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thedreaminghare's review
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
If you've picked up any of VanderMeer's work before, you'll already know that he's the king of weird.
While not strictly necessary, I would read his Annihilation Trilogy as well as Borne before diving into Dead Astronauts. This book had the least linear storyline of those named, as well as a very loose interpretation of narrative structure. While the first section of the book follows the 'dead astronauts' Grayson, Chen, and Moss, the rest of the book wavers between many perspectives, most (all?) non-human ones which enhance and embellish the story enough to bring at least a semblance of meaning and understanding to the story.
Did I enjoy this book? Parts of it I absolutely loved. Others, I found challenging to understand and enjoy. However, I don't think that is necessarily a bad thing.
Will you enjoy this book? Hard to say. If you've read and loved Borne, enjoyed Vita Nostra, like reading Kierkegaard and other philosophers of his ilk, or are just in the mood for a challenging and weird non-linear/traditional narrative - you may as well give it a try!
While not strictly necessary, I would read his Annihilation Trilogy as well as Borne before diving into Dead Astronauts. This book had the least linear storyline of those named, as well as a very loose interpretation of narrative structure. While the first section of the book follows the 'dead astronauts' Grayson, Chen, and Moss, the rest of the book wavers between many perspectives, most (all?) non-human ones which enhance and embellish the story enough to bring at least a semblance of meaning and understanding to the story.
Did I enjoy this book? Parts of it I absolutely loved. Others, I found challenging to understand and enjoy. However, I don't think that is necessarily a bad thing.
Will you enjoy this book? Hard to say. If you've read and loved Borne, enjoyed Vita Nostra, like reading Kierkegaard and other philosophers of his ilk, or are just in the mood for a challenging and weird non-linear/traditional narrative - you may as well give it a try!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty and Animal death
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