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paleandhecticread's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
thomasindc's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
4.0
I felt worried as I read the prologue, not knowing where this was going or what was going on. In the end, I'm still not sure what the prologue and epilogue are doing, but I liked everything in between them.
The first 1/3rd is pretty slow, but as things start to ratchet up, the story and discussions become much more interesting. I was not expecting a translated piece of Soviet-era science fiction to be quite so funny, but I was frequently chuckling at Don Rumata's bristling against people. There's a scene around page 190 where he comes up against some bureaucracy and calls the bureaucrat a "blockhead," which gave me quite a giggle. He does that a lot.
I feel like the satire or speculation, which sort of simmers throughout the first 2/3rds, shows itself plainly in the final third and does so quite well. I particularly enjoyed some of Rumata and Reba's back-and-forth. I think if this were summarized at all, the best selection of pages to communicate the core ideas are probably pages 214-218, the conversation between Rumata and another character where the book's title shows itself and those ideas are explored.
I think I would benefit from a re-read somewhere down the line, as I'm sure the pro/epilogues have significance, but I'm not sure what it is.
The first 1/3rd is pretty slow, but as things start to ratchet up, the story and discussions become much more interesting. I was not expecting a translated piece of Soviet-era science fiction to be quite so funny, but I was frequently chuckling at Don Rumata's bristling against people. There's a scene around page 190 where he comes up against some bureaucracy and calls the bureaucrat a "blockhead," which gave me quite a giggle. He does that a lot.
I feel like the satire or speculation, which sort of simmers throughout the first 2/3rds, shows itself plainly in the final third and does so quite well. I particularly enjoyed some of Rumata and Reba's back-and-forth. I think if this were summarized at all, the best selection of pages to communicate the core ideas are probably pages 214-218, the conversation between Rumata and another character where the book's title shows itself and those ideas are explored.
I think I would benefit from a re-read somewhere down the line, as I'm sure the pro/epilogues have significance, but I'm not sure what it is.
akshayps's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
mabusecast's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
informative
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This is a very close second to my favorite book written by the Strugatsky brothers (roadside picnic)! Maybe its the year 2024 and the sense of impending doom talking to me but this is a book much like in the same way as when I read "roadside picnic" for the first time during the 2020 pandemic lockdown it just hit at the right time and hit hard!
I had seen the 2013 loose film adaptation of this book before reading it and even though that film is a remarkable bit of cinema, even though it is a rough and challenging watch, I think I like the book ever so slightly better!
This book is surprisingly funny at points given the subject matter of a group of future soviet cosmonauts trying to subtly nudge a planet out of its medieval dark ages and anti-intellectualism! Yet it also is a book that can be incredibly sad and tragic, and very on point about how societies change for
the better or for the worse!
One of my favorite new reads for this year so far! It is not without its flaws of course, it was a bit of task to keep all the names of characters in this straight in my head, the opening and closing chapters of the book nearly threw me for a loop at first, but this is still a remarkable work of eastern bloc science fiction!
I had seen the 2013 loose film adaptation of this book before reading it and even though that film is a remarkable bit of cinema, even though it is a rough and challenging watch, I think I like the book ever so slightly better!
This book is surprisingly funny at points given the subject matter of a group of future soviet cosmonauts trying to subtly nudge a planet out of its medieval dark ages and anti-intellectualism! Yet it also is a book that can be incredibly sad and tragic, and very on point about how societies change for
the better or for the worse!
One of my favorite new reads for this year so far! It is not without its flaws of course, it was a bit of task to keep all the names of characters in this straight in my head, the opening and closing chapters of the book nearly threw me for a loop at first, but this is still a remarkable work of eastern bloc science fiction!
sebniv's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
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? Yes
4.75
plastron's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
5.0