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kanissa's review against another edition
4.0
I like this book, but I don't love it. The main character is in turns admirable and frustrating. But that's the realism - you don't typically love people when their bad sides come out.
I enjoyed the first half quite a lot, the second half a lot less, and the end made me want to strangle someone.
As far as dystopian futures go, this one is interesting and believable. The part where I get stuck is that apparently this all happens in 2019, which seems so unrealistic now that it brought me out of the trance, as it were. It's also interesting to realize how much things have changed since this book was written in 1997. There's little mention of things like cellphones, and obviously no idea that there might be inventions like tablet PCs or iPads or other technology that we forget is so recent.
All in all, it was nice to step back into sci fi for a change. It's not a perfect novel, sure, but it keeps my attention and, despite the parts where I want to smack people, is an intriguing tale.
I enjoyed the first half quite a lot, the second half a lot less, and the end made me want to strangle someone.
As far as dystopian futures go, this one is interesting and believable. The part where I get stuck is that apparently this all happens in 2019, which seems so unrealistic now that it brought me out of the trance, as it were. It's also interesting to realize how much things have changed since this book was written in 1997. There's little mention of things like cellphones, and obviously no idea that there might be inventions like tablet PCs or iPads or other technology that we forget is so recent.
All in all, it was nice to step back into sci fi for a change. It's not a perfect novel, sure, but it keeps my attention and, despite the parts where I want to smack people, is an intriguing tale.
sharki1998's review against another edition
2.0
This was her first novel and it kind of shows. The book is just too long and the story isn't very engaging. Kenyon would go on to become a very good writer, I really enjoyed the "Rose and the Entire" series, but I couldn't even finish this one.
picklebrinedgoblinmind's review against another edition
2.0
I picked up this book while looking for some sci-fi with a female in the lead. The plot was fast-paced and interesting enough to suck me in immediately, and kept a steady pace through Part 1. I definitely have lots of issues with it, though.
I mainly chose this book because the description made Clio seem like an interesting, nuanced character; Not just your typical Strong Female Character(TM). Mostly I was hoping she would have some agency of her own, being a renowned pilot and tough lady. Instead, she's thrown from man to man - sometimes in very brutal and forceful ways (there's at least four attempted rapes against her, and many more skeevy verbal sexual assaults). It seems like Clio doesn't form many opinions beyond "I hate everyone and don't care about anything," until the next male suitor or savior comes along to recruit her to his cause.
Even so, you start to appreciate her at the end of Part 1, and then Part 2 comes along and is so jarringly depressing that I'm really not sure why I continued reading at all. The villains are cartoonishly evil, and the whole book is so darkly pessimistic that the weirdly optimistic ending falls completely flat.
This book does deal with some important issues, even all these years later, and it's entirely possible it just didn't age very well, but I don't recommend this one.
I mainly chose this book because the description made Clio seem like an interesting, nuanced character; Not just your typical Strong Female Character(TM). Mostly I was hoping she would have some agency of her own, being a renowned pilot and tough lady. Instead, she's thrown from man to man - sometimes in very brutal and forceful ways (there's at least four attempted rapes against her, and many more skeevy verbal sexual assaults). It seems like Clio doesn't form many opinions beyond "I hate everyone and don't care about anything," until the next male suitor or savior comes along to recruit her to his cause.
Even so, you start to appreciate her at the end of Part 1, and then Part 2 comes along and is so jarringly depressing that I'm really not sure why I continued reading at all. The villains are cartoonishly evil, and the whole book is so darkly pessimistic that the weirdly optimistic ending falls completely flat.
This book does deal with some important issues, even all these years later, and it's entirely possible it just didn't age very well, but I don't recommend this one.
aneary's review against another edition
5.0
A really fantastic novel! I loved the time travel mechanic, it was distinctly different than any other I have yet read. The whole book is packed with great content and it stays lively the whole way through without burning out the reader. Clio is an excellent character, I found her so real and in some ways relatable. I'm excited to read more books by Kay Kenyon now - this was one of the best books I've read in a while!
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