borjarno's review against another edition
The Songs of Distant Earth gave me the impression that I would enjoy Arthur C. Clarke's books. I do not.
danielgwood's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
xhoyenauthor's review against another edition
hopeful
informative
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
classicbe's review against another edition
3.0
3.5. Interesting premise and scientific basis, a fun trip to space
thymrman's review against another edition
3.0
This book definitely shows its age and you can instantly tell that an old school sci-fi author wrote it. From the start it takes a different approach to building up to the climax and events of the story, in a kinda meandering way that makes me question how any of these events matter until they suddenly do. All this leads to a very satisfying conclusion that works well, if a little open ended.
But it isn’t without any issues at all, most of it comes down to character relations and romance I feel. An issue most of the old school sci-fi authors seem to suffer, they are great at big ideas but rather terrible at people. I wasn’t really crazy impressed by any of the characters, they fit into place and did what they needed but never really felt like they did more. And the main character I instinctively dislike due to the way he handles his relationships with his previous wife and kid. It almost comes off as a man who got tired of dealing with something and decided to just say “well that was fun for a while, time to see what else I can get though”. He acts like he fondly remembers the old times and reminisces, but just left them and started a brand-new family. And never do you learn what the various family members actually think about what happened and whether they actually care.
Overall for me, this is a classic sci-fi story. Read it for the ideas and science and future tech but expect nothing at all from the characters or relationships.
But it isn’t without any issues at all, most of it comes down to character relations and romance I feel. An issue most of the old school sci-fi authors seem to suffer, they are great at big ideas but rather terrible at people. I wasn’t really crazy impressed by any of the characters, they fit into place and did what they needed but never really felt like they did more. And the main character I instinctively dislike due to the way he handles his relationships with his previous wife and kid. It almost comes off as a man who got tired of dealing with something and decided to just say “well that was fun for a while, time to see what else I can get though”. He acts like he fondly remembers the old times and reminisces, but just left them and started a brand-new family. And never do you learn what the various family members actually think about what happened and whether they actually care.
Overall for me, this is a classic sci-fi story. Read it for the ideas and science and future tech but expect nothing at all from the characters or relationships.
hansem's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
3.75
claire2305's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
bespectacled's review against another edition
reflective
slow-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
2.75
grgrhnt's review against another edition
3.0
Even when the idea is not so exiciting as his other work, Clarke use of sparse style to detail scicence is unparalleled and makes for brisk reading.
goodreadsspy's review against another edition
tense
slow-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
3.25