The Book That Broke The World is the sequel to The Book That Wouldn't Burn. A book that truly feels like the natural development from the previous eveThe Book That Broke The World is the sequel to The Book That Wouldn't Burn. A book that truly feels like the natural development from the previous events but one that adds nuance and character.
Wait. Let's take a step back. Book one's distinct approach on the commentary of man's legacy of violence and knowledge was wrapped in a fine bow by the meeting of two main POVs. Lyria and Evar. It explored the cycle of destruction and the tug-of-war which is man's pursuit of knowledge and the consequence of its aftermath.
I think there are books that unfortunately are so captivating because of their relevance to the contemporary zeitgeist. This is one of them. It shows bonds being made between races which in the past, were rife with war. It shows how those blinded by hate set off a chain event of vengeance that leads to more suffering. It is an ouroboros, and that is exactly the theme that I felt radiate most distinctly from these pages.
Infinity is mentioned often, the cyclical nature of everything and what it will take to break the pattern.
If you read and enjoyed the first book in this trilogy, I absolutely recommend the sequel. I wait with bated breath for the finale!...more
The short story itself is a 3 out of five. Nothing wrong with it, just lacks nuance and depth in favour for mind-numbing action. But the audio drama pThe short story itself is a 3 out of five. Nothing wrong with it, just lacks nuance and depth in favour for mind-numbing action. But the audio drama production was out of this world. Had to bump it up....more
I'm a very big fan of the cyberpunk universe and also recently got into Cyberpunk Red.
That being said, I got more than half-way through this book befoI'm a very big fan of the cyberpunk universe and also recently got into Cyberpunk Red.
That being said, I got more than half-way through this book before I decided its not for me. I don't really care for any of the characters and things went pretty slowly for me mid-way through the book without any real promise that things would take an original turn.
The concept so far feels unoriginal as well.
If anything, I far more enjoyed the graphic novels instead. Especially Blackout and The Voice are the best stories from the Cyberpunk 2077 universe....more
One of the best books I've ever read, and definitely the best cyberpunk book I've ever read. Full review coming soon.One of the best books I've ever read, and definitely the best cyberpunk book I've ever read. Full review coming soon....more
One of the most original sci-fi books I have had the pleasure of reading. Got this as a gift from my fiancee's brother. The book is set in a world wheOne of the most original sci-fi books I have had the pleasure of reading. Got this as a gift from my fiancee's brother. The book is set in a world where humanity is on the brink of extinction. A ship called Gilgamesh carries the remaining humans in search of a habitable planet as a last hail mary. Eventually, they come across a planet that is hospitable, but already occupied by sentient spiders.
It is in the long span of generations, as we are given glimpses of each pivotal moment in spider evolution, where we begin to see the whole image take shape. The gilgamesh, meanwhile, faces the most nascent challenge since the beginning of human civilisation: themselves.
Who will inherit this new earth?
I wish to make a particular comment on how cleverly the society of these sentient spiders is built for it mirrors our own world in such a clever way—familiar, but different. By making it a matriarchal society, there is a subtle (or perhaps not so subtle) commentary on humanity's own sexism and how our hubris holds us back as a species.
Amazing world building. Look forward to eventually returning and reading the sequel....more
Lies of Locke Lamora is everything I was promised and so much more.
I was told that the audiobook is spectacular and oh boy were people not kidding aboLies of Locke Lamora is everything I was promised and so much more.
I was told that the audiobook is spectacular and oh boy were people not kidding about that. The audiobook is truly such a phenomenal performance which perfectly encapsulates the characters and their journey.
I laughed and laughed and I found myself cheering on our cast of professional thieves. They saw their stealing as not a means to an end, but rather the end itself. They were good at it and took pride.
It was the sudden introduction of the grey king which suddenly shifted the tone of the story in a very welcome way. I really couldn't have had enough....more
A thoroughly enjoyable book which lost some momentum towards the end.
The book starts off strong with a lot of compelling motivations and characters. TA thoroughly enjoyable book which lost some momentum towards the end.
The book starts off strong with a lot of compelling motivations and characters. The prose is resoundingly strong and fits the victorian style/industrial age sort of vibe the book is going for. Out of the four POVs, some characters get a lot more screen time than others and some, while serving to flesh out the world, really were a chore to read so I can just get to the more exciting stories.
This sequel to Waking Fire serves to flesh out the world building in a way which, while exciting, can sometimes feel disconnected to the narrative set up in the first book. I still found it fascinating enough to keep reading.
I think my only complaint is about how my excitement for the book fizzled out towards the end when loose threads didn't really get tied up.
I'll still be reading book 3 but perhaps in a year? It certainly is not a priority.
In spite of its flaws, I most certainly enjoyed the book and one cannot deny how incredibly original the world is and that it holds up pretty well considering its age....more
I was really conflicted on what to rate Neuromancer. I don't think a rating system does this novel justice. It is clearly one of the foundational piecI was really conflicted on what to rate Neuromancer. I don't think a rating system does this novel justice. It is clearly one of the foundational pieces of literature when it comes to the cyberpunk genre. It was also the first book that was recommended when I searched for cyberpunk books (to satiate my recent interest).
First things first: Neuromancer is a confusing read, but that is by design. The prose Gibson uses here shows a certain dispassion for a world that has atrophied their emotional muscles. On top of that, there is a lack of detail to the world's descriptions and a disconnect to the events and people's reactions to them. True to the genre, Case is a hacker living at the very bottom of the human foodchain while the rich continue some version of the meritocracy lie. It is perhaps his experiences, and his noted aversion to his "meat" that results in this confusing but purposeful narration.
What we get in return, are some of the best one-liners I have ever read in a book.
Should you read this? Yes, absolutely. This book deserves its place as one of the classics in the cyberpunk genre. Just be aware that the prose may take some getting used to.
I think I'm one of the few people who enjoyed the book for its later half rather than the beginning. The first half of the book was still highly enterI think I'm one of the few people who enjoyed the book for its later half rather than the beginning. The first half of the book was still highly entertaining and showed Stephenson's great talent at seamlessly incorporating parody in a way that was still fabulous commentary.
The use of this highly effective pizza delivery service to comment on capitalism's obsession with expediency over quality (and at the expense of the employee) was fantastic. The fact that pizza parlors are also often seen as a cover for mafia operation where the pizza business actually became a highly profitable chain also brought a wry smile to my lips several times.
However, it was the later events in the book that really had me sit up and pay attention. (Spoilers from here on out):
(view spoiler)[I at first didn't know how to feel about the idea of hackers going comatose being they read code. It felt like really bad pseudoscience written by a dad who accuses their kid of downloading a virus when they were on youtube. But it was later on when the foundation of this event was built that I was totally into it. The way the whole story of Babel was weaved into it felt compelling and obviously really thought out. Perhaps there was a lot of info-dumping involved but I enjoyed the concept enough to look past it. To me, however, I felt there was a disconnect with the first half of the book and the humorous tone it had going to the point it was later trying to make. (hide spoiler)]
Thoroughly enjoyed it, but I don't know if everyone is guaranteed to feel the same way....more
Just like a good cup of coffee in real life or in this book, you don’t know you need till you get a taste. That is exactly what Legends and Lattes wasJust like a good cup of coffee in real life or in this book, you don’t know you need till you get a taste. That is exactly what Legends and Lattes was for me.
If anything, it makes me crave a lot more in this genre but I fear few will live up to the high bar this book has set!...more
Wow. I can see why there is such a big hype around this series. I already went into it with high expectations, but nothing could have prepared me for Wow. I can see why there is such a big hype around this series. I already went into it with high expectations, but nothing could have prepared me for how utterly engrossing the world is with a stellar cast of characters.
To me, the unsung hero is Zamil's prose. I can't quite place my finger on it but when there is talk of angels and higher beings, the prose takes on a quality that I can only describe as Bible-esque. It is also the way Zamil cleverly weaves in subtle moments of characterization during dialogue that really paints such a compelling story.
The story itself is told from two POVs of opposing forces. I appreciate the fresh take on a medieval setting based on the middle-east rather than your typical medieval fantasy and with that, comes a typically unexplored world of Djinn and lovecraftian angel-like beings.
This book is a high recommend from me and I look forward to continuing the series. ...more
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