There's a seemingly interesting world at the periphery of this novella, and I longed to learn more, but was rather disappointed with the characters anThere's a seemingly interesting world at the periphery of this novella, and I longed to learn more, but was rather disappointed with the characters and story.
I like to make a perennial effort to read classics of sci-fi in order to better appreciate the genre and its contemporary counterparts. Somehow, ArthuI like to make a perennial effort to read classics of sci-fi in order to better appreciate the genre and its contemporary counterparts. Somehow, Arthur C. Clarke always stuck around on my SF classics TBR, but never made the jump into my active reading pile. Well, I decided to go big with Folio Society's beautiful slip-case edition with cloth binding, iridescent embossing on the cover, and evocative illustrations of key scenes from Matt Griffin. On its own, it's a beautiful package and I'm jazzed that the novel itself lives up to its most elegant binding.
In the year 2130, a gargantuan cylindrical object enters our solar system and the crew of the Endeavour are uniquely positioned to investigate this fast-moving anomaly. What follows is a trip in the classic and modern sense. The cylindrical world of Rama demands of the reader a stretching and flexing of the imagination to picture a world unlike any other. I think a prospective reader's best bet is to go into the novel with as little knowledge of the novel's mysteries as possible. To live in Rama as envisioned by Clarke is really a compelling experience.
Though I often use referential shorthand in my reviews, I think Rendezvous with Rama stands well enough as its own achievement in the field of SF. But, if you were to force my hand I'd say that Cixin Liu's Three Body Problem and Jeff Vandermeer's Area X came to mind most often when reading Rama. The scope and imagination of the writing was almost definitely inspirational to Liu's fantastic and complex view of humanity against the cosmos. Conversely, the mystery of Rama and Clarke's careful skirting around answers was instantly reminiscent of my reading of the Area X trilogy.
So, I was all about this novel. It's light on characterization and conceptually substantial. Rendezvous with Rama is also a breezier length than some other classics of the genre that I've loved (see Dune and Hyperion), which makes it more easily accessible than any great tomb. I found Clarke's vision of humanity's future compelling and his spin on first contact is sufficiently different by novel's end to merit a read.
Now, I've just got to decide what Clarke to read next. I'm eyeing up Childhood's End, but I'll happily take recommendations!...more
No spoilers here, but Hyperion ends in smack-dab in the middle of the story. After loving the first book I knew that I had to rearrange my readingNo spoilers here, but Hyperion ends in smack-dab in the middle of the story. After loving the first book I knew that I had to rearrange my reading plans and dive directly in to The Fall of Hyperion. Dan Simmons initially submitted Hyperion Cantos as a single volume, but was advised to split the book in two for publication. It's a decision I agree with more after finishing The Fall of Hyperion because it feels, at least stylistically, quite different from Hyperion.
Compared to its predecessor, the sequel expands its scope as it ties together pilgrims' storylines with the greater Hegemony through a new narrator. At first I was taken aback by this narrative shift, but was also disappointed to see the first novel's experimental form get replaced by chapter-to-chapter POV shifts. Once I got into the swing of things I was more than happy to intermittently check in with Martin Silenus as I was the new players. The quick changes between characters work for the pace as the novel clicks along, leading to a blistering and brain-rending ending. All same, would have it been too much to ask for just one more pilgrim-like story?
The shift to expansive space opera also took me aback a little bit, but I needn't have worried that Simmons would abandon his literary musings on religion, art, and human nature. Indeed, much of the first novel's philosophical roots extend out into the sequel and make it feel part of a whole. As the Time Tombs open and everything gets all topsy-turvy, I found myself appreciating the breaks for, say, Sol Weintraub to ponder his moral dilemma. It makes for an ending that wraps things up narratively as well as thematically.
I was a little disappointed in The Fall of Hyperion at the start, but was dialled in by the end. If Hyperion was a continuous jolt of bizarre energy, The Fall of Hyperion offers more vibrations from this plane with occasional blasts from some foreign world. Hyperion lays the foundations of mystery and The Fall of Hyperion does a lot of solving but still leaves room for interpretation and obscurity. There's horror beside philosophy, space opera neighbouring romance, and crazy action next to slow-burn cyberpunk. In the Hyperion Cantos it seems like there's something for everyone, but you'll definitely need to read this volume to get the full story....more
Jade City's blood-soaked clan ties, political machination, and crime family drama makes for my favourite fantasy read of 2020 so far. Let me break it Jade City's blood-soaked clan ties, political machination, and crime family drama makes for my favourite fantasy read of 2020 so far. Let me break it down with four factors that left me entirely satisfied and hungrily anticipating the next instalment.
1. An Addictive Read
From it's opening scene, Jade City establishes a unique interplay of intrigue, betrayal, and kung-fu-film-inspired combat. Lee uses this initial chapter as a springboard from which she expands and deepens a seemingly predictable formula. Though the book continues to play the hits, it doesn't feel like retreading of old ground and, indeed, manages to shock and stun on a regular basis. Jade City never lets up with its mix of back alley plotting, street-level combat, and conflict that threatens to envelop the entire country.
2. A Genuinely Unique Fantasy World
I knew to expect an Asian-influenced fantasy world, but I hadn't anticipated the modern setting. The Kaul family makes their way around Kekon in shiny new cars and motorcycles, but duke it out in the street with Jade-enhanced hand-to-hand or knife-to-knife combat. The magic system is simple, but has major effect in the world. I was pleasantly surprised to find the book turn towards political negotiation in some scenes and find them to be just as enthralling as thugs duking it out. There were even times where I forgot I was reading a fantasy novel. Jade City's Kekon is a country well worth placing on your fantasy-fan travel list.
3. TERRIFIC Characterization
Some fantasy novels with multiple POVs seem to suffer from characters who are soulless vessels of plot propulsion. Not so with Jade City. Lee has crafted a believable and endearing cast of characters in the Kaul family, but also manages to sneak in the scrappy street kid, Bero, who weaves in and out of the narrative sowing chaos. Lan, Hilo, and Shae are each easily discernible from the other and their characterization plays out in how they handle the same conflict. I loved spending time with these characters and their uncertain fates were ample reason to keep on reading.
4. Tension
Be it during a clean-blade duel, an alleyway struggle, a clandestine meeting, or a long-awaited reunion, Lee knows how to make the reader feel the turn of the crank. Stretching this tension over scenes, chapters, or even hundreds of pages is what kept me trying to sneak in a stray chapter here and there. It's all bolstered by writing that is evocative, but not so verbose that it keeps the reader from moving along quickly. Just when the booked seemed to be stalling, Lee quickly upends the apple cart and shifts all the groundwork she has just built up in the novel's first half. The effect is disorienting, exciting, and all-together welcome.
Conclusion
Jade City was an absolute blast. I teetered back and forth between a four and five star rating, but this is such a self-assured and well-written opening to a series that I'm giving it my wholehearted recommendation. I love the experimentation with genre and was happy to read a fantasy novel that feels bold and exciting. Mixing up organized crime with fantasy and kung-fu sounds like a dog's breakfast, but Lee makes the novel sing. In fact, more experimentation like this is exactly what the genre needs....more
For a good long while, I didn't care much for A Memory Called Empire. I felt awash in incomprehensible terminology and lost in the myriad plots, factiFor a good long while, I didn't care much for A Memory Called Empire. I felt awash in incomprehensible terminology and lost in the myriad plots, factions, and players in the Teixcalaan empire. Then, about a quarter of the way in, it all clicked for me and I began to revel in the incredible universe that Arkady Martine has crafted as well as her nuanced portrayal of a ceaselessly expanding empire. The book is a challenge, there's no doubt about that, but I felt rewarded for immersing myself in the subplots and subterfuge.
At the forefront of the novel is an introduction to Teixcalaan through a different lens than the one typically used to introduce a galaxy-spanning empire: language. Mahit, our lead, is forced to think in different ways guided by the structure and diction of spoken and written Teixcalaan. For instance, the word for "city", "world", and "empire" are all the same. That simple bit of terminology dictates how the Teixcalaantizm think about the empire in which they find themselves. There's lots of other bits of cultural misfires, nuanced language, and over-analysis of speeches or poetry. It was off-putting at first and utterly excellent as soon as I caught on.
Though the synopsis seems familiar--ambassador arrives at a planet to investigate the death of her predecessor--it is all the dressing around the plot that makes the novel such a compelling piece of science fiction. I was really interested in Mahit's interpretation of the empire's unending hunger and what that said about colonialism, but I was just as drawn in by hastily thrown together plots against unseen enemies. The imago, a memory implant that serves as a big plot point throughout, is also used to extremely powerful effect and makes for a fascinating examination of futuristic identity.
A Memory Called Empire is billed as space opera, but this first novel is more about tense conversations and world building than space battles. Fortunately, the characters are all exceedingly memorable and the naming conventions caught on pretty quickly. Even with everything else on the go, the characters and their relationships shine through. As a personal touchstone, I found a lot in common with Ann Leckie's superb Imperial Radch series. If you were into Leckie, I'd say it's a pretty safe bet this will be up your alley too. Though I was frustrated early on, I quickly pivoted to pure enjoyment.
Moving into the second novel, I'm excited to see where Martine takes the series which she describes as a world in which many works will be set, even if they are not straight-up sequels. Though I'm anticipating more classic space opera-y stuff, I think that this novel could be enjoyed on its own as it does end on a note of closure.
Hugo stuff If you've been following my reviews, then this brings me to the end of my goal to read the entire Hugo 2020 shortlist. It was an absolute blast and I'll continue on to read this year's shortlist too. Of the books, I think Gideon the Ninth was probably my favourite, but A Memory Called Empire would be second in line. Of the two novels, Memory is probably the more awe-inspiring in terms of granular world building, but Gideon is more straight-up fun....more
This novella has garnered a lot of praise, but fell a bit flat for me. The world building is cool and I enjoyed the spin on time travel, but I couldn'This novella has garnered a lot of praise, but fell a bit flat for me. The world building is cool and I enjoyed the spin on time travel, but I couldn't get into the characters or their mission. Robson takes an in media res approach, which can work well, but I would have loved some more descriptive or expository passages. The world seems very interesting, but I wish I could have gotten a firmer grip on what was going on and how the world came to be as it was. Ah well, for $1 it's hard to complain!...more
I'm wrapping up this thick collection of King stories after about six months of on-and-off reading. In the past I've tended towards a more rigorous shI'm wrapping up this thick collection of King stories after about six months of on-and-off reading. In the past I've tended towards a more rigorous short story schedule, but I fell into a nice rhythm of pick up and put down reading with Skeleton Crew. Across these 21 short stories (and one novella!) King shows an impressive range dipping into well-trod tracks of horror and sci-fi, but also veering occasionally to fantasy, crime, and slice-of-life literary fiction. For me, the variety was welcome and helped improve my already high regard for King and his writing.
So, even though my review comes with an easy recommendation, there's a few shortcomings that keep it from a full five-star read. The collection opens with The Mist--a novella that has had a film AND TV adaptation--and it makes for a bit of a strange start to a short story collection. Don't get me wrong, the story is a classic, but to my personal taste I prefer some quick, snappy stories to rip through when starting off a collection. While I always expect to have a few short stories that don't land for me in any collection, there's two that close off the book that didn't really do much for me. Also, The Monkey reminded me of an episode of Goosebumps in the worst way possible.
Luckily, those shortcomings are few and far between. Mrs. Todd's Shortcut is a wickedly cool urban fantasy story that thrills and delights and is followed by the unexpectedly neat sci-fi story, The Jaunt. The Wedding Gig is an out-of-left-field mob story that was stylish and well-written. Word Processor of the Gods is a weird little sci-fi, horror story that seems ripe for an episode of television. There's gems like these littered throughout the collection and, as I said above, I was impressed by how easily the collection can switch between creature-feature to existential horror and oodles of other genres. In fact, since this is my first King collection it was nice to see him working in different spaces from what I'm used to.
Overall, this was a nice collection to read slowly over a few months. Not every one is a winner in my mind, but the same story I didn't love might light your hair on fire. It's the kind of book you'd love to find at a cabin or cottage and read over a lazy summer. Though I plan on dipping into some King novels, I'll be sure to wind my way around to more of his short story collections in the future....more
The recent rollback of human rights in the US and the arrival of my own daughter prompted me to finally pick up The Testaments. Looking back on my revThe recent rollback of human rights in the US and the arrival of my own daughter prompted me to finally pick up The Testaments. Looking back on my review of The Handmaid's Tale suggested that I was taken in by the horror and limited viewpoint, while finding it to be an unsettling look at a world where women have few, if any, rights. Hey, not bad, that's just about how I remember it! So, first off, The Testaments is a much different novel than its predecessor.
Indeed, The Testaments exchanges the claustrophobic and terrifying limited viewpoint of Offred for three separate point of view characters. What's more, this novel is more expansive in time and scope: it charts the rise and fall of Gilead through flashbacks and an epilogue that contains a similar time jump to The Handmaid's Tale. This shift in style makes the novel, for me, inherently less terrifying than the first even if it continues to dish out some repugnant subjugation of women.
This change in style doesn't hamper the book in any way; indeed, this is perhaps even more of a page-turner than the first novel. Of the three POV characters, it's Aunt Lydia who captured my attention the most. Her morally ambiguous path towards vengeance is written in pitch-perfect voice and she steals the scene from both other POV characters whenever she appears. By contrast, the other two POVs offer important insights into the world in and out of Gilead, but ultimately feel like converging coming-of-age stories in terrible circumstances.
In the end, this was a hell of a novel. It didn't pack the gut punch of The Handmaid's Tale, but it was a reminder that hope is possible even amidst the most dreadful of circumstances. I also rather liked the way in which Atwood, fairly explicitly, links the characters from the first two novels without giving a definitive answer to the question on most readers' minds: what happened to Offred? You'll have to find out for yourself!...more
While I was reading this absolutely bonkers sci-fi novel I kept trying to grasp for comparators. There's the epic timespan on which the story occurs, While I was reading this absolutely bonkers sci-fi novel I kept trying to grasp for comparators. There's the epic timespan on which the story occurs, which reminded me a little of Liu Cixin's Three Body Problem trilogy, but after that I found fewer and fewer points of reference. After a while I just had to sit tight and enjoy the ride and quit trying to place this novel in a box. That's what really good science fiction, and art in general, should be able to do: present an experience unlike any other.
Lemme tell you folks, this is one read that's outside of most normal science fiction but pushes the boundary of what SF could be into an exciting new direction.
You know when an alien species is encountered in a novel and the world assumes them to be either 1) an incomprehensible, insatiable evil OR 2) a humanoid creature? Tchaikovsky instead introduces us to a world of sentient spiders who think in an entirely different way from most aliens that you've encountered in your fictional interplanetary travels. Indeed, more than half of the novel is told from the perspectives of an evolving civilization of spiders.
For many people this will be a nonstarter. Whether you're an arachnophobe or just think the concept is too weird, I implore you to give this one a crack. It's well worth your time to delve into the world of ideas that Tchaikovsky has on display in these pages. There is world building, but at an exceptionally granular sociological level. How might a species of intelligent spiders set up their culture, technology, and communication? It's all on dizzying display in this ultra-smart novel.
Of course, you've gotta have some humans kicking around. The crew of the ark ship Gilgamesh are the last surviving members of the human race and are on an eventual collision course with this evolving spider civilization. There's moments of extreme tenderness and humanity on display against some truly dire circumstances that span millennia. It adds a human element to a story of maddening scope, but don't worry, you'll like the spiders lots too.
Man, I can't wait to place this one into the hands of some friends. It's so wild and wacky, but presented so seriously and well thought out that it feels entirely plausible. Expect me to pick up the sequel soon. In the meantime, do yourself a favour and dig into some quality spider-fiction!...more
Always a pleasure to be browsing through the book store and find that a new volume of Monstress has dropped. As always, terrific artwork and a somewhaAlways a pleasure to be browsing through the book store and find that a new volume of Monstress has dropped. As always, terrific artwork and a somewhat difficult-to-follow series of plots. This volume answers some questions about the world and Maika's curious affliction/possession by Elder God. This is a comic where I frequently get lost in the sauce: I wish it had a dramatis personae and a glossary. Eh, maybe I should just give these first four volumes a re-read before the next one drops.
In any case, this is the best nü-fantasy being done in comics these days, worth checking out!...more
While reading the short stories N.K. Jemisin curated for The Best American Science Fiction and Fantasy 2018, I was taken aback by how substantial an uWhile reading the short stories N.K. Jemisin curated for The Best American Science Fiction and Fantasy 2018, I was taken aback by how substantial an undertaking it must be to create an anthology. Reading through a pile of short stories and coming up with a handful that will represent not only what you think is best, but what will appeal to the diverse eyes of an audience has got to be a real challenge.
With that said, I think Jemisin and series editor, John Joseph Adams, have done a pretty good job here. Some of the stories are revelatory, some just okay, some I didn't enjoy at all, and one story even got abandoned halfway through because it was the cause of some medical-grade reading stagnation. Luckily, given the diversity of subject matter--fantasy, sci-fi, horror, fables, and new weird all take some time at centre stage--it's more than likely that you'll find stories that do something for you.
I'll highlight Charlie Jane Anders contribution, Don't Press Charges and I Won't Sue, for being my favourite of the batch and a welcome warm-up for her new novel. Zen and the Art of Starship Maintenance by Tobias S. Buckell also closes the collection with a smart story brimming with excellent sci-fi premises. Though the stories do often highlight issues of social injustice (as I believe great SFF should do), some of the stories seem too focused on theme at the expense of plot. Anders' short story, by comparison, is a great example of a emotionally resonant representation of injustice with a sci-fi twist.
Though I took a good few months to work my way through the entirety of the collection, the really great stories made my reading worthwhile. The last three or four stories also were strong enough that I began to forgive the stories from the start and middle that didn't quite snap into place. Definitely worth a gander for SFF fans, though I would be inclined to recommend a low story-skipping threshold!...more
I should have been reading Octavia E. Butler years ago! Bloodchild and Other Stories serves as an exceptional introduction to the work of one of SFF'sI should have been reading Octavia E. Butler years ago! Bloodchild and Other Stories serves as an exceptional introduction to the work of one of SFF's greats. Across five classic stories, two essays, and two "new" stories Butler shows incredible range in topic and style. The writing here is snappy, readable, and endlessly fascinating.
The eponymous story, Bloodchild, is the type of science fiction tale that burrows deep in the consciousness and lays eggs that hatch for days afterwords. Each of the stories that follow present an interesting idea that is presented through a character's specific viewpoint. Rather than great gobs of info dumps, the reader will find out about the world and its concepts in a slow trickle. This could be obnoxious in another writer's hands, but Butler makes the style soar.
So, yeah, do read this one. I'll be foisting it upon SFF fans and the normal reader alike. I think it would make for a great bookclub read too! You won't find me waiting long before diving into more of what Butler has on offer....more
Now that's how you stick a landing! Dudes and dudettes, this is the real deal: a classic fantasy trilogy that should be on the radar of any speculativNow that's how you stick a landing! Dudes and dudettes, this is the real deal: a classic fantasy trilogy that should be on the radar of any speculative fiction fan who wants to read what is unique, fresh, and exciting about the genre.
Jemisin blew me away with The Fifth Season, kept the momentum going with some hiccups in The Obelisk Gate, and managed to meld all the elements of the series with a new narrative in The Stone Sky. We continue on with Essun and Nassun's storylines from where they left off at the end of The Obelisk Gate and make our way towards the inevitable tragedy of their reunion. What's more, Jemisin finally shows her hand with a third POV that uncovers all the juicy mysteries of the past that have been hinted at throughout the trilogy.
The Stone Sky is in every way a satisfying conclusion to a splendid trilogy. Bits that I worried were throwaway lines meant to enrich the world come back in subtle and explosive fashion in equal measure. Even more satisfying is how Jemisin chooses to subvert the archetypal fantasy showdown (even though those are fun!) with a confrontation that stays true to the themes of motherhood, responsibility, slavery, freedom, forgiveness, and righteous anger without eschewing an epic sense of scale. Make no mistake, the book has incredible fantastical moments, but they never come at the price of the characters' arcs. Jemisin strikes the perfect harmony of unveiling mysteries, paying off big character moments, and delivering on scenes that made my imagination bloom.
The Broken Earth succeeds by making this fantasy feel exhilarating, emotionally rich, and distinctly Jemisin. This book doesn't feel as if it could have been pulled off by any other author, and that's not always something you can say for fantasy novels. The characters are terrific and I was more invested in their journeys because their motivations seemed realistic and were often dictated by their prior life experiences. Even though I occasionally take issue with modern vernacular being incorporated in fantasy settings, Jemisin does it well throughout this entire trilogy and even delivers on the second person narration that threw me off in the first book.
Perhaps one of the most affecting parts of this novel is the acknowledgements in which Jemisin discloses the struggles in her personal life that fueled much of the emotional beats of this trilogy. It was interesting to note the NASA launch she witnessed as the initial spark for the trilogy at the end of The Fifth Season, and how her personal loss intertwined to form this series. I enjoyed having this context to better appreciate the trilogy, its origins, and its writer.
I loved these past few weeks I spent reading The Broken Earth trilogy. I anticipated reading a few other books between these novels as a breather, but I was so taken with Essun, Hoa, Nassun, Tonkee, Schaffa, the Stillness, the mystery of the Obelisks, and the relentless pace of the plot that I couldn't help but read these in close succession. There's so much fantasy out there that it can be really tough to parse through, but this is going to be the trilogy I reach for when my friends ask me for a fantasy recommendation.
One of the upsides of a novella is that the author can spend time on a concept that doesn't warrant the full exploration that a novel entails. The corOne of the upsides of a novella is that the author can spend time on a concept that doesn't warrant the full exploration that a novel entails. The corollary of that is that a story that has a lot of potential might not show itself fully until a sequel arrives. That's much the case here as Artificial Condition expands on what I enjoyed in All Systems Red while adding a few new folds. In many ways, Artificial Condition is a lot better than the first novella, even if it feels like it could have been the back-half of a single novel.
I like Wells' approach to the Murderbot novellas as almost-procedural tales that weave in a continuing story of Murderbot's journey to self-discovery. I loved the Asshole Research Transport (ART for short) and the double-crossing, plan-stealing, high-tech action continues to be a lot of fun.
My only complaint about this book is the price point: I don't feel great about paying $10 for a novella that only takes a few hours to read. I love the Tor.com novellas for their $3-$5 price points and expansive ideas. So, even though I think these are fun, easy-to-read, sci-fi action pieces, I'll likely be waiting for a kindle sale to pick up the last two books in the series....more
I’d put this one off because of the series title, The Murderbot Diaries, thinking it would be a bit tUPDATE: Winner of the 2018 Hugo for Best Novella!
I’d put this one off because of the series title, The Murderbot Diaries, thinking it would be a bit too silly for my liking. I ended up enjoying this novella way more than the title would have suggested. Murderbot is a funny, anxious, and badass robot-thing, and her concerned crew make for a great supporting cast. There’s a good mix of action and humour here too! I also thought the ending worked quite well and was surprisingly poignant. Definitely good enough for me to check out the sequel novellas when they drop later this year....more
My hopes far exceeded my experience of Seanan McGuire's Every Heart a Doorway. Hugo, Nebula, and Locus award-winner for best novella of the year in 20My hopes far exceeded my experience of Seanan McGuire's Every Heart a Doorway. Hugo, Nebula, and Locus award-winner for best novella of the year in 2017, I can see the appeal of the book even if I found it more cute than groundbreaking.
I liked the premise of children entering, Narnia-style, into wildly different worlds and being left adrift when returning to the normal world. Eleanor's Home for Wayward Children is also a fantasy and sci-fi smorgasbord that brings to mind many of my favourite magical schools. Each world seems highly interesting, but I sympathized with these kids: I wanted to spend more time there than the real world.
The writing and characters are interesting, though not uniformly so. The lead, Nancy, suffers in comparison to characters like Kade, Jack, Jill, Sumi, and the rest of the eclectic gang. Though I wasn't always into Nancy's story, I've been operating under the assumption that each book is a stand-alone focusing on a different character.
Nothing is egregious in this novella, but nothing stood out to me as wholly original either. It seems a bit like a composite of multiple fantasy and sci-fi tropes, but doesn't do as much with its concept as I might have expected. All the Birds in the Sky similarly pulled on tropes and classic scenes, but made them feel new. This one just seems a bit cobbled together, though that may be in part due to its length. Though I enjoyed my reading of Every Heart a Doorway, I was hoping for a lot more.
With all this said: I ordered the first three books when I caught a cool summer reading sale. So you can expect me to return to McGuire's multiverse soon, hopefully to greater rewards....more
Ten things to enjoy in Hugo & Nebula Award-winning Binti:
1) A sci-fi tale that begins in the refreshingly unique setting of Namibia and ends at a spacTen things to enjoy in Hugo & Nebula Award-winning Binti:
1) A sci-fi tale that begins in the refreshingly unique setting of Namibia and ends at a space university.
2) An endearing, strong, black, female lead.
3) A living, organic spaceship.
4) Violence and combat, but staged in such a way that they never seem like reasonable solutions, only possible ones.
5) Jellyfish-like, Lovecraftian antagonists.
6) An immersive, entertaining story that can be enjoyed over a cup of coffee (or, maybe, two).
7) Some really great writing that works well within the soft sci-fi concept (more focused on human experience of sci-fi rather than the sci-fi itself).
8) Invigorating descriptions of hair. No, really! This is good hair.
9) An allegory for the difficulties of communicating with someone from another culture, the dire consequences of these miscommunications, and the power of language and diplomacy.
10) An enjoyable introduction to a projected trilogy of novellas. An easily digestible alternative to the immense trilogies for which the genre is famous....more
The second book in a trilogy serves as a fulcrum on which the whole series pivots. It is responsible for deepening the mysteries of the first book, anThe second book in a trilogy serves as a fulcrum on which the whole series pivots. It is responsible for deepening the mysteries of the first book, answering some questions, setting up conflict for the final instalment, and it should make the attempt at being interesting in and of itself. My personal favourite middle instalments manage to harmonize these conflicting narrative needs, shatter the established and expected course of the narrative, or tell a story that seems tangential only to dovetail back into the narrative of the first book.
I'm happy to say that The Obelisk Gate moves the narrative forward, introduces new POVs, continues to be high unique, and still has important things to talk about. Even if it doesn't reach the highs of The Fifth Season or have its twisty narrative tricks, The Obelisk Gate does a terrific job bridging the gap between the beginning and end of Jemisin's story. If anything, the book sags the most in the first half of the Castrima sections where we are given a conceptually cool setting, but at the cost of the book's momentum. All the same, this allows the two new POV characters' stories to catch up to the present and they're great!
I'm going to keep this one short. The series is still really good, I'm really excited to read the last book, and Jemisin's craft continues to improve from The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms series. It's really well plotted, exciting, and really different from a lot of fantasy on the shelves today. With division lines drawn by the novel's end, I can't wait to see how Jemisin brings the series to a close!
Heya folks! Thanks for stoppin’ in to this re-read review of American Gods. With the upcoming Stars TV show, I thought it would be a good time for me Heya folks! Thanks for stoppin’ in to this re-read review of American Gods. With the upcoming Stars TV show, I thought it would be a good time for me to revisit a book I read almost 7 years ago before diving into an entirely new interpretation. Here are a few helpful review pointers for first-time readers/viewers and the more seasoned American Gods’ fans.
1. This review is SPOILER-FREE. American Gods is an enigmatic story, so I won’t even discuss anything other than the most cursory of plot details. Anything revealed herein is minor, revealed on the back of the book, or vague enough to keep you fresh for a read or the season premiere of the new show. 2. This is my first re-read review. So, I’ll be talking a bit about what I remember of my initial impression as well as how I feel about the book now. 3. I’m trying to read a bunch of Neil Gaiman in 2017. You can see my reviews for The View From the Cheap Seats and Norse Mythology in the links!
American Gods is really the book that's got all that you'd expect from an investigation of Americana. There's a road trip, murder mystery, all kinds of crime, sex, violence, love story, and more motels and hotels than you could ever have imagined.
When I read American Gods in the summer of 2010, I remember being fairly unimpressed with it. I had just come off reading the entirety of Gaiman’s Sandman in four, door-stopping volumes that together took a few weeks’ pay from my summer job. Still, I was snapping at the bit for more Gaiman, and I was told by many Internet resources that American Gods was the way to go. Ultimately, I was disappointed by the book, though I rated it four stars when first signing up for Goodreads in an ill-conceived attempt to look cool.
In many ways, my re-read has allowed me to forgive and understand my lack of appreciation for American Gods on my first go-around. In many ways it’s a book that wouldn’t have scratched the itch I had for adventure and was, indeed, a much more complex novel than I was used to dealing with at the time. This read had me astonished more often, more appreciative at the craft, and really digging the mythological deep-cuts that Gaiman leaves around the novel like gumdrops for the mythology nerds. Having said that, some of the problems I remember having with American Gods cropped up again on this read.
Though I remembered some of the plot, I discovered that I had forgotten a great deal about it. A scattered scene was seared into my brain, the big twists and turns I remembered, but there was a great deal more that I had forgotten. In broad strokes, American Gods follows newly released convict Shadow Moon who is offered a job by a mysterious stranger on the night of his wife’s funeral, and a road-trip across America ensues. The road-trip, I should mention, happens to be more fantastical in nature than Shadow initially suspected it would be and mythological madness adapted to the American countryside ensues.
Some non-spoiler-y stuff that still pestered me through this read: Shadow, a meandering plot, mythology reference-laden scenes. Shadow turns out to be one of the most appealing parts of the book as it goes on, but at first he’s a bit of a bore. He doesn’t reveal much about himself, he doesn’t react to much, and he is somewhat a passenger on a ride for more than half the book. This ride, it turns out, actually is a bit tedious to follow in its first few crests and troughs. The novel keeps its cards so close to the chest for such a long time that the most compelling reason to go on is just to know, What the fuck is going on here? Either of these issues on their own wouldn’t be too bad, but when it’s tough to get a handle on the plot AND the main character? It makes for a bit of a plodding opening despite some really good scenes.
The peculiar scenes that pepper the novel appealed more to me now than they had in the past, but they also frustrate. Having recently read Gaiman’s Norse Mythology, I was well-primed for the nitty-gritty of the Norse references throughout American Gods. Even though I got a lot more on this read than I could have possibly gotten on my first round, there was still a lot of Gods, folk heroes, and the like that I didn’t recognize. It makes for scenes that have cool visuals, but more often than I’d like to admit I was like, Am I supposed to know this goddess? However, it might be fun in another almost-decade to come back to this novel and see what other new stuff I can find.
Oh, and I loved discovering the Sandman Easter eggs littered through the novel that I missed on first pass. I heard a rumor that all the Endless make an appearance? I spotted two!
The ending, and the twists that precede it in the final 200 pages, I appreciated much more this time around. I remember being frustrated and thinking that all the cool stuff littered throughout was for naught. This time I appreciated the conclusion a lot more. It provides an ending that is true to its themes and, in my opinion, nails the character arcs in a way that is really satisfying. Also, I was less focused on the overall mysteries that drive the novel on this read, which let me appreciate all the smaller scenes along the way.
I’m really glad I decided to re-read American Gods. It’s an American novel written by a British lad. I was impressed to read that Gaiman had changed his writing to better suit the American style. I think that the story is an important one in these times too: it is a story, inherently, about immigrants, immigration, and the boiling pot of America. It’s a novel that’s got a lot of depth to it, and I’m really glad I was able to explore those depths on this second go-around.
I may have initially given American Gods four stars to look good, but this time the novel earned it.
NOTE ON TV SHOW: Here's me returning with my promise to offer some thoughts on the show!
1) Brian Fuller was an inspired and powerful choice. This adaptation is the perfect follow up to Hannibal: Fuller is able to go weirder and it works every time.
2) The casting is sublime! Does Shadow not look and sound like you'd expect him to? Is Wednesday not exactly the grifter you pictured?
3) Deviations from the novel are welcome and the fourth episode shows that the writers have a handle on the world and characters and can expand appropriately. ...more