P. Kirby > Recent Status Updates

I know I read this eons ago, but it didn't leave any lasting impression. Probably because it doesn't have any dragons. This time around, its playing better with my older, though not wiser, self.

Ya know what? This reads like someone trying to write a YA dystopian novel for adults. As if their assumption is that all that adventure, and sexual tension is for kids, so ditch that, but keep the sorting of people into "factions" and add lengthy Socratic dialogue. Tah-dah! YA dystopian made mature. ... Uh, not. Ugh. This book is dull, dull, dull.

And...things got rapey. Yuck. This is like fan-wank for philosophers. A long string of Socratic dialogues, literally--Socrates has showed up. So bored, but don't want to DNF until I hit 50%.

Despite the story's age, the SF and tech doesn't feel dated.

So far, typical pretentious, sort of meta, writing that makes the SF/F literati's panties wet. As with Among Others, it assumes that the reader has done her homework and understands all the references. In this case, knows anything about Plato's Republic or has a strong background in classical studies. I don't. I'm not proud of my ignorance, but, ugh, this is too fucking smug. Thank Dog it was free.

Another blast from the past from Anne McCaffrey. I read this decades ago, but remember little of it.

One of the characters reads too much like the protagonist from Among Others. .... This is not a good thing.

Page 261. It took 261 pages for anything, and I mean anything, to happen in this book. I was getting ready to DNF, and then, "Blam," somebody got dead. Fuck. Now I have to read this plodding mess to the end, or at least until I find out who killed Paul. Ugh!

Can't seem to DNF, but, fuck, this goes absolutely nowhere at a glacial pace. Ugh.

Has kept me guessing right to the end.

I admit to going into this with a bad attitude. Thing is, it's free, part of Tor free ebook a month giveaway, and I can't resist free. But it looks like pretentious award-bait.

Do-doodle-do-do. The elevator music is still playing; I'm still waiting for something to happen. Likeable characters are the only reason this hasn't become a DNF.

Snappy dialogue--very British--and a intriguing who-done-it. :)

This book should have elevator music playing while I wait for something to happen.

And finally...a dead body! Let the murderin' begin!

So...when does anything start to happen in this? Also, where do these people get all this money for extended holidays? Must be nice to be so privileged.

Because theater folk are nuts...and I say that with love.

Also, "registered companion" to me is so very Serenity/Firefly. I think this actually came before the TV series/movie, but still....

The murder-death-crime stuff is great, but the Roarke sexy times? Eh. Thing is, I concede that his whole man of mystery, slightly controlling thing, is sorta attractive. To my 16-to-25 year-old-self. The current [old] version of myself, thinks all that burning, intense, creeper vibe would get tiresome after a while. At least, it's already worn thin at %65 of the book.

Sort of pleasant, but at this point, overly languid in pace.

*Shrug.* Too soon to tell...

The appeal of Roarke's manipulative impulses is wearing a little thin.

Yeah, Roarke is a douche-canoe, but I confess I can see his appeal.

Is it possible to be simultaneously bored and fascinated?

I've gotten waay farther than I'd expected to with this. The science and philosophical underpinnings are cool. Some characters, like the the cop, are fun. But, overall, it's another pretentious contemporary of The Goblin Emperor and Ancillary Justice.

Honestly? I think I'd much rather read about Janie's criminal sisters. They sound like they'd have a backbone. Maybe they'd tell Creepy McHotPants to fuck off.

Janie and her gal pal go to a club. A mysterious someone orders them champagne, and they drink it, because...the bartender says he'll get in trouble is they don't. Really? I haven't been to a bar in ages, but even I know not to do this. (Plus, I don't drink, so no, just no.)

Meh. This doesn't bode well. Heroine is smart, but, of course, she's seeing a therapist, because apparently everyone and his dog has a therapist. Hero, of course, has a body by gym, and his meet-cute with heroine on elevator was creepy. Oh, and the heroine is gorgeous, but...wait for it...doesn't think she's pretty. Sigh.

Back in a deep reading slump. Trying some fluff on for size.

Cecil hides every time Marian or Will show up. But no one is suspicious. Worst outlaws ever. :)