kejadlen's review against another edition
3.0
Incredibly fascinating premise, but I didn't really want to spend the time to truly grok the science behind this universe. Not sure who the target audience for this book is, but I enjoyed the concept enough to skim it.
megmcardle's review against another edition
2.0
Hard SF is not usually my favorite subgenre, and the reason is frankly that I don't like to wallow in the science. Don't get me wrong, I like the science to be plausible, but if it has too much boring explication of higher math and physics, I think the narrative suffers. I abandoned this one because not only was there a fair amount of physics, it was MADE UP PHYSICS. Interesting? Maybe to those interested in how physics really works, but I just could get into the story OR the science.
survivalisinsufficient's review against another edition
I didn't finish this one, but not because it wasn't good. It's just very hard sci-fi, too much (fictional) science for me. It was a bit like reading a textbook, and that's not what I look for in a fiction book.
carolined314's review against another edition
3.0
This book is littered with diagrams meant to explore alternate universe physics. Cool, right? Well, flip through and make sure you can make sense of them before you get into the story. Not that you must understand the alternate physics to enjoy the story; but it helps. The critters in this book are fundamentally alien, although also scholars and engineers.
As a light philosophy text and physics game, I found it amusing. As a work of fiction, both jumpy and dry. However, there's some interesting feminism and sensory description that occasionally made me sit up and say, "Wow."
As a light philosophy text and physics game, I found it amusing. As a work of fiction, both jumpy and dry. However, there's some interesting feminism and sensory description that occasionally made me sit up and say, "Wow."
kateofmind's review against another edition
5.0
Long form review on my blog (see my author page). In short: OMG, this book hurt and maybe broke my brain with the physics, but the story and the species kept me fascinated. I want to bone up pretty seriously and read this again, someday. Best book I've read this year so far!
jamiebarrows's review against another edition
1.0
Hated it. Usually I can finish a book even if I don't like it much, but in this case I just couldn't do it. Just felt like I was reading a physics textbook set in a fictional world with a thin story wrapped around it. And it wasn't even educational since the physics was all made up for the fictional world.
5wamp_creature's review against another edition
3.0
Is it my fault the physics keeps going over my head? The thing is, I can't even see how the discussions of light/particle physics could be relevant to later installments of the trilogy. I can't grasp the concepts. Anyway, I hope book II is more on plot and less on physics lecturing. I am sad to admit I found myself skimming/skipping. I am really interested in seeing how the story progresses.