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kuronekostea's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
I do like the ominous and creepy vibe showcased through the books formating but my head was spinning by the end of this novel.
I read the others in the series and several of Jeff's other books. SO FAR this has been my least favorite- yet, again, I could see how the complex plot, multiple timeliness and dimensions and twists and turns could be enjoyable for some one else. Overall, not bad, worth the read but not something I'd come back to.
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Cancer, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Torture, Blood, and Murder
paloverdepages's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
I saw a review somewhere describe this as a
Definitely requires your complete and undivided focus. I want many quotes from this book on my wall.
EDIT: Forgot to mention, in looking for a way to read this online, I found an academic article about it! Caracciolo, Marco & Ulstein, Gry. (2022). The Weird and the Meta in Jeff VanderMeer's Dead Astronauts. Configurations. 30. 1-23. 10.1353/con.2022.0000.
The article classifies the book in the genre of "weird fiction" and mentions a few similar books. It also explains a bit of the plot, so it's a good place to look if you want some clarification on things.
Moderate: Body horror and Gore
Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, and Cursing
sunn_bleach's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, and Body horror
Moderate: Death, Violence, and War
Minor: Gun violence and Sexual content
scytheria's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Torture, and Murder
aileend's review against another edition
3.5
Second half - 2.5 stars
Make sure you've read Borne before you read this! Dead Astronauts is abstract, vague, evasive -so although they both stand alone, Borne will give you an understanding of the world Dead Astronauts is set in and allow you to follow the unconventional style of this one with a little more ease.
The narrative voice and characters shift half way through this book - something I should have been prepared for, having read some of VanderMeer's weirdly structured novels before (like City of Saints and Madmen, which becomes an educational text about squid partway through). But I was so wrapped up in the characters of the astronauts that I was sad to see the POV shift and didn't get on so much with the rest of the book, which reads like a collection of connected short stories set within the same world. But then that's usually what I love about his books, that they always challenge and surprise me.
Be warned; it's dark and unrestrained, angry and grotesque, but stunningly (if confusingly) written, poetic, and holds moments of real beauty among the horrors.
Graphic: Animal cruelty and Animal death
editrixemma's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
4.25
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Death, Torture, Violence, Blood, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
ampharos906's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Death, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail
funcharge's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, and Violence
princehal's review against another edition
3.75
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Death, Gore, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail
irisirae's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
"Moss had made him fail in a way that allowed him to live, that gave some comfort, that was not really a failure."
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail