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hannahlee's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
This was really fabulous - it had everything, from deep world-building (that yet retained enough mystery to be interesting) to solid characters with relationships I was invested in, to evocative descriptions of the scenario. There is a unique, peculiar quality to sci-fi writing from the 70s, and I appreciated McIntyre's seeming lack of self-consciousness. This is unapologetically nerdy sci-fi written by someone who loves both science and story, and has a mastery of both. My only complaint is that I wish it had gone on longer!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Death, Medical content, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Animal death, Confinement, Drug abuse, Drug use, Terminal illness, Torture, Violence, Blood, and Grief
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Xenophobia, Abortion, and Pregnancy
kbhenrickson's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
This was better than I expected. The setting is very interesting - I’d love to have learned more about the world - and I really liked the characters of Snake and Melissa (and Snake’s relationship with her actual snakes). While I didn’t love the ending, I was really glad that Snake was able to save herself and Melissa, and the male “love interest” character didn’t show up at the last minute to save the day, even though he was there to help them after.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Child abuse, Drug use, Physical abuse, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Rape
snowhite197's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
This book has really beautiful writing! I could just listen to the narrator, read a description of the setting for hours! That is not something I usually care overly much about in a book obviously I don’t want to read anything where the writing feels elementary but this one just struck me as really beautiful. One more thing I will say, is the main character is pretty much a total Mary Sue but I didn’t mind too much.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Child abuse, Pedophilia, and Sexual violence
cordial75's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.5
Dreamsnake lured me in with its Nebula/Hugo double award, but I just didn't enjoy it. It's a novel expanded from an acclaimed short story, but, I think it should have stayed a short story. There were very few insights. The plot meandered from go this story to trying to get more magic snakes - a fetch quest. I don't think it aged well? The fetch quest, in the 2020s, as an RPG player, makes me sigh. I can say the world is pretty interesting. The concept of healers as snake-handlers has an allure and a beautiful aesthetic. This book covered some dark themes, but it just felt like it was there for shock factor to me. The ending was quick and predictable and tidy. When sci-fi was a new genre, I can see this making a splash as a Conan the Barbarian equivalent for women to feel less like cardboard - to press inclusivity into the genre - but it just doesn't hold up to the quality of sci-fi we have now.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse and Suicide
Moderate: Rape
sortabadass's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse
Minor: Pedophilia
asfaloth12's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
tense
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death
Minor: Child abuse and Sexual assault
mr_sosotris's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction
Minor: Child abuse
kbkbkbkbkb's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
inspiring
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
One of my favorite reads this year, Dreamsnake is both captivating and meaningful. This post-apocalyptic scifi novel is interesting in that the setting, while important to the story, is not a main focus. There is no explanation as to what happened to cause nuclear destruction or the discovery of alien life, rather, the McIntyre mentions they exist and let's the reader fill in the blanks in whichever way they desire. It's so refreshing to read post-apocalyptic literature that isn't entirely focused on the events leading up to the destruction or the violence that's everywhere as a result.
I also enjoyed the character-driven story line. Snake, right from the begining, is extremely likeable while still bring flawed. Her struggle with her identity as a healer is relatable to practically any reader. Her strong morals and persistence to accomplish her goals despite all the shortcomings she faces is admirable and instills in the reader a sense of hope and determination. Snake is, simply put, inspiring.
I would also like to add that another thing I enjoyed about Dreamsnake was the diversity of the characters. Sci-fi has been a male-dominated genre (both in terms of authorship and literary content) since it's founding. Its increddibly refreshing any time I pick up a good sci-fi novel with strong female characters.
I also enjoyed the character-driven story line. Snake, right from the begining, is extremely likeable while still bring flawed. Her struggle with her identity as a healer is relatable to practically any reader. Her strong morals and persistence to accomplish her goals despite all the shortcomings she faces is admirable and instills in the reader a sense of hope and determination. Snake is, simply put, inspiring.
I would also like to add that another thing I enjoyed about Dreamsnake was the diversity of the characters. Sci-fi has been a male-dominated genre (both in terms of authorship and literary content) since it's founding. Its increddibly refreshing any time I pick up a good sci-fi novel with strong female characters.
Content Warnings
Minor: Child abuse
omnombailey's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I first read this back in grade school and remembered enjoying it a great deal. I remembered so little about the actual narrative, though, and decided to revisit it. And wow, it was an absolute treat to reread this with older, yet fresh eyes.
The world is quite different from the usual post-apocalyptic sci-fi landscape in that people have managed to survive and thrive outside of whatever urban bubbles the upper crust has locked themselves into. There are subtle hints at what might have happened to cause an apocalypse, but even the main characters do not know for sure. And all of this is a delightful backdrop for the story of a woman who is A) not a young, delicate person, B) not some badass warrior, and C) absolutely capable in her own way and prized for her skills as a healer.
Snake was a gem to follow throughout the story. Her agency is clear and strong, from her knowledge in science to her sexuality to her latter role as a mother. It was amazing to read about someone who is older with some experience, too. And her story hooked me from beginning to end.
Some parts didn't work as well with me, mostly the whole plot point with Arevin. Then again, love at first sight in general just... goes over my head, so maybe it would make more sense to someone who gets that. It was the only part of the story that felt forced, which stood out a great deal against everything else that was rather fluid and organic. The prose aged well enough, but there are times when it's almost too simple and I wish the narrative didn't hold my hand to explain everyone's motives and concerns and reactions and so on.
This was a lovely treat. If I didn't have a mountain of books to dive into, I'd almost be tempted to read it again right now.
The world is quite different from the usual post-apocalyptic sci-fi landscape in that people have managed to survive and thrive outside of whatever urban bubbles the upper crust has locked themselves into. There are subtle hints at what might have happened to cause an apocalypse, but even the main characters do not know for sure. And all of this is a delightful backdrop for the story of a woman who is A) not a young, delicate person, B) not some badass warrior, and C) absolutely capable in her own way and prized for her skills as a healer.
Snake was a gem to follow throughout the story. Her agency is clear and strong, from her knowledge in science to her sexuality to her latter role as a mother. It was amazing to read about someone who is older with some experience, too. And her story hooked me from beginning to end.
Some parts didn't work as well with me, mostly the whole plot point with Arevin. Then again, love at first sight in general just... goes over my head, so maybe it would make more sense to someone who gets that. It was the only part of the story that felt forced, which stood out a great deal against everything else that was rather fluid and organic. The prose aged well enough, but there are times when it's almost too simple and I wish the narrative didn't hold my hand to explain everyone's motives and concerns and reactions and so on.
This was a lovely treat. If I didn't have a mountain of books to dive into, I'd almost be tempted to read it again right now.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Confinement, Death, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Medical content, and Stalking
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Infertility, Rape, Sexual assault, and Violence
The graphic warning for sexual content is not linked to the moderate sexual assault; the graphic sexual content is very consensual and happens with one character while the mention of sexual assault/rape happens with a completely different character (and how the latter is handled is very cathartic, but it's still a thing that exists in the book).metafiktion's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
I can see why this book was lauded for its time (strong female protagonist + feminist elements in science fiction in the 70s) but it might struggle to find purchase with a more contemporary audience. Kinda reads like a filler in a longer series, despite being a standalone book. There's lots of (potentially) interesting stuff in it — alien snakes, different social orders, the divide between have vs have-nots vs off-worlders, novel attitudes around sex & procreation, substance abuse & cults — but most are only briefly visited or alluded to. It was interesting enough for me to keep following the plot, but I wasn't particularly invested in any one storyline or element.
I also found most of the characters fairly one-dimensional, with perhaps the odd exception of the Mountainside mayor, who shows some growth/complexity. Definitely did not care for the central romance.
I also found most of the characters fairly one-dimensional, with perhaps the odd exception of the Mountainside mayor, who shows some growth/complexity. Definitely did not care for the central romance.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse