joepasaran's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.0
nlatina's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
lapingveno's review against another edition
3.0
I'm not sure what exactly to say about this book.
The premise was remarkable and utterly unique: tracing of the long-term 'evolution' of humanity from post-World War I to something like 4 billion years into the future.
The delivery was so dry that Arizona looks like the rainforest by comparison; it read like a rambling history book (and this is coming from a guy who loves history books and who rambles as a second language).
In tone, it reminded me of the 'classic sci-fi humanism' of the works of Clarke, every Star Trek series, etc., but the final note was almost a bizarrely woeful optimism, blended, at points, with a quasi-pantheistic view of the universe.
In short, this was one of those books that is a really cool idea on paper until it's typed up on paper....wait....yeah, we're going with that.
5/5 premise
2/5 execution
3.5/5 final score
The premise was remarkable and utterly unique: tracing of the long-term 'evolution' of humanity from post-World War I to something like 4 billion years into the future.
The delivery was so dry that Arizona looks like the rainforest by comparison; it read like a rambling history book (and this is coming from a guy who loves history books and who rambles as a second language).
In tone, it reminded me of the 'classic sci-fi humanism' of the works of Clarke, every Star Trek series, etc., but the final note was almost a bizarrely woeful optimism, blended, at points, with a quasi-pantheistic view of the universe.
In short, this was one of those books that is a really cool idea on paper until it's typed up on paper....wait....yeah, we're going with that.
5/5 premise
2/5 execution
3.5/5 final score
lizardking_no1's review against another edition
inspiring
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.5
whogivesabook's review against another edition
5.0
This was one of the best books I've read recently. I'm a big fan of the author, as his novel Starmaker made a lasting impression on me. This was equally wonderful.
It's written as a future human explaining the history of humanity across the span of aeons. From our modern world through leaps in technology and lapses onto dark ages that persist for millennia. We rise and fall and rise again and we evolve and adapt and populate new worlds. And we achieve such feats! It's darkly hopeful. That's the only way I can explain it. Some of the future is bleak. But so much is spectacular and miraculous and it left me with such a sense of emotional motion sickness. I had to step away after it ended and come to terms with the fact that I will never see all of this play out. I have to make do with the span we have already had; from microorganisms to monkeys. Which is pretty amazing in its own right.
Top notch sci-fi. It'll make your head spin with the sheer scope. And it was written in 1930! Two billion years is over all too quickly, it really kept me engaged and I think I'll read this again and again.
It's written as a future human explaining the history of humanity across the span of aeons. From our modern world through leaps in technology and lapses onto dark ages that persist for millennia. We rise and fall and rise again and we evolve and adapt and populate new worlds. And we achieve such feats! It's darkly hopeful. That's the only way I can explain it. Some of the future is bleak. But so much is spectacular and miraculous and it left me with such a sense of emotional motion sickness. I had to step away after it ended and come to terms with the fact that I will never see all of this play out. I have to make do with the span we have already had; from microorganisms to monkeys. Which is pretty amazing in its own right.
Top notch sci-fi. It'll make your head spin with the sheer scope. And it was written in 1930! Two billion years is over all too quickly, it really kept me engaged and I think I'll read this again and again.
niallharrison's review against another edition
challenging
dark
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
jercox's review
1.0
This book has apparently inspired the ideas of lots of other authors I enjoy, and does forecast a lot of technology that we either have or that is on the horizon today. Impressive for a book written in 1930. That is the positive, and is why I fought through it (skimming was involved).
The writing is bad. Like reading a poorly written history that skips all the individuals in that history, resulting in a fairly dense list of stereotypes and generalizations that just aren't interesting or particularly relevant. It is a slog to read. There are only so many ways to stereotype future creatures that are vaguely human derived, and describe the features unique to their particular era.
Philosophically, I read this as very dark. Civilizations rise and fall - but the falls are very deep, and the rise mostly just results in another futile search for meaning and happiness. In between is deep suffering, meaninglessness, evolutionary cycles but not progress. Many steps either go backwards or could have just as easily gone backwards. Certainly no reason to be optimistic about the future. There is basically no meaning to life, every generation searches for it somewhat fruitlessly, and suffering is ever present and unredeemed.
I read it because it is so highly thought of by many authors I enjoy and respect. But no need to seek it out. It isn't for casual readers. It isn't enjoyable. And the ideas show up in many other places, so this is just an early example of them at this point. Would not recommend or read again.
The writing is bad. Like reading a poorly written history that skips all the individuals in that history, resulting in a fairly dense list of stereotypes and generalizations that just aren't interesting or particularly relevant. It is a slog to read. There are only so many ways to stereotype future creatures that are vaguely human derived, and describe the features unique to their particular era.
Philosophically, I read this as very dark. Civilizations rise and fall - but the falls are very deep, and the rise mostly just results in another futile search for meaning and happiness. In between is deep suffering, meaninglessness, evolutionary cycles but not progress. Many steps either go backwards or could have just as easily gone backwards. Certainly no reason to be optimistic about the future. There is basically no meaning to life, every generation searches for it somewhat fruitlessly, and suffering is ever present and unredeemed.
I read it because it is so highly thought of by many authors I enjoy and respect. But no need to seek it out. It isn't for casual readers. It isn't enjoyable. And the ideas show up in many other places, so this is just an early example of them at this point. Would not recommend or read again.
rcriii's review
1.0
One star means " do not read unless you are doing a PhD thesis in 1930's science fiction", and even then I'm sure you can do better.
I recently tried to reread this book and quit 1/4 of the way through. The writing is pedantic, and the racism is pervasive.
Do not read this book.
I recently tried to reread this book and quit 1/4 of the way through. The writing is pedantic, and the racism is pervasive.
Do not read this book.
ely76ch's review
5.0
Un senso di vertigine.
Il titolo italiano, "infinito", ben si adatta a questo libro, che non potrei nemmeno definire un romanzo in senso stretto.
Non c'è un o una protagonista.
Non vi sono le classiche funzioni di Propp del racconto. Non c'è un "viaggio dell'eroe" in senso stretto, sempre che non vogliamo considerare l'Umanità, durante la sua storia nel Cosmo, come "eroe" in senso metaforico.
Partendo da un futuro ucronico visto da vicino (l'autore ha scritto questo testo nel 1930) in cui vengono descritti i decenni successivi alla prima grande guerra, la riorganizzazione delle nazioni, della politica, delle ideologie, Stapledon pian piano si allontana come con una telecamera, ma non nello spazio, quanto nel tempo.
Per cui gli anni diventano secoli, e i secoli millenni, e poi decine di migliaia di anni iniziano a separare le visioni dell'Uomo nel suo pianeta, sistema solare, universo.
Fino a far scorrere via milioni di anni come noccioline, a mazzi. Dieci, venti, cento milioni di anni.
In una serie infinita di cicli, di morti, rinascite e ricostruzioni, di lunghissimi periodi "dormienti", in cui l'intelligenza sembra svanire nell'oblio per sempre. Fino alla sua rinascita, e così via.
Vertigine. Ecco quanto mi ha lasciato questa lettura.
Non c'è un protagonista, dicevo, non un nome, una storia classica di intrecci di trama, niente.
Solo la pura e cruda descrizione del tempo che passa e di civiltà che nascono e tramontano in infinite ere.
Un viaggio indimenticabile, mistico, sconvolgente. Uno dei più bei romanzi (se così si può dire) di fantascienza classica.
Il titolo italiano, "infinito", ben si adatta a questo libro, che non potrei nemmeno definire un romanzo in senso stretto.
Non c'è un o una protagonista.
Non vi sono le classiche funzioni di Propp del racconto. Non c'è un "viaggio dell'eroe" in senso stretto, sempre che non vogliamo considerare l'Umanità, durante la sua storia nel Cosmo, come "eroe" in senso metaforico.
Partendo da un futuro ucronico visto da vicino (l'autore ha scritto questo testo nel 1930) in cui vengono descritti i decenni successivi alla prima grande guerra, la riorganizzazione delle nazioni, della politica, delle ideologie, Stapledon pian piano si allontana come con una telecamera, ma non nello spazio, quanto nel tempo.
Per cui gli anni diventano secoli, e i secoli millenni, e poi decine di migliaia di anni iniziano a separare le visioni dell'Uomo nel suo pianeta, sistema solare, universo.
Fino a far scorrere via milioni di anni come noccioline, a mazzi. Dieci, venti, cento milioni di anni.
In una serie infinita di cicli, di morti, rinascite e ricostruzioni, di lunghissimi periodi "dormienti", in cui l'intelligenza sembra svanire nell'oblio per sempre. Fino alla sua rinascita, e così via.
Vertigine. Ecco quanto mi ha lasciato questa lettura.
Non c'è un protagonista, dicevo, non un nome, una storia classica di intrecci di trama, niente.
Solo la pura e cruda descrizione del tempo che passa e di civiltà che nascono e tramontano in infinite ere.
Un viaggio indimenticabile, mistico, sconvolgente. Uno dei più bei romanzi (se così si può dire) di fantascienza classica.