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phoenix2's review
3.0
Variations of an Apple was a retelling of the well-known story of Illiad. Here, we have Paris fully dedicated to Illion, his city, rather than betraying it for Helen. The writing was beautiful, though confusing at times. The whole setting was a bit vague too.
abananass's review
adventurous
challenging
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
moonpie's review
2.0
For a moment, nothing. Then the city was lit by the apple’s light, as though it was a lantern of condensed evenings. Everything was painted over with the jitter-tint of unease, from the factories where cyborgs labored with their insect arms to the academies with their contests of wit and strength, from the flower-engraved gun mounts to the gardens where fruits breathed of kindly intoxications.
Wow. I wish I'd read some reviews/explanations before diving into Variations on an Apple; I only had the vaguest handle on the story for the majority of the reading experience. Most of the time it felt like I was reciting dialogue I'd memorized phonetically. I just wasn't smart enough for this one. Some pretty word combinations, though. (Fire bad. Tree pretty.)
qalminator's review
5.0
Beautifully written, and exceedingly odd, reimagining of the Iliad, with the apple given not to Helen, but to the city Ilium.
It sort of makes me think of the Area X books, with the apple as the trigger for all the changes, and as something that ebbs and flows through time.
It sort of makes me think of the Area X books, with the apple as the trigger for all the changes, and as something that ebbs and flows through time.
undermeyou's review
4.0
This was beautiful writing, but it did not work for me as a short. If I didn’t have a decent understanding of mythology I would have been completely lost the entire time, because the author takes for granted that everyone knows not only the Iliad but even variations on stories. I would love to see this as a full length.
cappitak's review
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0