Maybe I'm just getting more invested in the characters, but I enjoyed this more than Axiom's End. I thought the aliens were pretty well-written, withMaybe I'm just getting more invested in the characters, but I enjoyed this more than Axiom's End. I thought the aliens were pretty well-written, with fundamentally different ways of perceiving and navigating the world and society. The political foment surrounding their arrival was depressingly realistic. The trauma Cora suffers is a really nice change from the usual trope of sci-fi mind-melding, and I liked how it started to touch on the physics of how their universe works. Also continuing to enjoy the Fermi's paradox resolution in this series. Finally, Ellis's writing seems to have improved. Looking forward to the sequel!...more
Delightfully weird exploration of the explosion of progress in chemistry and fundamental physics between ~1870-1945, and a bit of mathematics beyond. Delightfully weird exploration of the explosion of progress in chemistry and fundamental physics between ~1870-1945, and a bit of mathematics beyond. It's historical fiction, so not 100% accurate, but puts across the tortured geniuses and the weird physics they uncovered pretty well. I was only disappointed not to see the book continue into Bohm's hidden variables, Everett's many-worlds theories, and Albert's "mindless hulk" problem. But hey, I am a quantum mechanics nerd.
My only problem: this book continues to reinforce the stereotype that scientific advances are made by tortured geniuses toiling away in obscurity, until they suddenly and dramatically change the world. In fact it's the discussions between people that form a collective intelligence that creates these advances. I'd propose that we'd have made much more progress than we did in that period if it hadn't been interrupted by war, and if women and POC had been welcome and educated. But, maybe it makes less of a dramatic story....more
A delightful and fast-paced romp through a future partially-terraformed Mars, populated by two groups of humans who cope with the harsh environment byA delightful and fast-paced romp through a future partially-terraformed Mars, populated by two groups of humans who cope with the harsh environment by two different methods: technological improvement to fight the environment, or changing themselves and growing to adapt to the environment. A gentle metaphor for our own times, with likeable characters and a fun story to boot. Highly recommended for younger readers!...more
Where lies the strangling fruit that came from the hand of the sinner I shall bring forth the seeds of the dead to share with the worms that gather inWhere lies the strangling fruit that came from the hand of the sinner I shall bring forth the seeds of the dead to share with the worms that gather in the darkness and surround the world with the power of their lives while from the dimlit halls of other places forms that never were and never could be writhe for the impatience of the few who never saw what could have been. In the black water with the sun shining at midnight, those fruit shall come ripe and in the darkness of that which is golden shall split open to reveal the revelation of the fatal softness in the earth. The shadows of the abyss are like the petals of a monstrous flower that shall blossom within the skull and expand the mind beyond what any man can bear, but whether it decays under the earth or above on green fields, or out to sea or in the very air, all shall come to revelation, and to revel, in the knowledge of the strangling fruit—and the hand of the sinner shall rejoice, for there is no sin in shadow or in light that the seeds of the dead cannot forgive. And there shall be in the planting in the shadows a grace and a mercy from which shall blossom dark flowers, and their teeth shall devour and sustain and herald the passing of an age. That which dies shall still know life in death for all that decays is not forgotten and reanimated it shall walk the world in the bliss of not-knowing. And then there shall be a fire that knows the naming of you, and in the presence of the strangling fruit, its dark flame shall acquire every part of you that remains....more
Brilliant continuation of the trilogy. The only thing more terrifying than an unknowable force dissolving your brain: BUREAUCRACY. Also, humans cannotBrilliant continuation of the trilogy. The only thing more terrifying than an unknowable force dissolving your brain: BUREAUCRACY. Also, humans cannot know things, and institutions even less. Excuse me while I descend into a tunnel of madness....more
If the pacing was slow before, consider it glacial now. I think I must have simply stopped caring at some point during Ancillary Sword's endless convIf the pacing was slow before, consider it glacial now. I think I must have simply stopped caring at some point during Ancillary Sword's endless conversations about tea and tea sets. I just wanted this to be over -- or for the story to actually go somewhere outside of Athoek's boring station and tea plantations! It finally did, with some incredibly underwhelming action sequences, and then the civil war was resolved. Thanks, alien deus ex machina! Oh and superintelligent AIs are free now, because something something trust Breq something. I'm sure that will end well....more
Gave it a red hot go, but the Spanglish dialogue kept throwing me. I was doing OK until Yoss decided to narrate one chapter as a play entirely comprisGave it a red hot go, but the Spanglish dialogue kept throwing me. I was doing OK until Yoss decided to narrate one chapter as a play entirely comprised of Spanglish dialogue. No longer knowing what was actually going on, I gave up.
Also this seemed to be parodying a style of science fiction from before I was born, when "spirits were brave, the stakes were high, men were real men, women were real women and small furry creatures from Alpha Centauri were real small furry creatures from Alpha Centauri", to quote a far superior space-comedic writer. Strong Space Quest vibes, but with more misogyny and less humour....more
It is widely known that it is impossible to write well about music.
But surely, Richard Powers, one of my favourite non-SF authors, surely he could do It is widely known that it is impossible to write well about music.
But surely, Richard Powers, one of my favourite non-SF authors, surely he could do it! And somehow weave it in to a thriller about biohacking, by a musician obsessed with the immortality of music? What could go wrong?
I've got about a third the way through this before giving up.
It's definitely impossible to write well about music. It's even more impossible to write a thriller about an octogenarian biohacker who spends much of his time giving music lessons. I'm falling asleep just thinking about the time the police are on his tail, and I kid you not, he goes to the community centre and gives a free lecture about mid-20th century composition... ...more
Would you trade the ability to be remembered for immortality? The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue is a delightful and thrilling exploration of how memoWould you trade the ability to be remembered for immortality? The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue is a delightful and thrilling exploration of how memory shapes our identity and how our relationships with other people bring meaning to our lives. Also reads like a fantasy story of a time traveler versus a vampire. Fun and escapist but with a deep emotional core....more
A nicely put together time travel story with likeable characters and a delightful central mystery. Very strong Cloud Atlas vibes. I'm a little disappoA nicely put together time travel story with likeable characters and a delightful central mystery. Very strong Cloud Atlas vibes. I'm a little disappointed it didn't do more with (view spoiler)[the Far Colonies or the simulation hypothesis. I feel like literary sci-fi sometimes gets a free pass to touch on an interesting hard sci-fi idea, but then ditch it, so as to induce that kind of unresolved feeling that wins awards. (hide spoiler)]. Nonetheless, this was a gem....more
Was a little overwhelmed by the first story (on the theme of a mother losing her child) and couldn't go on.Was a little overwhelmed by the first story (on the theme of a mother losing her child) and couldn't go on....more
Couldn't bear it. All the pain of scrolling social media with none of the reward.Couldn't bear it. All the pain of scrolling social media with none of the reward....more
Interesting and meditative family history of Korean emigrees to Japan. I enjoyed it, and learned a lot of interesting history, but somehow the omnisciInteresting and meditative family history of Korean emigrees to Japan. I enjoyed it, and learned a lot of interesting history, but somehow the omniscient narration style left me a little too removed from the characters to truly feel their struggles....more
I liked it. Magical realism with several intersecting stories. The usual thing where the hero and villain of the story changes depending on whose poinI liked it. Magical realism with several intersecting stories. The usual thing where the hero and villain of the story changes depending on whose point of view you're reading. Some nice meditations on our relationship to nature....more
I wish I had liked this more, but the basic physics of it all was so broken that I spotted the ending coming about 25% in, and was really disappointedI wish I had liked this more, but the basic physics of it all was so broken that I spotted the ending coming about 25% in, and was really disappointed when that was indeed how it went. The main character was pretty cool and I enjoyed experiencing the very different setting compared to most sci-fi that I've read before....more
Still funny, and unfortunately, still relevant. In fact, it's extremely depressing how much this reads like it was written a couple of years ago ratheStill funny, and unfortunately, still relevant. In fact, it's extremely depressing how much this reads like it was written a couple of years ago rather than 30. Oh well, I guess we're screwed, but it'll make a great movie!...more
It's like The Martian, but as a buddy comedy, where the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few. Made me laugh, even cry a little bit, and I It's like The Martian, but as a buddy comedy, where the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few. Made me laugh, even cry a little bit, and I was left with the warm fuzzies at the end. His best so far....more
Wow... how do you review a series conclusion like this without spoilers? I guess I'll just say that if you got this far, you will love the conclusion,Wow... how do you review a series conclusion like this without spoilers? I guess I'll just say that if you got this far, you will love the conclusion, and then hide the rest behind... (view spoiler)[here. All of the tension set up by the previous installments ratchets to the climax in this final book. World War IV and the stakes could not be higher: humanity's toehold on the stars themselves. It's romantic, thrilling, and finally the supernatural elements are revealed as aspects of a conflict within humanity itself: the competing visions of Utopia and Gordian. I guessed this was coming after Cookie and Ganymede were assassinated: something about the transcript just seemed deliberately fake to me, and the rest of the logic unfolded from there. Now I appreciate a lot of the smaller details about Gordian in previous books.
Plotwise, the only problem I had was near the end: I didn't quite understand what plan Sniper and co actually enacted to bring Gordian down. Was it Eureka's announcement that Gordian had been responsible for keeping the cars locked during the war, rather than the Cousins? But that move saved countless lives, so I wasn't sure why this would turn the world against Gordian. Also, it seemed like the main cast had outsized voices and abilities to affect tens of billions of humans: you only have to look at social media today to see how experts trying to steer humanity is as effective as screaming into the void.
And philosophically, I also have a problem with the ending itself. About halfway through the book, I realised I side with Gordian. I'm an astronomer. I know how far apart those stepping stones are. We genuinely would have a far better chance of actually taking those steps if we figured out machine consciousness first, because we could pause our perception of time on the way to the stars. That doesn't solve the game theory issue: as Palmer adroitly points out, the central problem with Utopia's vision is that as soon as they terraform a world, it becomes a target for empire. So the solution is to keep Utopia moving on. But what about holding that empire together over such vast distances? I'm sorry, but physics doesn't allow it. As expertly demonstrated in The Three-Body Problem and its sequels, cosmic game theory is an absolute beast. In our universe, Gordian is right, as much as it breaks my heart to say so. Of course, I have not docked a star for this: the fact that this book is even willing to go there, and ask these huge questions, is just wonderful. (hide spoiler)] Thank you Ada Palmer for creating this incredible universe, one I will return to time and time again....more
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