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erraticeldandil's review against another edition
This is turning out to be a two or three star so far and I just don't have time for that.
I think someone who's interested in analyzing what this dystopia means about the 1970s would get some value out of it, but that's not really something I'm interested in doing right now and the prose is not magnetic enough to keep me in.
I think someone who's interested in analyzing what this dystopia means about the 1970s would get some value out of it, but that's not really something I'm interested in doing right now and the prose is not magnetic enough to keep me in.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Violence, Murder, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Racial slurs and Racism
Minor: Lesbophobia
funcharge's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
albcorp's review against another edition
4.0
Urban dystopia that feels like the precursor to Margaret Atwood's Oryx and Crake trilogy. Many acute observations, and great feel for the disconnect between the overriding concerns of the age and the concerns of a life lived at the bottom of the hierarchy
deadwolfbones's review against another edition
1.0
Really unconvincing, really wasn't enjoying it, couldn't bring myself to finish it because I just didn't care.
I think maybe I'm getting burned out on New Wave SF in general.
I think maybe I'm getting burned out on New Wave SF in general.
nwhyte's review
3.0
http://nwhyte.livejournal.com/2339104.html[return][return]The disjointed narrative failed to engage me, and I felt that the stories never quite concentrated sufficiently on either near-future world-building or interesting characterisation. It was interesting that Disch correctly saw the politics of reproduction as being so prominent in the twenty-first century, although the detail has turned out rather differently.
ellisknox's review against another edition
1.0
I couldn't finish it. This is one of those very embarrassing science fiction books that tried to be part of the hippie movement. It never worked, not once.
death2cupbots's review against another edition
2.0
When I was able to follow the story, I found it mostly enjoyable. However, I had trouble following the disjointed way in which it was written. I am also unsure of what the big picture message of the story was. I feel like if I knew more about the late Roman Empire, I would have gotten more out of 334.
untravel's review against another edition
4.0
Very interesting, incredibly complicated. The first part is little different than a collection of short stories, but they each hint and themes and characters developed later. There's a *chart* to help the reader follow the narrative leaps in the second half, across 3 characters, different years (out of sequence), and narrative type ('another point-of-view', fantasy, reality, and monolog). There's a total of 43 different vinettes in this section, and amazingly they seem to add up to a story. It's a fun read if you like novels like puzzles.
Another plus: technically a science fiction novel, it wears its exposition so lightly it's hard to even tell most of the time. For example, there is a drug depicted in the novel that gives certain characters an elaborately detailed fantasy life--a sort of pharmacological virtual reality. While several passages occur in these alternate realities, the SF mechanism through which they occur isn't explained until about halfway through.
I think I would have to read it a few more times to pick up on all the connections and interactions. For example, a seemingly throwaway character from one of the early stories (Martinez) turns out to be the estranged husband of one of the main characters (Juan). It's only later that you realize it's the same person (=Juan Martinez).
I haven't read a book that's both challenging and entertaining in a long time. It's usually one or the other, for me. I didn't rank it 5/5 only because I wouldn't recommend it for everyone: I could easily see how the narrative tricks might seem like tedious affectations, and there's a lot of profanity and disturbing imagery. But if you don't mind that stuff, then I heartily recommend it.
Another plus: technically a science fiction novel, it wears its exposition so lightly it's hard to even tell most of the time. For example, there is a drug depicted in the novel that gives certain characters an elaborately detailed fantasy life--a sort of pharmacological virtual reality. While several passages occur in these alternate realities, the SF mechanism through which they occur isn't explained until about halfway through.
I think I would have to read it a few more times to pick up on all the connections and interactions. For example, a seemingly throwaway character from one of the early stories (Martinez) turns out to be the estranged husband of one of the main characters (Juan). It's only later that you realize it's the same person (=Juan Martinez).
I haven't read a book that's both challenging and entertaining in a long time. It's usually one or the other, for me. I didn't rank it 5/5 only because I wouldn't recommend it for everyone: I could easily see how the narrative tricks might seem like tedious affectations, and there's a lot of profanity and disturbing imagery. But if you don't mind that stuff, then I heartily recommend it.
lleullawgyffes's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25