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timinbc's review against another edition
4.0
It's a complicated book and some won't like it. But I enjoyed the way it takes a basic assumption and examines how it might play out in a world (or worlds) not too different from our own.
I'm surprised none of the reviews have mentioned Kage Baker's Company series as a comparison.
The multiple points of view present people who are not omni-capable Galahads or totally-evil Saurons. Things don't always go as planned.
If you like your stories tidily wrapped up at the end, well, by halfway you probably wil have grasped that it isn't that simple.
A good, intelligent read with a bit of preaching, quite a bit of sex, and enough action (or at least situation development) to keep moving the plot forward.
I'm surprised none of the reviews have mentioned Kage Baker's Company series as a comparison.
The multiple points of view present people who are not omni-capable Galahads or totally-evil Saurons. Things don't always go as planned.
If you like your stories tidily wrapped up at the end, well, by halfway you probably wil have grasped that it isn't that simple.
A good, intelligent read with a bit of preaching, quite a bit of sex, and enough action (or at least situation development) to keep moving the plot forward.
alice_horoshev's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Torture, Self harm, Drug use, Forced institutionalization, Rape, Emotional abuse, Child abuse, Drug abuse, Domestic abuse, and Incest
ted_funsten's review against another edition
4.0
I listened to a podcast of an abridged version -- around half the length of the full book. It was fun and made me want to read the full version. Even when you don't understand where his story is going, and the first part of the book is pretty confusing, Banks is entertaining.
Several key plot elements -- one is the character Lady Bisquitine -- seem to be thrown in with little elaboration in the abridged version.
The story centers around a crew of operatives jumping between parallel realities to adjust history. It's Quantum Leap crossed with Ian McDonald's Brasyl. Banks probes the motivations of his characters in a style that's different from McDonald or Quantum Leap's writers.
Several key plot elements -- one is the character Lady Bisquitine -- seem to be thrown in with little elaboration in the abridged version.
The story centers around a crew of operatives jumping between parallel realities to adjust history. It's Quantum Leap crossed with Ian McDonald's Brasyl. Banks probes the motivations of his characters in a style that's different from McDonald or Quantum Leap's writers.
branch_c's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Banks’ writing is always sophisticated, and this book is no exception. It’s clear that the complexity laid out for the reader is in fact completely understood by the writer, and it all will come together in the end… mostly, except for the parts that he wants us to work out for ourselves.
In the Culture books, the plot is usually ostensibly straightforward, or at least there is an active thread of the plot moving forward throughout the book, even if all the relevant factors won’t be evident at the beginning. In this one, however, most of the book is engaged in dribbling out info about the setup (or the concept, or the setting) and slowly filling in the gaps in the reader’s knowledge through interactions among the characters. There’s plenty of sharp dialogue, occasionally clever, and a helping of deep philosophizing, about things like ethics, betrayal, the use of torture… all while nothing much actually happens.
Near the end, the action picks up in a rush, and things come quickly to a rolling boil, which is then satisfactorily resolved. But overall, the book seemed to be more of a vehicle for the above-mentioned philosophizing than an actual story, and I think it suffered for that. Adding the general unpleasantness of some of the characters and their actions, I can’t highly recommend this as an enjoyable read. But there’s always something to like about an Iain Banks book, so fans of his unique and confident style will likely find it worthwhile.
In the Culture books, the plot is usually ostensibly straightforward, or at least there is an active thread of the plot moving forward throughout the book, even if all the relevant factors won’t be evident at the beginning. In this one, however, most of the book is engaged in dribbling out info about the setup (or the concept, or the setting) and slowly filling in the gaps in the reader’s knowledge through interactions among the characters. There’s plenty of sharp dialogue, occasionally clever, and a helping of deep philosophizing, about things like ethics, betrayal, the use of torture… all while nothing much actually happens.
Near the end, the action picks up in a rush, and things come quickly to a rolling boil, which is then satisfactorily resolved. But overall, the book seemed to be more of a vehicle for the above-mentioned philosophizing than an actual story, and I think it suffered for that. Adding the general unpleasantness of some of the characters and their actions, I can’t highly recommend this as an enjoyable read. But there’s always something to like about an Iain Banks book, so fans of his unique and confident style will likely find it worthwhile.
spitzig's review against another edition
3.0
I read this because I really like his Culture series, and wanted to see what he would do in a different setting. Also, I like alternate realities/histories.
His characters were well done. However, for much of the book, the characters were described, with no connection to each other or the plot. So, more than 2/3 of the way through the book, I was asking "why am I reading about this guy?"
There wasn't enough plot. The basic SF idea(alternate realities) was well done. I don't think the realities themselves were explored well enough.
The book did some preaching about torture as a negative thing. Not so much that it really dragged the book down.
His characters were well done. However, for much of the book, the characters were described, with no connection to each other or the plot. So, more than 2/3 of the way through the book, I was asking "why am I reading about this guy?"
There wasn't enough plot. The basic SF idea(alternate realities) was well done. I don't think the realities themselves were explored well enough.
The book did some preaching about torture as a negative thing. Not so much that it really dragged the book down.
rpych2's review against another edition
4.0
Time traveling assassins that can alter the fabric of history? Sign me up! I really liked this one (it kind of reminded me of Asimov's The End of Eternity), and would definitely read more of Banks' stuff. I see people commenting that it started slow, and I could see that, but I thought it picked up fairly quickly and didn't let down from there.
frip's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
cwebb's review against another edition
2.0
What was that? Okay, so it had an ending, but definitely not a climax.
Plus, Banksy just can't help himself and toss out leftist buzzwords and shit. Try writing better stories and less political fiction.
Plus, Banksy just can't help himself and toss out leftist buzzwords and shit. Try writing better stories and less political fiction.