jobatkin's review against another edition
4.0
It took me a little while to really get the setting and characters in this book, but after the first few scenes gave Annabel a chance to establish her character and identity and I had a better sense of the overall tone, I really started to like it. I especially loved the concept of Doctor Faustus as the demonic ebay for selling various elements of yourself in exchange for ... well anything you can think of. I'm still not too sure what 'quantum' computers really do but the eccentricity of it appealed to me, as did the parallel of Grail to Google. Hugin Nineteen as Annabel's sentient server with mini cameras as eyes in her earrings was really well done also. The book had some really clever and original ideas and characters, and a tone that somehow managed to be both suspenseful and light-hearted, funny and serious, far-fetched and relatable. The plot could have been developed a little better but it was a great read and I would happily read more if it developed into a series.
raucous's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
I loved the first 2/3 of this book. It was a fascinating and creative take on alternative timelines. Given that I found the ending disappointing. I'd have preferred a longer piece that didn't leave so much unresolved.
flamesplash's review
4.0
An interesting short novel. It's a Detective novel mashed up with technology speculation and a little paranormal.
Where Penumbra was rooted in actualities that looked like scifi this is a futurist story with some absurd and some possibility.
Where Penumbra was rooted in actualities that looked like scifi this is a futurist story with some absurd and some possibility.
blburslem's review
3.0
I think I would have had a hard time understanding this book had I not just read another book that explained multiple universes much better. Even then don't think the story was wrapped up very neatly. I thought the intro story was much more successful then the larger whole.
ana_distracted's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
I think I would have enjoyed this book more if it was longer. I feel like the author had a good premise and a lot of ideas, but everything happened to fast and characters got introduced too fast and it ended up being a little confusing. Still, a fun read.
jelisela's review against another edition
5.0
Mr. Sloan, I am now obsessed with your work. This was excellent--I only wish it were longer.
synkopenleben's review against another edition
3.0
"Holy shit.", Hugin muttered after the climax of this short story. And holy shit it is indeed, culminating into a thrilling standoff between demons, quantum computers, electric detectives, long-lost love, and Annabel Scheme, accompanied by her trustworthy companion Hugin Nineteen.
There are some flaws in the storytelling, which don't bother me too much. Sloan writes a lot better in first novel "Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour-Bookstore", which was one of my favorite books last year!
3,5/5
There are some flaws in the storytelling, which don't bother me too much. Sloan writes a lot better in first novel "Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour-Bookstore", which was one of my favorite books last year!
3,5/5
jellybey's review against another edition
3.0
I have, perhaps, an eerie connection to this author I've never met: he has a whole book about computer programmers, baking, and a protagonist named Lois, and now this novella features a character named Aloysius.