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calbowen's review against another edition
2.0
Not my style - I could not get into the world nor behind any of the characters.
timinbc's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars, really. There are plenty of good ideas here, and some interesting characters. As a first novel, it's very good.
But something about it wasn't quite right. Perhaps it's that despite the unique ideas, large parts of what followed from each idea seemed predictable.
"John, you have to go north." "Don't wanna." Ha. As if there was ever any chance that he wouldn't.
Perhaps - and this is not Buckell's fault - I have had enough of "We're surrounded by a vastly superior force! We're doomed! Well, there is just one small chance ...". The only worse SF plot clunker is "young X is unappreciated and misunderstood, but he will soon learn that only he can save the universe from the evil Zzzzz - if only he can overcome his own doubts" (or she, of course)
Perhaps I'm a tad disappointed that two characters are pushed to the point of certain death, only to be saved by high-tech. SF authors, can we all agree to stop using the autodoc as a plot device? It's too close to what happens after Daffy Duck gets blasted by a cannon from a foot away, then shakes off the powder burns and is unhurt.
I've also read far too many books lately in which some characters are hundreds of years old, yet don't seem any different.
The aliens were a little too unrevealed. They seem immensely capable in some areas, but very limited in others. I fear that they are going to be unveiled later in the series as having some power that, once again, is going to be way too close to magic.
Of course, I am still disappointed by the Superman movie in which he spins the earth backward to make something unhappen.
Nevertheless, he's built an interesting world and I will probably read Ragamuffin to see where he takes it. And if he writes different books, I'll read them too.
But something about it wasn't quite right. Perhaps it's that despite the unique ideas, large parts of what followed from each idea seemed predictable.
"John, you have to go north." "Don't wanna." Ha. As if there was ever any chance that he wouldn't.
Perhaps - and this is not Buckell's fault - I have had enough of "We're surrounded by a vastly superior force! We're doomed! Well, there is just one small chance ...". The only worse SF plot clunker is "young X is unappreciated and misunderstood, but he will soon learn that only he can save the universe from the evil Zzzzz - if only he can overcome his own doubts" (or she, of course)
Perhaps I'm a tad disappointed that two characters are pushed to the point of certain death, only to be saved by high-tech. SF authors, can we all agree to stop using the autodoc as a plot device? It's too close to what happens after Daffy Duck gets blasted by a cannon from a foot away, then shakes off the powder burns and is unhurt.
I've also read far too many books lately in which some characters are hundreds of years old, yet don't seem any different.
The aliens were a little too unrevealed. They seem immensely capable in some areas, but very limited in others. I fear that they are going to be unveiled later in the series as having some power that, once again, is going to be way too close to magic.
Of course, I am still disappointed by the Superman movie in which he spins the earth backward to make something unhappen.
Nevertheless, he's built an interesting world and I will probably read Ragamuffin to see where he takes it. And if he writes different books, I'll read them too.
nikkijazzie's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-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
4.25
f18's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-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? No
3.0
Interesting worldbuilding kept me reading but the characters felt like they had the potential to be incredibly compelling and yet never quite hit the mark. The end was very underwhelming.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Murder, Violence, and Gun violence
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Xenophobia, and War
Minor: Suicide and Gore
Regarding the main character's amputation:songwind's review against another edition
3.0
Crystal Rain was an enjoyable book with an interesting spin on an old idea. Humanity has been chased to a far off planet, and been cut off from home, and lost a lot of their tech base. The new spin comes from the depth of the "fall" and the roots from which the society sprang. Instead of the standard quasi-medieval feudalism we all know and expect, the largely Caribbean-descended survivors have managed to cling to late 19th/early 20th century tech and mostly communal government. This fact isn't a spoiler, as it becomes clear in the first handful of pages.
In addition to the fun setting, the story combines an amnesia mystery, horror elements, and an invasion story into a fun plot that hangs together believably well.
I plan to read the second book, sometime in the future.
In addition to the fun setting, the story combines an amnesia mystery, horror elements, and an invasion story into a fun plot that hangs together believably well.
I plan to read the second book, sometime in the future.
zandreadragmire's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
mysterious
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
3.5
zaphod46's review against another edition
3.0
Steampunk. Carribean Steampunk. I like it.
Colonists from a space-faring, but sub jugated, Earth landed on a distant
planet and got caught up in a war between two “local” alien species over who
gets to dominate the planet. The humans used a super-EMP to trap the existing
aliens on the planet and stop the full-scale hostilities.
Over a few hundred years, the aliens set themselves up as gods and the
humans forgot what was going on. All this is learned through flashbacks as the
main character, one of the original colonists who was in stasis in orbit the whole
time, regains his memories and prevents the “evil” aliens from taking over the
whole planet.
Colonists from a space-faring, but sub jugated, Earth landed on a distant
planet and got caught up in a war between two “local” alien species over who
gets to dominate the planet. The humans used a super-EMP to trap the existing
aliens on the planet and stop the full-scale hostilities.
Over a few hundred years, the aliens set themselves up as gods and the
humans forgot what was going on. All this is learned through flashbacks as the
main character, one of the original colonists who was in stasis in orbit the whole
time, regains his memories and prevents the “evil” aliens from taking over the
whole planet.
zellm's review against another edition
2.0
Some of this book was good, some of it was confusing, and some of it was just unnecessary. It really felt like it exemplified the trope of civilized people vs "savages", which plays into rather than critiques racial issues. Generally pretty disappointing from that standpoint.
abigcoffeedragon's review against another edition
2.0
Not my style - I could not get into the world nor behind any of the characters.
gmvader's review against another edition
5.0
Many years ago the Old Father’s ventured into the stars and settled on distant planets. They founded a colony and trade port on Nanagada, using the nearby wormhole to trade among the stars. Then they encountered the Loa and the Teotl – two powerful races locked in a war that destroyed worlds. In order to stop the spread of the war to Earth and the other colonies some of the men of Nanagada destroyed the wormhole with a massive EMP pulse that knocked out all technology in the system and cut them off from the rest of the galaxy.
Now, many years have passed and the Azteca – a race descended from a remnant cult of Aztec Indians – are coming over the Wicked High Mountains, demanding blood sacrifice in the name of their gods, the Teotl.
Thus starts a race for survival for John DeBrun and the mysterious stranger, Pepper, who shows up with secrets about John’s past.
The Jamaican colonists on Nanagada give the book a unique feel that sets it apart from other science fiction.
The most important thing to know about this book, though, is that it is awesome. It happens fast and moves along one beat after the next until the ending is a drumroll. It’s a story of triumph and mystery and war and characters that are faced with difficult choices for themselves and for others. I will be looking for more of Buckell’s work in the future.
Now, many years have passed and the Azteca – a race descended from a remnant cult of Aztec Indians – are coming over the Wicked High Mountains, demanding blood sacrifice in the name of their gods, the Teotl.
Thus starts a race for survival for John DeBrun and the mysterious stranger, Pepper, who shows up with secrets about John’s past.
The Jamaican colonists on Nanagada give the book a unique feel that sets it apart from other science fiction.
The most important thing to know about this book, though, is that it is awesome. It happens fast and moves along one beat after the next until the ending is a drumroll. It’s a story of triumph and mystery and war and characters that are faced with difficult choices for themselves and for others. I will be looking for more of Buckell’s work in the future.