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lordofdisorder's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
3.0
kellylayne's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
medium-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
4.75
Excellent book - I loved the juxtaposition of a character who is frustrated with his body and a character who is experience a body for the first time. Would love to read a sequel of Valentine and Ausric standing up to the cities citizenship rules
vengefuldime's review against another edition
4.0
As a premise, this book was suspiciously well-tailored to me. I knew when I first heard about it that I had to read it, but I wasn’t sure how much it would live up to my expectations. I ended up happy to have read it!
I really liked Valentine and Osric. They were quickly able to be shown as complex and likable characters, with flaws and quirks that clearly outline their individuality. They were also very sweet together and I loved to see the care that they took for each other. While they are very quick to catch attraction/feelings for each other, the events that they go through do end up strengthening their bond and making sure to allow that connection to really coalesce. They can clash a few times but are ultimately a comfort to read about. Valentine’s transness is an important aspect of the book and their connection and helped me feel very seen. It’s a little hard to articulate but both his dysphoria/euphoria felt natural and significant, without being his whole character- he is energetic, lonely, brave, and kind-hearted foremost.
The setup of the androids and Stewards was also very interesting, especially seeing the potential changes happening slowly. I like seeing the combinations of artificial and natural, and I love the connection that Osric and Valentine have in their bodily images. I can only imagine the full extent of what Osric was missing, but it is still fascinating to think about. I could have read a lot more from Cinnamon and the others- they are vital to the story but still could have had a lot more interesting page time. Towards the end there is a bit about their changing of presentation because of their emerging individuality, and that was heartwarming as well.
The pacing lags in a few places but is usually fast and exciting to read. The action scenes and stakes remain clear throughout, without being put aside for the romance. There is a lot of time dedicated to their relationship, true- but I definitely felt like the retrieval plot was still emphasized and valued. It’s much more romance-focused than most books I tend to read, but I was largely still able to enjoy it rather than feeling left-behind. The settings are broad and don’t stand out significantly but are definitely functional. I enjoyed comparing the wastelands and city and how they affected their inhabitants. In addition, identity, gender, and humanity are some of my favorite reading themes, so I definitely appreciated them here.
The social commentary was often too on the nose for me- I may agree, but the characters felt like mouthpieces at select moments, and that could be really annoying or cheap-feeling. The villains are definitely not given the same complexity as the leads, and are much more all around “bad guys”. One of them is even insecure about having a small penis (haha so funny). As characters they were ok and got the job done, but felt much less satisfactory when compared to what they could have been. I did really like Valentine and Ace’s relationship as wonderfully complicated and bittersweet. I was afraid that the story wouldn’t return to her but am glad it eventually did (although I still do feel sorry for her).
Overall, it’s a sweet, funny story with lots of gender, A.I., and fun plots, and I would recommend the book.
I really liked Valentine and Osric. They were quickly able to be shown as complex and likable characters, with flaws and quirks that clearly outline their individuality. They were also very sweet together and I loved to see the care that they took for each other. While they are very quick to catch attraction/feelings for each other, the events that they go through do end up strengthening their bond and making sure to allow that connection to really coalesce. They can clash a few times but are ultimately a comfort to read about. Valentine’s transness is an important aspect of the book and their connection and helped me feel very seen. It’s a little hard to articulate but both his dysphoria/euphoria felt natural and significant, without being his whole character- he is energetic, lonely, brave, and kind-hearted foremost.
The setup of the androids and Stewards was also very interesting, especially seeing the potential changes happening slowly. I like seeing the combinations of artificial and natural, and I love the connection that Osric and Valentine have in their bodily images. I can only imagine the full extent of what Osric was missing, but it is still fascinating to think about. I could have read a lot more from Cinnamon and the others- they are vital to the story but still could have had a lot more interesting page time. Towards the end there is a bit about their changing of presentation because of their emerging individuality, and that was heartwarming as well.
The pacing lags in a few places but is usually fast and exciting to read. The action scenes and stakes remain clear throughout, without being put aside for the romance. There is a lot of time dedicated to their relationship, true- but I definitely felt like the retrieval plot was still emphasized and valued. It’s much more romance-focused than most books I tend to read, but I was largely still able to enjoy it rather than feeling left-behind. The settings are broad and don’t stand out significantly but are definitely functional. I enjoyed comparing the wastelands and city and how they affected their inhabitants. In addition, identity, gender, and humanity are some of my favorite reading themes, so I definitely appreciated them here.
The social commentary was often too on the nose for me- I may agree, but the characters felt like mouthpieces at select moments, and that could be really annoying or cheap-feeling. The villains are definitely not given the same complexity as the leads, and are much more all around “bad guys”. One of them is even insecure about having a small penis (haha so funny). As characters they were ok and got the job done, but felt much less satisfactory when compared to what they could have been. I did really like Valentine and Ace’s relationship as wonderfully complicated and bittersweet. I was afraid that the story wouldn’t return to her but am glad it eventually did (although I still do feel sorry for her).
Overall, it’s a sweet, funny story with lots of gender, A.I., and fun plots, and I would recommend the book.
barktea's review
adventurous
emotional
medium-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? No
3.0
anastasiabookgirl's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
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? It's complicated
4.25
bookishsystem's review against another edition
5.0
Absolutely Obsessed!
I’m a trans man myself and loved the representation in this book. The pacing to me was perfect and i loved the conversation about ai/android sentience!
Probably my new favorite book!
I’m a trans man myself and loved the representation in this book. The pacing to me was perfect and i loved the conversation about ai/android sentience!
Probably my new favorite book!
aspring's review against another edition
4.75
okay al hess… i was unfamiliar with your game
time to start on the backlist ig
time to start on the backlist ig
s_sheppard18's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
booksthatburn's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
*I received a free review copy in exchange for an honest review of this book.
It is wonderful and refreshing to read a story centering on autonomy and personhood which is deeply interested in erring on the side of expanding those definitions. WORLD RUNNING DOWN is about a trans man with body dysphoria, and an AI with android dysphoria. Valentine is a salvager, working with a partner (Ace) to try and do enough jobs to have the money for citizenship in Salt Lake City, where he can medically transition at last. Osric is an AI who was placed in an android body against his will, sent by his new employer to give Valentine and Ace a job: track down some stolen merchandise. The problems begin in earnest when it turns out the "merchandise" are android sex workers. Just as Osric is starting to get used to having a body, and maybe not mind so much that people assume he's non-sentient like the rest of the androids... it starts to look like maybe that's not an accurate way to describe them either. It's becoming increasingly obvious that the some (or perhaps all) of the androids are sentient, and they don't want to go back to being used and abused.
I appreciate how it's acknowledge specifically that the humans are fine with non-corporeal AI, and corporeal non-sentient androids, but they've tried to dodge the issue of "is a sentient android worthy of basic rights of personhood" by trying very hard to insist that there's no way the programming would let them have independent thought. They've basically avoided the issue rather than dealing with what it would mean if that ever happened. It turns out that the time is now, with Ace and Valentine having to decide whether it makes a difference that the objects they were sent to retrieve have their own ideas about what happens next.
The romance between Osric and Valentine is great, it's intimate without getting explicit. I especially appreciate this dynamic as both characters have complicated feelings about their own bodies, and avoiding specifics about parts seems to be a good storytelling decision here.
Things I love, in no particular order: Valentine in his new clothes; Osric figuring out his body; how Ace's transphobia is handled; the AI Stewards; the pirates.
It is wonderful and refreshing to read a story centering on autonomy and personhood which is deeply interested in erring on the side of expanding those definitions. WORLD RUNNING DOWN is about a trans man with body dysphoria, and an AI with android dysphoria. Valentine is a salvager, working with a partner (Ace) to try and do enough jobs to have the money for citizenship in Salt Lake City, where he can medically transition at last. Osric is an AI who was placed in an android body against his will, sent by his new employer to give Valentine and Ace a job: track down some stolen merchandise. The problems begin in earnest when it turns out the "merchandise" are android sex workers. Just as Osric is starting to get used to having a body, and maybe not mind so much that people assume he's non-sentient like the rest of the androids... it starts to look like maybe that's not an accurate way to describe them either. It's becoming increasingly obvious that the some (or perhaps all) of the androids are sentient, and they don't want to go back to being used and abused.
I appreciate how it's acknowledge specifically that the humans are fine with non-corporeal AI, and corporeal non-sentient androids, but they've tried to dodge the issue of "is a sentient android worthy of basic rights of personhood" by trying very hard to insist that there's no way the programming would let them have independent thought. They've basically avoided the issue rather than dealing with what it would mean if that ever happened. It turns out that the time is now, with Ace and Valentine having to decide whether it makes a difference that the objects they were sent to retrieve have their own ideas about what happens next.
The romance between Osric and Valentine is great, it's intimate without getting explicit. I especially appreciate this dynamic as both characters have complicated feelings about their own bodies, and avoiding specifics about parts seems to be a good storytelling decision here.
Things I love, in no particular order: Valentine in his new clothes; Osric figuring out his body; how Ace's transphobia is handled; the AI Stewards; the pirates.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexism, Abandonment, Slavery, Sexual content, Trafficking, Transphobia, Violence, Dysphoria, Death, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Deadnaming, Cannibalism, Physical abuse, and Animal death
stargoddess's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
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
4.75
I loved this book. I thought the characters were so specific and well-drawn. It is a really interesting take on the trans experience - how do you deal with gender after the end of the world - and also body dysmorphia in general - what if you don’t question your gender, but just know that your body is wrong. The romance was sweet, and the world at large was fascinating. My only complaint was that the ending seemed a bit rushed - it felt like things came together a little too neatly at a certain point. But overall this is a book that will stay imprinted on me for some time to come.