old_tim's review against another edition
4.0
A big bag of crazy. But I mean that in a good way.
http://fedpeaches.blogspot.com/2014/01/a-monkey-cyborg-and-sf-writer-are-on.html
http://fedpeaches.blogspot.com/2014/01/a-monkey-cyborg-and-sf-writer-are-on.html
mwx1010's review against another edition
4.0
Total guilty-pleasure read.
This is even more of an out-and-out pulp adventure than the first book, with a pretty serviceable parallel world storyline thrown in for good measure. Terribly silly but a really fun read.
This is even more of an out-and-out pulp adventure than the first book, with a pretty serviceable parallel world storyline thrown in for good measure. Terribly silly but a really fun read.
gageofthegoats's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
otherwyrld's review
4.0
This second volume doesn't reach the heights of the first, but it is still a rip roaring read.
theartolater's review against another edition
3.0
Last year brought us the somewhat insane Ack-Ack Macaque, the foul-mouthed, cigar-chomping, artificial intelligence monkey that crossed over into our world to shoot things with its pistol and fly fighter jets. Of the things I didn't expect from the decent read was a sequel, but Hive Monkey is exactly that. While fun at times, it's overall not the most essential read of the moment.
The book takes place shortly after Ack-Ack Macaque, where our hero is now in hiding of sorts. His fame from the first book has driven him to piloting a dirigible of some sorts, and things are basically okay until a doppelganger of his programming arrives and takes over. It's up to Ack-Ack Macaque to save the world from his ultra-intelligent monkey twin that is using mind control to enslave the population.
As you can tell, the entire idea is extremely convoluted. The story itself isn't necessary, nor was the sequel, but it has its fun moments. Ack-Ack is a genuinely fun character to read (and I assume to write as well), but on a whole, the story just feels almost too light. The first book was good in what it was, and that's fine for what it was trying to do. The failings of Hive Monkey come from a different take on the artificial intelligence that doesn't feel like it fits in right combined with a story that seemingly takes forever to get to the point. The scenes with the doppelganger, for what it's worth, are some of the best in the book, making the rest of it that much more frustrating.
Overall, a decent, but not spectacular, sequel. I would probably still explore what comes next, but I wouldn't term it very anticipated.
The book takes place shortly after Ack-Ack Macaque, where our hero is now in hiding of sorts. His fame from the first book has driven him to piloting a dirigible of some sorts, and things are basically okay until a doppelganger of his programming arrives and takes over. It's up to Ack-Ack Macaque to save the world from his ultra-intelligent monkey twin that is using mind control to enslave the population.
As you can tell, the entire idea is extremely convoluted. The story itself isn't necessary, nor was the sequel, but it has its fun moments. Ack-Ack is a genuinely fun character to read (and I assume to write as well), but on a whole, the story just feels almost too light. The first book was good in what it was, and that's fine for what it was trying to do. The failings of Hive Monkey come from a different take on the artificial intelligence that doesn't feel like it fits in right combined with a story that seemingly takes forever to get to the point. The scenes with the doppelganger, for what it's worth, are some of the best in the book, making the rest of it that much more frustrating.
Overall, a decent, but not spectacular, sequel. I would probably still explore what comes next, but I wouldn't term it very anticipated.
mumblebee's review against another edition
5.0
Fantastic!! Once again, this book perfectly balances some pretty ridiculous characters and situations with solid writing and plot. I was skeptical about whether the author would be able to pull off a second book about a cigar-smoking fighter-pilot monkey, an ex-reporter with an artificially enhanced brain, and a dead man who continues to "live" through a digital backup drive of his brain. But not only did he manage to keep that going, he also managed to sell me on an even more ludicrous set of antagonists. There are few things in life I love more than an amazing book that makes insane concepts make sense!
jayshay's review against another edition
3.0
Actually a fun pulpy COMPLETE story. The first Ack-ack story surprised me pleasantly by being the rip-roaring tale it promised on the tin and this one does too. Didn't think they wrote books like this any more but Powell manages it.
jayeless's review
3.0
This sequel to [b:Ack-Ack Macaque|13547332|Ack-Ack Macaque (Ack-Ack Macaque, #1)|Gareth L. Powell|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1344396179l/13547332._SY75_.jpg|19128070] was more or less exactly what I needed right now: a short, fun, easy read that made a nice break from the more difficult books I've been reading lately. It picks up where Ack-Ack Macaque left off, with Victoria Valois captaining the ship her uncle left her, Ack-Ack Macaque working for her but at a loose end, and Victoria's dead husband Paul continuing his life-after-life, this time as a computer simulation who can be projected as a hologram.
The plot this time involves parallel universes and a creepy cult called the Gestalt, whose goal is to assimilate everyone in every parallel universe into the same hive mind. Again, it's very reminiscent of Doctor Who, but Powell tamps down the ridiculousness just enough this time to emerge with a more believable, and thus more engaging, book. To be clear, a book with a grizzled and foul-mouthed warplane-flying talking monkey still does require a fair amount of suspension of disbelief, but at least the Prince of Wales was not a major character this time, and the villains' motivations seemed more in the realm of what cult leaders really would do if they had access to the same technology.
On the surface I've given this book the same three stars as I gave Ack-Ack Macaque, but I feel like this time I'm rounding down, while with that one I rounded up. These are not the most deeply moving books I've ever read, but at least I had fun with this one.
The plot this time involves parallel universes and a creepy cult called the Gestalt, whose goal is to assimilate everyone in every parallel universe into the same hive mind. Again, it's very reminiscent of Doctor Who, but Powell tamps down the ridiculousness just enough this time to emerge with a more believable, and thus more engaging, book. To be clear, a book with a grizzled and foul-mouthed warplane-flying talking monkey still does require a fair amount of suspension of disbelief, but at least the Prince of Wales was not a major character this time, and the villains' motivations seemed more in the realm of what cult leaders really would do if they had access to the same technology.
On the surface I've given this book the same three stars as I gave Ack-Ack Macaque, but I feel like this time I'm rounding down, while with that one I rounded up. These are not the most deeply moving books I've ever read, but at least I had fun with this one.
hisham's review
4.0
Following on from the events of Ack-Ack Macaque, Hive Monkey is set about a year later.
The airships are bigger, the explosions louder and the cigar smoke is ... smokier?
Hold on to your flying hats for Hive Monkey!
I strongly recommend reading Ack-Ack Macaque before Hive Monkey. Whilst you CAN read Hive Monkey on its own (There is some exposition about the world in which it is set) - Ack-Ack Macaque lays a lot more world building on you, making Hive Monkey much more enjoyable!
Spoiler
Just like the first book, Hive Monkey is a fast paced adventure ride. This time around the Monkey has to deal with The Gestalt. a pseudo-Borg like collective from an alternative timeline.The airships are bigger, the explosions louder and the cigar smoke is ... smokier?
Hold on to your flying hats for Hive Monkey!
I strongly recommend reading Ack-Ack Macaque before Hive Monkey. Whilst you CAN read Hive Monkey on its own (There is some exposition about the world in which it is set) - Ack-Ack Macaque lays a lot more world building on you, making Hive Monkey much more enjoyable!
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