This was overall quite good. A little heavy on exposition at the outset, but the concepts and characters were cool enough to keep going and I’m glad IThis was overall quite good. A little heavy on exposition at the outset, but the concepts and characters were cool enough to keep going and I’m glad I did. Fun genre-blending and a satisfying plot. I’ll put this author on my list to read more of....more
Delightful and disturbing with a cute animal sidekick.
Warning for one of the main themes being the internal experience of being gaslit and abused, whDelightful and disturbing with a cute animal sidekick.
Warning for one of the main themes being the internal experience of being gaslit and abused, which is barely masked by magical metaphor.
In my opinion it handles that theme extremely well: it presents different ways that people tend to cope with ongoing abuse; suggests that it is cruel and irresponsible to ignore and normalize suspected abuse; lays out reasons why an abuse survivor, child or adult, might not be able to get out on their own, might not even be able to arrive at the idea that what they’re experiencing is abuse; has a mix of characters who think they deserve it or know they don’t; emphasizes that abuse is an arbitrary game with inconsistent rules that its target cannot “win” through good behavior, because abusers know what they do is abuse and that’s why they do it; says that extreme feelings are natural in extreme situations like abuse; and lays all the responsibility and shame on the abuser and none on the survivors. All in a manner that weaves gently yet insistently through the fairy tale setting. And the abuser meets poetic justice in the end.
I found it very cathartic and validating in that sense and I’m glad I read it, but some may not want to relive those things.
The aftermath is quite short—I know it’s the done thing to tie everything up and end the story soon after the climax, but I would love the story to continue so I can see the longer-term recovery process for these characters. ...more
So, many, commas; like Atwood reduced the quotation marks by 80% and replaced them with a proportional increase of commas. But I liked a lot of the tuSo, many, commas; like Atwood reduced the quotation marks by 80% and replaced them with a proportional increase of commas. But I liked a lot of the turns of phrase nevertheless.
I misread the copyright date, this was written in the 80s after all, which makes a lot more sense. It’s so interesting how literary styles change decade by decade.
I don’t really know what to say about less trivial aspects of the book. It’s pretty disturbing. ...more
It’s a space travelogue written by computerized clones, which might be boring to some but it’s good at what it does. The timeline jumps around to presIt’s a space travelogue written by computerized clones, which might be boring to some but it’s good at what it does. The timeline jumps around to preserve tension among the various story threads, which was a little confusing without being able to quickly page back and forth in a hardcopy.
This was really fun! There’s not necessarily a lot of “meat” to it—85% of it is a nerdy guy talking to himself, and then himselves—but it’s a solid inThis was really fun! There’s not necessarily a lot of “meat” to it—85% of it is a nerdy guy talking to himself, and then himselves—but it’s a solid introspective science-y SF book. The Martian meets Nathan Lowell meets The Ship Who Sang. ...more
Ooh, I wanted to like this more than I did. There’s a lot of world packed into a small story, which makes sense as the lead-in to a themed series. It Ooh, I wanted to like this more than I did. There’s a lot of world packed into a small story, which makes sense as the lead-in to a themed series. It could’ve used another editing pass; there were more than a few typos, but not so many as to be unreadable. Fans of modern mermaid stories or gritty female-led urban fantasy should definitely give it a try. ...more
I didn’t like this one as much as Wool for some reason, but it’s just as gripping. Howey has a talent for tense situations and close-knit yet estrangeI didn’t like this one as much as Wool for some reason, but it’s just as gripping. Howey has a talent for tense situations and close-knit yet estranged relationships, and telling stories in constrained, dense settings.
Warning for brief description of past rape, and some anti-sex worker rhetoric that is eventually mitigated. ...more
I’m not sure I entirely understood this one...but I did read most of it while trying not to nap, and sleepy brain is a bit slow. Many amusing bits. AnI’m not sure I entirely understood this one...but I did read most of it while trying not to nap, and sleepy brain is a bit slow. Many amusing bits. And it’s always fun when my friends’ names show up in these books. ...more
This is the first time I’ve read a Chris Lester story instead of listening to it, and I’m glad to say it holds up on the page. Although I could still This is the first time I’ve read a Chris Lester story instead of listening to it, and I’m glad to say it holds up on the page. Although I could still hear all the voices from the original podcast’s returning characters in my head, so that was fun.
This is quite a dramatic and emotional story, which Chris excels at. Lots of feels! And many amusing exchanges to balance the weight of the storyline. I’m looking forward to the next one.
Warning for vivid PTSD descriptions and creepy cult stuff. ...more
I often complain when subsequent books re-explain previous plot points because usually I’ve just read the earlier books, but in this case it had been I often complain when subsequent books re-explain previous plot points because usually I’ve just read the earlier books, but in this case it had been such a long time and I’d forgotten a lot. Nathan provided enough detail to jog my memory without bogging down the current story.
This universe is really comfort food for me reading-wise, even when Ish and the crew are going through some stuff. It was so nice to come back to it. And I finally understand the sponges in the Facebook group! ...more
Finally got to this book much later than the first two. At first it was hard to remember names and the finer plot points but I figured it out. I kind Finally got to this book much later than the first two. At first it was hard to remember names and the finer plot points but I figured it out. I kind of knew the endgame because I read a (great) fanfic a few years ago that turned Supernatural into a Silo AU, but many things were still a (usually painful) surprise. Howey showcases both the worst and best of human reactions to adversity for a story that is both heartbreaking and heartwarming. ...more
It’s not bad but I would have cut most of the middle, and reading specific details about other people folding origami is dull at best, especially whenIt’s not bad but I would have cut most of the middle, and reading specific details about other people folding origami is dull at best, especially when it’s entirely Anglicized. Some jarring word choices like “pants” and “mom” instead of “trousers” and “mum,” and it’s not even an Americanized edition of a British book. The paper dog was my favorite character.
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