Scan barcode
stabilesero's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
As a female, yes, the tropes of a woman and how being a woman was a disadvantage throughout the book was a bit of a bore but it wasn't constantly shoved down my throat. It was mentioned to explain some of the characters. The use of girl rather than man when referring to female characters, I didn't feel could be looked into too much. It was the basic language of brutes.
This is the only book I have read so far with an anti-hero that I didn't immediately put down after 2 chapters.
It really is the sort of book that if you manage to detatch from the characters and think more about the themes and setting, it really is outstanding.
Graphic: Misogyny and War
Moderate: Sexism and Xenophobia
Minor: Rape and Suicidal thoughts
lelcopter's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Moderate: Misogyny
Minor: Rape
fletchie's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
If you're interested in an old school sci-fi romp that feels like it could've been written yesterday, then here it is.
Moderate: Body horror, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Toxic friendship, Sexual harassment, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
reddrabbbit's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Moderate: Misogyny and Rape
itsnicholaslashay's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Death, Sexual violence, Medical trauma, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Misogyny, Racial slurs, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Torture, Trafficking, War, and Injury/Injury detail
leahmonroe's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I mean, it's almost never dull - apart from the beginning of Part 2, but it's just my opinion, and it very quickly picks up from there. And the characters are all fucking nuts - or at least neurotic. I'd argue that the female characters could've been written better, but it's a novel from the 50s, and one written by a man, so obviously there's a certain narrative to be expected and it could've been a lot worse. Gully Foyle is a character that naturally you don't cheer for, but that's good, because Bester proves here that you can write a good book with a protagonist whose fate you still care about even though you wouldn't be friends with him. Also, there's quite a lot of funny dialogue in this, which actually made me laugh! In a sci-fi novel! Who knew?
I found the world-building to be really interesting, one that I would happily read more about. Though if you think about it, Bester didn't go super crazy with his 'future' - it's the 25th century, and apart from jaunting (teleportation), a few gadgets here and there, there's nothing too extravagant. I mean, the guy goes five hundred years into the future and he goes this easy? Luckily the plot and the overall politics prove to be captivating enough for this kind of lackluster future not to baffle the reader. I like that he explained certain issues connected with the development of teleportation and he answered the key questions, not all of them though, so we're still left with stuff to ponder about. Jaunting was introduced and incorporated into the novel well enough for me to love the concept to bits.
The pace was a bit uneven, but still, for this kind of length and plot density we got a lot out of The Stars My Destination.
Moderate: Misogyny
torpidcup's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Graphic: Confinement, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, and Forced institutionalization
Moderate: Bullying, Death, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Toxic relationship, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, and Murder
Minor: Ableism, Addiction, Drug use, Sexism, and Violence