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embereye's review against another edition
4.0
This was a reread, but I still think it is a really interesting read. The first time through I couldn't quite grasp what was happening in the storyline (I think I was distracted by a different book I'd just finished). This time around I'm rereading it because I'm reading the next book set in the same universe. The first half of the story is a fairly straight forward contact between two humanoid civilizations that are very different where one is scientifically focused and the other believes in and can do magic. The second half of the book delves more into the basis for the magic and gets out of linear storytelling and inserts a lot of bits of information. The very climax of the story is perhaps too short and not entirely satisfying but there's so many other interesting bits that keep you distracted from that.
rampaginglibrarian's review against another edition
3.0
My library classifies The Ordinary as science fiction. I call it fantasy. The back cover says it is a powerful and entrancing tale of magic, science and the mysterious truth that binds them together (so i guess that's somewhere in between?) The author, Jim Grimsley, also calls it science fiction even though it shares the same world with his early fantasy novel Kirith Kirin (though it is not a sequel to that novel). He says that he is
"exploring the interface between a culture that believes in magic and one that believes in science and I ultimately wish to explore the kinds of doubts that arise in each world as a result of the presence of the other. The book presumes that science will eventually explain magic, and thus my own belief that the science fiction designation is earned, if more softly than hardly."
I'm still not sure i agree, but who am i to argue? The novel itself is very interesting (if you can keep all the names and cultures strait) both in the arrogance with which the technologically advanced culture approaches what it considers to be the less advanced culture of Irion, assuming that it will be able to take advantage of all her resources for it's own purposes. Irion is not as easy as it appears and neither is this novel.
"exploring the interface between a culture that believes in magic and one that believes in science and I ultimately wish to explore the kinds of doubts that arise in each world as a result of the presence of the other. The book presumes that science will eventually explain magic, and thus my own belief that the science fiction designation is earned, if more softly than hardly."
I'm still not sure i agree, but who am i to argue? The novel itself is very interesting (if you can keep all the names and cultures strait) both in the arrogance with which the technologically advanced culture approaches what it considers to be the less advanced culture of Irion, assuming that it will be able to take advantage of all her resources for it's own purposes. Irion is not as easy as it appears and neither is this novel.
karireads's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
trulybooked's review against another edition
2.0
I don't think I've ever read a book where I enjoyed the middle more than the beginning or the end. I struggled to get into the book at first, but then warmed to it once the plot got started up. Once I reached the end though, I felt like it had been rushed or maybe like I had been cheated of seeing more of the world. It's an interesting book for sure though and I'd recommend that people check it out despite my misgivings.
ljcostel's review against another edition
puzzling. pleasant enough. id read the sequel, but im not eager to
crowyhead's review against another edition
4.0
I really sort of struggled over whether to give this a 3/5 or a 4/5. It deserves the 4, I think -- it's fabulously written, in a way that reminded me a bit of Ursula Le Guin or Joan D. Vinge, both in plot and in attention to detail, the story is well-rounded, I cared about the characters... BUT, it left me frustrated, because I felt like the book was a big set-up for books or short stories to follow. In many ways, it felt like a short story, in that like many short stories, it ends right BEFORE something big is supposed to happen, and is basically all about the build-up. But it was still good. I dunno, I have mixed feelings. Oh, BTW, this is a loose companion to Kirith Kirin, in that the setting is the same and so are a few of the characters, but this book takes place centuries later.
cindywho's review against another edition
4.0
I love the original treatment of a fantasy world connected to a far future "science fiction" world. I'm a little worried that it's given me spoilers for Kirith Kirin, but I'd like to read that one also. The protagonist is middle aged and mellow - character development often suffers compared to intense world building, but the setting is so intriguing, that didn't bother me too much.
wealhtheow's review against another edition
3.0
The book begins like a normal scifi story--a group of diplomats, scientists and their linguist go on an expedition to meet the leader of the world they recently discovered. From there, it gets a bit awesome. Seriously, this story goes from solid tale to enthralling in one unexpected switcheroo. It rapidly becomes an incredible tale that spans thousands of years, told from several points of view. It reminded me a bit of Patricia McKinley's incredible "Riddle-Master of Hed" series, with a taste of Ursula K LeGuin. Overall, a fascinating look at the intersection between science and magic, with some novel characters. Watching Jedda and Malin slowly shift their stances over time was great fun, and I could barely contain my excitement and anticipation over their eventual meeting. I highly recommend this book.
Jedda is a linguist from a scientifically advanced people who value conformity and fear being noticed. Every citizen is linked and recorded via a "stat"; privacy is an illusion. To her mingled consternation and pleasure, she is selected to be part of a small diplomatic envoy through the mysterious Twill Gate to Irion. Irion is a technologically backward country where the common people believe in wizards and magic. Jedda and her superiors are astounded when a fleet of their best ships is easily destroyed by Irion's magic. The rest of the Hormlings go home, but Jedda stays behind to learn about this strange new world. She begins to learn magic, time-travels to the beginnings of Irion, and falls in love with a powerful sorceress.
Grimsley has a gift for names--they are musical, fantastical, yet easily remembered. He is not good with magic, however, and his dragging explanations of mediation and energy slow the second half of the book. I expected to like this novel, but there is no conflict or climax--deus ex machina *literally* saves the day every time. Even the Big Bad is defeated off-stage, without any trouble at all, while Jedda lies unconscious. It is frustratingly boring.
Despite my annoyance, there were a lot of details I liked about this book. Jedda really reads like a linguist; she's continually noticing language shifts or figuring out what the root of a word means. Her interest and skill carries the story of her uncovering of the truth about Irion. Grimsley describes sex and desire well--no ridiculous euphamisms, and the right combination of intellect and heat. And I loved that because Irion's stars were mutable and changed every night, the people tried to explain their world through intuition and magic instead of clockwork and science. Makes sense!
Jedda is a linguist from a scientifically advanced people who value conformity and fear being noticed. Every citizen is linked and recorded via a "stat"; privacy is an illusion. To her mingled consternation and pleasure, she is selected to be part of a small diplomatic envoy through the mysterious Twill Gate to Irion. Irion is a technologically backward country where the common people believe in wizards and magic. Jedda and her superiors are astounded when a fleet of their best ships is easily destroyed by Irion's magic. The rest of the Hormlings go home, but Jedda stays behind to learn about this strange new world. She begins to learn magic, time-travels to the beginnings of Irion, and falls in love with a powerful sorceress.
Grimsley has a gift for names--they are musical, fantastical, yet easily remembered. He is not good with magic, however, and his dragging explanations of mediation and energy slow the second half of the book. I expected to like this novel, but there is no conflict or climax--deus ex machina *literally* saves the day every time. Even the Big Bad is defeated off-stage, without any trouble at all, while Jedda lies unconscious. It is frustratingly boring.
Despite my annoyance, there were a lot of details I liked about this book. Jedda really reads like a linguist; she's continually noticing language shifts or figuring out what the root of a word means. Her interest and skill carries the story of her uncovering of the truth about Irion. Grimsley describes sex and desire well--no ridiculous euphamisms, and the right combination of intellect and heat. And I loved that because Irion's stars were mutable and changed every night, the people tried to explain their world through intuition and magic instead of clockwork and science. Makes sense!
rachel2025's review against another edition
2.0
I really wanted to enjoy this, but after several false starts, lasting almost halfway through the book, I just couldn't get through it. The plot works, but the characters just aren't all that interesting.
satyridae's review
3.0
Dense, many-layered, complex science fiction. Puts me in mind of Le Guin's early stuff. A little too complex for me, but I enjoyed dropping into the narrative and being carried downstream. I cared about the characters, even as I struggled to place them in context.
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