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sminismoni's review
3.0
Goodness what a hard slog this was. This book is a thick brick of hard science fiction that was overkill in detail for long sections. Characterisation was good in the first 2/3 but confusing and weak on the last third. The plot also went from imaginative and reasonably believable to frank nonsense, and the suspension of disbelief required in the last part was just too great for me e.g. survival of the Pingers. Reading the last third was like having a dental procedure: apparently necessary, but unpleasant and painful.
everness's review against another edition
dark
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? It's complicated
3.5
tinyweasel's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.75
Normally I wouldn't review an audio book but I got this on Audible ten years ago and it's fucking thirty two hours long and I could not get through it until I forced myself this year out of sheer pathological completionism. I genuinely don't even know if I would have enjoyed it if I didn't torture myself in this way.
tipostrambo's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
4.0
mpickard's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
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
3.75
I loved the middle half of this book but it took me a while to get into it and the last chapter was the weakest part for me. I'd honestly recommend skipping that chapter entirely because the ending of the book would be wonderful without the jump to the far future. Unlike some of the other reviews, I enjoyed the technical details and it reminds me strongly of the Red Mars series.
mightymarce's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.75
lalawoman416's review against another edition
4.0
I'm glad the author decided to do one large book instead of a trilogy. There's nothing that irritates me more than getting into a good book and then having to wait months/years for the next part. And to be honest, if it had been a trilogy, I'd be just as disappointed with the third novel as I generally am with most trilogies.
So it starts with the moon exploding and humans having two years to die (not a spoiler really since this is all told in the first couple chapters). It's post-apocalyptical writing at its finest. It's basically the movie 2012 in that the leaders decide to build an ark - but this one in the sky to avoid the "hard rain" that's going to wipe out the earth's habitability. The second part is the survival of the "arkies." This is a very interesting part, politically. It's less about the science of survival in as much as the politics of survival. And part three? Essentially a an epilogue gone on too long. It really would have been enough to let us know that things went well enough for the survival of the human race. Instead, it basically is a story about how nothing changes but the time.
This is a hard science book. In fact, there are times where it's almost too much science because JUST as you're getting into the plot/storyline, the author diverts into a lengthy discussion about some detail that, while interesting, kills the flow. There were times that my eyes glazed over because I couldn't care less about a detail about a specific robot or ark habitat. But overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this books.
So it starts with the moon exploding and humans having two years to die (not a spoiler really since this is all told in the first couple chapters). It's post-apocalyptical writing at its finest. It's basically the movie 2012 in that the leaders decide to build an ark - but this one in the sky to avoid the "hard rain" that's going to wipe out the earth's habitability. The second part is the survival of the "arkies." This is a very interesting part, politically. It's less about the science of survival in as much as the politics of survival. And part three? Essentially a an epilogue gone on too long. It really would have been enough to let us know that things went well enough for the survival of the human race. Instead, it basically is a story about how nothing changes but the time.
This is a hard science book. In fact, there are times where it's almost too much science because JUST as you're getting into the plot/storyline, the author diverts into a lengthy discussion about some detail that, while interesting, kills the flow. There were times that my eyes glazed over because I couldn't care less about a detail about a specific robot or ark habitat. But overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this books.
bmonkey's review
4.0
Flawed, but generally entertaining. The shift to the 3rd act was a bit jarring and it was on the whole less satisfying than the first two, but overall this was still a good read.
lightiron's review against another edition
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
- 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