Reviews

Do You Dream of Terra-Two? by Temi Oh

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stuckonstories's review against another edition

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slow-paced

2.0

mollyxgp's review against another edition

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adventurous dark tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

madipenn's review

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adventurous dark emotional hopeful sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

Predictably, things go wrong when a group of people are sent off into space. But that's just about where the predictability ends; I couldn't predict how something would play out or when things may go wrong.
It was a breath of fresh air to see kids-- especially the gifted kids, the chosen kids-- be written as kids, seeing them have regrets and making the wrong decisions, seeing them processing intense and complex emotions.
I understand the open-endedness but I longed for a resolution and more story when I got to the end.

Content Warnings

timinbc's review against another edition

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3.0

Okay, I will definitely look for Oh's next book, because this one has some good ideas in it.
I have no problem with the focus on the people issues; it makes a nice change.

Also, first novel from an author who's in *two* marginalized-ten-years-ago author pools.

And, overall, a good story, and that counts a lot.

But there are issues too.

First, a personal one. I just read a book by another new author who had asked for feedback, and had to tell him to stop having people grit their teeth every three pages. Maybe have them clench their fists sometimes, or scowl, or exhale violently. Guess what I found in this book? Four times in a 16-page sample.

OK. So is this written for YA or not? There's a certain plainness to the style, as if Oh's restraining herself to keep it easy to follow. It's very consistent in that. I look forward to her writing with more élan.

Plot details that distracted me:
(1) too many characters had a hidden problem that should have been detected, although

Spoiler

near the end there are hints that maybe the problems *were* detected ...

(2) Astrid's and Eliot's visions remain unexplained at the end
(3) we soon abandoned any effort to keep learning on the way
(4) two pilots at once in a key scene?

(5) I know that most disasters come from having two or more things go wrong at once, but gosh

Spoiler

- Orlando blows up, and minutes later they're hit by a micrometeorite, then hit again by a bigger one

?

(6) Fae explains twice that

Spoiler

the ship is so much bigger than the shuttle that there will be air issues. OK, why not go live in the shuttle while waiting? Or close off some rooms?

(7) "It's so cold in here!" [uses microwave to make popcorn] "If only there were some way to make heat ... " Also see #6

(8) the final rescue ... really? After telling us very clearly that this would be incredibly unlikely? On the other hand, that previous statement was pretty obviously hint of a Pratchett/Adams "one chance in a million? Oh, we're alright them, it's almost inevitable!"

Finally, some editing. I have the SAGA trade paperback, your mileage may vary. Where's the lower-level editor who will catch "florescent," who can tell "worse" from "worst" and "breath" from "breathe" ? And maybe would have queried "her breasts were like sandalwood moons."

Anyway, looking for the next one from this author.