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rosalindpoet's review against another edition
4.0
i may write a longer review of this later but i literaly cannot stop thinking about “the lay of walmart”
scifispelunker's review against another edition
3.0
While enjoyable, I wish some parts of the plot had been fully developed. As long as the book was, there could have been more resolution. Fun concept, but there were things I'd have changed to make some characters more interesting and important. Overall, worth a read, if you'd like some light time travel sci fi.
glowfish36's review against another edition
5.0
YAASSSSSSS! THIS BOOK IS SO DELICIOUS. I read it so quickly I sleep deprived myself for three days straight. It was awesome.
I like almost everything about this book, the epic woman characters, the plot and time travel adventures, the long-winded humorous passages, the writing style, the historical depth. I may have learnt more history from this book than all my high school classes combined (which may or may not be a good thing since parts may have been tinged by time travelers).
The one thing I didn't like about this book? The cliff hanger ending. I turned the page, eager to see what would happen next, and in one fell swoop, I tipped right off the cliff and plunged into the depths below.
It's been weeks and I'm still not sure I've recovered from discovering that the next book is not published yet... or even in process. Please, dear overlords... take pity on me. I need to know what happens next.
sarahetc's review against another edition
4.0
Four and a half, really.
On one hand, I'm glad Neal Stephenson more or less stays away from social media and other venues to talk about this plans and his progress. That means we're never left salivating for the next in what we're promised in a series. On the other, until he really nails down how to end a book-- and we are at eight stand alone novels now and counting-- give us at least a clue that there might be a sequel.
The rise of the D.O.D.O involves army office and physicist Trisan Lyons identifying and hiring historical linguist Melisandre Stokes. He with the liquid nitrogen and her with the Sumerian find several other people to rope into what seems like a crazy scheme until they're at the Trapezoid and the reader begins to wonder just how deep the layers of time travel are in the book.
The pacing was fantastic because Stephenson and Galland have seamlessly written the shifting perspectives of three co-narrators across differing strands of time and space: first, Stokes, writing from 1851 about her memories of 2016 (or so); Rebecca East-Oda, writing in real time about 2016 or so while references Stokes's (and others') journey's to varying Strands of past; and Grainne, writing first from several Strands of Elizabethan London and then from one or two Strands of 2016. They augment the general story with military style memos and wiki entries from other, secondary and tertiary characters of that the novel reads half-whirlwind adventure, half-world's most interesting post-operation dossier.
I was pleased to see that it is nearly impossible to identify which voice is Stephenson's and which voice is Galland's. Altho having never read her I probably wouldn't be able to identify a particular style anyway. So I'll just say it was very smooth and my attention never wavered over word choice, sentence structure, device or any other point of general style.
However, given the many and varied late revelations as well as some of the hints seeded throughout the recurring trips to past Strands, I would very much like a sequel and I am sure I am not alone.
On one hand, I'm glad Neal Stephenson more or less stays away from social media and other venues to talk about this plans and his progress. That means we're never left salivating for the next in what we're promised in a series. On the other, until he really nails down how to end a book-- and we are at eight stand alone novels now and counting-- give us at least a clue that there might be a sequel.
The rise of the D.O.D.O involves army office and physicist Trisan Lyons identifying and hiring historical linguist Melisandre Stokes. He with the liquid nitrogen and her with the Sumerian find several other people to rope into what seems like a crazy scheme until they're at the Trapezoid and the reader begins to wonder just how deep the layers of time travel are in the book.
The pacing was fantastic because Stephenson and Galland have seamlessly written the shifting perspectives of three co-narrators across differing strands of time and space: first, Stokes, writing from 1851 about her memories of 2016 (or so); Rebecca East-Oda, writing in real time about 2016 or so while references Stokes's (and others') journey's to varying Strands of past; and Grainne, writing first from several Strands of Elizabethan London and then from one or two Strands of 2016. They augment the general story with military style memos and wiki entries from other, secondary and tertiary characters of that the novel reads half-whirlwind adventure, half-world's most interesting post-operation dossier.
I was pleased to see that it is nearly impossible to identify which voice is Stephenson's and which voice is Galland's. Altho having never read her I probably wouldn't be able to identify a particular style anyway. So I'll just say it was very smooth and my attention never wavered over word choice, sentence structure, device or any other point of general style.
However, given the many and varied late revelations as well as some of the hints seeded throughout the recurring trips to past Strands, I would very much like a sequel and I am sure I am not alone.
stannenb's review against another edition
5.0
The Rise and Fall of D.O.D.O is a Gordian Knot of a time travel novel. It manages to start in the 1850s which is, in the linear story, practically the end of the tale, which takes place in (one alternative universe of) modern time. That structure serves its narrative purpose well. You *want* to know just it all turned out that way. But this is a big book. It's easy to find yourself wishing that some of it had gotten pruned away in editing so you get to the conclusion faster. But it's a rollicking ride, with a satire of bureaucracy at the intersection of magic and time travel worthy of Charlie Stross.
knik's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
jcoryv's review against another edition
4.0
Listened to this on Audible...
Witches... Schrodinger’s Cat... ISO 9000... Time Travel... it’s all here. A fun read if you don’t think about it too much. But there’s lots to think about.
NOTE: First book I’ve listened to where multiple people voiced the same character. So if a chapter was being read by the main voice actor for Character A, “Actor A” had a voice for all the characters in that chapter. Then if a chapter was being read by the main voice actor for Character B, “Actor B” had a voice for all the characters in that chapter. Kind of confusing at times.
Witches... Schrodinger’s Cat... ISO 9000... Time Travel... it’s all here. A fun read if you don’t think about it too much. But there’s lots to think about.
NOTE: First book I’ve listened to where multiple people voiced the same character. So if a chapter was being read by the main voice actor for Character A, “Actor A” had a voice for all the characters in that chapter. Then if a chapter was being read by the main voice actor for Character B, “Actor B” had a voice for all the characters in that chapter. Kind of confusing at times.
legobitar's review against another edition
4.0
It drags a bit around the 75-80% mark but it is a good book. Not sure I would’ve gotten through it by reading by myself, but the full-cast audio is brilliant. The second time I finished the last 100 pages by eyes (not ears) because I needed to get through it quicker. Definitely helped having heard all names and acronyms for 20 hours before reading them.
aussiesff's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
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
3.75
drgnhrt968's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75