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mdpenguin's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
This was a pretty good mystery with a bit of thrill thrown in for good measure. The protagonist was pretty well drawn, but the secondary characters were rather flat and Heikki's relationships with them were, as well. However, it was very much plot driven and that plot was good. And Scott's writing is really enjoyable. The attention to detail in the world building was excellent. And it was a world people might actually live in, with art installations in transit stations and fashion trends that vary by class and place of origin, rather than the sterile world of steel and plastic that we so often get form science fiction. The ending is a little flat and it's not a great book by any means, but it's definitely good and I'm definitely going to end up reading more by Scott.
eve_boobies's review against another edition
2.0
I'm having a hard time trying to decide how I feel about this book. On the one hand, I certainly didn't like it, but on the other, it wasn't bad. I think the word I'd use to describe it is mediocre.
I wish that I enjoyed this, I really do. Unfortunately, it just felt like it was severely lacking. For my ease, please allow me to list some of the problems I had:
1. It was really hard to get into at first, especially considering how much that first chapter dragged. It just felt like we were being bombarded with useless information.
2. As an extension of the last point, I really hate how long the chapters were. That is a personal preference though.
3. I had a hard time picturing anything that was going on. Hell, I don't even know what any of the characters look besides some of them being muscly or skinny.
4. All the characters felt incredibly bland, there was nothing to them.
5. The ending was awful. I didn't expect much from it in the first place but c'mon, anything would have been better than that. Spoilers:
On the whole, I can't say I was a fan of this book. It just wasn't to my taste. Also, as a last note, can I just say that one of the reasons I decided to read this was because I heard that the main character was a lesbian and that there'd be a hint of romance; but honestly, if I hadn't been told that beforehand, I really don't think I would have known. Maybe that was me just not picking up hints very well but I would have liked it to be a tad more obvious. Oh well.
I wish that I enjoyed this, I really do. Unfortunately, it just felt like it was severely lacking. For my ease, please allow me to list some of the problems I had:
1. It was really hard to get into at first, especially considering how much that first chapter dragged. It just felt like we were being bombarded with useless information.
2. As an extension of the last point, I really hate how long the chapters were. That is a personal preference though.
3. I had a hard time picturing anything that was going on. Hell, I don't even know what any of the characters look besides some of them being muscly or skinny.
4. All the characters felt incredibly bland, there was nothing to them.
5. The ending was awful. I didn't expect much from it in the first place but c'mon, anything would have been better than that. Spoilers:
Spoiler
We didn't get to see the whole point of the book be "resolved". It was just like they figured it out (sorta) and then we faded to black. It felt incredibly lazy and just abrupt. I'm not happy with this result.On the whole, I can't say I was a fan of this book. It just wasn't to my taste. Also, as a last note, can I just say that one of the reasons I decided to read this was because I heard that the main character was a lesbian and that there'd be a hint of romance; but honestly, if I hadn't been told that beforehand, I really don't think I would have known. Maybe that was me just not picking up hints very well but I would have liked it to be a tad more obvious. Oh well.
tome15's review against another edition
4.0
I'm trying to think who else has used the idea of an interstellar railroad. Of course the originator was probably Nathaniel Hawthorne with his "The Celestial Railroad." Timothy Zahn did something similar a few years later in "Night Train to Rigel."
stelepami's review against another edition
3.0
So weird to be reading a Melissa Scott novel I hadn't encountered before! A little sad how quickly her communications and software predictions have become painfully outdated, but the characters and politics are usually the more interesting parts of her books anyway. This one's pacing feels off with an extremely abrupt end, unfortunately.
singinglight's review against another edition
If the idea of a salvage operation run by a woman and her business/romantic partner (also a woman) in a far-distant future with FTL trains appeals to you, then HAVE I GOT A BOOK FOR YOU. There is a bit of weird subtext about settlers and immigrants; overall, however, this is one of the strongest titles by Scott that I've read. It's atmospheric, thoughtful, and has an interesting mystery at the heart of it.
kjcharles's review against another edition
A SFF mystery about a salvage company on a dodgy job. Aspects of adventure and a smidge of a f/f romance, and a narrative of estranged siblings teaming up out of necessity. Quite a leisurely pace for all that, very much bringing the reader into the intriguing world.
So weird to read SFF written in the 80s and 90s. This one has faster than light travel, but people still use discs and print stuff out. Still, Scott's work is character-driven, and that stands up.
So weird to read SFF written in the 80s and 90s. This one has faster than light travel, but people still use discs and print stuff out. Still, Scott's work is character-driven, and that stands up.
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