sillypunk's review against another edition
This is a terrible book, don't read it or let young children read it: http://blogendorff.ghost.io/book-review-the-mote-in-gods-eye/
presoblu's review against another edition
adventurous
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
timzin's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
charlibirb's review against another edition
4.0
Really enjoyed this read. Excellent portrayal of an alien species in a way I hadn't seen before. The one drawback is that many of the secondary characters blended together for me. Would have liked a little more personality distinctions. And the book is dated - it's a teeny bit sexist, but not in a Stranger in a Strange Land way. Would read again.
spestock's review
adventurous
challenging
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
jazzypizzaz's review against another edition
4.0
Fascinating world-building and exploration of power/communication through first contact with aliens that are *truly alien*. I adored all insight into the Moties and how the humans tried to deal with them in conflicting ways.
Most characters weren't memorable (I kept forgetting who was who). Also continues in the old scifi tradition of too many male characters-- there is at least a canonical reason for it that ties in with the overarching plot well, but I kept getting distracted thinking about broader implications that it didn't address.
Most characters weren't memorable (I kept forgetting who was who). Also continues in the old scifi tradition of too many male characters-- there is at least a canonical reason for it that ties in with the overarching plot well, but I kept getting distracted thinking about broader implications that it didn't address.
esko's review
medium-paced
2.0
Really bad storytelling and direction of the book. It was dull,flat and serious...
So many random unnecessary parts in the book...It felt dragged and repetitive...
Bad synergy with characters/dull atmosphere/boring,repetitive plot..
Not much excitement...I don't know how i finished this book,but i did it...
So many random unnecessary parts in the book...It felt dragged and repetitive...
Bad synergy with characters/dull atmosphere/boring,repetitive plot..
Not much excitement...I don't know how i finished this book,but i did it...
sbenzell's review against another edition
2.0
Parts of this First Contact story are fun, but others are pretty painful. The evil businessman is a cardboard cutout, and way too much of the novel is devoted to justifying why Scottish people are the engineers of the future (inspired by Scotty?). The Moties are fun, and their biology basically makes sense. But the humans are much less interesting. Forced cliches left and right. 2 stars is a bit harsh - I did enjoy many parts - but the book has big flaws as well, especially relating to the intermittently competent and basically unsympathetic captain.
scipio_africanus's review against another edition
5.0
Phenomenal scifi novel. Amazing for its time, and despite being written in the 70s it hasn't aged badly because the technology they imagined is so close to what we have now that its believable.
Really cool exploration of civilizations and the political, and philosophical implications of what would happen if we met an technologically inferior alien race one day.
Another added awesomeness is that the book is set in a galactic empire with a catholic emperor and orthodox space admirals with capital ships full of icons haha. Its almost like i was the target audience.
Really cool exploration of civilizations and the political, and philosophical implications of what would happen if we met an technologically inferior alien race one day.
Another added awesomeness is that the book is set in a galactic empire with a catholic emperor and orthodox space admirals with capital ships full of icons haha. Its almost like i was the target audience.