Scan barcode
eligos's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
joyful24's review
3.0
i was expecting more drama and migraines from this book. i dig the science fiction/futuristic elements, but there was something lost in the popping across the ages. by the time i reach the last chapter i was a little bored and displeased. there seemed to be too many characters and too much circling around in a way that was not all that fantastic. i just wanted to finish the book. i had hoped that i would have great reason to be stomped by logic puzzles and philosophical conundrums; but alas that was not my fate. everything was cleaned up all tidy. nothing really bigger than life about it. lots of sword thrusting. total flatline. the prose was easy to prod through.
plaidpladd's review against another edition
1.0
I had to read a book where the author has the same initials as me for a challenge, and the plot description of this one sounded pretty bananas so I thought it would be entertaining. In reality it is so, so boring. The first 30% is just various people trying to convince other people that time travel is real with verbal arguments. The last 25% is actually better, and there are a few interesting twists, but it is such a slog to get there that it's not worth it. The writing and dialog are clunky, and the different historical time periods are indistinguishable and barely described.
Also, there are only 3 women in this book:
1) an unnamed woman in a shop who gets a man for the MC
2) an unnamed woman in a library who exists to be leered at by one of Our Heroes
3) the main character, Sierra, who is the hottest person to ever exist on any continent and in any time period. Literally every other character she meets, no matter when or in what context, first takes the time to leer at her or hit on her. She is always flattered by this and never creeped out or afraid for her life. If any man spends longer than two scenes with her, he is obligated to fall in love with her. I was expecting her to have a lot of trouble time traveling because the past is a super sexist place, but no: everyone she meets just believes she is A Great Scholar like she says and is happy to help her out, even though at the time any woman just wandering around unaccompanied would definitely be considered a sex worker. Your classic wish-fulfillment sci-fi heroine written by a dude.
I cannot fathom why this book has so many 5 star reviews.
Also, there are only 3 women in this book:
1) an unnamed woman in a shop who gets a man for the MC
2) an unnamed woman in a library who exists to be leered at by one of Our Heroes
3) the main character, Sierra, who is the hottest person to ever exist on any continent and in any time period. Literally every other character she meets, no matter when or in what context, first takes the time to leer at her or hit on her. She is always flattered by this and never creeped out or afraid for her life. If any man spends longer than two scenes with her, he is obligated to fall in love with her. I was expecting her to have a lot of trouble time traveling because the past is a super sexist place, but no: everyone she meets just believes she is A Great Scholar like she says and is happy to help her out, even though at the time any woman just wandering around unaccompanied would definitely be considered a sex worker. Your classic wish-fulfillment sci-fi heroine written by a dude.
I cannot fathom why this book has so many 5 star reviews.
grauspitz's review against another edition
4.0
This book is unique to say the least. The closest book I can think of with even a remotely similar setting would be [b:The Just City|22055276|The Just City (Thessaly, #1)|Jo Walton|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1416448145s/22055276.jpg|39841651] but only just. The only thing that the two have in common is an attempt to 'save' Socrates so he can live on and contribute more to the world and the time travel aspect.
To start, this book doesn't have a linear plot line, which leaves you with a real lack of complete understanding of the characters until the very end. And I mean the very end, as in the final page reveals information that you didn't already know. Because of this, scenes often are not connected as they are in other books and the reader is forced to wait until later to find out what happened. This, to me, is both a flaw and a good thing.
Aside from the obvious plot in the title, the real focus of this book lies in the mechanics of time travel and the consequences as well as the limits that can be done with it. For someone who hasn't thought much about the concept, this book proved to make it very interesting and enjoyable at the same time.
If there was any flaw to be found aside from the unique non-linear plot line, I'd say that falls to the characters. The reader views the story from multiple viewpoints and because of that you often don't learn of character's motivations during their viewpoints, which in the end detached them a bit from me.
But that's really my only complaint and quite honestly I look forward to the next installment! Even though it's incredibly difficult to find.
To start, this book doesn't have a linear plot line, which leaves you with a real lack of complete understanding of the characters until the very end. And I mean the very end, as in the final page reveals information that you didn't already know. Because of this, scenes often are not connected as they are in other books and the reader is forced to wait until later to find out what happened. This, to me, is both a flaw and a good thing.
Aside from the obvious plot in the title, the real focus of this book lies in the mechanics of time travel and the consequences as well as the limits that can be done with it. For someone who hasn't thought much about the concept, this book proved to make it very interesting and enjoyable at the same time.
If there was any flaw to be found aside from the unique non-linear plot line, I'd say that falls to the characters. The reader views the story from multiple viewpoints and because of that you often don't learn of character's motivations during their viewpoints, which in the end detached them a bit from me.
But that's really my only complaint and quite honestly I look forward to the next installment! Even though it's incredibly difficult to find.
traveller1's review
4.0
An interesting book. A group of future saviours of Socrates plot, scheme and squabble to prevent the execution of the great philosopher. The characters are a little dry—but then I am a fan of Greg Egan—so that did not worry me greatly.
It is the plot that carries the novel. I had to keep track of the characters and action as the setting changes through several periods in both the ancient and modern world—a complex story. I found the resolution, the death of Socrates in the mid-21st from incurable brain cancer, anti-climatic. This does raise the question, why save Socrates? He was already an old man.
It is the plot that carries the novel. I had to keep track of the characters and action as the setting changes through several periods in both the ancient and modern world—a complex story. I found the resolution, the death of Socrates in the mid-21st from incurable brain cancer, anti-climatic. This does raise the question, why save Socrates? He was already an old man.
More...