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mariw's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
oysterman's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
ria_sedai's review against another edition
4.0
Such an interesting read! It certainly wouldn't be called original with todays standards, but considering when it was written (1919) I would recommend it to anyone wanting to dwell in the origins of sci-fi, time travel and alternative realities.
Our journey begins with Terry, his sister Viola and his friend Bobby, as they inhale a strange dust and find themselves in a between-world and from there to a future version of Philadelphia.
At points I found myself smiling with these three and their adventures, bringing in mind a strange mix of Philip K. Dick and Alice in Wonderland.
Our journey begins with Terry, his sister Viola and his friend Bobby, as they inhale a strange dust and find themselves in a between-world and from there to a future version of Philadelphia.
At points I found myself smiling with these three and their adventures, bringing in mind a strange mix of Philip K. Dick and Alice in Wonderland.
danielledtetreau's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
maplessence's review against another edition
3.0
3.5★
This was certainly different!
& I have sat in front of my laptop for quite a while now, trying to think of what else to write!
Yes, we may have seen this done better but this was a very early dystopian novel & Francis Stevens (real name Gertrude Barrows Bennett) was a fresh & vital voice, writing in a genre that in those days had very few women authors- in fact Stevens was one of the first.
Stevens bio on Goodreads gives the sparse details that are known of her life - I would certainly like to know why her writing career was so short, why she (effectively) abandoned her daughter (not too surprisingly they became estranged) &, above all what happened to Stevens later in life. She was originally believed to have died in 1939 (the last time her daughter had contact from her) but a death certificate was found - & that says 1948. More googling is required.
So I enjoyed Viola, Terry & Roberts travelling into the future. Stevens created a very vivid fantasy world in Ulithia & a 2118 Philadelphia. Stevens shone with dialogue - hot tempered Terry in particular just jumped off the page.
I would be happy to read more of Stevens work, but dystopia & longer science fiction aren't really my genre & I won't be in a rush.
A biography of the enigmatic Stevens - well that is another matter!
https://wordpress.com/view/carolshessonovel.wordpress.com
This was certainly different!
& I have sat in front of my laptop for quite a while now, trying to think of what else to write!
Yes, we may have seen this done better but this was a very early dystopian novel & Francis Stevens (real name Gertrude Barrows Bennett) was a fresh & vital voice, writing in a genre that in those days had very few women authors- in fact Stevens was one of the first.
Stevens bio on Goodreads gives the sparse details that are known of her life - I would certainly like to know why her writing career was so short, why she (effectively) abandoned her daughter (not too surprisingly they became estranged) &, above all what happened to Stevens later in life. She was originally believed to have died in 1939 (the last time her daughter had contact from her) but a death certificate was found - & that says 1948. More googling is required.
So I enjoyed Viola, Terry & Roberts travelling into the future. Stevens created a very vivid fantasy world in Ulithia & a 2118 Philadelphia. Stevens shone with dialogue - hot tempered Terry in particular just jumped off the page.
I would be happy to read more of Stevens work, but dystopia & longer science fiction aren't really my genre & I won't be in a rush.
A biography of the enigmatic Stevens - well that is another matter!
https://wordpress.com/view/carolshessonovel.wordpress.com
grudgemental's review against another edition
3.0
Spent more time in wonderland than they did on what they claim is comparable to The Hunger Games.
katerina_kontesi's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
enidkeaner's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0