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lurpasskatt's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
nigellicus's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
5.0
Life under the New Management, an eldritch metaphor for Brexit and evrything that follows with it if ever there was one, ain't easy, even if you've got what the public mistakenly identify as 'superpowers.' A rag-tag bunch of shoplifters, an executive assistant to an evil mega-rich cultist and an ex-cop gone private, all get caught up in complicated scheme to get hold of a magical book that kills everyone eho touches it. With the usual Laundry Files eye for the mundanities of life, whether it be tangling with HR, social welfare or double entry book-keeping, plus every character having a superpower, plus powerful people being very evil, plus a family history tied up with the rise and fall and rise of magic, there's loads going on, it moves fast and gets all tied up nicely, notwithstanding that it's the first in a... trilogy? I think?
themanfromdelmonte's review against another edition
4.0
First things first, this is not a Laundry novel. It’s set in the milieu after the last Laundry story (The Labyrinth Index) but there’s no Bob or Mo or the others (I would have loved to read more about Alex and his Alfär princess) However, what you get is more of Stross’ fondness for twisting familiar tropes. There’s less eldritch and more human nastiness in this book. Oh, and his 007 fixation surfaces again.
On the down side I found the narrative slightly fractured and the plot lines seemed to be rather too neatly tied up. However, I’m being picky, the author’s attention to detail is marvellous (The Chernobog!) and I can forgive much of someone that can casually drop in a reference to Wish You Were Here.
On the down side I found the narrative slightly fractured and the plot lines seemed to be rather too neatly tied up. However, I’m being picky, the author’s attention to detail is marvellous (The Chernobog!) and I can forgive much of someone that can casually drop in a reference to Wish You Were Here.
onetrueceyton's review
medium-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
_b_a_l_'s review
Boring and charmless. And I've been a big fan of the series to date.
apatofuture's review against another edition
4.0
The Laundry Files is one of my favorite fictional universes and reading this feels like coming home. And it has a big fat '[b:Snow Crash|40651883|Snow Crash|Neal Stephenson|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1589842551l/40651883._SX50_.jpg|493634]Snow Crash' reference!
seang81's review against another edition
2.0
Caveat - I’m a fan of the Laundry Files so went into this expecting a minor reboot of that series and the great novels that were written. I was robbed. This feels like a run of the mill, almost bored rehash, like the author isn’t sure that he wants to continue writing in the Laundry-verse. So, if you like the Laundry Files, well, this is like them only half-hearted, a little forgettable, missing something. I’d read this if you’re a huge fan and want more of the same, otherwise, go back to the main series and remember what made these novels good in the first place!
nedhayes's review against another edition
5.0
Another brilliant series begins by SFF wunderkind [a:Charles Stross|8794|Charles Stross|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1355510574p2/8794.jpg]. This series is ostensibly tied to The Laundry Files, and in fact it does take place in the same universe, but with much more eldritch terror to hand and a very personal involvement in familial magic.
The characters and the ideas and the social commentary are all Stross, and I'm struck anew how carefully and thoughtfully he structures his multi-threated plots (in a lesser hand these would be anodyne or predictable) and how hilariously he places his cultural references. His evocation of Peter Pan is especially brilliant in this novel.
Looking forward to the next installment in this series!
The characters and the ideas and the social commentary are all Stross, and I'm struck anew how carefully and thoughtfully he structures his multi-threated plots (in a lesser hand these would be anodyne or predictable) and how hilariously he places his cultural references. His evocation of Peter Pan is especially brilliant in this novel.
Looking forward to the next installment in this series!
danielwestheide's review against another edition
4.0
Apparently, it is possible to write an entertaining novel in the Laundry universe that isn't about the Laundry at all. "Dead Lies Dreaming" is a fascinating mash-up of X-Men, Mutant City Blues, Cory Doctorow's "Pirate Cinema", James Bond, heist stories, and Lovecraftian magic. In addition, it tackles topics like London's crazy real estate bubble. I really enjoyed it, and I'm looking forward to more books in this new series.