds of possibilities to tell more of the story. Meanwhile, seek out her short story about Joss and Mav in the sci fi anthology Firebirds Rising, for a sweet, funny tale about the two roommates coping with Joss' dating life. Then find Goodman's website and beg her to write more.
Joss is a university student studying time travel sometime in the future, when her college roommate is a Chorian (alien) named Mavkel. Mav and Joss are a sort of experiment in human/alien living relations for the university. In Mav's culture, everyone has a twin whose existence completes their own; Mav's twin has died, and he is left trying to find a way to communicate, since for the Chorians, everything is done through music, a sort of harmonizing speech with their twin. Without a twin, Mav is lost, set adrift in an enormous university with unfamiliar living habits and a lot of unwanted publicity. Meanwhile, sharp-tongued Joss is trying to work on her own identity, not helped by her famous newscaster mother, who used a gene donor to conceive. Joss is caught up with university activists questioning the social value and rank of "naturally" born humans, versus those pre-selected for specific traits via gene donors, and the new addition of aliens in their midst. The question of humanity and conception is especially pertinent as university students consider who is naturally, and artificially, most "gifted" intellectually, and how those strengths are weighted as they compete for opportunities. But when Mav's health begins to decline, Joss has to decide how much she will offer her Chorian roommate to save him.
Goodman has a wicked sense of humor, and the book is full of witty speak (in part via the futuristic cultural slang she develops) and comical situations, mostly centered around Joss and Mav trying to overcome their enormous culture differences to understand each other better. The pacing and action are good, and Mav is absolutely endearing, as is Joss, whose blunt commentary lends a nice twist to otherwise painful and bittersweet scenes. But most notably, the questions of identity and cross-cultural relations are handled deftly and thoughtfully.
My only complaint is why Goodman has never, to my knowledge, written any follow-up books about this world or these characters. The text is ripe with all kinds of possibilities to tell more of the story. Meanwhile, seek out her short story about Joss and Mav in the sci fi anthology Firebirds Rising, for a sweet, funny tale about the two roommates coping with Joss' dating life. Then find Goodman's website and beg her to write more.
March 27, 2016
3.5 stars. I really enjoyed this but was thrown by the abruptness of the ending (and it didn't help my confusion that it ended at 79% on my Kindle). The pace up until that point was great and then it's suddenly two chapters worth of story in five paragraphs of summary. There are big revelations that get like one sentence devoted to them! The big climax and then it's suddenly a "pencils down, turn in your essay" rushed ending. Instead of going out with a bang, it ended on a welp.
Don't get me wrong though. Alison Goodman is still awesome and I loved Joss and the aliens to pieces. I just wish the ending wasn't wrapped up so quickly or neatly.
Don't get me wrong though. Alison Goodman is still awesome and I loved Joss and the aliens to pieces. I just wish the ending wasn't wrapped up so quickly or neatly.
March 15, 2013
Thea’s Take:
Joss Aaronson is a misfit and a maverick, and thanks to her famous reporter mother, Joss has been shipped off to more boarding schools than she can count. Now, on the eve of her eighteenth birthday, Joss is finally part of something that is passionate about. A first-year in the prestigious Centre for Neo-Historical Studies, and one of a very select few that will train to travel back in time, Joss is about to embark on an academic journey to study and observe first-hand the birth of soul music and its finest musicians and moments throughout history.
The last thing that Joss – already branded a troublemaker that has caught the eye of the Center’s surly Director – needs is to be paired up with a high-profile alien teammate. But paired up with a high-profile alien Joss is, when Mavkel, the first Chorian student admitted to the Center, chooses her for his time-jumping partner. Joss doesn’t mind Mav (though its double features, retractable ears, and strange speaking and eating habits are…well, distracting), but she does mind all the extra attention that comes with him. Death threats, increased security, 24-hour surveillance – for Joss, all of this attention is a nightmare. Plus, Mav keeps insisting that Joss has some kind of mental/telepathic resonance, and when he falls ill, it is up to Joss to figure out just what lengths she will take to save her new friend. Even if it means traveling back in time.
Singing the Dogstar Blues is Alison Goodman’s debut novel, rereleased this year (presumably based on the awesome success of Eon and Eona). I have heard nothing but good things about Dogstar Blues and was thrilled to see this new shiny repackaging of the book – having been a fan of Goodman’s fantasy, I could not wait to try her science fiction.
And you know what? I quite enjoyed Joss and Mavkel. Singing the Dogstar Blues is an undeniably fun novel. Joss is a little prickly and predictable as a surly rich kid heroine, but her genuine hurt and feelings for her mother, for a lost maternal figure in her life, and for Mav are very nicely done. While Joss’s voice is the driving force behind the book, Mav is the TRUE standout character. I freaking love this weird, sad alien. The Chorians overall – asexual, telepathic, with sing-song way of vocalizing and healing – are an intriguing bunch. The most intriguing aspect of these aliens, and Mavkel most of all, is their deep-seeded need to be a part of a pair and to know their lineage. Every Chorian is born and forms a bond with another (not romantic, mind you), and the two are interlinked for the rest of their lives – when one dies, the other soon follows. In Mav’s case, his bondmate died and he is seen as a “freak” to his people – saved by the great doctors and healers of his planet, Mav may be alive but he is utterly, devastatingly alone. When Mav finds Joss, and feels an echo of a bond with her, he is overjoyed – but his hope is a fragile thing that is tested sorely in this book.
Other than this fascinating dynamic and characterization, Singing the Dogstar Blues is just plain fun. There isn’t really much in terms of depth to the story, and I was actually quite surprised to see how little actual science or time travel is in this novel. The actual storyline, the mystery behind Joss’s past, is fairly predictable – but the writing is sure-footed and the plot zips along at a comfortable and engaging pace.
All in all, I truly enjoyed The Dogstar Blues. It’s no Eon/Eona, but it’s fun and certainly worth a read, especially if you’re looking to change up your beach or poolside staples with some super soft scifi.
Ana’s Take:
I had never heard of Singing the Dogstar Blues but when we came across it and we saw the words “partners in time crime” we jumped on it so fast you wouldn’t believe. We were both extremely keen to read it as soon as possible so here we are. Overall, I will agree with Thea’s feelings about the book.
The premise is fab: a time travel student and a musician herself, Joss is hoping to major in Music History and as such, she wants to travel back in time to see the birth of Blues. That premise is super fun in itself (and very similar to Connie Willis’ time travel books which also feature historians going back in time to observe important events in history). But Singing the Dogstar Blues is not only about time travel but also about a school where time travel is taught. Imagine my disappointment when it became clear that this premise was secondary at best and time travelling shenanigans happened only toward the end of the book. In all honesty, I believe this disappointment informed most of my reading of the book.
Those feelings aside, Singing the Dogstar Blues is an undeniably fun read and one of those extremely rare examples of pure SciFi YA too. One that features a futuristic world with first encounters with aliens, time travel and no romantic subplot in sight. Although a little bit sketchy on the Hard Science side of SciFi (the whole thing with DNA and genetics begged for me to suspend disbelief) , I did love what the author did with the characters, with the interaction between Humans and Chorians as the latter were really and truly aliens.
In that sense, the time travel might be the bait but what really hooks are the main themes of identity and friendship that permeate the story. I loved the differences between Joss and Mav as well as how they eventually came to be connected. Although I suspect that had I been on Joss’ shoes I would have gone off running in the other direction when asked to join my mind with an alien, I enjoyed reading about her conflicted thoughts about it and the eventual denouement worked for me because it took both characters’ needs into consideration. There is also a great, equally fun extra short story in this new edition of the book that continues their story after the events at the end of Singing the Dogstar Blues.
Even though I can’t really say it is anything extraordinary, there are many things that commend Singing the Dogstar Blues: the characters (especially Mav), the fun times I had with it, the thematic core of the novel. Sometimes that is more than enough.
Joss Aaronson is a misfit and a maverick, and thanks to her famous reporter mother, Joss has been shipped off to more boarding schools than she can count. Now, on the eve of her eighteenth birthday, Joss is finally part of something that is passionate about. A first-year in the prestigious Centre for Neo-Historical Studies, and one of a very select few that will train to travel back in time, Joss is about to embark on an academic journey to study and observe first-hand the birth of soul music and its finest musicians and moments throughout history.
The last thing that Joss – already branded a troublemaker that has caught the eye of the Center’s surly Director – needs is to be paired up with a high-profile alien teammate. But paired up with a high-profile alien Joss is, when Mavkel, the first Chorian student admitted to the Center, chooses her for his time-jumping partner. Joss doesn’t mind Mav (though its double features, retractable ears, and strange speaking and eating habits are…well, distracting), but she does mind all the extra attention that comes with him. Death threats, increased security, 24-hour surveillance – for Joss, all of this attention is a nightmare. Plus, Mav keeps insisting that Joss has some kind of mental/telepathic resonance, and when he falls ill, it is up to Joss to figure out just what lengths she will take to save her new friend. Even if it means traveling back in time.
Singing the Dogstar Blues is Alison Goodman’s debut novel, rereleased this year (presumably based on the awesome success of Eon and Eona). I have heard nothing but good things about Dogstar Blues and was thrilled to see this new shiny repackaging of the book – having been a fan of Goodman’s fantasy, I could not wait to try her science fiction.
And you know what? I quite enjoyed Joss and Mavkel. Singing the Dogstar Blues is an undeniably fun novel. Joss is a little prickly and predictable as a surly rich kid heroine, but her genuine hurt and feelings for her mother, for a lost maternal figure in her life, and for Mav are very nicely done. While Joss’s voice is the driving force behind the book, Mav is the TRUE standout character. I freaking love this weird, sad alien. The Chorians overall – asexual, telepathic, with sing-song way of vocalizing and healing – are an intriguing bunch. The most intriguing aspect of these aliens, and Mavkel most of all, is their deep-seeded need to be a part of a pair and to know their lineage. Every Chorian is born and forms a bond with another (not romantic, mind you), and the two are interlinked for the rest of their lives – when one dies, the other soon follows. In Mav’s case, his bondmate died and he is seen as a “freak” to his people – saved by the great doctors and healers of his planet, Mav may be alive but he is utterly, devastatingly alone. When Mav finds Joss, and feels an echo of a bond with her, he is overjoyed – but his hope is a fragile thing that is tested sorely in this book.
Other than this fascinating dynamic and characterization, Singing the Dogstar Blues is just plain fun. There isn’t really much in terms of depth to the story, and I was actually quite surprised to see how little actual science or time travel is in this novel. The actual storyline, the mystery behind Joss’s past, is fairly predictable – but the writing is sure-footed and the plot zips along at a comfortable and engaging pace.
All in all, I truly enjoyed The Dogstar Blues. It’s no Eon/Eona, but it’s fun and certainly worth a read, especially if you’re looking to change up your beach or poolside staples with some super soft scifi.
Ana’s Take:
I had never heard of Singing the Dogstar Blues but when we came across it and we saw the words “partners in time crime” we jumped on it so fast you wouldn’t believe. We were both extremely keen to read it as soon as possible so here we are. Overall, I will agree with Thea’s feelings about the book.
The premise is fab: a time travel student and a musician herself, Joss is hoping to major in Music History and as such, she wants to travel back in time to see the birth of Blues. That premise is super fun in itself (and very similar to Connie Willis’ time travel books which also feature historians going back in time to observe important events in history). But Singing the Dogstar Blues is not only about time travel but also about a school where time travel is taught. Imagine my disappointment when it became clear that this premise was secondary at best and time travelling shenanigans happened only toward the end of the book. In all honesty, I believe this disappointment informed most of my reading of the book.
Those feelings aside, Singing the Dogstar Blues is an undeniably fun read and one of those extremely rare examples of pure SciFi YA too. One that features a futuristic world with first encounters with aliens, time travel and no romantic subplot in sight. Although a little bit sketchy on the Hard Science side of SciFi (the whole thing with DNA and genetics begged for me to suspend disbelief) , I did love what the author did with the characters, with the interaction between Humans and Chorians as the latter were really and truly aliens.
In that sense, the time travel might be the bait but what really hooks are the main themes of identity and friendship that permeate the story. I loved the differences between Joss and Mav as well as how they eventually came to be connected. Although I suspect that had I been on Joss’ shoes I would have gone off running in the other direction when asked to join my mind with an alien, I enjoyed reading about her conflicted thoughts about it and the eventual denouement worked for me because it took both characters’ needs into consideration. There is also a great, equally fun extra short story in this new edition of the book that continues their story after the events at the end of Singing the Dogstar Blues.
Even though I can’t really say it is anything extraordinary, there are many things that commend Singing the Dogstar Blues: the characters (especially Mav), the fun times I had with it, the thematic core of the novel. Sometimes that is more than enough.
January 7, 2022
A fascinating world; a futuristic Melbourne. I loved the characters despite being, at first, annoyed at Joss' hangup on her mother. All understandable and yet, that twist on all being not as it seems! I do wish there was a lot more on the time travelling side of things because that's what I kinda expected this book is about but truly, it isn't. Time travel may have been a device employed by author but this novel deals with a range of issue from social class, gender, to race.
November 27, 2024
Love this world, the characters and the plot (save for one quite predictable bit).
October 21, 2021
Rated 4.5 really.
Excerpt from my review - originally published at Offbeat YA.
Pros: Full-fleshed, snarky, deliciously flawed, resourceful heroine. Adorable co-protagonist. Unconventional friendship. Lots of humour. Tackles themes of identity and gender/sexuality without making them "issues".
Cons: There's no use in racking your brain about the premise/reveal. It just is. Also, the smartest readers would probably solve one of the mysteries early on.
Will appeal to: Sci-fi fans 😉. Non sci-fi fans too, if they like humour, unusual pairings and coming-of-age stories.
Oh boy, another tough one. Because in this novel there are not one, but two mysteries - largely intertwined - and I shall make sure I don't spoil either of them for you. Shucks.
RIGHT ON TIME
First off: you don't have any prejudices about reading a book that is nearly 20 years old - do you? Well, maybe you don't, but come on...you regularly get distracted by new, shiny books, and/or new, shiny books that everyone and their hamster is reading - so what chances does a book written in 1998 have? Well...to its credit...I honestly don't think this particular book reads dated. It has a pretty strong timeless vibe to me. Which maybe should come as no surprise, since it deals with time travel ;D. Maybe a certain detail might have been written in a slightly different guise nowadays (more on this later), but all in all, STDB can easily be enjoyed by readers who weren't even born when it came out. Short book premise: Earth has developed time travel in the recent past, while Choria - Mavkel's planet - hasn't. For once, it's aliens who need human to teach them advanced technology. Cool, isn't it?
GENDER BENDER
I decided to give this book a try for two reasons: 1) time travel (my number-two obsession after dead-not-dead characters); 2) a supposed male/female friendship story (and an unusual one at that) without romantic undertones. I use the word "supposed" because it turns out that Mav (like Joss calls him) is not a "male" alien. "He" comes from a planet where both sexes coexist in the same body (though Chorian physiology remains a mystery through the book - see: the humorous description of Mav's bathroom), and he's actually referred to as "it" until he becomes Joss' partner in the time travel academy. Only then the two of them agree on using the male pronoun, for the following reasons: 1) the obvious one: "it" is a pronoun used for objects; 2) Joss - when Mav asks her - admits being the kind of gal who would choose a guy as a sexual/romantic partner...so Mav basically argues that, since they are a pair now, she might as well have a male (though, I'll add, totally platonic) partner. The whole thing would probably have been played out a little differently now - maybe (just my guess) Mav would have been addressed as "they/them". I don't know if this detail is enough to turn genderfluid readers off this book, but the thing is, there's no judgement or disrespect for "alternate" sexualities in STDB. Quite the contrary. For example, Joss' mother is bisexual, and her ex long-time female partner, Louise, has a new family with a same-sex lover; also, Louise and her new partner have a son thanks to a sperm donor, who is actually involved in his kid's life. Goodman even took the time to weave a heartfelt memorial to all the AIDS victims into her book. [...]
Whole review here
Excerpt from my review - originally published at Offbeat YA.
Pros: Full-fleshed, snarky, deliciously flawed, resourceful heroine. Adorable co-protagonist. Unconventional friendship. Lots of humour. Tackles themes of identity and gender/sexuality without making them "issues".
Cons: There's no use in racking your brain about the premise/reveal. It just is. Also, the smartest readers would probably solve one of the mysteries early on.
Will appeal to: Sci-fi fans 😉. Non sci-fi fans too, if they like humour, unusual pairings and coming-of-age stories.
Oh boy, another tough one. Because in this novel there are not one, but two mysteries - largely intertwined - and I shall make sure I don't spoil either of them for you. Shucks.
RIGHT ON TIME
First off: you don't have any prejudices about reading a book that is nearly 20 years old - do you? Well, maybe you don't, but come on...you regularly get distracted by new, shiny books, and/or new, shiny books that everyone and their hamster is reading - so what chances does a book written in 1998 have? Well...to its credit...I honestly don't think this particular book reads dated. It has a pretty strong timeless vibe to me. Which maybe should come as no surprise, since it deals with time travel ;D. Maybe a certain detail might have been written in a slightly different guise nowadays (more on this later), but all in all, STDB can easily be enjoyed by readers who weren't even born when it came out. Short book premise: Earth has developed time travel in the recent past, while Choria - Mavkel's planet - hasn't. For once, it's aliens who need human to teach them advanced technology. Cool, isn't it?
GENDER BENDER
I decided to give this book a try for two reasons: 1) time travel (my number-two obsession after dead-not-dead characters); 2) a supposed male/female friendship story (and an unusual one at that) without romantic undertones. I use the word "supposed" because it turns out that Mav (like Joss calls him) is not a "male" alien. "He" comes from a planet where both sexes coexist in the same body (though Chorian physiology remains a mystery through the book - see: the humorous description of Mav's bathroom), and he's actually referred to as "it" until he becomes Joss' partner in the time travel academy. Only then the two of them agree on using the male pronoun, for the following reasons: 1) the obvious one: "it" is a pronoun used for objects; 2) Joss - when Mav asks her - admits being the kind of gal who would choose a guy as a sexual/romantic partner...so Mav basically argues that, since they are a pair now, she might as well have a male (though, I'll add, totally platonic) partner. The whole thing would probably have been played out a little differently now - maybe (just my guess) Mav would have been addressed as "they/them". I don't know if this detail is enough to turn genderfluid readers off this book, but the thing is, there's no judgement or disrespect for "alternate" sexualities in STDB. Quite the contrary. For example, Joss' mother is bisexual, and her ex long-time female partner, Louise, has a new family with a same-sex lover; also, Louise and her new partner have a son thanks to a sperm donor, who is actually involved in his kid's life. Goodman even took the time to weave a heartfelt memorial to all the AIDS victims into her book. [...]
Whole review here
September 1, 2011
This book was really interesting. It's from the perspective of a girl named Joss, who is 17/18 during the course of the book. Though authorities would view her as a touble maker, she's more of an independant spirit, who seems to get caught...a lot. Enough to get kicked out of 12 schools.
She manages to get into an exclusive program involving time jumping, and gets paired with a Chlorian, in a historical first for the world. It seems Chlorians are born in a...we'll call it twinship, and if one dies, so does the other. Until Mavkel suffers the unfortunate fate of living without his other half. Which makes it well suited to be the single alien in the class.
Mavkel, is very much alien. So alien I couldn't even imagine it properly in my head, and Joss' interactions are admirable, she's a little bit of an opportunist in wondering how this partnership will keep the teachers off her back, but she isn't into using her minor celebrity status for popularity or social gain.
I really liked the character of Joss, I think in books like this, that aren't romance oriented, that the characters HAVE to have their own life, and own voice, because the character can't fall back on sexual tension, and does-he-doesn-he-like-me musing to keep the plot moving forward.
Mavkel, made me feel a little claustrophobic, to the point where it was hard for me in the end to accept the dedication of their friendship, because I kept thinking...I want to run away (though, that may be more my POV, commitments scare me!)
The end, has a lot packed into it, that you don't expect...because you think you are reading a book about aliens, humans, assassins, and parents interacting....and then BAM! There is this -interesting in a completely other way bit- thrown in, and it wraps itself up a bit quickly from there.
She manages to get into an exclusive program involving time jumping, and gets paired with a Chlorian, in a historical first for the world. It seems Chlorians are born in a...we'll call it twinship, and if one dies, so does the other. Until Mavkel suffers the unfortunate fate of living without his other half. Which makes it well suited to be the single alien in the class.
Mavkel, is very much alien. So alien I couldn't even imagine it properly in my head, and Joss' interactions are admirable, she's a little bit of an opportunist in wondering how this partnership will keep the teachers off her back, but she isn't into using her minor celebrity status for popularity or social gain.
I really liked the character of Joss, I think in books like this, that aren't romance oriented, that the characters HAVE to have their own life, and own voice, because the character can't fall back on sexual tension, and does-he-doesn-he-like-me musing to keep the plot moving forward.
Mavkel, made me feel a little claustrophobic, to the point where it was hard for me in the end to accept the dedication of their friendship, because I kept thinking...I want to run away (though, that may be more my POV, commitments scare me!)
The end, has a lot packed into it, that you don't expect...because you think you are reading a book about aliens, humans, assassins, and parents interacting....and then BAM! There is this -interesting in a completely other way bit- thrown in, and it wraps itself up a bit quickly from there.
January 30, 2017
"The universe does not work to our time or our convenience."
This story is really very unique and original. Alison Goodman seems to write about things way more different than anyone else I've read so far. Truly genius. I love her style even though in this one was quite a bit of slang (and futuristic cursing) but I got used to it.
Singing the Dogstar Blues is a richly imaginative story filled with awesome characters and a great storyline. I just wish there was a bit more... more pages of Mavkel and his planet Choria. More story to some of the other characters being involved with Joss (our main character) and overall more of the world/universe Joss lives in..
It was such a fun and interesting read. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves Science-Fiction with no romance but highly on the friendship department.
It's got a whole lot of different things going for it. Alison Goodman's Eon: Dragoneye Reborn and Eona: The Last Dragoneye duology is also freakin amazing. Go and read it. NOW.
"See, alone has one in it. If you separate the word it becomes all-one. It is very true. To be alone is to be all one."
This story is really very unique and original. Alison Goodman seems to write about things way more different than anyone else I've read so far. Truly genius. I love her style even though in this one was quite a bit of slang (and futuristic cursing) but I got used to it.
Singing the Dogstar Blues is a richly imaginative story filled with awesome characters and a great storyline. I just wish there was a bit more... more pages of Mavkel and his planet Choria. More story to some of the other characters being involved with Joss (our main character) and overall more of the world/universe Joss lives in..
It was such a fun and interesting read. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves Science-Fiction with no romance but highly on the friendship department.
It's got a whole lot of different things going for it. Alison Goodman's Eon: Dragoneye Reborn and Eona: The Last Dragoneye duology is also freakin amazing. Go and read it. NOW.
"See, alone has one in it. If you separate the word it becomes all-one. It is very true. To be alone is to be all one."
October 10, 2010
(Fifth book/sixth text for the readathon.)
I first came across Alison Goodman in the Firebirds Rising anthology, which included a short story by her set in the world of this novel. So, when I wanted some books to cheer me up, this is one of the ones I ordered -- and when I wanted something lighter once it got to god knows what AM during the readathon, this is what I picked up. It was exactly what I wanted: light but still absorbing, a nice change of pace.
I enjoyed the characters and the world, which was lightly futuristic without being hard SF -- not hard to process and get used to at all. I liked the fact that a lesbian relationship was included so matter of factly. I was similarly happy about the positive, no-big-deal approach to sexuality in Goodman's short story, so that fills me with hope.
I called the plot halfway through, even at seven AM, so I wouldn't say it's all that surprising or original. But it caught me at a good time, and was exactly the kind of thing I wanted to read, and so for that I feel very affectionate towards it.
I first came across Alison Goodman in the Firebirds Rising anthology, which included a short story by her set in the world of this novel. So, when I wanted some books to cheer me up, this is one of the ones I ordered -- and when I wanted something lighter once it got to god knows what AM during the readathon, this is what I picked up. It was exactly what I wanted: light but still absorbing, a nice change of pace.
I enjoyed the characters and the world, which was lightly futuristic without being hard SF -- not hard to process and get used to at all. I liked the fact that a lesbian relationship was included so matter of factly. I was similarly happy about the positive, no-big-deal approach to sexuality in Goodman's short story, so that fills me with hope.
I called the plot halfway through, even at seven AM, so I wouldn't say it's all that surprising or original. But it caught me at a good time, and was exactly the kind of thing I wanted to read, and so for that I feel very affectionate towards it.
February 15, 2012
Quick, easy read. The secrets don't take too much guesswork, but the most charming part was the loveable, if overly touchy-feely/sneezy (emotionally) alien. I enjoyed Joss, her sass and drinking habits, but I would have liked faster pacing where the end was actually the middle of the story and we could have seen Mav and Joss develop a bit more independently, and then as a team, or more appropriately, a pair.
My biggest issue was that I couldn't visualize Mav at all. I was told what specific body parts he possessed, but I would have like to know how his noses, mouths and thumbs were arranged. That bit left me feeling a bit distracted.
I'll definitely be back to read Goodman's other reads to see how she's matured as a writer.
My biggest issue was that I couldn't visualize Mav at all. I was told what specific body parts he possessed, but I would have like to know how his noses, mouths and thumbs were arranged. That bit left me feeling a bit distracted.
I'll definitely be back to read Goodman's other reads to see how she's matured as a writer.
March 4, 2012
A refreshing story that is actually sci-fi through and through. Although Joss is sometimes irritating as a main character with her blatant disregard for authority and her selfishness, overall she is still likeable since she is loyal and willing to take risks for the people she cares about.
I found the background to the alien race very interesting, and wished that we had more of the meatier science-y world/race building stuff, but even though it was bare bones I didn't find what was given to the reader lacking.
The twist at the end, although not difficult to predict, still brought a satisfying conclusion to the story. It definitely amused me.
I found the background to the alien race very interesting, and wished that we had more of the meatier science-y world/race building stuff, but even though it was bare bones I didn't find what was given to the reader lacking.
The twist at the end, although not difficult to predict, still brought a satisfying conclusion to the story. It definitely amused me.
March 26, 2013
I like YA that doesn't read like YA. This was a very moving book. The main character isn't so sassy and jaded that she's lost her ability to experience real emotions. If the bravado isn't properly balanced, you've just got a ball of snark with no heart. Joss has a tremendous amount of heart.
This books' appeal isn't limited to YA readers, although I'd love for my daughters to read it. Proper character-driven, alien-populated scifi is what it is. With a touch of time travel, just a pinch, for flavor. Funny and touching and something new-what more could you ask from a novel?
This books' appeal isn't limited to YA readers, although I'd love for my daughters to read it. Proper character-driven, alien-populated scifi is what it is. With a touch of time travel, just a pinch, for flavor. Funny and touching and something new-what more could you ask from a novel?
September 17, 2014
I really enjoyed this. Excellent scifi grounded in good characters with a fast paced plot that I breezed right through. And, shockingly, there was no romance. Usually that'd be a disappointment for me, but the friendship was enough. With a little bit more development on a few of the relationships I think this would have been five stars for me.
February 18, 2015
I found it difficult to get into this book. The main character didn't really appeal from the first page, and the story wasn't compelling to me in any big way, and some of the plot twists were just completely obvious. The climax wasn't, the resolution was over far too quickly, as was the entire book. The constant use of dropping the beginnings or endings off words got grating very quickly.
August 24, 2022
Read: August 2022
Format: Paperback
Genre: Young Adult Contemporary Science Fiction
Content: "future" strong language, violence, minor innuendo
I purchased this book years ago because of the intriguing "dangerous alien for a school roommate" promise, but while it offered engaging characters in an intriguing world the surprisingly mundane plot was thoroughly disappointing and the back-cover summary did not deliver on its assurances.
The "dangerous" if sick alien was the opposite of dangerous and barely got sick and, while being an important (and frankly the best) character of the story, the sweet if needy alien did not get enough page-time. Joss was a fun and engaging focal voice for the story, but the story itself, which had so much potential - in time travel, music, and anti-alien sentiment - utilized none of it. Time travel was used simply as a means of transport, and could've easily been replaced by a car if they hadn't needed to skip back a few years (and do really stupid things while there to domino their future). Music, which created a connection with the "singing" aliens who used it to heal people, was left as little more than Joss's hobby, connection ignored. And the promised danger of partnering with an alien, mainly because of anti-alien protestors, was little more than a few picketers at the school's distant front gates. I will admit to initially being impressed with the near-future world which, as this book was originally published in 1998, Goodman was ahead of her time with technology, school, in vitro, public transport, sexuality and more. But once the engaging story focused itself on the mundane plot , much like the sickly Mav the book lost its shine. I read on, hoping it would get better, but it only got worse until I was relieved to reach the predictable conclusion. Still, despite its wasted potential and disappointing plot, I'm glad I finally got around to reading it and did enjoy the characters and intriguing near-future setting to declare it a 3-star read. Definitely not worth re-reading, though.
The Real Thing Short Story: Also included in my paperback was a sequel short story about the continuing "adventures" of Joss and Mav. Again the story had the potential to focus on their growing connection, but instead chose another mundane plot. I forced myself to read it and was not surprisingly disappointed by the outcome, especially since it didn't feel as if it completely stuck to canon. 1.5 Stars.
Format: Paperback
Genre: Young Adult Contemporary Science Fiction
Content: "future" strong language, violence, minor innuendo
I purchased this book years ago because of the intriguing "dangerous alien for a school roommate" promise, but while it offered engaging characters in an intriguing world the surprisingly mundane plot was thoroughly disappointing and the back-cover summary did not deliver on its assurances.
The "dangerous" if sick alien was the opposite of dangerous and barely got sick and, while being an important (and frankly the best) character of the story, the sweet if needy alien did not get enough page-time. Joss was a fun and engaging focal voice for the story, but the story itself, which had so much potential - in time travel, music, and anti-alien sentiment - utilized none of it. Time travel was used simply as a means of transport, and could've easily been replaced by a car if they hadn't needed to skip back a few years (and do really stupid things while there to domino their future). Music, which created a connection with the "singing" aliens who used it to heal people, was left as little more than Joss's hobby, connection ignored. And the promised danger of partnering with an alien, mainly because of anti-alien protestors, was little more than a few picketers at the school's distant front gates. I will admit to initially being impressed with the near-future world which, as this book was originally published in 1998, Goodman was ahead of her time with technology, school, in vitro, public transport, sexuality and more. But once the engaging story focused itself on the mundane plot , much like the sickly Mav the book lost its shine. I read on, hoping it would get better, but it only got worse until I was relieved to reach the predictable conclusion. Still, despite its wasted potential and disappointing plot, I'm glad I finally got around to reading it and did enjoy the characters and intriguing near-future setting to declare it a 3-star read. Definitely not worth re-reading, though.
The Real Thing Short Story: Also included in my paperback was a sequel short story about the continuing "adventures" of Joss and Mav. Again the story had the potential to focus on their growing connection, but instead chose another mundane plot. I forced myself to read it and was not surprisingly disappointed by the outcome, especially since it didn't feel as if it completely stuck to canon. 1.5 Stars.
August 14, 2017
This was another book that had never been checked out in 10 years at my library. I was sad for the book so I read it. At first I thought, yes, now I know why it was not checked out. But as the story progressed I liked it more and more. Joss, a troubled, music loving teen, is at the time jump center and about to get kicked out. However she is partnered with an alien (first time ever) and her journey changes as she tries to save the alien and herself. It is true science fiction so fans of that genre might enjoy the book. Some of the lingo was a little hard to get into but it grew on me. Grades 7 and up.
January 10, 2022
2.5 stars, because I couldn't get a clear picture of Mav's species and it didn't quite pull me in the same was that 'Eona' did. Still an okay underdog story about a sort of delinquent student on the verge of being kicked out of the prestigious time-travellers' program luckily saved at the last minute by being chosen as the partner of the first alien student, with the complications of prejudice against test-tube/custom recombinant children like her and the alien partner's deep psychological need to know their partner's (unknown) lineage. Strained family relationships are explored, and there is no romance.
September 30, 2017
What a cool story! I love Goodman's use of slang and the world building she has engaged in with this book. I wish she had built out even more, maybe made this a series (there's promise here). It reminded me of Tanith Lee's use of slang/world in Biting the Sun, though Lee does a better job of explaining slang and parts of the world. But Goodman's writing is on the same level of expertise as Lee's (if slightly more YA in tone). Quick read, really liked it, but lacks the qualities of a favorite because of how much more I wanted from the book.
May 26, 2024
A 3.5
Clever YA Sci-fi. Set in the near future with Time Travel into the past a possibility for historians and an alien race having made itself known to us .... This is about family and friendship, and what this actually means.
I really enjoyed it but worked out the major plot twist way too early .... Give me just a crumb and I know where you are going with it Ms Writer.
I did thoroughly enjoy the world building and the characterisations of the main characters.
Clever YA Sci-fi. Set in the near future with Time Travel into the past a possibility for historians and an alien race having made itself known to us .... This is about family and friendship, and what this actually means.
I really enjoyed it but worked out the major plot twist way too early .... Give me just a crumb and I know where you are going with it Ms Writer.
I did thoroughly enjoy the world building and the characterisations of the main characters.
December 4, 2017
This was a lovely, unexpected look at the psychology of alone-ness, bigotry, family, betrayal, and racism. And there was a little bit of time travel. I was honestly expecting more of that from the premise, but I think I liked this version better than what I would have gotten if it was actually about time travel! Sometimes authors write the right book.
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