dlberglund's review
4.0
Boxing, or MMA fighting, or martials arts, isn't really my thing. But this book is about so much more than boxing a zero gravity where the words floor and ceiling are meaningless. It's about how we handle the future, and racism, and geography, and differences that drive us apart. Its about pursuing dreams and working HARD to make them come true, even if only for a moment. I believed in Luka Carr and the decisions he had to make. Completely a worthwhile and well-paced book.
disabledbookdragon's review
adventurous
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
storytimed's review
2.0
THIS BOOK MADE ME MAD...
Zeroboxer never quite engages with its central premise: that the protagonist, Carr Luka, is illegally genetically enhanced and is cheating in every fight he enters. It also completely avoids the secondary theme of interplanetary political tensions. Nor does it dive deep into Carr's psyche, because apparently his special warrior genes allow him to simply choose not to self-reflect.
There are interesting things to dig into around the book. Unfortunately, the narrative lens we have is Carr, who is a shallow, unreflective bro. His girlfriend Risha is a prop, and everyone else he interacts with a stereotype. Nobody ever makes Carr confront the absolute selfishness of what he's doing—instead we get long descriptions of how hot he is and how cool his ad campaigns are.
Would have loved to have seen an alternate version of this book told from the perspective of Enzo, who learns that his childhood friend and hero is a fraud, or Gant and Risha, the Martians who stoke the flames of populist anti-Martian hatred for their marketing campaigns and then cannot quite control the beast they've created.
Instead we get super perfect Gary Stu meathead Carr. UGH!!!
Zeroboxer never quite engages with its central premise: that the protagonist, Carr Luka, is illegally genetically enhanced and is cheating in every fight he enters. It also completely avoids the secondary theme of interplanetary political tensions. Nor does it dive deep into Carr's psyche, because apparently his special warrior genes allow him to simply choose not to self-reflect.
There are interesting things to dig into around the book. Unfortunately, the narrative lens we have is Carr, who is a shallow, unreflective bro. His girlfriend Risha is a prop, and everyone else he interacts with a stereotype. Nobody ever makes Carr confront the absolute selfishness of what he's doing—instead we get long descriptions of how hot he is and how cool his ad campaigns are.
Would have loved to have seen an alternate version of this book told from the perspective of Enzo, who learns that his childhood friend and hero is a fraud, or Gant and Risha, the Martians who stoke the flames of populist anti-Martian hatred for their marketing campaigns and then cannot quite control the beast they've created.
Instead we get super perfect Gary Stu meathead Carr. UGH!!!
cook_memorial_public_library's review
4.0
Recommended by Vanessa and Mark. Check our catalog: https://encore.cooklib.org/iii/encore/search/C__Szeroboxer%20lee__Orightresult__U?lang=eng&suite=gold
dangitall's review against another edition
2.75
Spoiler
A teen in the future is a promising young zeroboxer, a zero-G MMA style sport. As he is coming into the peak of his career, he discovered his genome was illegally modified before his birth and struggles with the consequences of this on him, his career, and those he loves.This was mostly fun to read, Lee writes good action sequences and does a good job exploring what the mechanics of a zero-G fighting sport could look like. Much of the rest of the story feels kind of thin, though. Carr often seems to be able to put his genetic modifications out of his mind completely as he competes for the title and beyond. This could be chalked up to him being young, but it isn’t addressed and it feels like it is ignored as a plot element until it is needed. The mother is a weak character and seems completely unaware of the consequences of her actions. Mr R.’s motivations aren’t developed beyond “evil genius” and his failure to anticipate Carr’s reactions to his threat of Risha seem daft. Not especially satisfying overall.
mjfmjfmjf's review
4.0
Okay so I'm back reading for the Endeavour Award. But after listening to the author at Sasquan and Orycon, I was curious to read her book. And it's actually a pretty good one, even if it is a boxing book. Well actually more like a MMA book with some ya elements and a pretty good twist on a Gattaca like theme. Definitely a crime described that I could see happening some day but not one I've seen heard anyone mention before. The characters were all reasonably likable though Luka's relationship with Risha didn't completely work. The action in the cube was pretty good as far as I can tell but mostly I didn't try to follow it to closely - and it never detracted from the story. I would be curious to read more of the author.
imiji's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
really interesting to see the starting point of one of my favorite authors. i WISH there had been more range here -- the characters feel like cardboard cutouts and the plot is uneven, with an ending that feels distinctly like a cop-out after the fascinating political questions the book brings up within its world. women are written especially poorly and the stance on eugenics is NOT thought through :') but this does bring fonda lee's characteristic knife-sharp perspective and loving attention to detail on worldbuilding, her amazing corporeality in fight scenes, her consuming observational lens when it comes to the nature of passion and sacrifice in service to a craft.
meetyouineveryplace's review
adventurous
emotional
reflective
tense
fast-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? It's complicated
3.75
northship's review
4.0
i don't often read sports fiction, but i really liked this young adult novel set on a floating space station. as a first note, i thought the world building and details were unique enough that they were really cool and interesting but not too outlandish that they were outside of the realm of possibility. particularly the way that genetic modifications/particularly the martians were handled. additionally, the sport of zeroboxing sounded amazing and i would love to be able to see a match in real life, if i could.
carr is a sympathetic main character; you can really understand his motiviations, his hard work, his love of the sport, and his conflicts as they arrive in his life later on. i hope this isn't the only book lee chooses to write in this setting, but it is even satisfying as a standalone.
carr is a sympathetic main character; you can really understand his motiviations, his hard work, his love of the sport, and his conflicts as they arrive in his life later on. i hope this isn't the only book lee chooses to write in this setting, but it is even satisfying as a standalone.
fuschia_meerkat's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.5
fonda lee wtf was that bestie