composed's review against another edition
5.0
Me, a little ways in: This is the most fun amnesia plot since Zelazny.
Me, nearly done: OH SHIIIIIT!
This isn’t a spoiler for much, but... wow, multiple sociopath characters who are all relatable/likable?
Me, nearly done: OH SHIIIIIT!
This isn’t a spoiler for much, but... wow, multiple sociopath characters who are all relatable/likable?
rossbm's review against another edition
4.0
(read as ebook)
Compared to Revelation Space, Reynold's first published book and first that I read, Chasm City is slightly less epic, but no less riveting. Chasm City is set in the same universe as Revelation Space, but a few (50?) years before. It has connections to the larger conflict introduced in Revelation Space, but is more focused on the story of one man, Tanner Mirabel, from whom perspective the book is narrated.
In some ways, it's a kind of 'noire detective' novel. The book does a good job of hinting at some things so you can feel clever for figuring them out before they are fully exposed. There are some info dumps that aren't too subtle, but the world is interesting and well developed.
Compared to Revelation Space, Reynold's first published book and first that I read, Chasm City is slightly less epic, but no less riveting. Chasm City is set in the same universe as Revelation Space, but a few (50?) years before. It has connections to the larger conflict introduced in Revelation Space, but is more focused on the story of one man, Tanner Mirabel, from whom perspective the book is narrated.
In some ways, it's a kind of 'noire detective' novel. The book does a good job of hinting at some things so you can feel clever for figuring them out before they are fully exposed. There are some info dumps that aren't too subtle, but the world is interesting and well developed.
elusivity's review against another edition
2.0
This novel tried my patience. It was a struggle to plough through these 600+ pages, with seemingly no payoff at the end to warrant reams and reams of not-particularly-active "action" and a plot twist that could be seen a thousand miles away.
Too much description, scenery-setting, exposition, people talking without purpose. Too many damned words that contributes little to the reader's understanding of the world, its history, etc. Ultimate fail: what should be background overwhelms the foreground.
And the HOKEY DIALOGUE! along the lines of "Ha ha, I am eeevil, this is my eevil plan, now whatcha gonna do about it?" "You won't get away with this!" "Oh but I will! Watch me!" Really?!
The characters, the characters. A loose collection of cardboard to hang dialogue on. They do not live, nor breathe, nor have any life of their own aside from the author's every manipulation.
And finally, I take issue with the moral stance encapsulated in the plot. If the question is, How much good must an evil man do to redeem himself? where was the "good" done to warrant that redemption?*
The author is attempting a complex untrustworthy-narrator story. The potential exists buried deep within, but this novel does not successfully convey the nuanced dissonance that raises red flags for readers to follow. Instead, it is clumsy; events are either melodramatically telegraphed or arose seemingly out of no where.
I give it TWO STARS for further delving into the Revelation Space world, and for being well-written at a sentence-by-sentence level, but needs much editing and plot-tightening to become a truly engaging novel.
SPOILER RANT
*Well, if the transformation is from sociopath with a Vision, to smaller-time weapons dealer who arguably killed more people and was even more sadistic to boot, to taking on another personality that is bent on a revenge killing... How has this man changed to warrant his continued life and the final chapters describing him in terms of the redeemed anti-hero?! So he changed from someone who would torture a subordinate to death for a well-intentioned mistake, to someone who would still kill and kill, but now occasionally has twinges of conscience. Wow... what transformations! So the elaborate human-hunting game in Chasm City is his attempt to "equalize the playing field" between Canopy & Mulch. What a humanitarian.
Too much description, scenery-setting, exposition, people talking without purpose. Too many damned words that contributes little to the reader's understanding of the world, its history, etc. Ultimate fail: what should be background overwhelms the foreground.
And the HOKEY DIALOGUE! along the lines of "Ha ha, I am eeevil, this is my eevil plan, now whatcha gonna do about it?" "You won't get away with this!" "Oh but I will! Watch me!" Really?!
The characters, the characters. A loose collection of cardboard to hang dialogue on. They do not live, nor breathe, nor have any life of their own aside from the author's every manipulation.
And finally, I take issue with the moral stance encapsulated in the plot. If the question is, How much good must an evil man do to redeem himself? where was the "good" done to warrant that redemption?*
The author is attempting a complex untrustworthy-narrator story. The potential exists buried deep within, but this novel does not successfully convey the nuanced dissonance that raises red flags for readers to follow. Instead, it is clumsy; events are either melodramatically telegraphed or arose seemingly out of no where.
I give it TWO STARS for further delving into the Revelation Space world, and for being well-written at a sentence-by-sentence level, but needs much editing and plot-tightening to become a truly engaging novel.
SPOILER RANT
*Well, if the transformation is from sociopath with a Vision, to smaller-time weapons dealer who arguably killed more people and was even more sadistic to boot, to taking on another personality that is bent on a revenge killing... How has this man changed to warrant his continued life and the final chapters describing him in terms of the redeemed anti-hero?! So he changed from someone who would torture a subordinate to death for a well-intentioned mistake, to someone who would still kill and kill, but now occasionally has twinges of conscience. Wow... what transformations! So the elaborate human-hunting game in Chasm City is his attempt to "equalize the playing field" between Canopy & Mulch. What a humanitarian.
gyttja's review against another edition
3.0
Bra berättelse men så mycket onödigt fluff som inte för handlingen framåt. Misstänker att Reynolds verkligen lagt ner mycket tid på att bygga sin värld och vill berätta varenda liten detalj om den. Jag känner att det fungerar ibland men i regel vara när jag själv verkligen gillar idéerna. Känns som boken kunnat varit hälften så lång utan problem.
gullevek's review against another edition
5.0
Really awesome book, way better than some of the previous books (Revelation Gap, Redemption Ark) out of this Universe (Revelation Space)
peter_xxx's review against another edition
4.0
Another story in Alastair Reynolds Revelation Space universe. A story about revenge, identity and if mistakes in your past define you today. But covered in a story with aliens and alien creatures, spaceships, violence and a lot of tough guy talk :-) Very entertaining.
jvendrell's review against another edition
3.0
Interessant història d'aventures ambientada en un univers d'Space Opera, que millora cap al final.
trewqh's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
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? No
2.0