fusrodah's review against another edition
3.0
Turned out to be less science-y and more philosophical than expected, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. The ending did leave much to be desired though.
jzacsh's review against another edition
3.0
UPDATED: Okay, I gave this book another try. Liked it much more, revisiting it in a different mood. But still not a favorite book. I feel like there was huge potential for exploring the impact of this new Sci-fi future in people (longevity), but it ended up really just being a very abstract fiction about someone choosing suicide.
ORIGINAL 2019-11-16 (2 stars):
Couldn't get further than 38% through this book. The main two characters' relationship problem is kind of interesting, but then the main plot line (the science/research they're up to) is just not compelling enough. I just wasn't hooked enough to know what would happen next.
ORIGINAL 2019-11-16 (2 stars):
Couldn't get further than 38% through this book. The main two characters' relationship problem is kind of interesting, but then the main plot line (the science/research they're up to) is just not compelling enough. I just wasn't hooked enough to know what would happen next.
urlphantomhive's review
2.0
I got longer in an end-of-year sale shopping spree from tor.com, one of my favorite publishers. As a result, I didn't know too much about it before starting besides there being research on a space ship.
However, I could never really connect with the story or the characters. It is more philosophical in tone. If one can rejuvenate a limited number of times, is it more selfish to do so or not to do so? Personally, I wasn't convinced about the max. 2 times rejuvenation - it felt like a little bit a cheap solution to the question whether people would live forever now.
This one was not really for me.
Find this and other reviews on my blog https://www.urlphantomhive.com
However, I could never really connect with the story or the characters. It is more philosophical in tone. If one can rejuvenate a limited number of times, is it more selfish to do so or not to do so? Personally, I wasn't convinced about the max. 2 times rejuvenation - it felt like a little bit a cheap solution to the question whether people would live forever now.
This one was not really for me.
Find this and other reviews on my blog https://www.urlphantomhive.com
verkisto's review against another edition
4.0
Longer is a story set in a future where people who can afford it can "juve" -- they can reboot their bodies from their 80s to their 20s while retaining all memories and experiences they've lived up until then. Cav and Gunjita have juved once already, and Gunjita has juved her second -- and final -- time. The two are working in orbit on a procedure that will allow people to juve more than twice, but Cav is unwilling to juve his second time. His reluctance is causing a rift between them, which is widened when they capture an interstellar asteroid and find what Cav is convinced is life on its exterior.
Longer is an engaging treatise of life, change, morality, and love. It's a moving story that captures the readers through its characters and ends on a note that leaves you with questions, but doesn't leave you unsatisfied. This is a book that will make you think and make you care. It's a little dry in parts, because Blumlein writes about hard science, but the journey is worth it.
Longer is an engaging treatise of life, change, morality, and love. It's a moving story that captures the readers through its characters and ends on a note that leaves you with questions, but doesn't leave you unsatisfied. This is a book that will make you think and make you care. It's a little dry in parts, because Blumlein writes about hard science, but the journey is worth it.
quirkycatsfatstacks's review against another edition
4.0
I received a copy of Longer through NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Longer is one of those science fiction novels that'll make you think. More than that, it'll make you feel. I'm not ashamed to admit that Longer made me cry like a baby at times. It cut through me and forced me to view the tale on an emotional level.
This novel follows two scientists – Gunjita and Cav. Both are working on an orbiting space station run by Gleem Galatic. Their both married to their work, and are significantly older than they appear.
But there's so much more going on than that. Gunjita has become rejuvenated in her works, while Cav is drowning in doubt and so many more complicated feelings and emotions. Their journey here will make you question so much about science and life.
In this world people have the option to juve when they hit a certain age. That is, they can set back their biological clocks to a younger version of themselves. The earlier you juve, the more time you've lost. But the later you juve, the riskier it becomes. And one can only juve twice in a lifetime.
Warnings: This is a heavy and beautifully written novel. As such, it does cover some sensitive subjects. Such as human experimentation, and the decision to end one's life.
Longer was a shockingly moving novel. It was beautifully written and contemplated some of the most difficult aspects of human life and nature. All while having very strong science fiction themes throughout.
This novel captivated me from start to finish. And I did admittedly read it all in one sitting – I just couldn't walk away from it. I was tempted to put it down once or twice when I started to cry, but I so desperately had to see it through by that point.
In a way it reminded me of Death of a Salesman, but it had a stronger emotional impact on me. Perhaps it's because I felt connected to both main characters? I connected to Cav more than I ever connected to Willy Lowman. And I'm not ashamed to admit that both sides of the situation made me cry.
I'm still curious about other elements introduced in this novel. Bits and pieces that didn't have direct conclusions or answers. It was intentionally done, and I like that. But I still can't help but wonder...which I'm sure was on purpose.
I loved the debate that was raised in Longer. Subtly at first, but with more and more force as the novel went on. It's something that I've wondered and debated about myself. And I'm sure I'm not the only one. It's a great conversation started, if nothing else.
I still can't get over how much Longer impacted me. It was poignant and beautifully written, and it still took my completely by surprise.
For more reviews check out Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks
Longer is one of those science fiction novels that'll make you think. More than that, it'll make you feel. I'm not ashamed to admit that Longer made me cry like a baby at times. It cut through me and forced me to view the tale on an emotional level.
This novel follows two scientists – Gunjita and Cav. Both are working on an orbiting space station run by Gleem Galatic. Their both married to their work, and are significantly older than they appear.
But there's so much more going on than that. Gunjita has become rejuvenated in her works, while Cav is drowning in doubt and so many more complicated feelings and emotions. Their journey here will make you question so much about science and life.
In this world people have the option to juve when they hit a certain age. That is, they can set back their biological clocks to a younger version of themselves. The earlier you juve, the more time you've lost. But the later you juve, the riskier it becomes. And one can only juve twice in a lifetime.
Spoiler
Warnings: This is a heavy and beautifully written novel. As such, it does cover some sensitive subjects. Such as human experimentation, and the decision to end one's life.
Longer was a shockingly moving novel. It was beautifully written and contemplated some of the most difficult aspects of human life and nature. All while having very strong science fiction themes throughout.
This novel captivated me from start to finish. And I did admittedly read it all in one sitting – I just couldn't walk away from it. I was tempted to put it down once or twice when I started to cry, but I so desperately had to see it through by that point.
In a way it reminded me of Death of a Salesman, but it had a stronger emotional impact on me. Perhaps it's because I felt connected to both main characters? I connected to Cav more than I ever connected to Willy Lowman. And I'm not ashamed to admit that both sides of the situation made me cry.
I'm still curious about other elements introduced in this novel. Bits and pieces that didn't have direct conclusions or answers. It was intentionally done, and I like that. But I still can't help but wonder...which I'm sure was on purpose.
I loved the debate that was raised in Longer. Subtly at first, but with more and more force as the novel went on. It's something that I've wondered and debated about myself. And I'm sure I'm not the only one. It's a great conversation started, if nothing else.
I still can't get over how much Longer impacted me. It was poignant and beautifully written, and it still took my completely by surprise.
For more reviews check out Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks
tpanik's review against another edition
3.0
Succinct and intelligent, this is reminiscent of Waiting for Godot, but set in space.
This was an ARC.
This was an ARC.
kateofmind's review against another edition
3.0
Almost got four stars, but the ending/epilogue felt a bit abrupt. I might change my mind about the fourth star, as the book has a lot to recommend it. I need to think about it some more. Review soon at Skiffy and Fanty.
civreader's review against another edition
3.0
3.5*
Some interesting and cool ideas, good characterization. But for some reason it didn’t click with me as much as I’d expected.
Some interesting and cool ideas, good characterization. But for some reason it didn’t click with me as much as I’d expected.
evelyn14's review against another edition
2.0
Unfortunatley I was not a fan..
Full review: http://evelynreads.com/arc-review-longer/
Full review: http://evelynreads.com/arc-review-longer/
eriophora's review against another edition
5.0
This review and others can be read on my blog, Black Forest Basilisks.
Longer is a poignant, uncomfortable, and genuine snapshot of life, death, and the threshold between the two. It is simply written, but impeccably so – while you won’t necessarily find lyrical, poetic prose, you will find a thoughtful and intense discussion on old age, fairness, and humanity. There is a lot packed into this short novel.
At its heart, this is a novel about a man choosing to die. He has the chance to juve – to take a cocktail that will reset his body back to its peak – but is instead choosing to commit suicide by refusing it. Suicide is an intensely personal and delicate topic, and I was impressed by the tact with which it was handled here. Cav’s experiences rang true to anyone who has contemplated suicide in the past. It is an end, a choice, an embrace – yet at the moment of truth, Cav is pulled back when he can see the edge. I was initially worried this novel would be one that glorified suicide as sacrifice, but am very pleased to say that is not the case where Cav’s final experiences are concerned.
Most people with a history of depression have come to that precipice in the past. They’ve looked death in the eye, and saw it as a comfort. An option. An escape hatch. To Cav, it is all of these and more – it’s also a way to speak out against the unfairness inherent in who can or cannot afford to juve. It was painful to watch Cav’s slow decline, as he drew away from his partner, Gunjita, who had just recently juved. She, too, hurts and feels the pain of watching someone she loves deeply and dearly slowly recede.
While I did not love this novel, precisely, it was a novel that made me feel very deeply. I did not like reading it, particularly, because I saw myself at my worst reflected in it. At the end of the day, I don’t know if this novel is good or bad for those who are in a bad place in life. However, I do think that it’s discussing an important topic in a way that I don’t often see.
“Death was a journey, composed of little deaths, little steps along the way. Sometimes the steps were close together, tightly packed, and death came rapidly. Sometimes they were spaced far apart, and it approached at a crawl. Suicide offered a choice of speeds. it was the ultimate in self-determination.”
Longer is a poignant, uncomfortable, and genuine snapshot of life, death, and the threshold between the two. It is simply written, but impeccably so – while you won’t necessarily find lyrical, poetic prose, you will find a thoughtful and intense discussion on old age, fairness, and humanity. There is a lot packed into this short novel.
At its heart, this is a novel about a man choosing to die. He has the chance to juve – to take a cocktail that will reset his body back to its peak – but is instead choosing to commit suicide by refusing it. Suicide is an intensely personal and delicate topic, and I was impressed by the tact with which it was handled here. Cav’s experiences rang true to anyone who has contemplated suicide in the past. It is an end, a choice, an embrace – yet at the moment of truth, Cav is pulled back when he can see the edge. I was initially worried this novel would be one that glorified suicide as sacrifice, but am very pleased to say that is not the case where Cav’s final experiences are concerned.
Most people with a history of depression have come to that precipice in the past. They’ve looked death in the eye, and saw it as a comfort. An option. An escape hatch. To Cav, it is all of these and more – it’s also a way to speak out against the unfairness inherent in who can or cannot afford to juve. It was painful to watch Cav’s slow decline, as he drew away from his partner, Gunjita, who had just recently juved. She, too, hurts and feels the pain of watching someone she loves deeply and dearly slowly recede.
While I did not love this novel, precisely, it was a novel that made me feel very deeply. I did not like reading it, particularly, because I saw myself at my worst reflected in it. At the end of the day, I don’t know if this novel is good or bad for those who are in a bad place in life. However, I do think that it’s discussing an important topic in a way that I don’t often see.