I really like the premise of this book. I mean the moon blows up pretty much in the first sentence and now humanity has to find shelter in space, usinI really like the premise of this book. I mean the moon blows up pretty much in the first sentence and now humanity has to find shelter in space, using the ISS as a starting point. Sounds amazing, right?
This is my first Neal Stephenson, and I've picked this one because I really like the possibilities within this premise. The first third of the book is amazing. Clever characters, an apocalypse, people working together trying to avoid said apocalypse from wiping out humanity. Then Stephenson kind of trails off and in the end he presents a vision of the future that I find entirely too unbelievable for a science fiction book.
Apart from that I was really struggling with the execution. It's basically science porn. The world-building is fantastic. The science is well researched. And detailed. And fills page upon page. Mostly they're info-dumps and if I was a die-hard astronomy fan I possibly would have loved it. Stephenson describes in detail every technological difficulty humanity will face. I feel like I barely got to know the characters because he describes the ISS in such detail that there are no words left to add depth to the main characters.
If you're into space, astronomy, the ISS and want to know as much as possible about them, while at the same time reading about the end of humanity as we know it, then this is definitely the book for you....more
Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep is a thought provoking novel with great concepts. I love the idea of a future where androids pose as humans, most Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep is a thought provoking novel with great concepts. I love the idea of a future where androids pose as humans, most of us live on Mars and the ultimate satisfactory life event is to own a real animal. Of course I wouldn't like to live in such a future but it was a great read with beautiful prose. ...more
What a wonderful, wonderful premise, right? A man who always returns to where he began, a child but with all memories of his previous lives intact. HaWhat a wonderful, wonderful premise, right? A man who always returns to where he began, a child but with all memories of his previous lives intact. Harry is a kalachakra. Every time he dies, he is reborn as himself and he lives his own life over and over again. Harry August is a fascinating character. He's good and bad and everything that is grey as well.
The novel tells of Harry's first fifteen lives and explores the culture of the kalachakra in the first half, then in the second half Harry has to try and save the world.
I especially loved the way Claire North imagined time travelling. The kalachakra can pass messages to the future or to the past. A message for the future is easier as you can simply leave it in a permanent medium like a stone tablet for future generations to find. A message for the past requires more time as a young kalachakra must give a message to another kalachakra who is at the end of their life, so that when they are born again they can in turn pass the message on to another kalachakra at the end of their life and so on until the message reaches the intended century.
The book is told in a non linear way, almost disjointed in places, but I never got confused. The pacing is slow (some people called it glacial) as we get to see bits and pieces from Harry's different lives, told in a subtle almost poetic manner. (The writing style reminded me a bit of Station Eleven.) Despite being slow, I found it compelling and was never bored.
I'm sure after all my gushing you wonder why I didn't give it five stars. Sadly, I was disappointed by the ending. See, whenever I come across such an amazing premise that includes potential plot holes, (and time travel always does) I'm worried how the author will manage to tie up all the loose ends. Claire North doesn't do a bad job, but sadly it was disappointing nonetheless. I can't say what bothered me without spoiling the plot, but it involves a villain with a momentary lapse of judgement.
Still, I highly recommend this book if the premise sounds fascinating to you. I loved it a lot....more
I enjoyed Wool by Hugh Howey so much, I'm starting to think I expect too much of his other work. Beacon 23 fell a bit flat for me. It's definitely a nI enjoyed Wool by Hugh Howey so much, I'm starting to think I expect too much of his other work. Beacon 23 fell a bit flat for me. It's definitely a nice, pleasurable and short read. The way the author describes isolation and what it does to a person's mental state is very interesting and Howey is really good at writing deep and believable characters that the reader can't help but care about. Although this wasn't my favourite I still admire the deeper questions Hugh Howey raises regarding war, sacrifice and hardship....more
I absolutely loved Wool by Hugh Howie and maybe my expectations were too high afterwards, but Sand fell a bit flat in the end. I enjoyed the beginningI absolutely loved Wool by Hugh Howie and maybe my expectations were too high afterwards, but Sand fell a bit flat in the end. I enjoyed the beginning, the world building and the characters. Howie knows how to write. But in the end it feels like it's just the first part of something bigger and like there should be a second book. It's almost as if he hit his word count and stopped writing. If you don't mind abrupt endings it's well worth a read....more
What a strange book, but so very interesting and captivating. The prose is enthralling, the characters well written and the story bizarre and inspirinWhat a strange book, but so very interesting and captivating. The prose is enthralling, the characters well written and the story bizarre and inspiring at the same time. I really enjoyed this quick read and can see why this book gets so much critical acclaim....more
First book of 2016 and what a way to start. I'm aware that if you strip away the nostalgia from this book, it might not be as good as I think it is riFirst book of 2016 and what a way to start. I'm aware that if you strip away the nostalgia from this book, it might not be as good as I think it is right now... but I enjoyed the hell out of this book (even though I'm more of a 90's kid). It's the year 2044, everyone is either starving or poor and most people spend all their free time in the OASIS, a massively multi player online game. It's a virtual reality, the way I once pictured the Internet, back when I was eight years old and thought I could actually climb into it and disappear. The creator of OASIS died and left several billion dollars to the first man or woman who solves a series of unsolvable puzzles (filled with pop culture from the 80's).
The main character, Wade, is a great guy to follow through this story. He's geeky, but also funny and loveable. The book is well written and I actually couldn't put it down once I was a few pages in. The author is painting a rather dystopian future, but I'd love to experience something like OASIS one day....more
Anathem isn't an easy book, and it's not a quick read. Anathem, however, is very rewarding. A book I will definitely read a second time in a few yearsAnathem isn't an easy book, and it's not a quick read. Anathem, however, is very rewarding. A book I will definitely read a second time in a few years and then hopefully a third time, several years later. Neal Stephenson is obviously bursting with knowledge, and I had to look up the meaning of unknown words more than once. Cheers for expanding my vocabulary.
The plot of Anathem takes place on a different planet than ours and Stephenson invented quite a few words to go with it. As a non native speaker I got to play the beloved 'made up word or English word I do not yet know' game. Thankfully the Kindle comes with a dictionary and Anathem comes with an extensive glossary.
After about seventy pages, I felt more comfortable with the language, and the book started to flow. The world building is fantastic, the social commentary funny, and I thoroughly enjoyed the read.
I recommend this to people who love alternative worlds, physics, philosophy and science. And by love, I mean really love....more
I'm not sure why I can't get into science fiction that is set in space. Maybe I'm reading the wrong books. Maybe it's because I have a hard time carinI'm not sure why I can't get into science fiction that is set in space. Maybe I'm reading the wrong books. Maybe it's because I have a hard time caring for made up alien races and planets. It's similar with high fantasy. I much prefer urban fantasy and I prefer my science fiction to be set on earth. However, I really like the idea behind the series Iain M. Banks wrote and I thought I should give Consider Phlebas a shot. It did not go so well. While I thought the prose is interesting, the plot itself put me to sleep. I did not care for the main character either. I've read good things about the universe Banks created though and I wonder if I should tip my toe into the second book, just to see if that one is more up my alley....more
Can I just complain? It doesn't stand on its own. This book just ends. All of it is just a set-up and there's no resolution. In fact it's simply the bCan I just complain? It doesn't stand on its own. This book just ends. All of it is just a set-up and there's no resolution. In fact it's simply the beginning of something much bigger. I rarely read up on books beforehand. I fear spoilers too much. But this time I should have, if only to make sure I have the sequel ready to go.
The prose is beautiful. Hyperion is basically Canterbury Tales in space. The reader gets to discover this universe through several unique short stories. Of almost different genres. Simmons throws us into the middle of the action with little explanation, but the stories are vivid and it didn't take long for me to find my bearings.
It's an amazing and complex world Simmons has created here. He explores morality, religion, empathy and other themes in an intelligent way. The book is beautifully structured and a must read for any science fiction fan....more
I don't think this book has aged very well. In fact I struggled to suspend my disbelief. It's a classic of science fiction, so I definitely recommend I don't think this book has aged very well. In fact I struggled to suspend my disbelief. It's a classic of science fiction, so I definitely recommend reading it, and maybe I just expected something entirely different to what I found when I finally read this one at the age of 32. Well written and at the time ground-breaking....more
In Flowers for Algernon, Charlie Gordon, who has an IQ of 68, volunteers to participate in an experiment previously tested on mice. It's an operation In Flowers for Algernon, Charlie Gordon, who has an IQ of 68, volunteers to participate in an experiment previously tested on mice. It's an operation that will gradually make him smarter, something he's been longing for all his life. The story is told in the first person through a series of progress reports that he has to write. At first his grammar is so bad it makes the first few chapters a little hard to read, but don't let that deter you, the writing improves quickly.
Flowers for Algernon has become a favourite of mine even though I've only read it the other day. I can't stop thinking about it. In fact I find it difficult to express the range of emotions I experienced while reading this book.
It's thought-provoking, devastating and heartbreaking but also beautiful. It discusses how we treat disabilities, how we treat fellow human beings and what it means to be human.
The last two chapters made me tear up and I immediately handed the book to my girlfriend who read it in a day. She loved it just as much as me. I'd possibly recommend this one to absolutely everyone, that's how brilliant it is.
I've since handed this book to my 'I only read literary novels and non-fiction' mother and she adored it, and that's the biggest praise a book can get....more
I enjoyed this book. It is light-hearted, has an absurd plot (that almost lost itself in the middle) and delightfully weird characters. Vonnegut's proI enjoyed this book. It is light-hearted, has an absurd plot (that almost lost itself in the middle) and delightfully weird characters. Vonnegut's prose is interesting and entertaining to read. ...more
I'm not the greatest fan of science fiction involving space travel, which is why it took me so long to finally read this. It grabbed me from the very I'm not the greatest fan of science fiction involving space travel, which is why it took me so long to finally read this. It grabbed me from the very beginning. I love the way the story is told. The slow pace, the prose, the ideas in this book are all fantastic. A very interesting, albeit short read. Now I just have to see the film and people can stop gasping when I say I haven't yet. ...more
I finally tackled I, Robot by Isaac Asimov. I haven't so far because I'm not into hard sci-fi and I don't really like robots. However this book is so I finally tackled I, Robot by Isaac Asimov. I haven't so far because I'm not into hard sci-fi and I don't really like robots. However this book is so well written and engaging that it had my full attention all the way through. It's a set of short stories, basically episodes a robopsychologist (Susan Calvin) tells a journalist in 2057. They focus on the evolution of robotic technology, and provide examples for important questions like 'what happens if a robot could read minds' or 'can a robot run for office'. ...more
A classic and cornerstone of science fiction, that I'd never read before. I had to change that and this weekend I did. It took me a while to get into A classic and cornerstone of science fiction, that I'd never read before. I had to change that and this weekend I did. It took me a while to get into the book. I'd tried a few times before and always failed. Page 2 is filled with a bunch of unknown names, places and other things that can't be pronounced, and I remember thinking, uh-hoh, this is too confusing. This time I decided to stick with it no matter what.
For anyone struggling with the beginning: it gets easier.
Now for my review. Let me start with the bad things. This book is dated. The dialogue is painful in places. Herbert loves to have characters think the obvious, marked with italics, to make sure the reader doesn't miss anything important. There's a lot of 'telling' and I had the impression 'showing' wasn't Herbert's strength.
But apart from that? Amazing world-building. The planet, the dunes, the worms. Paul's journey. His mother's journey. The mythology. Politics and intrigues. It's a wonderful world, and I'm actually excited to read the sequels (at least the ones written by Frank Herbert himself.)...more
I was fully expecting to like this. Everything I heard about it had always sounded great. But, I didn't. Not one bit. It was repetitive, boring, pointI was fully expecting to like this. Everything I heard about it had always sounded great. But, I didn't. Not one bit. It was repetitive, boring, pointless even, or maybe I'm missing something? I'm not sure. The main thing I couldn't ignore was that the children in this book are very young, some as young as six, but they all act and talk like adults. The writing is all right, nothing special, but I found it quite enjoyable. Ender, the main character, can do anything, knows everything and wins literally every single time. Excuse me, but how is that interesting? ...more
I really liked this book but I think I read it too late in my life. I would have loved this as a teenager. It would probably have been one of my favouI really liked this book but I think I read it too late in my life. I would have loved this as a teenager. It would probably have been one of my favourites. Now it made me chuckle a few times and I'm not sure I'm going to pick up the sequels. It's fast paced and full of humour and definitely worth a read though. ...more
I wasn't a fan. And I don't know why. I should have been. Really. This book is fast paced. The plot moves forward with an incredible speed. The world I wasn't a fan. And I don't know why. I should have been. Really. This book is fast paced. The plot moves forward with an incredible speed. The world building is amazing. The characters are interesting and well developed, though I really wanted to strangle Holden. I liked Miller a lot.
Every chapter ends on a cliffhanger. At the end of every chapter you just want to dive into the next. In theory. I didn't. I put the book aside and sometimes forgot to continue for weeks. Even though there were cliffhangers?
I can't tell you why it didn't work for me. But I can tell you it worked for my girlfriend. She devoured all five books that were out at the time within a month. She couldn't stop reading. She loves this series and this universe. In fact, she's the reason I picked it up.
I prefer my science fiction to be placed on Earth, and in the near future and I like it to be about technology and social science. Maybe that's the problem, but, on the other hand, I loved Battlestar Galactica and would consider it my favourite show.
Maybe, I just don't make sense.
So, to finish this review, let me say: if you love sci-fi, love space and spaceships, love a good mystery, pick this one up, it probably is fantastic....more
Lock In is confusing at first. I've seen that there's a prequel novella available and maybe that would have helped, but I liked figuring things out foLock In is confusing at first. I've seen that there's a prequel novella available and maybe that would have helped, but I liked figuring things out for myself. It's definitely more of a police procedural than sci-fi but I enjoyed the premise, the questions Scalzi raises (which mirror some of the questions we currently face as a society) and the plot. The story revolving around the crime is nothing special, maybe even a bit predictable, but the premise and the setting make more than up for that. I thoroughly enjoyed this read. It was fast paced, the author wastes no time, and Lock In kept me hooked until the end....more
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