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snowlodger676's review against another edition
4.0
World-Building fascinates more than any other aspect of science fiction. With that in mind, Brian Aldiss has masterfully created a world both unique and internally consistent. In Helliconia Spring, Brian Aldiss moves among three different generations of characters, but his story-telling falls short in comparison to his world-building. The planet Helliconia is truly the protagonist of the story, and its "great year" determines the evolution of the societies detailed therein. I can never quite escape the feeling that the stories of the characters are of less importance than the change of the seasons. For those geeks out there (like me) there are appendices in the back explaining the history of Helliconia. I have read this book twice, and will probably read it again at some point. I highly recommend this book for those readers interested in exploring a detailed and fascinating planet. If someone is looking for a gripping story with strong, fascinating characters, I would suggest looking elsewhere.
theredqueenlinnea's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
slow-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? No
4.0
This book is great. I kind of went into this knowing that the main star of the novel is world building, but I enjoyed every other aspect too. I enjoyed the detachment from the characters. Instead of it being underdeveloped as some say, I read it as the difficulty in making a connection with people so far away in cultural development. I don’t think I personally have anything in common with a culture that sprung forth out of an ice age and have little to zero knowledge of equality, astronomy, or hygiene. It was really unique in that way. I also felt the same about the general story. It was so encased in a small arena and never left it. It really illustrated the theme of the characters not realizing there’s much else beyond their existence:
dzika_pistacja's review against another edition
reflective
slow-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
geekwayne's review against another edition
3.0
'Helliconia Spring' by Brian W. Aldiss was a recent pick by my book club, chosen after the author recently died.
The book is about a planet that orbits binary stars. It has a very long orbital year, which has strange effects on the inhabitants of the planet. At the start of this book, the planet is coming out of a winter cycle and moving slowly into spring. There are dominant life forms that start to struggle. There are cyclical plagues that thin and change the humanoid populations. Civilizations rise, fall, and change.
I struggled to read this book until I changed my perceptions. While there are characters in the book, this is not a character driven story. It is an environment driven story. It was tough to get through while I tried to find characters to latch on to, but it got better when I started to view the larger picture. The appendixes in the version I read are definitely things I should have looked at earlier in my reading of this novel. I ultimately enjoyed reading it, but it felt like a struggle to read.
The book is about a planet that orbits binary stars. It has a very long orbital year, which has strange effects on the inhabitants of the planet. At the start of this book, the planet is coming out of a winter cycle and moving slowly into spring. There are dominant life forms that start to struggle. There are cyclical plagues that thin and change the humanoid populations. Civilizations rise, fall, and change.
I struggled to read this book until I changed my perceptions. While there are characters in the book, this is not a character driven story. It is an environment driven story. It was tough to get through while I tried to find characters to latch on to, but it got better when I started to view the larger picture. The appendixes in the version I read are definitely things I should have looked at earlier in my reading of this novel. I ultimately enjoyed reading it, but it felt like a struggle to read.
innovatorium's review against another edition
1.0
Dreary and way to long. The life and dealings of the primitives is supposedly a back story, but it continues on and on, not enlightening the reader on the observers from Earth, which could have been the exciting premise of the story.
scheu's review against another edition
2.0
My opinion of this book seems to mirror that of other Goodreaders - excellent concept, love Aldiss, but it didn't feel as though the story was going anywhere and I don't have the patience to plod through the other half of the book, or the sequel for that matter, to get the point.
Nothing against Aldiss, though.
Nothing against Aldiss, though.
geekyawesomejen's review against another edition
3.0
Between OK and liked
Maybe more of a 2.5. It was hard to get through the first third of the book. I don’t think the bit with the first Yuli was necessary. I liked the character of Shay Tal although I wish her story had some sort of in. Seeing their society profess was interesting too, although the rapidity of it was somewhat hard to believe.
Maybe more of a 2.5. It was hard to get through the first third of the book. I don’t think the bit with the first Yuli was necessary. I liked the character of Shay Tal although I wish her story had some sort of in. Seeing their society profess was interesting too, although the rapidity of it was somewhat hard to believe.