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timinbc's review
3.0
There's a strong idea here - the role of humans as AIs take over, combined with humans-and-AIs deciding how to deal with a very alien species and the role of public opinion in funding space efforts. But it's smeared by a careless, somewhat dull storyline.
We have a huge spaceship that goes way far real easy. Oh--kay.
We learn that the salamanders spit micro black holes but are not themselves affected - how?
We learn that one character is obviously both claustrophobic and otherwise insane, but got chosen anyway because he's like the guy from "Alice's Restaurant" who was all "Sarge, I wanna KILL!" Oddly, he's obsessively over-the-top much like the protagonist of Barry's Machine Man.
After the setback the ship rebuilds its Materials Fabrication module in two days- without its Materials Fabrication unit?
The medbag that just does whatever’s needed is awfully handy. finds blood vessels, clamps as needed, splints, ... Might as well be magic.
Why do both women flip between given name and surname, while the men stay with surnames?
The giant flashback mid-book is clunky. Not necessarily wrong, just brings the book skidding to a halt after a crisis.
Oh look, a planet, how convenient! OK, this is where Ship has been heading... but let’s have two out-of-control pods land conveniently close to each other.
Oh, damn, says Barry. I have to get my heroine home. Ah, let's just send her fifty trillion miles in a flimsy jetpod, protected by the magic medbag? FOOHwtS.
And ... I would have liked to meet the ship AI.
For all its faults, it is a decent exploration of the large theme.
We have a huge spaceship that goes way far real easy. Oh--kay.
We learn that the salamanders spit micro black holes but are not themselves affected - how?
We learn that one character is obviously both claustrophobic and otherwise insane, but got chosen anyway because he's like the guy from "Alice's Restaurant" who was all "Sarge, I wanna KILL!" Oddly, he's obsessively over-the-top much like the protagonist of Barry's Machine Man.
After the setback the ship rebuilds its Materials Fabrication module in two days- without its Materials Fabrication unit?
The medbag that just does whatever’s needed is awfully handy. finds blood vessels, clamps as needed, splints, ... Might as well be magic.
Why do both women flip between given name and surname, while the men stay with surnames?
The giant flashback mid-book is clunky. Not necessarily wrong, just brings the book skidding to a halt after a crisis.
Oh look, a planet, how convenient! OK, this is where Ship has been heading... but let’s have two out-of-control pods land conveniently close to each other.
Oh, damn, says Barry. I have to get my heroine home. Ah, let's just send her fifty trillion miles in a flimsy jetpod, protected by the magic medbag? FOOHwtS.
And ... I would have liked to meet the ship AI.
For all its faults, it is a decent exploration of the large theme.
tyzitting's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
grahamclements's review
4.0
A space opera. Some great insights to future tech and how AI might dominate, with humanity taken along for the ride. The aliens were an interesting concoction. I found one character, Anders, slightly unbelievable. Barry has written better books.
doctor_km's review
5.0
Honestly surprised by how many 3 star reviews this has, because I found it impossible to put down. It was smart, exciting and extremely original. Highly recommend!
jabirch's review
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
emcrowley03's review
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
angus_mckeogh's review
1.0
Absolute letdown. Standard science fiction trope of a crew sent out to battle aliens. Reads like YA. And there’s nothing wrong with YA if that’s what it is, but this book strives for a level of adult seriousness, which it cannot reach, because the dialogue and the internal thought processes of the characters are on par with a 15-year-old. The actions and motivations of the characters are just too false and frankly obnoxious. I was reading in a torrent reaching for the finish. I’m sure I’ll break this trend and read something good at some point.
mllejoyeuxnoel's review
3.0
Eh. You know. Reading this one kinda felt like driving pointlessly in a circle. The scenery was nice, but I’m not sure I actually went anywhere. And sometimes that’s a good thing. Sometimes that’s what you want. But for whatever it’s worth, I’ve been sitting here for half an hour since I finished the book trying to figure out what this author was trying to communicate - how did it speak to the nature of humanity, what is it really saying about our dependence on technology, blah blah etc. - and all I can come up with is “Lizard aliens. JARVIS as a spaceship. POW POW
gentlemangeek's review
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
4.25