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seeinghowitgoes's review
4.0
Simeon is infuriatingly funny, ridiculously juvenile and next to Hypatia is easily one of my favorite brains in this universe.
To this day I can't hear the phrase Jack of all Trades without remembering Joat and wonder just what on earth happened to her.
To this day I can't hear the phrase Jack of all Trades without remembering Joat and wonder just what on earth happened to her.
fabian2301's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
adularia25's review
2.0
Nearly everything about this book is insulting. The portrayal of women is insulting. The portrayal of men is insulting. The portrayal of gamers - particularly war-gamers is insulting. The portrayal of non-white characters is insulting. The portrayal of LGBT characters is insulting. Most of the characters have no redeeming qualities. The text itself is so casually insulting to the reader I wouldn't be surprised if the authors sat down and said "I've got an idea - let's write the most insulting piece of Sci-Fi we can!" at least that would explain some of the turns of phrase used even when the characters aren't openly "sparring" with each other.
So then, why am I reading it? Well, it is part of a series, and while each book in the series mostly stands alone, there is a follow up book, The Ship Avenged which follows the one sympathetic character from this story.
The worst part about this book is that it could have been so much better. It is the first in the series with a male shellperson. It is the first in the series to cover a sentient space station instead of a ship. It could have been awesome... a Sci-Fi thriller where the station is infiltrated and the characters have to work out their differences to work together to repel the invaders. Instead, the characters are so petty, the romantic subplots so tiresome, and the writing so filled with cliches, that it is hard to care about anyone when the station finally comes under attack.
So then, why am I reading it? Well, it is part of a series, and while each book in the series mostly stands alone, there is a follow up book, The Ship Avenged which follows the one sympathetic character from this story.
The worst part about this book is that it could have been so much better. It is the first in the series with a male shellperson. It is the first in the series to cover a sentient space station instead of a ship. It could have been awesome... a Sci-Fi thriller where the station is infiltrated and the characters have to work out their differences to work together to repel the invaders. Instead, the characters are so petty, the romantic subplots so tiresome, and the writing so filled with cliches, that it is hard to care about anyone when the station finally comes under attack.
suflet's review
4.0
It's been a loooooong time since I read this (I was like 12 at the time), and I remember enjoying this, finding it slightly scarring, but mostly just fully expecting Simeon and the MC to get together in the end (yes, I know he's a space station). I even wrote an anonymous note and questionnaire about this subject and left it in the bindings of the library book for the next reader to find and respond to (though I never followed up, I should see if it's still there twenty years later, or if the library even still has the book).
milo10000's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
tense
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
4.0
omgsrsly's review against another edition
2.0
My least favourite book of the series. :/
Another reviewer summed it up nicely. The good guys are white, the bad guys are black (literally black, even. Not just dark.) and oh no, one of the bad guys likes to rape other dudes.
Another reviewer summed it up nicely. The good guys are white, the bad guys are black (literally black, even. Not just dark.) and oh no, one of the bad guys likes to rape other dudes.
frakalot's review against another edition
2.0
I wanted to enjoy this story for its effort to broaden the Brainship Universe but it is definitely a different beast. The writing style is distinctly cruder and although in my view the plot maintained some similar devices it was definitely out of place in the series.
This story seemed like it would be less of an expansion on what it's like to be the Brainship and more of an exploration of the tech in McCaffrey's Brainship Universe, however it ended up being not much of either. The premise does get you thinking about more Brain possibilities when you're not being distracted by poorly expressed sexuality and carelessly handled tragedy but after the introductory details this story did little to add to the series.
I'd have to agree with others that there were too many cringeworthy clichés in this one, it ruined the adventure for me at times... so much so that it got harder to persist the further I read.
This story still tried to approach ethical and philosophical issues head on even if it was not executed very well. I'm hoping the series gets back on track with the next one.
This story seemed like it would be less of an expansion on what it's like to be the Brainship and more of an exploration of the tech in McCaffrey's Brainship Universe, however it ended up being not much of either. The premise does get you thinking about more Brain possibilities when you're not being distracted by poorly expressed sexuality and carelessly handled tragedy but after the introductory details this story did little to add to the series.
I'd have to agree with others that there were too many cringeworthy clichés in this one, it ruined the adventure for me at times... so much so that it got harder to persist the further I read.
This story still tried to approach ethical and philosophical issues head on even if it was not executed very well. I'm hoping the series gets back on track with the next one.
cymry09's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape, Racial slurs, Racism, Abandonment, Blood, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Misogyny, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Sexual content, Sexual violence, Terminal illness, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, and War