grid's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars. There were a bunch of interesting novels here. Kind of a shame in my opinion that they were all mashed up together, and that so many of them were fragmented and unsatisfying. At its best Robinson's prose is beautifully poetic, but at its worst, it's pretty near unreadable. This novel was probably about 2% of both, I think, with the unreadable stuff mostly segmented into chapters helpfully labeled "lists". Unfortunately, there were some lists chapters that were on the other end of the spectrum too, so you never knew when to skim.
One of the novels was about AI... But while I found it one of the most interesting plots, it was likewise one of the least satisfying. I won't say more because I don't want to spoil anything.
One of the novels was about AI... But while I found it one of the most interesting plots, it was likewise one of the least satisfying. I won't say more because I don't want to spoil anything.
sirlancelot2021's review against another edition
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
glitterbomb47's review against another edition
2.0
I really tried with this book. I read about 2/3, well over 300 pages. The science hooked me right from the beginning - sunrise on Mercury specifically, as well as the descriptions of "terraria" (modified asteroids). But the fiction...much weaker.
The main character, Swan, was about 125 years old, yet was consistently moody, self-absorbed, and naive to the point of ridiculousness. She was floored when confronted by an evil act, genuinely surprised that evil existed in a "post-need" world. I guess she lived under a rock for 125 years. She was rude, abrupt and abrasive to everyone around her, yet everyone loved her and kept telling her how special she was.
There were some highly implausible societal aspects. Basically a world (or rather, worlds) in which all conservatism and apparently most religion had been eradicated, I think rendered so by technology, in Robinson's view. It was post-gender and post-family. People tried on genders, fathered a kid, mothered a kid, didn't seem to change them a bit, and at 100+ they were still wandering around the solar system debating the meaning of life. It all seemed pretty empty to me.
So I guess my recommendation is this: if you like sci-fi, read the first 100 pages or so to get a sense of the really cool world-building. I just can't bring myself to read more about Swan's angst.
The main character, Swan, was about 125 years old, yet was consistently moody, self-absorbed, and naive to the point of ridiculousness. She was floored when confronted by an evil act, genuinely surprised that evil existed in a "post-need" world. I guess she lived under a rock for 125 years. She was rude, abrupt and abrasive to everyone around her, yet everyone loved her and kept telling her how special she was.
There were some highly implausible societal aspects. Basically a world (or rather, worlds) in which all conservatism and apparently most religion had been eradicated, I think rendered so by technology, in Robinson's view. It was post-gender and post-family. People tried on genders, fathered a kid, mothered a kid, didn't seem to change them a bit, and at 100+ they were still wandering around the solar system debating the meaning of life. It all seemed pretty empty to me.
So I guess my recommendation is this: if you like sci-fi, read the first 100 pages or so to get a sense of the really cool world-building. I just can't bring myself to read more about Swan's angst.
cdeane61's review against another edition
5.0
Truly a master.
This book is a marvel, detailing the story of humanity at a pivotal time, the fate of the solar system moved on a certain path in the title year.
Great characters, great situations, a believable look at where we could be in the coming centuries.
Also beautifully written, and moved me to tears.
Highly recommended.
This book is a marvel, detailing the story of humanity at a pivotal time, the fate of the solar system moved on a certain path in the title year.
Great characters, great situations, a believable look at where we could be in the coming centuries.
Also beautifully written, and moved me to tears.
Highly recommended.
its_fuct's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
marians_'s review against another edition
adventurous
inspiring
tense
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
3.25
chamilto's review against another edition
hopeful
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
juliana_aldous's review against another edition
4.0
I recommend Kim Stanley Robinson if you like your science fiction hard and you love reading about technology. I love reading him because his books (and this one is no different) is chock-full of ideas of what a Earth and colonization of our solar system might look like a few hundred years from now. Don't read it for characters to love--he always manages to create some characters that you feel ambivalent about. I can't really say I connected with the hero. But the ideas!? Yes. The ideas.
thatonewhoreads's review against another edition
1.0
Ehhh this is one of those books that becomes a task to read it. I hate forcing myself to read a book but 150 pages in and I’m out. This just isn’t the book for me. It’s too hard with its sci fi, I enjoyed when there was dialogue but other than that. It didn’t hold my attention
thehighepopt's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Thought I was reading a thriller to only find out it's a romance. Still very good