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alishaairscape's review
4.0
Though by no means a classic, Neverness is still a highly recommendable sci-fi trip whose conceptual and thematic richness is only undercut by its occasionally slow pace and dated treatment of female characters. Am definitely looking forward to reading the rest of the saga.
theeastwind's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
kruppe337's review
5.0
Breathtaking
Imagine Hermann Hesse, Roger Zelazny, and Robert Holdstock getting together to write a science fiction epic the size of Dune.
Imagine Hermann Hesse, Roger Zelazny, and Robert Holdstock getting together to write a science fiction epic the size of Dune.
gengelcox's review
3.0
Zindell’s first, and so far, only novel, although his second is set to be released later this year. This is epic SF in the grand tradition. Epic? Yes. It is long (552 pages in the paperback edition), set on a grand scale (the main character works his way up from an initiate star pilot to godhead), full of esoteric musings on the nature of mathematics, life and love. Gee, sounds a bit like [b:Dune|234225|Dune (Dune Chronicles, #1)|Frank Herbert|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1434908555s/234225.jpg|3634639], doesn’t it? The comparison is apt. Each chapter here starts with a quote, mainly from a fictitious book; the plot involves both personal mysteries as well as scientific mysteries; the plot centers around the only son of a “ruling” dynasty; and there are guilds and trades with strange and bizarre powers. But Zindell, for all these similarities, has not copied [a:Frank Herbert|58|Frank Herbert|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1168661521p2/58.jpg]. He’s also thrown in quite a bit of [a:Brian Aldiss|33297|Brian W. Aldiss|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1333457329p2/33297.jpg], [a:Robert A. Heinlein|205|Robert A. Heinlein|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1192826560p2/205.jpg] and [a:Theodore Sturgeon|12531|Theodore Sturgeon|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1211292667p2/12531.jpg]. This is not a novel for a first-time SF reader. It’s like modern jazz, in which the latest work is composed of variations on previous themes, and while the new listener might be able to enjoy it, chances are that they will have a difficult time understanding it.
The real problem with Neverness, however, is in its pacing. Some episodes seem to drag on interminably, while others fly past at the speed of light. Part of this is due to the fact that at least one section had been published previously as a stand-alone short story, and it may be true that other sections were written to stand alone as well. But, even given the above, this is an impressive achievement as a first novel. There’s a lot of imagination here in world- and culture-building, and the writing, while not spectacular, isn’t dry or stilted either. With some more maturity as a writer, Zindell could be a major contender.
The real problem with Neverness, however, is in its pacing. Some episodes seem to drag on interminably, while others fly past at the speed of light. Part of this is due to the fact that at least one section had been published previously as a stand-alone short story, and it may be true that other sections were written to stand alone as well. But, even given the above, this is an impressive achievement as a first novel. There’s a lot of imagination here in world- and culture-building, and the writing, while not spectacular, isn’t dry or stilted either. With some more maturity as a writer, Zindell could be a major contender.
crivens's review
5.0
One of those world shifting books that came to me at just the right time. Extraordinary in scope and rich with ideas and characters.
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