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abandonedmegastructure's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Fractal Noise's core premise isn't unappealing. An abandoned megastructure that incontrovertibly proves the existence of intelligent aliens? Interesting! An underprepared expedition forced to march overland to reach it? A little contrived, but fine. A slowly mounting madness that grips the surveyors one by one? Alright, I can see this be fun.
...and then it doesn't come together. For long, pointless pages, we read too many words describing how the wind-blasted landscape lacks interesting features. The core mystery is never answered to any extent. Rather, the work wants to be character-focused and use its setting as a backdrop to a highly personal narrative, but it lacks any sort of satisfying emotional payload.
Xenobiologist Alex comes across as the least interesting person in the entire book, which is unfortunate because he's our narrator and we're stuck in his head. When he's not describing his indistinguishable surroundings with an utter lack of interest, he's composing overwrought philosophy or wallowing in memories of his dead wife. "If only Layla were here" is a constant refrain, and I can't help but agree: I'd love to read this book from the perspective of literally anyone else!
Speaking of the other characters, their presence did little to improve the work. Alex's apathy to his teammates means that getting their backstory and motivations out all but forces them to turn towards the camera and state it point-blank, making for gratingly unsubtle writing. The arrogant and confrontational geologist is the only one who even slightly interested me, which is a pity because the narrative hates him and clearly wants the audience to root against him. The decision to make his intentionally-unsympathetic self an overweight man who speaks in broken English also made me a little uncomfortable at moments.
Anyway, back to Alex. Perhaps it says something about my dislike of the protagonist that the parts of the book I liked best were the ones describing how he starts to mentally and physically fall apart. Those are genuinely unsettling, convincingly written, and memorable. Unfortunately, Alex's coping mechanism of choice is, you guessed it, dwelling on his dead wife, so we're right back reading about the inconsequential pre-resolved romance subplot I didn't care for.
So what are we left with? An okay setting, a few descriptions that are good before they get repetitive, some colorful bits where Alex's joints start to shatter and his nervous system glitches out. Once or twice, things actually happened, and the book rose to the level of 'breezy adventure story' during those moments. But afterwards we're right back watching the featureless plains crawl by, slowly coming to accept that there will be no answers at the end of our journey - just a yawning void. In this respect, and no other, did I feel sympathy for the cast.
...and then it doesn't come together. For long, pointless pages, we read too many words describing how the wind-blasted landscape lacks interesting features. The core mystery is never answered to any extent. Rather, the work wants to be character-focused and use its setting as a backdrop to a highly personal narrative, but it lacks any sort of satisfying emotional payload.
Xenobiologist Alex comes across as the least interesting person in the entire book, which is unfortunate because he's our narrator and we're stuck in his head. When he's not describing his indistinguishable surroundings with an utter lack of interest, he's composing overwrought philosophy or wallowing in memories of his dead wife. "If only Layla were here" is a constant refrain, and I can't help but agree: I'd love to read this book from the perspective of literally anyone else!
Speaking of the other characters, their presence did little to improve the work. Alex's apathy to his teammates means that getting their backstory and motivations out all but forces them to turn towards the camera and state it point-blank, making for gratingly unsubtle writing. The arrogant and confrontational geologist is the only one who even slightly interested me, which is a pity because the narrative hates him and clearly wants the audience to root against him. The decision to make his intentionally-unsympathetic self an overweight man who speaks in broken English also made me a little uncomfortable at moments.
Anyway, back to Alex. Perhaps it says something about my dislike of the protagonist that the parts of the book I liked best were the ones describing how he starts to mentally and physically fall apart. Those are genuinely unsettling, convincingly written, and memorable. Unfortunately, Alex's coping mechanism of choice is, you guessed it, dwelling on his dead wife, so we're right back reading about the inconsequential pre-resolved romance subplot I didn't care for.
So what are we left with? An okay setting, a few descriptions that are good before they get repetitive, some colorful bits where Alex's joints start to shatter and his nervous system glitches out. Once or twice, things actually happened, and the book rose to the level of 'breezy adventure story' during those moments. But afterwards we're right back watching the featureless plains crawl by, slowly coming to accept that there will be no answers at the end of our journey - just a yawning void. In this respect, and no other, did I feel sympathy for the cast.
kcopp's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
gfiacco12's review against another edition
dark
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
3.5
bijan711's review against another edition
4.0
Oooooh this book was so good. I wanted a bit more at the end, but I guess I have a whole 'nother book to keep exploring this universe. Speaking of which, based on a lot of salty reviews, it seems beneficial to have read this before Sea of Stars; nothing to be upset about!
Lastly, what stood out most to me was this books ability to hold tension. My chest was tight throughout the entire second half of the book. I actually switched predominantly to audio because they did such a good job of enhancing that tension. Very fun read and a great commentary on why we're alive.
Lastly, what stood out most to me was this books ability to hold tension. My chest was tight throughout the entire second half of the book. I actually switched predominantly to audio because they did such a good job of enhancing that tension. Very fun read and a great commentary on why we're alive.
asriram's review against another edition
2.0
I was hoping that after the amazing book that was To Sleep in a Sea of Stars, Pasolini would once again make an excellent novel. I was sadly disappointed. This book is what The Martian would be if you removed the science and hope and made it solely about Mark trudging across the surface of Mars, as everything just gets worse and worse for him. Seeing characters suffer in the way that they do isn’t particularly compelling for me, and the hopeful and anticipatory ending of TSiaSoS is completely lost here, with there being a moment of hope on the last page - this really doesn’t do anything for me, and I found the plot lead up to this moment of revelation extremely dull. I struggled to read this book, looking for excuses to put it down, but an intellectual desire to see if the ending was worth it was what compelled me to finish. Not particularly impressed with this novel - I hope future Fractalverse novels are more in line with the first Fractalverse novel rather than this one.
willjacks's review against another edition
2.0
THUD
The pain and the melatonin. I cry and clutch at my bandaged knee… for some reason it makes me think of dead girlfriend.
THUD
We must hike for many miles towards the hole in the ground that makes lots of noise for some reason, and we must bicker over politics and religion in the interim.
THUD
We have developed the technology to save someone who’s been severely wounded, but not the technology to prevent blisters.
THUD
I actually liked the first book even though it was a 32 hour audiobook.
The pain and the melatonin. I cry and clutch at my bandaged knee… for some reason it makes me think of dead girlfriend.
THUD
We must hike for many miles towards the hole in the ground that makes lots of noise for some reason, and we must bicker over politics and religion in the interim.
THUD
We have developed the technology to save someone who’s been severely wounded, but not the technology to prevent blisters.
THUD
I actually liked the first book even though it was a 32 hour audiobook.
feminerdity's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
samrp01's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
This was WILD. Good audiobook, but the story itself was project Hail Mary by Andy weir on crack. The ending felt abrupt, like the author was trying to be poetic but I just wanted a conclusion, not open ending.