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jmcook's review against another edition
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.0
fisk42's review
3.0
The Destructives offers a tale in a richly built world with hard AI. This is Matthew De Abaitua's third book set in this world, and it is my first time reading a book of his. However I was not left feeling as though I had missed out on anything or as though there was too much unexplained. Some time before the events of this novel, hard AI emerged on Earth in a set of violent events. This left Earth with a sharp divide in lifestyle between pre and post-emergence. The AIs left Earth and formed a set of accords with Humanity which decrees that no more AIs are allowed to be constructed.
Onto this scene enters Theodore, a recovering weirdcore addict who can no longer feel emotions. He is an expert on pre-emergence life. He also has the only AI that interacts with humanity following him around in order to observe one life "from beginning to end". He is hired to do some work which will shed some light on the event which caused the emergence and catastrophic events which were related. Through this he is set on a personal journey that will take him to Earth and Europa.
Overall this book was very satisfying with the world De Abaitua has created. I found myself loving the first third of the novel which explores the events around the emergence of AI. It was a very great scene and caused me to want to read more of De Abaitua's work set closer to that time period. After that the middle third of the novel dragged for me, but it contained events which set up the finale of the book. Where De Abaitua really shines is in getting new ideas across and letting the characters explore them. The ideas contained within this book were easily my favorite part of it. Unfortunately some of the character motivations I couldn't get my head around and left me confused at more than one key event of the book.
Onto this scene enters Theodore, a recovering weirdcore addict who can no longer feel emotions. He is an expert on pre-emergence life. He also has the only AI that interacts with humanity following him around in order to observe one life "from beginning to end". He is hired to do some work which will shed some light on the event which caused the emergence and catastrophic events which were related. Through this he is set on a personal journey that will take him to Earth and Europa.
Overall this book was very satisfying with the world De Abaitua has created. I found myself loving the first third of the novel which explores the events around the emergence of AI. It was a very great scene and caused me to want to read more of De Abaitua's work set closer to that time period. After that the middle third of the novel dragged for me, but it contained events which set up the finale of the book. Where De Abaitua really shines is in getting new ideas across and letting the characters explore them. The ideas contained within this book were easily my favorite part of it. Unfortunately some of the character motivations I couldn't get my head around and left me confused at more than one key event of the book.
paladintodd's review against another edition
3.0
Decent. The plot was on the weakside and none of the characters grabbed me, but that's not really the point of the book. A hard sci-fi is more about the world the author creates - is it interesting, it is relate-able, is it creative. A suppose he delivers on those notes, but I need more of plot/character.
meghan_is_reading's review against another edition
Very British. Very weird. a particular kind of social + capitalism + AI run wild.
There are a few plot gaps and the ending seemed really rushed - like "let's just fast forward over these difficulties"
I really am fascinated by the world and apparently it is the third book set there - as standalone with only 1-2characyer crossovers.
There are a few plot gaps and the ending seemed really rushed - like "let's just fast forward over these difficulties"
I really am fascinated by the world and apparently it is the third book set there - as standalone with only 1-2characyer crossovers.
kateofmind's review against another edition
5.0
This is maybe four books in one and packs a hell of a wallop. Like a lot I've read this summer, I think I'll have to return to this trilogy and consider it anew later before I have anything worthwhile to say.
craig_tyler's review against another edition
3.0
Some interesting ideas in the worldbuilding but I was not hooked on the characters at all. I could not care less about what happened to any of them.
the8bitjutsu's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
myxomycetes's review
5.0
Wow. Someone's been reading their Philip K. Dick and M. John Harrison! This books was great fun, especially if you like your SF with data-mining, mutant rooms made from meat, and people running around with zap guns that shoot commercials into their target's heads.
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