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mrlmnop's review
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
scperezz's review
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
4.25
she’s so me (im a fraternal twin)
massmassmarket's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
maddieden's review against another edition
dark
emotional
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? It's complicated
4.5
anna_hepworth's review
challenging
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This is a very clever bit of writing that feels like it is in dialogue with a number of works, not least two Kate Wilhelm - Huysman's Pets and Where Late the Sweet Birds Sang (more so the former than the latter). I haven't actually checked the publication dates on those, so I might have the order wrong, but it does feel like a response.
Genetic manipulation was a hot topic in the early 90s, and this is a refreshingly different take on what might be changed. It is not a refreshing take on how the USA as a whole might react to a group who are different, and sadly, that is because it is completely credible.
I loved the fact that the story follows twins, one modified and one not, and the implications that allowed for. Because we see the story from the perspective of the favoured twin, we don't get the full force of the controlling father's personality, but it is certainly deftly sketched in the behaviours of the background characters. (And the throw away line about the treatment and control, and how valuable that was, was very in character for research scientists).
I'm guessing that the longer version of the story has some significant extra events, because I originally looked at reviews of that, and was bemused about references to the ending. This shorter version leaves the whole situation hanging, with our viewpoint Sleepless character reflecting on what they had missed about the details of the social contract, and expanding on their viewpoint, as they work to solve one small issue in a raft of problems.
And as a response to some of the reviews: time works non-linearly in this story, and it is important that it does. This is not an in depth exploration of a sequence of events. Rather, it is a character study, which skips through Leisha's life, picking moments that build the story, the plot, and the philosophical basis of the story. A story where the timing was constant would have spent far too much time in the twins childhood, and I for one would have given up early. Those early sections provide context, but they are not the sum of the story.
Genetic manipulation was a hot topic in the early 90s, and this is a refreshingly different take on what might be changed. It is not a refreshing take on how the USA as a whole might react to a group who are different, and sadly, that is because it is completely credible.
I loved the fact that the story follows twins, one modified and one not, and the implications that allowed for. Because we see the story from the perspective of the favoured twin, we don't get the full force of the controlling father's personality, but it is certainly deftly sketched in the behaviours of the background characters. (And the throw away line about the treatment and control, and how valuable that was, was very in character for research scientists).
I'm guessing that the longer version of the story has some significant extra events, because I originally looked at reviews of that, and was bemused about references to the ending. This shorter version leaves the whole situation hanging, with our viewpoint Sleepless character reflecting on what they had missed about the details of the social contract, and expanding on their viewpoint, as they work to solve one small issue in a raft of problems.
And as a response to some of the reviews: time works non-linearly in this story, and it is important that it does. This is not an in depth exploration of a sequence of events. Rather, it is a character study, which skips through Leisha's life, picking moments that build the story, the plot, and the philosophical basis of the story. A story where the timing was constant would have spent far too much time in the twins childhood, and I for one would have given up early. Those early sections provide context, but they are not the sum of the story.
hollyn_middle's review
challenging
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
mireiaaaaaa3's review against another edition
4.0
Aquest llibre és l'exemple perfecte de perquè m'agrada la ciència-ficció. No li poso 5 estrelles, ja que té alguns detalls que no m'han acabat de convèncer, però si alguna editorial decideix fer-ne una nova edició, el rellegiré i veuré si tenen a veure amb l'obra o amb l'edició.
indivicivet's review
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? No
3.25
barb4ry1's review against another edition
3.0
3.5/5
I liked it. I’m sure it seemed much more daring in the ‘90s but it still engages, entertains and gives food for thought.
Leisha Camden, daughter of a wealthy businessman, is one of the Sleepless, genetically engineered prodigies endowed with remarkable intelligence and no need for sleep. Instead of sleeping and dreaming, she learns to become the best at anything she does.
In just 100 pages we observe her childhood, coming-of-age and struggles with accepting brutal reality in which Sleepers (regular people) hate, fear, envy Nonsleepers. While I enjoyed Leisha, I can’t say the same thing about thinly drawn secondary characters. They lack complexity and they rarely speak like real people - dialogues remind stilted philosophical arguments more than the real speech between real human beings.
Part of the story felt didactic, preachy even, and the bitter-sweet ending disappointed me.
That said, Leisha’s voice alone suffices to make it an interesting and thought-provoking read. It’s not perfect, but it still packs more meat in 100 pages than many books in 500 pages.
I read it as a second novella in my self-imposed 10 days / 10 novellas challenge. Eight more to go
I liked it. I’m sure it seemed much more daring in the ‘90s but it still engages, entertains and gives food for thought.
Leisha Camden, daughter of a wealthy businessman, is one of the Sleepless, genetically engineered prodigies endowed with remarkable intelligence and no need for sleep. Instead of sleeping and dreaming, she learns to become the best at anything she does.
In just 100 pages we observe her childhood, coming-of-age and struggles with accepting brutal reality in which Sleepers (regular people) hate, fear, envy Nonsleepers. While I enjoyed Leisha, I can’t say the same thing about thinly drawn secondary characters. They lack complexity and they rarely speak like real people - dialogues remind stilted philosophical arguments more than the real speech between real human beings.
Part of the story felt didactic, preachy even, and the bitter-sweet ending disappointed me.
That said, Leisha’s voice alone suffices to make it an interesting and thought-provoking read. It’s not perfect, but it still packs more meat in 100 pages than many books in 500 pages.
I read it as a second novella in my self-imposed 10 days / 10 novellas challenge. Eight more to go
lottpoet's review
challenging
reflective
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? It's complicated
4.0
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