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3.09 AVERAGE
3.09 AVERAGE
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
This was a very intriguing book, but I didn't have what it takes to finish it right now, being sick and not at the top of my game.
It's a very New Weird feeling book- China Mieville fans, take note! The reader is thrown along with the main character into a very strange city, with strange, scary inhabitants. Our main character, Cooper, is informed that he died back in New York City but that death is only the beginning. All individuals die and return on different worlds many times until they come to our city, where some can finally earn Final Death and rest at last. Life is seen as long and wearisome. Cooper has come to this city far sooner than he probably should have, probably because he's meant to do something big, but those who rescue him quickly grow tired and disillusioned with him and abandon him in the city. And we are readers are abandoned too, to try to make sense of a vast and dreamlike setting.
I did feel that I was reading about a dream through most of the book- everything felt surreal and strange, and I couldn't find my footing. The imagery is awesome, and the ideas I could make sense of (a museum/mausoleum where religions go to die) made me want to contemplate them a bit more. But I also felt yanked around, from POV to POV without enough time anywhere to gain understanding, and with no values placed on anything or anyone.
Ultimately, I couldn't find enough of a foothold to finish this book- maybe I gave up too early, about 70 pages in.
However, I'll definitely keep this author on my radar. I'd like to see what else he can do. His setting and ideas are awesome, but I couldn't attach to this set of character or find a plot.
It's a very New Weird feeling book- China Mieville fans, take note! The reader is thrown along with the main character into a very strange city, with strange, scary inhabitants. Our main character, Cooper, is informed that he died back in New York City but that death is only the beginning. All individuals die and return on different worlds many times until they come to our city, where some can finally earn Final Death and rest at last. Life is seen as long and wearisome. Cooper has come to this city far sooner than he probably should have, probably because he's meant to do something big, but those who rescue him quickly grow tired and disillusioned with him and abandon him in the city. And we are readers are abandoned too, to try to make sense of a vast and dreamlike setting.
I did feel that I was reading about a dream through most of the book- everything felt surreal and strange, and I couldn't find my footing. The imagery is awesome, and the ideas I could make sense of (a museum/mausoleum where religions go to die) made me want to contemplate them a bit more. But I also felt yanked around, from POV to POV without enough time anywhere to gain understanding, and with no values placed on anything or anyone.
Ultimately, I couldn't find enough of a foothold to finish this book- maybe I gave up too early, about 70 pages in.
However, I'll definitely keep this author on my radar. I'd like to see what else he can do. His setting and ideas are awesome, but I couldn't attach to this set of character or find a plot.
This started out really good and I was so involved in the story. And then, about half way through the story takes a turn for the worse. I originally requested this book thinking it would be a great sci-fi read. I was totally wrong! At some point, the author completely lost sight of the plot. Multiple characters were introduce who were pointless to the story. The constant jumping around from different character point of views only complicated the story more, and not for the better.
This is one case where the author had a great idea and just didn't know how to pull it together. About 55% through I questioned why I was reading this in the first place. So glad that is over.
This is one case where the author had a great idea and just didn't know how to pull it together. About 55% through I questioned why I was reading this in the first place. So glad that is over.
DNF at about 33% - too much talking and not enough doing.
Usually not a good sign if I couldn't finish it, but honestly the writing was too convoluted, the main character completely flat, and the action befuddling. I spent most of the quarter of the book I read confused and trying to parse out references, description, and plot. I LOVED the idea of living a new life after each death with all your memories and repeating that a few thousands times until eventually reaching the City Unspoken for a True Death. That whole concept was cool, but I was unimpressed with the city actually; it lacked the creativity and wildness I would expect from a city that gathers the dying from the entire universe. I mean, it had a Little Tokyo because apparently with all the universe at your disposal that's one of the unique sectors to point out. I wouldn't not recommend the book to a lover of sci-fi, but for me it was too wordy with too little meat to finish it.
Just really poor. One of the messiest stories I've read in a long time. Too many flat characters with too similar names and too much unexplained world building. Read like a cross between Terry Pratchett and China Mieville, but with none of the polish of either. At some point, I realized I was pushing forward for sheer epistemophilia, and even that wasn't enough. Still, I was too far into it to mark as a straight 'gave up on'.
I'd really give this more like a 3.5, but I'll round up because of how novel it was.
I really dislike Cooper. He's like the Bella of this world - absolutely flat with very little personality to speak of. I have no idea who he is or what's driving him to keep moving forward. Sesstri and Asher on the other hand were very fluid, 3-dimensional characters who evolved throughout the story, with motives and extensive backstory. Even Nixon, a relatively minor character, had more personality than Cooper. I'm just not sure what the author was going for in making the main character so boring.
The world(s) and the setting were really fascinating. I just want to learn more about the universe that Edison has created.
I will definitely be keeping an eye out for future works from Edison.
I really dislike Cooper. He's like the Bella of this world - absolutely flat with very little personality to speak of. I have no idea who he is or what's driving him to keep moving forward. Sesstri and Asher on the other hand were very fluid, 3-dimensional characters who evolved throughout the story, with motives and extensive backstory. Even Nixon, a relatively minor character, had more personality than Cooper. I'm just not sure what the author was going for in making the main character so boring.
The world(s) and the setting were really fascinating. I just want to learn more about the universe that Edison has created.
I will definitely be keeping an eye out for future works from Edison.
This book took way to long to finish... And for virtually no payoff at the end. The author uses words strangely and writes way too much "description" without really ever describing anything at all. He could have benefitted from an editor. The concept was great, but I really feel the book never took it to its full potential. Don't bother reading this.
A very strong and unorthodox science fiction novel. Pretty good indeed - full review closer to publication date, and it's a book that I was sold on because of the cover. 2014 is already off to a strong start and I haven't read a bad book from next year (even if I've only read three) so far.
I don't even know what to say about this book except that it blew my mind. It's got the imagination of Miéville crossed with the human-posthuman worlds of Iain Banks. Total genius.