okenwillow's review against another edition
4.0
Nous voici avec un petit Wilson bien sympathique. L’auteur nous propose ici un sacré mélange combinant thriller, aventures, invasion d’aliens, dystopie, avec un soupçon de romance et un chouïa de paranoïa galopante. On s’attendrait presque à voir surgir Mulder et Scully au coin de la rue (ou Dunham et Bishop, selon l’âge du lecteur). Je ne suis pas un puits de connaissance en matière de SF, mais j’ai trouvé l’idée de l’Hypercolonie confondante d’originalité. Sans formation scientifique il m’a été difficile de me représenter certains concepts, parce que le coup des ondes radio, là, j’avoue que je n’y connais pas grand-chose, mais ce qu’en fait Wilson, ou plutôt le gros délire qu’il a construit autour m’a fascinée. Le côté « ils sont parmi nous et nous observent » est un classique certes, mais le tout tient la route et réserve des surprises. La fuite éperdue, la quête du sauveur, les vilains aliens sournois, leur nature mystérieuse et inquiétante servent bien l’intrigue et maintiennent un intérêt toujours plus grand. Au-delà de ce joyeux mélange des genres efficace et rythmé, la question qui prédomine reste le libre arbitre. Le monde vit dans une paix relative depuis des décennies, les guerres et autres conflits restent insignifiants et tout va pour le mieux dans le meilleur de mondes. Pourtant, on s’aperçoit vite que technologiquement, il y a du retard ! Le monde manipulé par l’Hypercolonie est certes paisible, mais le cours naturel des choses est complètement faussé, le destin individuel autant que le destin collectif est influencé de manière systématique et calculée. Les protagonistes se retrouvent face à un dilemme de taille, et devront faire appel à leur conscience pour faire le bon choix (roulement de tambours).
Certes pas le meilleur Wilson à mon sens, mais un très bon malgré tout, qui fait bien son travail de page turner échevelé.
Certes pas le meilleur Wilson à mon sens, mais un très bon malgré tout, qui fait bien son travail de page turner échevelé.
sharonrhh's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
wishanem's review against another edition
3.0
A twisty Sci-Fi mystery, with a lot of road trip elements. I think this could've easily been a short story, or a single episode of a TV show. The thoughtful portions about the nature and behavior of an alien which may or may not be sentient were my favorite part, but they didn't really resolve in a remotely satisfying way. Maybe that was the point? It didn't feel great, though.
jarichan's review against another edition
4.0
Vom Rückentext her habe ich eigentlich etwas völlig Anderes erwartet. Mehr Gesellschaftskritik, mehr Politik. Aber dass die Handlung sich dann in eine ganz andere Richtung entwickelte, muss nichts Schlechtes sein. So war nämlich der Überraschungseffekt ganz auf meiner Seite.
Wilson arbeitet interessante Ideen in sein Werk ein und stellt dabei auch kritische Fragen. Vor alle jenem nach dem freien Willen und ob ein von aussen aufgezwungener Frieden besser ist, als von uns selbst verursachte Gewalt. Was wollen wir? Wie wichtig ist uns Freiheit? Was ist Freiheit überhaupt?
Der Autor beginnt damit, ein typisches Schwarz-Weiss-Muster zu zeichnen, das er dann mehr und mehr verwischt. Bis auch der Leser nicht mehr sicher weiss, was er nun denken soll. Sehr geschickt eingefädelt. Ich habe jetzt noch keine Antwort auf die Fragen und werde wohl auch keine finden.
Jedoch hätte man noch mehr auf diese Entität eingehen können und wie genau sie auf uns und die menschliche Gesellschaft einwirkt. Mehr Beispiele, mehr Tiefe. Aber da die Figuren im Buch oftmals selbst nicht so genau wissen, womit sie es eigentlich zu tun haben, kann ich das auch so gut akzeptieren.
Der Text lässt sich flüssig lesen, das Buch ist ein schöner Page-Turner, verziert mit einigen Twists und auch die Action kommt nicht zu kurz. Spannende Sci-Fi-Literatur, die eigentlich nach einer Verfilmung schreit.
Wilson arbeitet interessante Ideen in sein Werk ein und stellt dabei auch kritische Fragen. Vor alle jenem nach dem freien Willen und ob ein von aussen aufgezwungener Frieden besser ist, als von uns selbst verursachte Gewalt. Was wollen wir? Wie wichtig ist uns Freiheit? Was ist Freiheit überhaupt?
Der Autor beginnt damit, ein typisches Schwarz-Weiss-Muster zu zeichnen, das er dann mehr und mehr verwischt. Bis auch der Leser nicht mehr sicher weiss, was er nun denken soll. Sehr geschickt eingefädelt. Ich habe jetzt noch keine Antwort auf die Fragen und werde wohl auch keine finden.
Jedoch hätte man noch mehr auf diese Entität eingehen können und wie genau sie auf uns und die menschliche Gesellschaft einwirkt. Mehr Beispiele, mehr Tiefe. Aber da die Figuren im Buch oftmals selbst nicht so genau wissen, womit sie es eigentlich zu tun haben, kann ich das auch so gut akzeptieren.
Der Text lässt sich flüssig lesen, das Buch ist ein schöner Page-Turner, verziert mit einigen Twists und auch die Action kommt nicht zu kurz. Spannende Sci-Fi-Literatur, die eigentlich nach einer Verfilmung schreit.
bmcraec's review against another edition
Not his best work, but still, an enjoyable competent almost YA novel.
bignoob's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I really liked the premise of this book, but I thought that kith the ending and execution was lacking. The pacing seems to be off, being fast in some places and slow in others. The book sort of tries to make the main antagonist as a very large and looming threat but it comes off as lame and not super threatening — basically the world building is lackluster.
Spoiler
The hypercolonytheartolater's review against another edition
4.0
A lot of times, we read science fiction for the escapism aspect or the cool futurist ideas, or even just as a reflection on current society. It's a much more simple exchange for me, where I enjoy science fiction more for the ideas and worldbuilding than I do for a specific message. When a book that has something to say comes along while also filling in a lot of those gaps for me, all the better. Robert Charles Wilson is probably best known for his modern sci-fi classic Spin, but I became a big fan following his alternate history/science fiction end-of-oil society mashup Julian Comstock: A Story of 22nd-Century America from a few years ago. Seeing that Burning Paradise was coming soon, I looked forward to reading it. The book spends a lot of time on communications, but it actually feels more analogous to what we know so far about the upcoming Almost Human television show.
In the world of Burning Paradise, pretty much all the negative stuff that happened in the twentieth century of the United States didn't happen. No World Wars, society is in great shape, and so on. The problem is that the situation is entirely manufactured, as there is some sort of life form in the atmosphere that has been impacting our relationships on earth with subtle changes to our memories, our actions, and our future. When this was discovered, most of those who discovered it were killed, and the rest scattered into hiding. Unfortunately for them, this life form is now on earth in humanoid sim form, and they're out to make sure the secret stays intact.
I couldn't stop thinking about Almost Human while reading it, only because the themes of distrust of simulated android-type beings was kind of jolted into me from the constant commercials for the show. It's not the fairest comparison, though, because the story Wilson tells is one more of worldwide conspiracy and trust than a science fiction police procedural. The book is imperfect, but it works in that regard - it's an interesting, albeit unoriginal, concept told in a very engaging way. It puts all its cool ideas up front and mixes them in well with a plot that's surprisingly action-oriented.
I think my issues with the book, overall, come more from the expectation Wilson brings to his work than anything else. This wouldn't feel so pedestrian coming from an unknown, and while the book is very good, I've come to expect bigger and broader ideas at this point. If anything, this might be a good alternative entry point for Wilson's works than Spin, especially for readers who may be adverse to harder science fiction. Without a super-high concept or significantly unrealistic settings, it's a nice tweak to an existing formula.
Overall, definitely recommended. Will rightfully be heralded as one of the better science fiction books of 2013, and a fine addition to Wilson's body of work so far.
In the world of Burning Paradise, pretty much all the negative stuff that happened in the twentieth century of the United States didn't happen. No World Wars, society is in great shape, and so on. The problem is that the situation is entirely manufactured, as there is some sort of life form in the atmosphere that has been impacting our relationships on earth with subtle changes to our memories, our actions, and our future. When this was discovered, most of those who discovered it were killed, and the rest scattered into hiding. Unfortunately for them, this life form is now on earth in humanoid sim form, and they're out to make sure the secret stays intact.
I couldn't stop thinking about Almost Human while reading it, only because the themes of distrust of simulated android-type beings was kind of jolted into me from the constant commercials for the show. It's not the fairest comparison, though, because the story Wilson tells is one more of worldwide conspiracy and trust than a science fiction police procedural. The book is imperfect, but it works in that regard - it's an interesting, albeit unoriginal, concept told in a very engaging way. It puts all its cool ideas up front and mixes them in well with a plot that's surprisingly action-oriented.
I think my issues with the book, overall, come more from the expectation Wilson brings to his work than anything else. This wouldn't feel so pedestrian coming from an unknown, and while the book is very good, I've come to expect bigger and broader ideas at this point. If anything, this might be a good alternative entry point for Wilson's works than Spin, especially for readers who may be adverse to harder science fiction. Without a super-high concept or significantly unrealistic settings, it's a nice tweak to an existing formula.
Overall, definitely recommended. Will rightfully be heralded as one of the better science fiction books of 2013, and a fine addition to Wilson's body of work so far.
alexctelander's review against another edition
4.0
From the Hugo award winner of Spin and author of Julian Comstock comes his thrilling new novel, Burning Paradise. The year is 2015 and Cassie Klyne lives in a United States that is not ours, in a time different from our own. The world has been at peace since the Great Armistice of 1918, there was no World War II or Great Depression, and it seems like Earth is a pretty decent place.
But Cassie is the daughter of parents who were part of a special group that has been studying the facts and asking questions for decades and now knows the truth: that an alien entity has encompassed the earth in the form of a parasitic layer and is able to control and manipulate radio communication. In this way it has controlled events in the world since the dawn of radio communication. And then it launched an attack against this special group, targeting many of the people – like Cassie’s parents – and killing them with its special creations that appear to be human, but are stronger and bleed a smelly green goo.
Now Cassie is on the run once again from these alien beings, looking to find out what they really are, but also to see what can be done to stop this alien entity that now controls the planet. Joining with other members of the group, the mission will take them deep into South America with a special device intended to stop the alien intruder and free humanity once again.
Wilson has created a compelling alternate world with details and characters that make it feel like our own. Blending some interesting science with some great storytelling, Burning Paradise is a great example of good science fiction.
Originally written on November 29, 2013 ©Alex C. Telander.
For more reviews, check out the BookBanter site.
But Cassie is the daughter of parents who were part of a special group that has been studying the facts and asking questions for decades and now knows the truth: that an alien entity has encompassed the earth in the form of a parasitic layer and is able to control and manipulate radio communication. In this way it has controlled events in the world since the dawn of radio communication. And then it launched an attack against this special group, targeting many of the people – like Cassie’s parents – and killing them with its special creations that appear to be human, but are stronger and bleed a smelly green goo.
Now Cassie is on the run once again from these alien beings, looking to find out what they really are, but also to see what can be done to stop this alien entity that now controls the planet. Joining with other members of the group, the mission will take them deep into South America with a special device intended to stop the alien intruder and free humanity once again.
Wilson has created a compelling alternate world with details and characters that make it feel like our own. Blending some interesting science with some great storytelling, Burning Paradise is a great example of good science fiction.
Originally written on November 29, 2013 ©Alex C. Telander.
For more reviews, check out the BookBanter site.
djdrysdale's review against another edition
2.0
Probably my least favourite Robert Charles Wilson book that I've read. I was surprised that it's more recent than Spin and some of his other works--while reading I often felt that he was trying out some ideas that he was going to come back in later works, only to learn that they were from his earlier works.
michaeldrakich's review against another edition
2.0
I have to wonder how much Stephen King of Entertainment Weekly got paid for the cover quote. The first couple of chapters are good, but this story quickly deteriorates into boring trivia for two thirds of the novel and doesn't pick up pace until the last 90 pages out of 421. Furthermore, a good storyteller doesn't have to resort to devices such as plot bombs to advance the story, nor does a good storyteller contradict himself within the novel.
Let's start with the premise. This much I liked. An alien invasion has occurred millennia ago in the form of micro organisms that dominate the entire upper atmosphere by the trillions, operate collectively in a hive mentality and are subtlety controlling humanity through the adaptation of anything broadcast through the air. It is known as the hypercolony. Nice. Combined with the action scenes in the first two chapters, it's a good start.
Everything fades from there. The vast bulk of the novel is now one of character introspection with little to no plot advancement. In truth, it was boring. Despite literary writers delving into the scifi industry, I still require a modicum of action to maintain my interest.
Toward the end, when the author decided to pick up the pace, it seems as if he didn't know how to finish within his current structure, so in an effort to hurdle the blocks he dropped a number of plot bombs out of thin air to get there. Personally, I prefer the odd foreshadow now and then so when something surprising happens I can recall the hint and think "Okay, well played." not "Where the hell did that come from?"
I have one simple rule when reading science fiction about the proposed science in it. "No matter how improbable, as long as it is not impossible, the science is acceptable. If the science is impossible, then it is not acceptable." Sadly, there are instances where things are impossible.
I could list the impossibles, the contradictions, and the plot bombs, but they would be spoilers. Take my word. They exist.
I was given this novel as a gift as part of my registration to the Ad Astra Conference in Toronto.
Let's start with the premise. This much I liked. An alien invasion has occurred millennia ago in the form of micro organisms that dominate the entire upper atmosphere by the trillions, operate collectively in a hive mentality and are subtlety controlling humanity through the adaptation of anything broadcast through the air. It is known as the hypercolony. Nice. Combined with the action scenes in the first two chapters, it's a good start.
Everything fades from there. The vast bulk of the novel is now one of character introspection with little to no plot advancement. In truth, it was boring. Despite literary writers delving into the scifi industry, I still require a modicum of action to maintain my interest.
Toward the end, when the author decided to pick up the pace, it seems as if he didn't know how to finish within his current structure, so in an effort to hurdle the blocks he dropped a number of plot bombs out of thin air to get there. Personally, I prefer the odd foreshadow now and then so when something surprising happens I can recall the hint and think "Okay, well played." not "Where the hell did that come from?"
I have one simple rule when reading science fiction about the proposed science in it. "No matter how improbable, as long as it is not impossible, the science is acceptable. If the science is impossible, then it is not acceptable." Sadly, there are instances where things are impossible.
I could list the impossibles, the contradictions, and the plot bombs, but they would be spoilers. Take my word. They exist.
I was given this novel as a gift as part of my registration to the Ad Astra Conference in Toronto.