I can't believe I am now done with this trilogy! It has been a JOURNEY when I couldn't even begin to imagine where it would end up when I stated the fI can't believe I am now done with this trilogy! It has been a JOURNEY when I couldn't even begin to imagine where it would end up when I stated the first book, The Three-Body Problem. But when it comes to Death's End specifically, there is so much... SO MUCH to unpack, to consider, to think about. This is also the book where characters stand out the most in the trilogy, even the ones who only enter the story briefly, leading to some surprisingly emotional scenes. Not to mention, some of this hurt my brain in the best way, especially when we started getting into the different dimensions and the speed of light stuff. The only very minor complaint is about the length of the "fairy tales" section (iykyk) - I appreciated the concept, and I loved the idea of them being a part of the story, but it was the section I actually wanted to get past fasted. But that's such a small complaint it doesn't really count.
Basically, this book gave me everything: science, memorable characters, emotions, lots of food for thought, existential dread, hope, and a perfect ending. Remembrance of Earth’s Past is unlike any other book series I've ever read, and definitely one of the most mind-blowing sci-fi series out there!...more
“Yan Yan, do you know what the greatest expression of regard for a race or civilization is?” “No, what?” “Annihilation. That’s the highest respect a
“Yan Yan, do you know what the greatest expression of regard for a race or civilization is?” “No, what?” “Annihilation. That’s the highest respect a civilization can receive. They would only feel threatened by a civilization they truly respect.”
4.5 out of 5 stars
I'm so unsure about this rating! The only reason it's no a 5 out of 5 is because there were some glaring pacing issues in the first third and Luo Ji's dream girlfriend subplot, though necessary to an extent, felt so drawn out. I just think the point of all of that would have still been clear even if that subplot was half the length it was, and I don't think the romantic aspects were particularly well written to begin with. But this really is my only complaint though because OH MY GOD!
The Three Body Problem blew my mind multiple times, but somehow The Dark Forest went even harder. We have scientific theories and humanity scraping to come up with a defense plan, we have an insane time jump, we have a view of futuristic society... but we also have some serious sci-fi horror that will have you picking your jaw up off the floor and some next level existential dread. Oh, and the ending is simultaneously the most amazing and the most chilling thing. I need to sit with this one for a while, the whole Dark Forest hypothesis is a very... well, dark place to be. But also a fascinating one.
Basically, it's a fantastic follow-up to the first novel, and I'm probably not even ready for what's coming for me in Death's End. Especially with that cheerful title. Can't wait though....more
It's absolutely WILD to me that this was written in 1909! How could someone predict so many things about the future so accurately? Loved what the authIt's absolutely WILD to me that this was written in 1909! How could someone predict so many things about the future so accurately? Loved what the author had to say about the nature of human existence, not only as far as our reliance on convenience goes and what we lose when we choose convenience, but also more generally about the systems and structures in place that we agree to adhere to. Great stuff! Too bad this wasn't a full novel....more
Part The Murderbot Diaries, part classic Hero's Journey, part... The Bible? Believe it or not, that's the mashup here, infused with plenty of dry humoPart The Murderbot Diaries, part classic Hero's Journey, part... The Bible? Believe it or not, that's the mashup here, infused with plenty of dry humor.
This novel is certainly a journey! At the start, I expected a sci-fi murder mystery, and it's playful tone made me think I got into something light and fun. So, imagine my surprise when after a while I found myself contemplating humanity, religion, consciousness, purpose, and our collective relationship with technology. Service Model is a lot more complex than it might seem at first, and Adrian Tchaikovsky makes a simple premise of a murderous robot feel fresh and interesting. Who would have thought this was even possible?
However, it's definitely too long. This probably could have been a novella. A lot of the humor and exploration of the nature of humanity comes from the way our main character, Charles (or rather UnCharles), is programmed and the way he makes decisions. The way he thinks and talks is entertaining, but it gets repetitive very quickly, and at a certain point interactions just become predictable - you know know exactly how he's going to approach the problem, sometimes you even know what he's going to say next.
But it's still a very enjoyable read - the tone is light, the dry humor lands very well, and the characters are easy to like! Plus, I can't believe the insane development this plot went through, and the novel really surprised me.
A review copy was provided by the publisher...more
Too much Lifetime TV style drama and half-baked romance, not enough sci-fi. Very sad about this one, becausA review copy was provided by the publisher
Too much Lifetime TV style drama and half-baked romance, not enough sci-fi. Very sad about this one, because the premise sounded amazing: "a thrilling adventure across the solar that delivers hyperkinetic action sequences and irresistible will-they-won't-they romance alongside its nuanced exploration of colonialism and capitalism". Where was all of this? Buried under drawn-out drama that's happening to extremely bland and cliché characters. I did enjoy the world-building though, which was the best part of the novel. Korea as a leader of space exploration in a future headed towards utopia? Sign me up! Give me more of that! Sadly, the story didn't live up to its beautiful setting, and if I'm being honest the first half of the novel barely has any plot at all.
Ocean's Godori is another book I had to skim through after the halfway point - the storytelling and character work just weren't there, unfortunately....more
“Is it possible that the relationship between humanity and evil is similar to the relationship between the ocean and an iceberg floating on its sur
“Is it possible that the relationship between humanity and evil is similar to the relationship between the ocean and an iceberg floating on its surface? Both the ocean and the iceberg are made of the same material. That the iceberg seems separate is only because it is in a different form. In reality, it is but a part of the vast ocean.…”
I've put off reading this for a while because for some reason I decided that it seems like a novel that would be too complicated or too dense... I was obviously wrong. This is amazing. This is one of the best sci-fi novels I've ever read and I can't wait to read the rest of the trilogy.
The beautiful thing about The Three-Body Problem is how well it's able to blend science and dynamic storytelling. There are plenty of scientific concepts and theories discussed, but this is done in a way that's easy to understand and crucial for the plot. It's honestly brilliant. While characters can definitely take a backseat to the story and the ideas behind the novel, there's still enough there for me to get invested in a few of them. And the way the alien civilization is portrayed here... well, no spoilers, but I cannot wait to know more.
I don't want to make big claims too soon, before I've read the other two books, but Remembrance of Earth's Past has some serious potential to become one of my all-time favorite book series at the moment....more
I'll be honest, I couldn't even properly finish Ghost Station. I was so bored A review copy was provided by the publisher
What an utter disappointment!
I'll be honest, I couldn't even properly finish Ghost Station. I was so bored that I just ended up skimming the rest of the novel after getting through half of it, and nothing I saw convinced me that I needed to actually read the rest. It's not even an awful book, but it's just so bland and boring.
I'm not even going to talk about how this is another case of bait-and-switch from S.A. Barnes because, just like Dead Silence, this novel is marketed as sci-fi horror, but in reality it's a thriller. But the better question is, how is it possible to waste such a fantastic premise? An abandoned planet, a ghost town, a psychological syndrome that starts with paranoia but can escalate into murder... Sounds like a great setup for a sci-fi horror/thriller, right? Well, I thought so too. Turns out, this is filled with melodrama, corporate drama, and wooden characters, with a few tense, unsettling scenes here are there. I just couldn't bring myself to care about any of this - everything between those scenes was a chore to get through. On top of it all, the main character, who is supposed to a psychologist keeping the exploration crew in check, is clearly far from doing well herself. This is obvious from the very beginning, to the point that it should be also obvious to her. The fact that she's even out there, on this mission, is bizarre. Almost as bizarre as the interactions of the characters because this crew is as bland as it is dysfunctional.
The two stars are for the setting and the few great tense scenes only. No more S.A. Barnes for me....more
This was still tons of fun, but something about it felt more typical and predictable, more like what I would expect from an action sci-fi 3.5 out of 5
This was still tons of fun, but something about it felt more typical and predictable, more like what I would expect from an action sci-fi story. Maybe I'm just getting too used to the series, reading these books pretty much back to back, and need to take a break. I still enjoy it a lot though, and Murderbot is a fantastic, hilarious character. ...more
I keep giving all of these Murderbot Diaries books the same rating (becuase they’re all just good, sci-fi fun), but this one is definitely my favoriteI keep giving all of these Murderbot Diaries books the same rating (becuase they’re all just good, sci-fi fun), but this one is definitely my favorite, so far. ...more
These Murderbot books are like delicious sci-fi popcorn. Not anything super profound, but SO much fun to read that I have no choice but to binge them.These Murderbot books are like delicious sci-fi popcorn. Not anything super profound, but SO much fun to read that I have no choice but to binge them. Still loving how sassy the main character is....more
OK, I get why everyone loves this. What a fun, quick sci-fi story! I swear, this AI has more personality than a lot of human characters in books I reaOK, I get why everyone loves this. What a fun, quick sci-fi story! I swear, this AI has more personality than a lot of human characters in books I read this year. Will definitely continue the series. ...more
After absolutely LOVING How High We Go in the Dark, I was eager to read more of Sequoia Nagamatsu's work. Unfortunately, this short story collection wAfter absolutely LOVING How High We Go in the Dark, I was eager to read more of Sequoia Nagamatsu's work. Unfortunately, this short story collection was very hit or miss for me - some stories were great, some were a bit too odd, some we just not for me. Still, I really enjoy the author's writing style and the ideas he's interested in exploring, so I would definitely read his next book....more
"The flesh surrenders itself. Eternity takes back its own. Our bodies stirred these waters briefly, danced with a certain intoxication before the l
"The flesh surrenders itself. Eternity takes back its own. Our bodies stirred these waters briefly, danced with a certain intoxication before the love of life and self, dealt with a few strange ideas, then submitted to the instruments of Time. What can we say of this? I occurred. I am not... yet, I occurred."
4.5 out of 5
Unexpectedly, this was one of the saddest SFF books I've ever read. It's not that it was entirely unexpected, but seeing (reading) all of this unfold was just... sad. Truly solidifies Paul as a tragic antihero, even more than the first novel, and yet again leaves you wondering about humanity and our capacity for destruction.
But it wasn't all doom and gloom! So many cool things about this books as well: the political scheming, everything that has to do with Alia, the Thleilaxu and the Face Dancer business, Paul's humanity at odds with who he has become, and of course the ghola... THE GHOLA! Will I ever get enough of the Dune universe? Probably not. And even though this was, in many ways, the perfect ending to Paul's story (even if it felt a bit short), I just know there is much more to be told here, and I can't wait to see where Frank Herbert took this next!...more
What a joy to go back to one of your favorite book series and discover so many great stories! This honestly was way more than what I hoped 9 out of 10
What a joy to go back to one of your favorite book series and discover so many great stories! This honestly was way more than what I hoped for, and I loved almost every story, which is rare for a short story collection - I was so close to just giving it a 10/10. There wasn't a single one I disliked - just a few that I liked a bit less. It's tough to even pick favorites but I would say my top 3 are probably Meet Cute and Die, A Martian Minute, and The Persistence of Memory. Obviously, I highly recommend this to any fan of the Arc of a Scythe, and it will probably make you want to binge re-read the trilogy immediately - I know I want to!...more
So, I'm always looking for great sci-fi horror, which is why the second I saw the words "ghost ship" in reference to a sci-fi novel I knew 7 out of 10
So, I'm always looking for great sci-fi horror, which is why the second I saw the words "ghost ship" in reference to a sci-fi novel I knew I was going to be reading Dead Silence as soon as I can. And to give credit where it's due, there are some great, disturbing scenes in here - I was into this for a while, and the psychological horror aspect was definitely working for me. At points it seemed like a modern thriller version of Solaris but without the philosophy and the alien sentient ocean planet (please, read Solaris, it's a masterpiece). Then things started to lose steam, but I was hoping for a strong comeback. And then it happened. The big reveal. I wish it didn't happen because I hated it, but it happened. In order to not spoil anything I'm not going to say what it is, but I am going to make the dramatic statement that this reveal kind of ruined the whole book for me. I *HATE* when horror authors take an awesome, haunting premise and do THIS. So, now I'm just annoyed because there was a lot about this book I enjoyed. I guess I'll just keep looking for that great sci-fi horror?...more
This was a fun read, and I would expect nothing less from John Scalzi. I can't say that it blew my mind, but I really enjoyed the humor, the science, This was a fun read, and I would expect nothing less from John Scalzi. I can't say that it blew my mind, but I really enjoyed the humor, the science, and the overall story, even though the further in I got the more predictable it became. It's a good book for sci-fi fans who are looking to relax, take their minds off things, but still keep things within the genre....more
Blake Crouch is back with another entertaining thriller, and I'm so glad it's much more Dark Matter than Recursion. It's not particularly breaking newBlake Crouch is back with another entertaining thriller, and I'm so glad it's much more Dark Matter than Recursion. It's not particularly breaking new ground, there are definitely books and movies out there that approach this topic with more nuance and complexity, but that's not really what I read Blake Crouch for - I read him for fast-paced, engaging sci-fi thrills, which is exactly what I got from Upgrade. ...more
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