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metaphorosis's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars, Metaphorosis reviews<
Summary
Earth is sending out compact colony ships, designed to raise colonists from blastocysts by machine, and to abort if the colony isn't viable. But one colony is only partially aborted, leaving a handful of the least capable to try to survive - all only in their teens.
Review
Neither the title nor cover of Half Way Home will tell you much about the story, which is perhaps just as well, since they have little to do with it. Published the year before Wool, this is Howey well before fame.
The writing, as craft, doesn’t suffer from it. As in later books, Howey creates effective, engaging characters and brings their troubles to life. There’s a little too much introspection here, sometimes feeling like Orson Scott Card when he gets too wrapped up in character philosophy, but like Card, the result is an appealing, well written adventure.
There are plenty of scientific elements that get leaped over here, and Howey’s not as devoted to realism as in his later books. But, for a quick adventure, it’s fun.
Where I had far more trouble was with some of the social roles. For absolutely no reason I could find (there’s the very thinnest of rationales offered), all the characters, though raised by carefully programmed machines, fall instantly into traditional gender roles, and homophobia immediately rears its head. My ebook edition was published in 2019, and I was startled to see the treatement of the issue, but even acknowledging the book was first published in 2010, that’s far too late for the attitudes and assumptions offered here. I suppose one can put it down to Howey’s then lack of polish, but I found the attitudes a major stumbling block for the book. The protagonist also throws out his scruples about treatment of local fauna with so little effort that they feel more like window dressing than actual beliefs.
The other problem is that the book doesn’t really finish. Or rather it does, but that ending isn’t built up to, so that it feels much more like an arbitrary stopping point than a carefully thought out climax.
If you enjoy Howey (and he’s a good writer), you may also enjoy this book, but it’s awkward enough that you shouldn’t feel you need to include it in your library.
Summary
Earth is sending out compact colony ships, designed to raise colonists from blastocysts by machine, and to abort if the colony isn't viable. But one colony is only partially aborted, leaving a handful of the least capable to try to survive - all only in their teens.
Review
Neither the title nor cover of Half Way Home will tell you much about the story, which is perhaps just as well, since they have little to do with it. Published the year before Wool, this is Howey well before fame.
The writing, as craft, doesn’t suffer from it. As in later books, Howey creates effective, engaging characters and brings their troubles to life. There’s a little too much introspection here, sometimes feeling like Orson Scott Card when he gets too wrapped up in character philosophy, but like Card, the result is an appealing, well written adventure.
There are plenty of scientific elements that get leaped over here, and Howey’s not as devoted to realism as in his later books. But, for a quick adventure, it’s fun.
Where I had far more trouble was with some of the social roles. For absolutely no reason I could find (there’s the very thinnest of rationales offered), all the characters, though raised by carefully programmed machines, fall instantly into traditional gender roles, and homophobia immediately rears its head. My ebook edition was published in 2019, and I was startled to see the treatement of the issue, but even acknowledging the book was first published in 2010, that’s far too late for the attitudes and assumptions offered here. I suppose one can put it down to Howey’s then lack of polish, but I found the attitudes a major stumbling block for the book. The protagonist also throws out his scruples about treatment of local fauna with so little effort that they feel more like window dressing than actual beliefs.
The other problem is that the book doesn’t really finish. Or rather it does, but that ending isn’t built up to, so that it feels much more like an arbitrary stopping point than a carefully thought out climax.
If you enjoy Howey (and he’s a good writer), you may also enjoy this book, but it’s awkward enough that you shouldn’t feel you need to include it in your library.
tracycumming's review against another edition
3.0
Another win for a deal of the day purchase. Loved the premise of ships full of potential human life hurtling through the galaxy looking for possible planets to colonise. The description of the 'trees' and the beings that have a symbiotic relationship with them was interesting. Judging by other reviews it would seem worth reading more by HH.
penelopereader's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
en0jad0's review against another edition
2.0
Given my love for Wool, I really wanted to like this book.
But this was a slog. I listened to the audio book with a semi-whiny narrator.
As a short story I’d have loved this. As a book it slows down. After the interesting start it gets to a lot of middle. Teen drama, searching for resources, and traveling - all take a lot of unneeded space.
This book needed a harsh editor as there’s a good story here.
But this was a slog. I listened to the audio book with a semi-whiny narrator.
As a short story I’d have loved this. As a book it slows down. After the interesting start it gets to a lot of middle. Teen drama, searching for resources, and traveling - all take a lot of unneeded space.
This book needed a harsh editor as there’s a good story here.
najemok's review against another edition
3.0
I would have given it 3.5 stars if Goodreads allowed half stars. Pretty decent science fiction book but I found the ending a little weak. Has potential to grow story into more and possibly better books.
courtney_niiicole's review against another edition
3.0
2.75 was okay.
Also, noticed the audiobook didn’t match verbatim the physical book.
Also, noticed the audiobook didn’t match verbatim the physical book.
that_gloria's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
I really love that this book hooks you instantly into the action and conflict. I found myself pulled into the world and worries of the characters in the book. What kept it from getting a higher rating was the abrupt shift in pace in the last 40 or so pages. It felt a bit trite in the end and could've done with even 10 more pages in my opinion.
This novel is so descriptive and inquisitive for the majority of the book. The last 15% loses that quality in a way I don't think it had to.
In any case, I was enthralled and engaged from beginning to end.
This novel is so descriptive and inquisitive for the majority of the book. The last 15% loses that quality in a way I don't think it had to.
In any case, I was enthralled and engaged from beginning to end.
Content Warnings
Minor: Sexual violence
jenmat1197's review against another edition
2.0
I was originally excited to find this book at a used book store because I loved the Silo series by this author. I read the back cover and it sounded right up my ally (dystopain, new world finding) but I should have paid better attention to the fact that all the characters were 15 years old. This wasn't well written - even for a YA book. It was childish and unbelievable. Main character is very weak to the point of silly. I did look this up and it was one of his earlier books, so maybe that was the problem? It didn't seem like the same author from the Silo series.