nitar8's review
dark
sad
tense
slow-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? No
2.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Rape, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Sexual assault, Violence, Bullying, Child abuse, Death of parent, Child death, Death, Physical abuse, Police brutality, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Abandonment, Infidelity, Gore, Toxic friendship, Suicide attempt, Suicide, Sexual content, Classism, Medical content, Mental illness, and Suicidal thoughts
amaranth_wytch's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
tense
slow-paced
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Mental illness, Murder, Abandonment, Child death, Death, Child abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Gun violence, Adult/minor relationship, Confinement, Pedophilia, Pregnancy, Self harm, Sexual assault, Grief, and Violence
eoghann's review against another edition
4.0
This isn't precisely a sequel to Stephen Baxter's book _Flood_ because it's not a simple continuation. Or at least that's not all it is. In Flood the world is gradually covered (completely) in water and we get to see how humanity struggles with that. Here in _Ark_ we first get an overlap where we see how the Ark project came about and then we move with it into space with occasional touch backs to Earth.
We deal with primarily new characters here, with only a few exceptions and where Flood tended to jump all around the world and give us a huge array of locations and events, Ark is much more focussed. It is once again spread out over the decades, but the majority of the book is spent with the crew in the Ark and that anchors the book better than Flood was I think.
Science is never far removed in a Stephen Baxter book of course and on several occasions characters stop to lecture on one topic or another. Fortunately the set up here means it doesn't derail the plot too much.
The other thing that Baxter seems fond off in both this book and Flood (and in previous things of his I've read) is the notion that the human race is extremely adaptable. We see successive generations adapting both their language and behavior to the environment that surrounds them. The effect seems a little too rapid to me, but I buy into the fundamental notion that both culture and physiology will adapt if given time.
Unlike many who write about his sort of scenario Baxter's view of human nature is pretty brutal. We get to see all the worst of humanity on display over the course of the book and people get away with horrible things because fundamentally survival is all that really matters. Whether that survival takes the form of Earth 2, Earth 3, Ark 2 or the rafts on the surface, the drive is simply to endure and continue.
That makes the politicking that goes on on Ark 1 very interesting to observe if not exactly cheerful. But in the end Baxter does provide us with some hope. Along with a lot of unanswered questions. And for a book like this, that makes sense, because it's not really the story of any particular group of people. It's the story of humanity.
We deal with primarily new characters here, with only a few exceptions and where Flood tended to jump all around the world and give us a huge array of locations and events, Ark is much more focussed. It is once again spread out over the decades, but the majority of the book is spent with the crew in the Ark and that anchors the book better than Flood was I think.
Science is never far removed in a Stephen Baxter book of course and on several occasions characters stop to lecture on one topic or another. Fortunately the set up here means it doesn't derail the plot too much.
The other thing that Baxter seems fond off in both this book and Flood (and in previous things of his I've read) is the notion that the human race is extremely adaptable. We see successive generations adapting both their language and behavior to the environment that surrounds them. The effect seems a little too rapid to me, but I buy into the fundamental notion that both culture and physiology will adapt if given time.
Unlike many who write about his sort of scenario Baxter's view of human nature is pretty brutal. We get to see all the worst of humanity on display over the course of the book and people get away with horrible things because fundamentally survival is all that really matters. Whether that survival takes the form of Earth 2, Earth 3, Ark 2 or the rafts on the surface, the drive is simply to endure and continue.
That makes the politicking that goes on on Ark 1 very interesting to observe if not exactly cheerful. But in the end Baxter does provide us with some hope. Along with a lot of unanswered questions. And for a book like this, that makes sense, because it's not really the story of any particular group of people. It's the story of humanity.
spinnerroweok's review against another edition
3.0
This book is not as good as the first book, Flood. This is probably because the flood was such an important character in the first book. It does tie up things from the first book. I found some scenes in this book so disturbing that I almost stopped reading. If not for those scenes, the book would have probably gotten 4 stars.
reginacattus's review against another edition
4.0
Wow, what is it with Stephen Baxter and abuse!?! I mean, it is humanely and sometimes it is necessary to progress the plot, but it's like he has a grudge against these poor characters. Besides that, it was a great book. It follows the life of the crew (not really focusing on anyone but Holle, unlike the blurb claims) from when they are first selected to when they come to ground. Similarly to the previous book (which it is tied tightly to, but not so much that the book can't stand alone), it is bizarre to watch the characters age in the space of a few hundred pages, in this case going from children the old men and women. I loved the setting, although I think the children would have more deformities from zero-g. The writing was captivating, with those addictive short chapters. I just hope there's a third book, because the story isn't over.
wyrmbergmalcolm's review against another edition
5.0
The epic conclusion to the excellent Flood. Told adjacent to the tale of book 1, this story follows the story of Ark 1. Can't say more than that because of spoilers in terms of plot.
My thoughts.
I think the narrative didn't quite flow as well as it did in book 1, but was still really engaging. There were quite a few tense scenes that had me almost holding my breath. Once the story entered its second act, with Ark 1 underway, the tension was lost and the story actually felt a lot different.
In the end, I did enjoy the journey but there were some story aspects that I felt were ignored. Just done a bit of Googling, and discovered there is a ebook concluding the series. I struggle to read off screens so will have to wait for it to become manifest.
My thoughts.
I think the narrative didn't quite flow as well as it did in book 1, but was still really engaging. There were quite a few tense scenes that had me almost holding my breath. Once the story entered its second act, with Ark 1 underway, the tension was lost and the story actually felt a lot different.
In the end, I did enjoy the journey but there were some story aspects that I felt were ignored. Just done a bit of Googling, and discovered there is a ebook concluding the series. I struggle to read off screens so will have to wait for it to become manifest.
travelgirlut's review against another edition
3.0
This book was similar to the first one, Flood, in the large time span it covers. I didn't like how it jumped through large chunks of time and leaves you to catch up with what's been going on. And you'd think with so much time being covered you'd be left with a sense of closure at the end, but it was still left wide open. I felt after reading through hundreds of pages I deserved a bit more resolution. But it was a decent vacation read.
hooptron's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed this a lot more than Flood, the previous book in this series. I'm hoping that a third one is in the works since this has left a number of story lines that I would like to know more about. A fun, easy read.