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steveatwaywords's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
lighthearted
sad
tense
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? Yes
4.0
More satirical attack on early Soviet bureaucracy than science fiction, Bulgakov--apparently enjoying himself a great deal--spins a H G Wells-ian tale about a science experiment gone very wrong.
It's a short read, offering just the tightly-narrated essentials: one myopically stubborn and ethical biologist, his faithful but overwrought assistant, his also faithful but too accepting wife, and a bevy of corrupt journalists, corrupt and supercilious bureaucrats, antiquated and often negligent military, and superstitious and impulsive citizenry. What could possibly save them?
The absurd alone triumphs here, and this Kafka-like setting offers laughter and nods of understanding. The early Soviet machine may have been absurdly opaque and nonsensical, but Bulgakov's criticisms ring too accurate to our contemporary lives.
It's a short read, offering just the tightly-narrated essentials: one myopically stubborn and ethical biologist, his faithful but overwrought assistant, his also faithful but too accepting wife, and a bevy of corrupt journalists, corrupt and supercilious bureaucrats, antiquated and often negligent military, and superstitious and impulsive citizenry. What could possibly save them?
The absurd alone triumphs here, and this Kafka-like setting offers laughter and nods of understanding. The early Soviet machine may have been absurdly opaque and nonsensical, but Bulgakov's criticisms ring too accurate to our contemporary lives.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence and Injury/Injury detail
anna401's review against another edition
dark
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Death, Violence, Murder, and Pandemic/Epidemic
Minor: Gun violence and Blood
bluelizzz's review against another edition
dark
funny
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Violence
Moderate: Murder and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Animal death