heliopteryx's review against another edition
3.0
It has a lot of interesting ideas, but was also really boring.
I did like the whole retributive versus restorative justice thing.
I did like the whole retributive versus restorative justice thing.
cdeane61's review against another edition
3.0
Very engaged up to a point. Once we got deep into the "country of the mind" section it sorta lost me.
I enjoyed the vision of Los Angeles of the future, and the hint of a police procedural set in the future, but don't really think it panned out that way.
This is essentially a book about the mind, and all that influences it, be it organic or artificial.
Will not pursue the rest of the series
I enjoyed the vision of Los Angeles of the future, and the hint of a police procedural set in the future, but don't really think it panned out that way.
This is essentially a book about the mind, and all that influences it, be it organic or artificial.
Will not pursue the rest of the series
jonmhansen's review against another edition
3.0
It's cool and interesting and there's a lot going on to recommend it, but it didn't come together for me.
catastrojb's review against another edition
It didn’t fit my mood at the moment - I’ll come back to it.
matosapa's review against another edition
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
annahlee's review against another edition
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
kindfulkirby's review against another edition
2.0
I've quit books half-read before, usually because they were bad. This isn't really a bad book, I just don't care. Neither the plot nor any of the characters are the least bit engaging. I'm not even bored by it, I... just don't care.
omad's review against another edition
3.0
2047 is ending and Emmanuel Goldsmith, a well respected poet has slaughtered 8 young devotees before disappearing. Hence begins a search to find him, and understand out why he would do such a thing. Several intertwined story lines follow a pd (public defence) investigator, a disgraced neural scientist, a friend of Goldsmith's, and an AI researcher.
I had a lot of trouble getting into this, due to a combination of unfamiliar terms and some unusual typographic techniques, used to indicate what a character was thinking. It made for confusing and slow going.
Fortunately, I persevered and thoroughly enjoyed the story.
I had a lot of trouble getting into this, due to a combination of unfamiliar terms and some unusual typographic techniques, used to indicate what a character was thinking. It made for confusing and slow going.
Fortunately, I persevered and thoroughly enjoyed the story.
marhill31's review against another edition
3.0
A good, solid sci-fi novel from one of the genre's best writers!
nichola's review against another edition
I dont know how to rate this book. At all.
The writing was clever and insightful but there were a few issues I had that are massive detractors.
My biggest qualm was about whether or not this book should have been written by a white man. I dont think the racial discussion was cumbersome but I dont know if this was nuanced enough and had the same level of depth that would come from a POC.
My secondary issue was how irrelevant and pointless Mary Choi was. As a cop, she was almost entirely incompetent and barely if ever displayed relevant aspects of her profession. Most of the time she is along for a ride in most instances of the narrative.
My last issue was the injustice done to Goldsmith. We never really find a satisfying solution to his dilemma and he never stands particularly tall in the events. He also never gets an opportunity to express himself.
Side note Fettel was awful and useless.
Overall I appreciate the craft of the book, but the ending was a let down and I didnt 'like' it.
The writing was clever and insightful but there were a few issues I had that are massive detractors.
My biggest qualm was about whether or not this book should have been written by a white man. I dont think the racial discussion was cumbersome but I dont know if this was nuanced enough and had the same level of depth that would come from a POC.
My secondary issue was how irrelevant and pointless Mary Choi was. As a cop, she was almost entirely incompetent and barely if ever displayed relevant aspects of her profession. Most of the time she is along for a ride in most instances of the narrative.
My last issue was the injustice done to Goldsmith. We never really find a satisfying solution to his dilemma and he never stands particularly tall in the events. He also never gets an opportunity to express himself.
Side note Fettel was awful and useless.
Overall I appreciate the craft of the book, but the ending was a let down and I didnt 'like' it.