magicmirror's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
litwrite's review
3.0
This book is centered around a small southern community called Switchcreek - where, over a decade ago, an unfortunate and mysterious epidemic occurred which turned most of the population into 3 distinct groups of mutant-like 'clades' - The Agros, who are thin, tall, fast and strong - The Betas, the females of which can procreate without the need of any male interaction - and The Charlies, short, and fat, with males that have a strange side effect in their later years.
This one again suffered from the 'biting off more than it can chew' syndrome same as the last book I read, Lev Grossman's [b:The Magicians|6101718|The Magicians (The Magicians, #1)|Lev Grossman|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1313772941s/6101718.jpg|6278977]; although in this case, I am more than willing to admit that maybe some of it just went over my damn head. There's a reason I don't read much hard sci-fi. All the scientific mumbo jumbo and quantum physics just float about my head like those stars around cartoon characters when they've been hit too hard. Still, there was so much going on here, so many distinct storylines that never seem to get developed or finished.
I do recognize that part of the reason why Gregory might not want to answer these questions is tied into what I think is the overarching theme of the novel itself - humankind's desire to control our own manifest destiny and the growth of our civilization and species, and our fear of anything 'strange' and 'different' that might arise. But I just wanted some answers damn it. I just don't think I'm the right market for this kind of novel. I was left wanting in the end and felt like the book left more questions than they answered. Gregory is a capable author with interesting ideas, but I don't think this particular novel of his was for me.
This one again suffered from the 'biting off more than it can chew' syndrome same as the last book I read, Lev Grossman's [b:The Magicians|6101718|The Magicians (The Magicians, #1)|Lev Grossman|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1313772941s/6101718.jpg|6278977]; although in this case, I am more than willing to admit that maybe some of it just went over my damn head. There's a reason I don't read much hard sci-fi. All the scientific mumbo jumbo and quantum physics just float about my head like those stars around cartoon characters when they've been hit too hard. Still, there was so much going on here, so many distinct storylines that never seem to get developed or finished.
Spoiler
For instance, we never really find out what's going on with the mysterious substance that's leaking out of the Charlies. Why does it effect Paxton so differently than other regular humans? Also, why can't the Agros have babies? And why do the Betas have the capability of reproducing on their own?I do recognize that part of the reason why Gregory might not want to answer these questions is tied into what I think is the overarching theme of the novel itself - humankind's desire to control our own manifest destiny and the growth of our civilization and species, and our fear of anything 'strange' and 'different' that might arise. But I just wanted some answers damn it. I just don't think I'm the right market for this kind of novel. I was left wanting in the end and felt like the book left more questions than they answered. Gregory is a capable author with interesting ideas, but I don't think this particular novel of his was for me.
dana_dew's review
3.0
Hmmm... This book is a bit difficult to rate. <3.5 stars>
I picked this book up solely on the cover art.
Although... I did read part of the synopsis from the back cover --- which I almost never do--- so I had some idea as to the premise of the book.
The premise is basically this:
Small town in Tennessee is the site of a mysterious disease that 1/3 of the population doesn't survive and the vast majority that do are changed into one of three strains of strange new beings: Argos, Betas, and Charlies. A few people, including the main character, Paxton, are referred to as "skips" as they came through physically unchanged.
Pax returns to his hometown, after a 15 year absence, to attend the funeral of a one-time close friend. He doesn't plan on staying long, but well....
What comes next is a very unique story that has great world-building and intriguing characters. However, it doesn't really read like a biological thriller or a possible murder mystery, as one might think from the description on the back cover. And it certainly doesn't read as a horror or monster story as one might think from the cover art &/ or title of the book.
To enjoy the book, it is perhaps best that you don't try to categorize it or put it in any specific genre. I found myself putting the book down often... not because I didn't like it, but because it often moves a bit slowly. There were also a few occasions in which the jargon/ scientific gobbledygook pulled me out of the story. The world and characters were interesting enough that I always picked the book back up though.
I found the book thought-provoking on quite a few levels; and though not always entirely likable, I enjoyed the lead character and his journey of discovery --- from the town's secrets to his own journey of self discovery. For me, that is what the book really is about --- Pax reconciling relationships and his memories of how he, his friends, and towns folk were before he left with his current perceptions of everyone.
heather01602to60660's review
2.0
The book is built around two big questions: why did one character commit suicide (or did she at all?) and what caused this odd syndrome to change a large percentage of the population basically into three new types of humans. I was willing to suspend disbelief about the whole crazy premise to find the answers to these two questions. Alas, the book only actually answers one.
eak1013's review
3.0
Really interesting concept and fundamental ideas; even better was how the characters used to communicate those ideas were round and interesting as people and not just as capital-i Ideas; even even better was its handling of both East Tennessee and sexualities other than hetero - subjects which I will fully admit are rather close to my heart and thus may be somewhat swaying in my judgement.
However - and this is a big however - the way I feel that I am forced to interpret the ending is complete, total, and utter FAIL on the abortion issue. Right up until the very end, everything's ambiguous and complicated, much like real life even before you broach the book's premise of one of the three new 'strains' of humanity being almost exclusively female and parthenogenic at that. But then the author tacks on a total cop-out ending of, "well, whatever complicated whosiwhatsits we've just done with the plot may turn out as, I like this kid, so surely it's a good thing that this child here and now wasn't aborted," with strong implications of "and therefore everything that was done to assure that this child - and maybe any child? - wasn't aborted was a good thing."
WHICH. JUST. WHAT. AFTER THE REST OF THE BOOK. I DON'T. WHAT. NO.
The book raises the really interesting scenario - what do you do when girls start getting immaculately, repeatedly pregnant at twelve or younger - and presents several different characters responding to this scenario in very different ways, but at the very end, I feel like the author just threw up his hands, went, "oh, this is complicated," and threw in the miracle baby so we could all nod thoughtfully over its miraculousness.
I mean, there's all sorts of different questions of agency you're dealing with here - when there's literally nothing a girl or woman does or has done to her in order to cause pregnancy and yet it happens anyway, when this starts happening to very, very young girls, when this starts happening to a certain subset of what used to be humanity and may now be an entirely different species with different, I don't know, standards? People kill and die because of this conflict, and somehow it's all brushed aside with, "wow, isn't this a very special baby boy."
Apparently the ending still vexes me.
One other vexation - the extensive, obsessive descriptions of members of the third strain of 'new humans' - the ones primarily defined by their fatness - creeped me out a little, but this may be my own personal sensitivity. They crossed my personal line of weirdly fetishistic and "look how gross" that I just didn't get from the descriptions of the very tall or very purple strains. It kind of reminded me of the story that Gordie tells in [b:Stand by Me|11574|The Body (Penguin Readers Level 5)|Stephen King|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1166480232s/11574.jpg|2334601] about the pie-eating contest and the descriptions of the fat kid in that. Meh.
All that aside (and that is a lot), I genuinely enjoyed 90% of this book. Even characters that might seem a little stagey and cartoonishy-villany have depth and reason behind them. Lots of interesting stuff thrown against the wall, and a lot of it sticks. Plus, well, it's set in East Tennessee. I had no idea how much I wanted to read about that until I did.
Could have been a four and a half, but now it's hanging onto the three by the skin of its teeth.
However - and this is a big however - the way I feel that I am forced to interpret the ending is complete, total, and utter FAIL on the abortion issue. Right up until the very end, everything's ambiguous and complicated, much like real life even before you broach the book's premise of one of the three new 'strains' of humanity being almost exclusively female and parthenogenic at that. But then the author tacks on a total cop-out ending of, "well, whatever complicated whosiwhatsits we've just done with the plot may turn out as, I like this kid, so surely it's a good thing that this child here and now wasn't aborted," with strong implications of "and therefore everything that was done to assure that this child - and maybe any child? - wasn't aborted was a good thing."
WHICH. JUST. WHAT. AFTER THE REST OF THE BOOK. I DON'T. WHAT. NO.
The book raises the really interesting scenario - what do you do when girls start getting immaculately, repeatedly pregnant at twelve or younger - and presents several different characters responding to this scenario in very different ways, but at the very end, I feel like the author just threw up his hands, went, "oh, this is complicated," and threw in the miracle baby so we could all nod thoughtfully over its miraculousness.
I mean, there's all sorts of different questions of agency you're dealing with here - when there's literally nothing a girl or woman does or has done to her in order to cause pregnancy and yet it happens anyway, when this starts happening to very, very young girls, when this starts happening to a certain subset of what used to be humanity and may now be an entirely different species with different, I don't know, standards? People kill and die because of this conflict, and somehow it's all brushed aside with, "wow, isn't this a very special baby boy."
Apparently the ending still vexes me.
One other vexation - the extensive, obsessive descriptions of members of the third strain of 'new humans' - the ones primarily defined by their fatness - creeped me out a little, but this may be my own personal sensitivity. They crossed my personal line of weirdly fetishistic and "look how gross" that I just didn't get from the descriptions of the very tall or very purple strains. It kind of reminded me of the story that Gordie tells in [b:Stand by Me|11574|The Body (Penguin Readers Level 5)|Stephen King|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1166480232s/11574.jpg|2334601] about the pie-eating contest and the descriptions of the fat kid in that. Meh.
All that aside (and that is a lot), I genuinely enjoyed 90% of this book. Even characters that might seem a little stagey and cartoonishy-villany have depth and reason behind them. Lots of interesting stuff thrown against the wall, and a lot of it sticks. Plus, well, it's set in East Tennessee. I had no idea how much I wanted to read about that until I did.
Could have been a four and a half, but now it's hanging onto the three by the skin of its teeth.
panpan's review
5.0
A slow but deliberate read, with plot points that join together and intertwine delicately around a rather interesting semi-scifi, semi-gothic premise. While never outwardly explained or confirmed, the scientific explanation behind the plot was sufficiently developed to bring the novel to a satisfying ending. The pace slows down towards the center, and seems to settle only to spring back with a crescendo of revelations; all of the passages where you think you may have missed something are there on purpose, and the author leaves nothing to chance. Overall a delectable read for an aficionado of American Gothic - which this undeniably is, contrary to the book's label as "scifi". I would definitely recommend it for people who appreciate a good, albeit slow, unsettling novel.
greenreader's review
4.0
This was a pretty quick sci-fi read of a small town where the majority of the residents turn into bizarre humanoid creatures. 3 new "races" emerge, and everyone is saying, "Uh oh, there goes the neighborhood."
It was funny reading this just after reading Steven King's "Under the Dome". The shared some similarities: drugs, mayors wielding power, quarantines, and military presence.
It's by the author of "Pandemonium", and "Second Person, Present Tense". I have not read these others, but have heard of them. So somebody's talking about them.
It was funny reading this just after reading Steven King's "Under the Dome". The shared some similarities: drugs, mayors wielding power, quarantines, and military presence.
It's by the author of "Pandemonium", and "Second Person, Present Tense". I have not read these others, but have heard of them. So somebody's talking about them.
vmpyr's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
3.0
It was... okay? I had a good time in parts of it but it overall left me kind of cold. There's definitely a lot to think about in it, and I enjoyed chewing over many of its central ideas, but the page to page plotting was just okay. To be fair, I was so into the concept I don't know how it could live up. And, honestly, I don't regret reading it. Daryl Gregory is a talented man, with a very specific type of thing he likes to write about. If you want to read this book, try Revelator.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical content, Racial slurs, Pregnancy, Infertility, Body horror, Death, Forced institutionalization, Murder, and Drug abuse
Moderate: Body shaming and Alcoholism
Minor: Rape, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, and Vomit
verkisto's review against another edition
4.0
I'm digging Daryl Gregory as a writer. Harrison Squared and Pandemonium both surprised me for being eerie, compelling, and even a little bit humorous, and now The Devil's Advocate is playing around with my expectations of a horror novel and making it something a little bit extra. For me, that's the sign of an author to watch.
In this novel, we're introduced to the residents of Switchcreek, TN, a town where, about a decade ago, humans started mutating into unusual humanoid creatures. The argos grew to be about ten feet tall, the betas lost their hair and began reproducing by parthenogenesis, and the charlies grew outward and turned an alarming shade of red. Paxton, a young man who saw two of his friend become two different mutants, and his father the third, left and didn't return until the death of his friend who became a beta. Returning for the funeral, he finds a town much changed, much different, but oddly much improved.
Gregory leads us through the mystery of what happened to Pax's friend, but he also reveals what happens in a town where its residents aren't fully accepted by each other, much less by the outside. Switchcreek went through a quarantine during their first outbreak, and that forced the townies inward, making them insular and mistrusting of outsiders. Even Pax, on his return, finds that he no longer has the kinds of relationships he had before. Gregory teases us with one story, but in the end gives us another one, one we weren't expecting.
When I first discovered the truth of the mystery, I felt somewhat disappointed, but the more I thought about it, the more I thought Gregory made it so intentionally, so the readers could turn their own thoughts inward to question what this story was really about. It's not about solving murders or exposing corruption; it's about how a town deals with the mistrust of everyone else in the world.
This is the fourth book of Gregory's I've read, but it won't be the last. My experience with him started off inauspiciously (We Are All Completely Fine just didn't do it for me), but the more I read of his, the more I like it. Hopefully I'll finish out his bibliography before the end of the year.
In this novel, we're introduced to the residents of Switchcreek, TN, a town where, about a decade ago, humans started mutating into unusual humanoid creatures. The argos grew to be about ten feet tall, the betas lost their hair and began reproducing by parthenogenesis, and the charlies grew outward and turned an alarming shade of red. Paxton, a young man who saw two of his friend become two different mutants, and his father the third, left and didn't return until the death of his friend who became a beta. Returning for the funeral, he finds a town much changed, much different, but oddly much improved.
Gregory leads us through the mystery of what happened to Pax's friend, but he also reveals what happens in a town where its residents aren't fully accepted by each other, much less by the outside. Switchcreek went through a quarantine during their first outbreak, and that forced the townies inward, making them insular and mistrusting of outsiders. Even Pax, on his return, finds that he no longer has the kinds of relationships he had before. Gregory teases us with one story, but in the end gives us another one, one we weren't expecting.
When I first discovered the truth of the mystery, I felt somewhat disappointed, but the more I thought about it, the more I thought Gregory made it so intentionally, so the readers could turn their own thoughts inward to question what this story was really about. It's not about solving murders or exposing corruption; it's about how a town deals with the mistrust of everyone else in the world.
This is the fourth book of Gregory's I've read, but it won't be the last. My experience with him started off inauspiciously (We Are All Completely Fine just didn't do it for me), but the more I read of his, the more I like it. Hopefully I'll finish out his bibliography before the end of the year.
tipsytarsier's review
3.0
I enjoyed this book and look forward to reading the author's first title as well. Gregory impressed me by taking a weird and creepy situation, one that plays on your fears, and making it seem almost normal (almost), until, at the very end, I was thinking I might well have made a similar decision. Also, if you take out the mutants, you're left with a solid mystery novel, and I liked the way he tied up some loose ends and left others hanging. I didn't expect it to end the way it did, and that's always a pleasure, too.