A lot to love about this one, but it didn't quite top the original for me. A lot to love about this one, but it didn't quite top the original for me. ...more
I need a new category for historical science fiction! One of the best books I've read in a long time.I need a new category for historical science fiction! One of the best books I've read in a long time....more
7/13/16: I'll say this for John Scalzi, he knows how to write a readable book. I'm giving this one 4.5 stars for worldbuilding, 3.5 for plot and chara7/13/16: I'll say this for John Scalzi, he knows how to write a readable book. I'm giving this one 4.5 stars for worldbuilding, 3.5 for plot and characters. This is a tight little mystery set in a fascinating near-future where a flu-like virus has caused a small but significant portion of the population to be "locked in", i.e. incapable of controlling their physical body but (for those who don't suffer related mental damage) completely alert. Due to a combination of technology and changes in brain structure, they are able to control android bodies or the bodies of an even smaller group of people also affected by the virus. Enter murder mystery!
I'll admit to being not 100% happy with the ending: (view spoiler)[the eeeevil corporate dude's plan and motivation felt too super villain-esque for the otherwise grounded storytelling. It felt like Scalzi was going for a sci-fi Michael Clayton kind of story, but overshot a bit and landed in criminal mastermind land. The fact that the entire conspiracy apparently boiled down to the single evil CEO and his stooge lawyer really added to this feeling - I was expecting the conspiracy to be much more widespread (hide spoiler)]. We'll see how much this bothers me on future reads, because the premise and characters did make this an otherwise very fun read....more
9/7/16: On second reading, I'll give this a second star, but I still found it a little disappointing. It's a very clever story, but unlike other Scalz9/7/16: On second reading, I'll give this a second star, but I still found it a little disappointing. It's a very clever story, but unlike other Scalzi books which manage to be both clever and fun, this one just felt like it was trying a little too hard. I'm still giving it four stars because it's a great send-up of everything goofy about Star Trek, but in terms of fun, it's no Galaxy Quest.
1/20/13: I might have to read this one a second time, because I didn't enjoy it as much as I think that I should have enjoyed it, and I wonder if it wasn't an expectations problem. This is the kind of book that really should have resonated with me, but I think that I went into it expecting more of a Galaxy Quest style parody, and instead got more of a story about stories and reality. Which is right up my alley, but given what a fast read it was, I think I was still adjusting my expectations by the time I got to the end.
Definitely one to re-read, and I expect, to rerate as well....more
This had been on my radar for a while, though I'm not remembering exactly what prompted me to finally give it a go. In any case, I'm having a very harThis had been on my radar for a while, though I'm not remembering exactly what prompted me to finally give it a go. In any case, I'm having a very hard time classifying this one, which always drives me nuts. It reads like a lot of the fantasy fairy-tale retellings I'm fond of - I'm thinking along the lines of Fables, Vol. 1: Legends in Exile or Deerskin - only it's definitely going for science fiction, not fantasy. Just that element adds a nice spin to what might otherwise be another of the many entries in the sub-genre. Meyer creates a plausible near-ish future that isn't post-apocalyptic or dystopian, but has all the ugliness of politics and urban living, while still hitting the basic points of the fairy-tale(s) that inspired the series. My only regret is realizing that the series wasn't finished when I started it, because especially as the larger plot builds in the later books, it's a drag to have to wait for the conclusion....more
I haven't read a new King book since The Dark Tower, but my partner loved this one, and as he doesn't read much fiction, I thought I'd give it a try. I haven't read a new King book since The Dark Tower, but my partner loved this one, and as he doesn't read much fiction, I thought I'd give it a try. I certainly enjoyed it, although I have to think that someone (like my partner) who is more of a history nerd might like it better. Anyhow, this is King in top form - not too terrifying, not too out there, just a damn good storyteller....more
I feel like I need to reread this a couple of times to really appreciate it. I'm floating between three and four stars because the plot left me behindI feel like I need to reread this a couple of times to really appreciate it. I'm floating between three and four stars because the plot left me behind in a few places, but I'm not sure if that's because there was so much going on that I missed things, or because the plot was a bit sloppy. Possibly both. The setting was amazing though - one of the most creative imaginings of the future that I've ever read....more
I got about halfway and lost interest. I'm a bad person. Maybe I'll try again in a few years.I got about halfway and lost interest. I'm a bad person. Maybe I'll try again in a few years....more
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