ravixforlorn's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
_csharp's review
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
naresh_putturaya's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
egomaxima's review
challenging
informative
mysterious
tense
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
4.0
A very difficult read, but oh-so rewarding, especially for a sci-fi buff like me. Very excited for the potential of a big- picture reread.
lillist's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 stars - Solid, but a bit on the overly explainey side
I listened to this second part in the trilogy as an audio book (likewise for part 1), which is not my preferred mode of reading. Maybe this was why it took me so long.
But that was at least not the exclusive reason. I was very interested in how events would continue to unfold and I think the general premise for this trilogy is great. The plot follows a cast of characters over many years, several hundred years in fact, aided by cryo-sleep, while we watch the pople of Eearth react to an alien threat that is expected to arrive in several hundred years. What are the implication for politics, research, cultural and social change? What kind of direction will a society pick when faced with such a future?
However, I felt that this premise was bogged down somewhat by overly detailed descriptions of the physical principles behind events, plans or devices. I think the average reader of science fiction can be expected to have a somewhat solid knowledge of how the world works. At least I could have done with less explanations being spoonfed to me like that. Instead cutting some pages would have tightened the narrative just that little bit that it needed, in my opinion. And I usually enjoy somewhat languid pacing and don't need much in the way of action.
Also, there was an utterly bizarre love story involving one of the main characters. He basically dreams of a woman (And she is such a stereotype - the lovely flower: beautiful, elegant, creating beautiful traditional art etc. pp. Meh.) and another main character finds that woman in the real world. And of course they fall madly in love with each other. Sigh. I did make me wonder if this might be a common or traditional trope in Chinese storytelling though?
I did appreciate that a story written in Chinese by a Chinese author is told quite differently from what I read from mostly American autors. It never hurts tosee through eyes with different perspectives.
I was a bit lukewarm on this second installment in spite of the many great ideas Liu incorporates, but I am certain that I will listen to the third part as well.
(I am checking out Audible at the moment and picked this trilogy to test it.)
And a nitpick regarding the German audiobook narrated by Mark Bremer: someone really needs to coach narrators on the pronounciation of "exotic" names. He really butchers Keiko Yamasuki's name which makes me assume that he does the same with the Chinese names. Which is not cool at all.
(Another tangent: "Yamasuki" is not really a Japanese name, at least it would be a highly uncommon pronounciation of the Kanji 山杉 the name is written with.)
I listened to this second part in the trilogy as an audio book (likewise for part 1), which is not my preferred mode of reading. Maybe this was why it took me so long.
But that was at least not the exclusive reason. I was very interested in how events would continue to unfold and I think the general premise for this trilogy is great. The plot follows a cast of characters over many years, several hundred years in fact, aided by cryo-sleep, while we watch the pople of Eearth react to an alien threat that is expected to arrive in several hundred years. What are the implication for politics, research, cultural and social change? What kind of direction will a society pick when faced with such a future?
However, I felt that this premise was bogged down somewhat by overly detailed descriptions of the physical principles behind events, plans or devices. I think the average reader of science fiction can be expected to have a somewhat solid knowledge of how the world works. At least I could have done with less explanations being spoonfed to me like that. Instead cutting some pages would have tightened the narrative just that little bit that it needed, in my opinion. And I usually enjoy somewhat languid pacing and don't need much in the way of action.
Also, there was an utterly bizarre love story involving one of the main characters. He basically dreams of a woman (And she is such a stereotype - the lovely flower: beautiful, elegant, creating beautiful traditional art etc. pp. Meh.) and another main character finds that woman in the real world. And of course they fall madly in love with each other. Sigh. I did make me wonder if this might be a common or traditional trope in Chinese storytelling though?
I did appreciate that a story written in Chinese by a Chinese author is told quite differently from what I read from mostly American autors. It never hurts tosee through eyes with different perspectives.
I was a bit lukewarm on this second installment in spite of the many great ideas Liu incorporates, but I am certain that I will listen to the third part as well.
(I am checking out Audible at the moment and picked this trilogy to test it.)
And a nitpick regarding the German audiobook narrated by Mark Bremer: someone really needs to coach narrators on the pronounciation of "exotic" names. He really butchers Keiko Yamasuki's name which makes me assume that he does the same with the Chinese names. Which is not cool at all.
(Another tangent: "Yamasuki" is not really a Japanese name, at least it would be a highly uncommon pronounciation of the Kanji 山杉 the name is written with.)
rockspaperrene's review
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
tsitua's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
5.0
shaekin's review against another edition
2.0
Tried to listen to the audiobook, didn't get far before I felt like I was being read a textbook. I just Wikipedia'd the plot instead, and I think I made the right decision for me.
missyreads's review against another edition
challenging
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
3.75