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frasersimons's reviews
2421 reviews
Sphere by Michael Crichton
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
I always thought that the movie was underrated. As flawed as it was, it’s still an interesting question at the heart of it about humankind, which is what the best science fiction does. Underwater thrillers are usually more interesting as space too, since it’s as foreign, but teeming with life, and feels somehow more pertinent.
The book is simultaneously better and worse than the movie. The ending is more complicated and the characters more fleshed out, less Hollywoodized. The best parts of the film are mostly from the book. But because it does try to do more, the incredulity of some of the outcomes come into play. The movie fixes this by having everything occur at a subliminal level. Without this luxury, a few of the plot beats become really questionable, and feel really indulgent toward the characters and their specific arcs, and final outcome. An ending much better fleshed out and here, and far less cheesy.
The book is simultaneously better and worse than the movie. The ending is more complicated and the characters more fleshed out, less Hollywoodized. The best parts of the film are mostly from the book. But because it does try to do more, the incredulity of some of the outcomes come into play. The movie fixes this by having everything occur at a subliminal level. Without this luxury, a few of the plot beats become really questionable, and feel really indulgent toward the characters and their specific arcs, and final outcome. An ending much better fleshed out and here, and far less cheesy.
The Paying Guests by Sarah Waters
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This might have been more successful for me than Fingersmith, which I enjoyed, but I’d seen the film adaptation first, and preferred the changes to the source material. Knowing nothing about this, the first little bit had me a bit slow off the mark. Mostly concerned with building the relationship between MC and her mother, it dragged pretty substantially.
However, when the paying guests arrive—a couple on somewhat rocky footing—things start to get much more interesting. An unlikely romance blossoms in a historical context that makes it more complicated, but still highly relatable to today. And things just get more tense, as a spark sets the plot ablaze.
Waters felt like she had meticulously contrived each section, but particularly the characters’ reactions and nuanced interactions. Each point jumps off from the next, and though shocking, follows what’s established. Very enjoyable. I’d call it a literary slow burn thriller with good queer rep and a touch of romance.
However, when the paying guests arrive—a couple on somewhat rocky footing—things start to get much more interesting. An unlikely romance blossoms in a historical context that makes it more complicated, but still highly relatable to today. And things just get more tense, as a spark sets the plot ablaze.
Waters felt like she had meticulously contrived each section, but particularly the characters’ reactions and nuanced interactions. Each point jumps off from the next, and though shocking, follows what’s established. Very enjoyable. I’d call it a literary slow burn thriller with good queer rep and a touch of romance.
The Difference Engine by William Gibson
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
There are sections of this I enjoyed very much, and it is undoubtedly inventive and stylish. But it also vacillates to pretty long sections I found fairly boring. This is probably a byproduct of dual authors, or perhaps their being enamoured with aspects of the life I am not. For instance, historical inaccuracy is a bit too granular, as is the verisimilitude, for my tastes. If I was more interested in the period though, it would have probably not felt like a drag at all, so it’s somewhat hard to rate.
For fans of steampunk, this is not necessarily a slam dunk. It’s more literary than more genre fiction, and it doesn’t bother being concerned with expectations the readers may have as such. There’s plenty of great writing here too. It’s just getting to the sections that were both great and I found of interest. I am not a historical fiction reader either, I’d say, so the fact it kept me going at all may be a feat.
For fans of steampunk, this is not necessarily a slam dunk. It’s more literary than more genre fiction, and it doesn’t bother being concerned with expectations the readers may have as such. There’s plenty of great writing here too. It’s just getting to the sections that were both great and I found of interest. I am not a historical fiction reader either, I’d say, so the fact it kept me going at all may be a feat.
Recursion by Blake Crouch
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Much better than Dark Matter. Frenetic, tense thriller that goes down a rabbit hole. Maybe going a bit too far, but is a lot of fun, if you can turn off your brain and go with it.
Rant: An Oral Biography of Buster Casey by Chuck Palahniuk
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
By far and away the best work I’ve read from Chuck, so far. There are some staples of his I typically am not impressed with: a fantastical element that tends to feel like it facilitates deus ex machina moments, a penchant for shock factors (particularly when it comes to gore and sex), and interesting themes that take a back seat to the shocking and large twist.
This, though, actually complete worked for me, despite it having all of those features. In a near(ish) future, we hear from day timers and night timers and other weird self ascribed, seemingly, titles—the life of Rant is described. His intersections of a life hit on so many organic and important themes for today. Post-Covid, their post-outbreak world makes more sense, as does the radicalization and distillation of children birthed post catastrophe. The rural poor and home life, as well as his bypassing of social norms. All of it is interesting and convincing.
But where it actually goes to feels as organic as the Fight Club movie, and even more: it’s really, really fun. The world building is wild and drives the plot beats. The timeline is so complex, important plot beats tend to be reiterated, which is slightly annoying, but also a necessity. It’s my only quibble. It’s hard to talk about more of it without it being massively spoiled, and not knowing anything really fuelled my enjoyment of this.
This, though, actually complete worked for me, despite it having all of those features. In a near(ish) future, we hear from day timers and night timers and other weird self ascribed, seemingly, titles—the life of Rant is described. His intersections of a life hit on so many organic and important themes for today. Post-Covid, their post-outbreak world makes more sense, as does the radicalization and distillation of children birthed post catastrophe. The rural poor and home life, as well as his bypassing of social norms. All of it is interesting and convincing.
But where it actually goes to feels as organic as the Fight Club movie, and even more: it’s really, really fun. The world building is wild and drives the plot beats. The timeline is so complex, important plot beats tend to be reiterated, which is slightly annoying, but also a necessity. It’s my only quibble. It’s hard to talk about more of it without it being massively spoiled, and not knowing anything really fuelled my enjoyment of this.
The Arrest: A Novel by Jonathan Lethem
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
This story is really elegant. Focusing on a man simply ascribed as Journeyman, in an isolated rural community post-event disabling all tech from working, save for a strange nuclear drill, we follow a simple moral dilemma. An outsider enters the otherwise well community and entangles himself in the personal life of the MC. Fallout ensues.
It’s just executed really, really well, though. Characterization is great. I have always enjoyed ideologues done well. Here it is the crux of the well turning plot. It’s also hard to pin down. It’s weird enough that you’re never completely sure about anything, so it’s mysterious, which in turn whets the appetite for more information about the world building, done organically. It’s easy to picture the strange world, and it doesn’t overstay its welcome.
It’s just executed really, really well, though. Characterization is great. I have always enjoyed ideologues done well. Here it is the crux of the well turning plot. It’s also hard to pin down. It’s weird enough that you’re never completely sure about anything, so it’s mysterious, which in turn whets the appetite for more information about the world building, done organically. It’s easy to picture the strange world, and it doesn’t overstay its welcome.
The Prey of Gods by Nicky Drayden
lighthearted
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? It's complicated
3.0
A wild truly SFF mashup, with fantasy elements and science fiction both. Sentient and genetic inheritance of god-like powers, nothing is really off the table, giving it a sense that anything could happen, which only grows as the story goes on and becomes more bombastic.
Unfortunately, this nonsensical attitude both helps and hinders it. It becomes a very fun ride, but also cherry picks what elements from the start end up being explored, and which become uncomfortable tropes. The characters took a back seat as the action unfolds and they were the things that made the book so engaging, since it’s pretty much impossible to predict what to expect. It is so gonzo the reader needs to be invested in plot twist surprises, rather than the characters, and I am not that kind of reader.
It is a really fun book, and it does manage to hit some themes. But I would have liked it if it fleshed out those aspects along with the characters, who felt, if anything, somewhat denigrated, for the sake of some antagonistic plot beats.
Unfortunately, this nonsensical attitude both helps and hinders it. It becomes a very fun ride, but also cherry picks what elements from the start end up being explored, and which become uncomfortable tropes. The characters took a back seat as the action unfolds and they were the things that made the book so engaging, since it’s pretty much impossible to predict what to expect. It is so gonzo the reader needs to be invested in plot twist surprises, rather than the characters, and I am not that kind of reader.
It is a really fun book, and it does manage to hit some themes. But I would have liked it if it fleshed out those aspects along with the characters, who felt, if anything, somewhat denigrated, for the sake of some antagonistic plot beats.
The Subjugate: The Salvation Series, Book I by Amanda Bridgeman
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
The strength of this, for me, was from how thematically sound it is. Focused on repression, our two detectives are diametric opposites. A tight lipped and taught woman and main character, the other emotional and an anxious ball of a man. They catch a case at a community that has pulled away from technology, the brutal, sexual nature of the death unearths the characters’ past while pitting them against the community itself. Then there’s the subjugates themselves, who are… “reformed”, extremely violent offenders which live close by and help out the townsfolk with free labour.
There’s repression everywhere and I feel the messaging was nuanced and landed well. The prose work and other aspects do feel quite commercial and vary from believable to not so believable dialogue, convenient plot beats, and a will-they-won’t-they. Without the thematics it would have been fairly forgettable, but it is a stand out, and it’s a fast paced police procedural ride.
There’s repression everywhere and I feel the messaging was nuanced and landed well. The prose work and other aspects do feel quite commercial and vary from believable to not so believable dialogue, convenient plot beats, and a will-they-won’t-they. Without the thematics it would have been fairly forgettable, but it is a stand out, and it’s a fast paced police procedural ride.
All Tomorrow's Parties by William Gibson
hopeful
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
This felt like the least convincing of the three, mostly because it is so frenetically paced and relies on the reader already being aware of the characters, that it attempts to be a much more plotty novel, when the other two aren’t like that pretty much whatsoever. But the real issue, for me, was that because of this change-up, each character didn’t feel very situated in the setting anymore, whereas that area was where they excelled in the previous books. So, basically it made the finale feel incongruous with the others.
That said, there’s fun to be had here. Though the characters aren’t that well developed, the people who read primarily for plot will finally be satiated. And thematically, the interplay between the books feels as taut as ever. Surprisingly optimistic even, in a kill your darlings kind-of-way.
That said, there’s fun to be had here. Though the characters aren’t that well developed, the people who read primarily for plot will finally be satiated. And thematically, the interplay between the books feels as taut as ever. Surprisingly optimistic even, in a kill your darlings kind-of-way.
Idoru by William Gibson
dark
hopeful
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Probably even more slow than the first in the trilogy, the tech and insights into social constructs resonates all the more deeply today. The emotional complexity in this are more fulfilling than any other Gibson novel I’ve tried yet, too. To marry that with the seemingly vapid and ephemeral of celebrity, intimacy, and a more organic and analog cyberspace—really made this feel like Gibson’s chops were shining through.
Even more bold that it’s in a cyberpunk near future, where people expect propulsive action. The counter culture vs mono culture feels much more rich and nuanced. Not simply rebellion and fight co opting, but tapping into the general intellect in many ways. Where the previous Virtual Light has little to no ramifications on the plot or, really, the social aspects the book interrogates, the high tech part of the low life milieu here is integral to how everyone interacts with their phone, their social media, and the commodification of data that comes with influencers being big business.
The book does fall down somewhat in the usual areas. Most predominately a not altogether convincing portrayal of marginalized cultures, much like rastas in Neuromancer. But it is more developed here too. If I were more familiar with the culture I could critique it better. As is, it just feels off. For a while this book remained four stars, but I just felt it came together so well, and in such a different way than most cyberpunk books, that I just really wanted to set it as a cut above.
Even more bold that it’s in a cyberpunk near future, where people expect propulsive action. The counter culture vs mono culture feels much more rich and nuanced. Not simply rebellion and fight co opting, but tapping into the general intellect in many ways. Where the previous Virtual Light has little to no ramifications on the plot or, really, the social aspects the book interrogates, the high tech part of the low life milieu here is integral to how everyone interacts with their phone, their social media, and the commodification of data that comes with influencers being big business.
The book does fall down somewhat in the usual areas. Most predominately a not altogether convincing portrayal of marginalized cultures, much like rastas in Neuromancer. But it is more developed here too. If I were more familiar with the culture I could critique it better. As is, it just feels off. For a while this book remained four stars, but I just felt it came together so well, and in such a different way than most cyberpunk books, that I just really wanted to set it as a cut above.