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jenpaul13's review against another edition
4.0
With advancing science able to extend and improve the lives of humans through artificial means, the distinction of what is "natural" arises within Arwen Elys Dayton's Stronger, Faster, and More Beautiful.
To read this, and other book reviews, visit my website: http://makinggoodstories.wordpress.com/.
Starting more in a contemporary setting with innovative methods of saving a boy's life by using his dying sister's organs to a more far-reaching future where people are separated by type to preserve a purity of genetic material for those who wish to continually modify themselves, this collection of six stories demonstrates the changes people are willing to make and accept to their bodies. Exploring what constitutes being human, this anthology of loosely related tales offers a glimpse into what could be while cautioning against abusing the possibilities presented by developing technologies.
Provoking deeper thought about what should be done instead of simply what could be done, this collection of stories offers a haunting caution for how humanity is both recognizable and could become horribly unrecognizable as technology advances. With a brief look into each of the six epochs presented, the seemingly exponential progression of technology and the ability to incorporate it into the human body consumes a larger portion of the narrative, relegating the human aspects to the sideline as more of an afterthought, which demonstrates the priorities of those within the stories. While a general sense of setting is established across the six tales that are connected by the presence of a single character threaded, majorly or minorly, throughout the narratives, the latter stories in the anthology are weaker in establishing details of the setting, background for terminology, and rules governing the world, adding an element of disjointedness to the collective.
Overall, I'd give it a 3.5 out of 5 stars.
To read this, and other book reviews, visit my website: http://makinggoodstories.wordpress.com/.
Starting more in a contemporary setting with innovative methods of saving a boy's life by using his dying sister's organs to a more far-reaching future where people are separated by type to preserve a purity of genetic material for those who wish to continually modify themselves, this collection of six stories demonstrates the changes people are willing to make and accept to their bodies. Exploring what constitutes being human, this anthology of loosely related tales offers a glimpse into what could be while cautioning against abusing the possibilities presented by developing technologies.
Provoking deeper thought about what should be done instead of simply what could be done, this collection of stories offers a haunting caution for how humanity is both recognizable and could become horribly unrecognizable as technology advances. With a brief look into each of the six epochs presented, the seemingly exponential progression of technology and the ability to incorporate it into the human body consumes a larger portion of the narrative, relegating the human aspects to the sideline as more of an afterthought, which demonstrates the priorities of those within the stories. While a general sense of setting is established across the six tales that are connected by the presence of a single character threaded, majorly or minorly, throughout the narratives, the latter stories in the anthology are weaker in establishing details of the setting, background for terminology, and rules governing the world, adding an element of disjointedness to the collective.
Overall, I'd give it a 3.5 out of 5 stars.
vacantbones's review against another edition
4.0
Such a beautiful way to end a bleak journey through the peaks and valleys of humanity. I want to read more!!!
katiescho741's review against another edition
4.0
Whenever I see that a book has been compared to Black Mirror I think "yea right". But this book is deserving of the comparison. It's human, hopeful, and a disturbing look at the future.
This book is several short stories but they are all connected and they are all from the same future timeline. Each story starts off by immersing the reader in the world of the character, and then details unfold as to what is really going on. These mini-twists are disturbing and they show the situation in a new light. Each of the stories is dark and twisted, but they each have hopeful endings, which makes the book a wonderful mix of dark sci-fi and human perseverance.
There are a lot of ethical, religious, and political issues brought up but it never feels preachy or like the author is bashing the reader over the head with morality. The ethics and political standpoints within the stories are there to immerse us in the world, instead of to lecture us.
There are times when parts of some stories drag a little, but overall, the tales are interesting and compelling to read. The author takes us from the USA to Russia, to an asteroid belt to the ocean, with human drama and adventures along the way. As the book progresses, we move further into the future and into the realms of cyborgs and flying people, but at the heart each story has a human thread that transcends time and place; family, friendship, romantic love, revenge, or a desire for freedom.
This book is several short stories but they are all connected and they are all from the same future timeline. Each story starts off by immersing the reader in the world of the character, and then details unfold as to what is really going on. These mini-twists are disturbing and they show the situation in a new light. Each of the stories is dark and twisted, but they each have hopeful endings, which makes the book a wonderful mix of dark sci-fi and human perseverance.
There are a lot of ethical, religious, and political issues brought up but it never feels preachy or like the author is bashing the reader over the head with morality. The ethics and political standpoints within the stories are there to immerse us in the world, instead of to lecture us.
There are times when parts of some stories drag a little, but overall, the tales are interesting and compelling to read. The author takes us from the USA to Russia, to an asteroid belt to the ocean, with human drama and adventures along the way. As the book progresses, we move further into the future and into the realms of cyborgs and flying people, but at the heart each story has a human thread that transcends time and place; family, friendship, romantic love, revenge, or a desire for freedom.
renila's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
thewrittenadventure's review against another edition
4.0
An interesting look in this sci fi novel. There are a few different stories throughout the novel which are all connected through the idea of body modifications.
I really enjoyed the uniqueness of this novel and how throughout time, body modifications might look differently.
I really enjoyed the uniqueness of this novel and how throughout time, body modifications might look differently.
jennyfromtheburbs's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
informative
reflective
slow-paced
3.5
zabcia's review against another edition
4.0
84%
6 stories progressively moving further into the future of human genetic modification; fascinating and appalling and clearly written with a lot of consideration. I could see things playing out the way it was written in this book, and god I hope it doesn't. Haunting, yet hopeful.
6 stories progressively moving further into the future of human genetic modification; fascinating and appalling and clearly written with a lot of consideration. I could see things playing out the way it was written in this book, and god I hope it doesn't. Haunting, yet hopeful.
miaaa_lenaaa's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
informative
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Actually way more interesting and unique and gorey than i was expecting, i just wish the narratives had just woven together more
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Cancer, Death, Gore, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Car accident, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
thebookberrie's review against another edition
1.0
My reaction to this book as a whole is what it was after every single one of these story stories: uhhhh okay. I knew going into this that it was a bunch of stories connecting with the same theme but I did not expect this book to be this bad. I'm sorry but I just didn't like anything.
Most of these stories were just... pointless. After each one I was wondering what even the point was when it just cut off instead of having a complete story in itself. This is not like Black Mirror (would have been good) because then it would have been full stories instead of just snippets. A couple of stories in the beginning were okay, the first one didn't do anything but the one with the robot girl wasn't bad but the stories just kept getting more and more weird, insane, and it lost me so hard. They really wanted to top each other on how weird and nonsense they could really be.
Cool idea, everything else is a yikes from me.
Most of these stories were just... pointless. After each one I was wondering what even the point was when it just cut off instead of having a complete story in itself. This is not like Black Mirror (would have been good) because then it would have been full stories instead of just snippets. A couple of stories in the beginning were okay, the first one didn't do anything but the one with the robot girl wasn't bad but the stories just kept getting more and more weird, insane, and it lost me so hard. They really wanted to top each other on how weird and nonsense they could really be.
Cool idea, everything else is a yikes from me.