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kirstyjmacleod's review
adventurous
challenging
fast-paced
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.5
A mind-bending dystopian fable with a heavy dose of social commentary. Great characters and high drama - dense and technological sci-fi.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Police brutality, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Torture
nanothread's review
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
A very cozy, optimistic book. Some of the best technical writing I've seen in sci-fi; Doctorow knows his terminology very well. It's the best exploration of the technical difficulties of simulating consciousness that I've read, and it's excellent speculative fiction on how society might react as soon as scarcity is no longer an object. The walkway philosophy is very uplifting. There are a few unexpected time jumps. Some character moments happen off screen which I would have liked to have seen.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Forced institutionalization, and Kidnapping
Minor: Violence, Blood, and Police brutality