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bellatora's review against another edition
4.0
Okay, so on the plus side McDonald has some really nice turns of phrase. The idea is also bona, of course, as is McDonald’s use of palari (the real life pulled-from-different-languages cant). And I liked Everett's cool intellect and his drive to save his father and Sen and her hyper arrogance and monkey-like curiosity contrasted to her calmness as a pilot.
The big problem is that it was too…slow. And even though McDonald’s descriptions were very nice, he still would have page-long paragraphs of description which is just…no. There were also two scenes that I think were added in to give more “action” that I just found dull and unnecessary – the brawl that Sen/Everett watched and the dueling airships. Why were these scenes there? What relevance did they have to Everett saving his father? This was a short book to begin with and I guess it shouldn’t be made shorter. But make the useless scenes more interesting, at least. I
The big problem is that it was too…slow. And even though McDonald’s descriptions were very nice, he still would have page-long paragraphs of description which is just…no. There were also two scenes that I think were added in to give more “action” that I just found dull and unnecessary – the brawl that Sen/Everett watched and the dueling airships. Why were these scenes there? What relevance did they have to Everett saving his father? This was a short book to begin with and I guess it shouldn’t be made shorter. But make the useless scenes more interesting, at least. I
lyndiane's review against another edition
4.0
A well-written story aimed primarily at younger teens but an entertaining read for 'older' teens as well!
Although the concept of parallel universes has been addressed numerous time, the author offers a fresh and often humorous approach, using a multi-dimensional app on an iPad as a gateway to other planes of existence.
I particularly loved the steampunk environment of the world Everett finds himself in.
Although the concept of parallel universes has been addressed numerous time, the author offers a fresh and often humorous approach, using a multi-dimensional app on an iPad as a gateway to other planes of existence.
I particularly loved the steampunk environment of the world Everett finds himself in.
philfromocs's review against another edition
5.0
Maybe minus a third of a star because it was a To Be Continued.
chukg's review against another edition
4.0
Quite enjoyed it. I am usually a fan of alternate history and always of Ian McDonald and this is a good combination of the two. You can tell the protagonist is in an alternate timeline, because there are airships.
Some neat SF concepts, good action scenes and fun and interesting characters (the main character is a boy math nerd who is also a good soccer player and can cook).
Some neat SF concepts, good action scenes and fun and interesting characters (the main character is a boy math nerd who is also a good soccer player and can cook).
lcdthethird's review against another edition
3.0
Ian McDonald has a really interesting idea and a great cast of characters, however, the follow through leaves a bit to be desired. Considering this is the first of a series, I believe it will be interesting to see where the second installment leads.
With an infinite amount of possibilities there is no ceiling to where this book can lead, but currently it is just an okay read.
With an infinite amount of possibilities there is no ceiling to where this book can lead, but currently it is just an okay read.
vita_zeta's review against another edition
4.0
You'll have to forgive me, but I don't think I've ever gone from Adult to YA with an author before and its a fascinating transition. I’m not sure how many people who enjoy YA would also like Ian McDonald’s adult books. There's an added value though in being aware of his earlier stuff when reading Planesrunner. I kept noticing things like how the nanoblade was reminiscent of the Q-blades of [b:Brasyl|278281|Brasyl|Ian McDonald|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1348348119s/278281.jpg|269900], the street brawl that smelled faintly like a scene in [b:River of Gods|278280|River of Gods|Ian McDonald|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1348178377s/278280.jpg|2440580]. Then there’s the overall geekiness, the use of foreign slang, creating a whole new pop culture (the effort he puts into describing how the cool kids would dress in another universe is adorable to me), and of course use of multiple universes. McDonald has his go-to tropes, and somehow they never get old.
There’s also a lot of fresh stuff, like the steampunk aspects (or electropunk as Everett Singh mused, which reminded of when McDonald remarked in an interview that we’ve kind of gone overboard with the whole “-punk” thing), and the light-hearted youthful atmosphere. This is very much an action-adventure. It’s quick, it’s fun, and Everett’s fast brain doesn’t dwell too much on melancholic thoughts. He's the type of character that's alive with possibility. When he figures out what his father has asked him to do - venture alone into an alien universe, carrying an impossibly valuable piece of technology while being chased by a conspiratorial order lead by a blonde-haired demon in a pencil skirt, all to rescue him and protect the multiverse - I don't think it every occurs to him that he can't do it. He's a boy genius, an ace goalie and a damn good cook too. Why shouldn't he be able to save the world?
In his adult works, McDonald doesn’t waste time on exposition, and generally leaves his readers to their own devices in trying to figure out the futuristic slang, politics and cultural cues. Here, he takes a bit more time. For Everett, this is a whole new adventure, the same way it is for us as readers, so everything feels fresh and shiny, and you get to see Everett working at understanding this new world. You feel how exhilarated he is, and also how overwhelmed. McDonald's paints this new, zeppelin filled world with a patient and thorough brush, and the results are utterly engrossing.
McDonald also lets Everett go on about his Punjabi roots, and I loved seeing that side of him, how important his heritage is. Diversity is always a big part of McDonald's books, and he doesn't take it for granted. He's not afraid to discuss how this new Earth that Everett lands on is divided racially, how Everett feels when he's kicked out of a restaurant because he looks Airish. It provides the texture of the setting, the reality and stakes, as well as giving the main character roots and depth.
The prose is rich, but fast, and if you’re not paying attention you’ll miss some technical details. Perhaps it’s because I don’t think in three dimensions like Sen and the crew of the Everness, but I had a hard time picturing the inside of the airship that becomes Everett’s home away from home. That only became a big deal towards the end when a lot of the action involved the ship and how it functioned, but I was able to keep up and still found it exciting, so I can’t complain too much.
What I think makes this stand out against other YA works is along with its fast pace and action, its also ridiculously well researched. It doesn't feel like swallowing a bag of marshmallows - tasty, but ultimately hollow, like a lot YA I read is - it's got substance and solid ground to stand on. More meat, less fat. Win, win.
There’s also a lot of fresh stuff, like the steampunk aspects (or electropunk as Everett Singh mused, which reminded of when McDonald remarked in an interview that we’ve kind of gone overboard with the whole “-punk” thing), and the light-hearted youthful atmosphere. This is very much an action-adventure. It’s quick, it’s fun, and Everett’s fast brain doesn’t dwell too much on melancholic thoughts. He's the type of character that's alive with possibility. When he figures out what his father has asked him to do - venture alone into an alien universe, carrying an impossibly valuable piece of technology while being chased by a conspiratorial order lead by a blonde-haired demon in a pencil skirt, all to rescue him and protect the multiverse - I don't think it every occurs to him that he can't do it. He's a boy genius, an ace goalie and a damn good cook too. Why shouldn't he be able to save the world?
In his adult works, McDonald doesn’t waste time on exposition, and generally leaves his readers to their own devices in trying to figure out the futuristic slang, politics and cultural cues. Here, he takes a bit more time. For Everett, this is a whole new adventure, the same way it is for us as readers, so everything feels fresh and shiny, and you get to see Everett working at understanding this new world. You feel how exhilarated he is, and also how overwhelmed. McDonald's paints this new, zeppelin filled world with a patient and thorough brush, and the results are utterly engrossing.
McDonald also lets Everett go on about his Punjabi roots, and I loved seeing that side of him, how important his heritage is. Diversity is always a big part of McDonald's books, and he doesn't take it for granted. He's not afraid to discuss how this new Earth that Everett lands on is divided racially, how Everett feels when he's kicked out of a restaurant because he looks Airish. It provides the texture of the setting, the reality and stakes, as well as giving the main character roots and depth.
The prose is rich, but fast, and if you’re not paying attention you’ll miss some technical details. Perhaps it’s because I don’t think in three dimensions like Sen and the crew of the Everness, but I had a hard time picturing the inside of the airship that becomes Everett’s home away from home. That only became a big deal towards the end when a lot of the action involved the ship and how it functioned, but I was able to keep up and still found it exciting, so I can’t complain too much.
What I think makes this stand out against other YA works is along with its fast pace and action, its also ridiculously well researched. It doesn't feel like swallowing a bag of marshmallows - tasty, but ultimately hollow, like a lot YA I read is - it's got substance and solid ground to stand on. More meat, less fat. Win, win.
foreveryoungadult's review against another edition
Graded By: Megan no h
Cover Story: Sci-fi Throwback
BFF Charm: Yay!
Swoonworthy Scale: 1
Talky Talk: Science N' Slang
Bonus Factors: London, Parallel Worlds, Steampunk
Relationship Status: Alamo For This Book
Read the full book report here.
Cover Story: Sci-fi Throwback
BFF Charm: Yay!
Swoonworthy Scale: 1
Talky Talk: Science N' Slang
Bonus Factors: London, Parallel Worlds, Steampunk
Relationship Status: Alamo For This Book
Read the full book report here.
nwhyte's review against another edition
3.0
https://nwhyte.livejournal.com/2984397.html
A decent YA novel from Ian McDonald, whose protagonist finds himself on a quest for his lost father, slipping between universes to a steampunk parallel reality, though London remains London whichever universe it is in. It was interesting to read this at the same time as Nina Allan's The Rift, which deals with similar themes in a very different way.
A decent YA novel from Ian McDonald, whose protagonist finds himself on a quest for his lost father, slipping between universes to a steampunk parallel reality, though London remains London whichever universe it is in. It was interesting to read this at the same time as Nina Allan's The Rift, which deals with similar themes in a very different way.
the_bard's review against another edition
5.0
An absolutely amazing novel, the first in Ian McDonald's Everness series. McDonald writes gloriously poetic prose that dances across the page, wrapped around a taut, fast-paced, adventurous plot involving quantum physics, a vast multiverse of parallel Earths, sinister conspiracies, and electropunk airship rogues. So very good. Just so very very very good.