mjfmjfmjf's review against another edition
4.0
A pleasant little story by a relatively new author who is consistently good. I forget how enjoyable a good novella is. Alchemy, magic and the evil of powerful authority. 4.5.
roxanamalinachirila's review against another edition
3.0
More around 3.5 stars, really. Recommended, but it didn't change my life. Or enchant me with worlds I'll dream of forever, or tell me new things. But it's recommended as light reading if you happen to come across it.
It was well-written and interesting, a catchy style for something that takes all of two hours to read. Human nature, a bit of why we hate politics, and a cool premise.
It was well-written and interesting, a catchy style for something that takes all of two hours to read. Human nature, a bit of why we hate politics, and a cool premise.
essinink's review against another edition
3.0
A very lovely bite-sized tale.
This is one of a pair of novellas written as a project between Tobias Buckell and Paolo Bacigalupi. I do encourage people to read them both--they're both fairly quick. ;)
Where The Executioness was focused primarily on one woman's search for her family within this world, The Alchemist chooses to tackle the world itself.
I thoroughly enjoyed the characters and setting. The protagonist makes what's effectively a miracle machine, but fails to anticipate human greed.
Despite it's brevity, I found it both absorbing and enjoyable.
This is one of a pair of novellas written as a project between Tobias Buckell and Paolo Bacigalupi. I do encourage people to read them both--they're both fairly quick. ;)
Where The Executioness was focused primarily on one woman's search for her family within this world, The Alchemist chooses to tackle the world itself.
I thoroughly enjoyed the characters and setting. The protagonist makes what's effectively a miracle machine, but fails to anticipate human greed.
Despite it's brevity, I found it both absorbing and enjoyable.
joelevard's review against another edition
4.0
Chances are good that you checked this book out of the library accidentally, and you actually wanted [b:The Alchemist|865|The Alchemist|Paulo Coelho|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1287827991s/865.jpg|4835472] by Paulo Coelho. I mean, it is understandable: slim novellas of the same name by two dudes with similar Italian-sounding names (Paolo/Paulo! What are the odds?). Count yourself lucky -- you got the good one. The other one is full of bullshit, no matter what that lady at work keeps telling you.
Paolo Bacigalupi loves to remind you how much people suck. Indeed, that could have been the subtitle to [b:The Windup Girl|6597651|The Windup Girl|Paolo Bacigalupi|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1278940608s/6597651.jpg|6791425]. That or "Everyone is Fucking Up the World, and No, They Don't Really Care." Which, again, also works for The Alchemist. The novel is sci-fi and this novella is fantasy, but though the trappings are different, they are of a piece thematically, even if The Alchemist goes about things a bit more subtly.
In this world, magic exists, but carries a very real price -- every time a spell is cast, a sprig of thorny, magic-seeking bramble (think Sleeping Beauty) sprouts from the ground surrounding the city. A long time ago, everyone used magic a lot, to do whatever they wanted: yeah, castles are cool, but flying castles are where it's at. The great civilizations crumbled, choked by the plant, their cities poisoned and destroyed by their refusal to recognize that actions have consequences.
Civilization recovered (as they seem to do), but the problem still exists: magic use is outlawed, but people just can't help themselves, and the bramble encroaches ever more on the city's boundaries. And really, would you want to stop using magic? I mean, sure, you don't need to ride your flying carpet to work, but a little here and there won't hurt, as long as you have a really good reason (curing the sick! You are richer and more powerful than everyone else! Flying bridges are neat!). The problem is that everyone has a reason.
There is a real world parallel here. Something... I can't quite put my finger on it WHAT COULD IT BE?
This could be a really preachy story, but its removal into a fantasy context tempers the stridency somewhat. And it is certainly an elegant way to illustrate the problem, isn't it? We tell ourselves that the choices were make don't really contribute to the problems that are much larger than ourselves, try to forget the fact that everything large is made up of a lot of things that are very small.
This is a companion piece to [b:The Executioness|9339612|The Executioness|Tobias S. Buckell|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1293798391s/9339612.jpg|14222930] (they were originally bundled together as audiobooks), but aside from the shared setting, you don't need to read them both to enjoy either. You'll probably want to though.
Paolo Bacigalupi loves to remind you how much people suck. Indeed, that could have been the subtitle to [b:The Windup Girl|6597651|The Windup Girl|Paolo Bacigalupi|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1278940608s/6597651.jpg|6791425]. That or "Everyone is Fucking Up the World, and No, They Don't Really Care." Which, again, also works for The Alchemist. The novel is sci-fi and this novella is fantasy, but though the trappings are different, they are of a piece thematically, even if The Alchemist goes about things a bit more subtly.
In this world, magic exists, but carries a very real price -- every time a spell is cast, a sprig of thorny, magic-seeking bramble (think Sleeping Beauty) sprouts from the ground surrounding the city. A long time ago, everyone used magic a lot, to do whatever they wanted: yeah, castles are cool, but flying castles are where it's at. The great civilizations crumbled, choked by the plant, their cities poisoned and destroyed by their refusal to recognize that actions have consequences.
Civilization recovered (as they seem to do), but the problem still exists: magic use is outlawed, but people just can't help themselves, and the bramble encroaches ever more on the city's boundaries. And really, would you want to stop using magic? I mean, sure, you don't need to ride your flying carpet to work, but a little here and there won't hurt, as long as you have a really good reason (curing the sick! You are richer and more powerful than everyone else! Flying bridges are neat!). The problem is that everyone has a reason.
There is a real world parallel here. Something... I can't quite put my finger on it WHAT COULD IT BE?
This could be a really preachy story, but its removal into a fantasy context tempers the stridency somewhat. And it is certainly an elegant way to illustrate the problem, isn't it? We tell ourselves that the choices were make don't really contribute to the problems that are much larger than ourselves, try to forget the fact that everything large is made up of a lot of things that are very small.
This is a companion piece to [b:The Executioness|9339612|The Executioness|Tobias S. Buckell|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1293798391s/9339612.jpg|14222930] (they were originally bundled together as audiobooks), but aside from the shared setting, you don't need to read them both to enjoy either. You'll probably want to though.
jade_courtney's review against another edition
2.0
Um, was very easy and very fast. A light read that was pretty interesting but too complicated for the shortness and wasn't as planned out as I hoped. Enjoyable though.
kikael's review against another edition
5.0
Lugu on lühike ning tundub muinasloona, kuid paralleele tegeliku eluga on võimalik tõmmata lõputult. Lugeja ees rullub lahti maailm, kus on olemas maagia, aga selle kasutamisel on üks konks - iga kord kui keegi midagi loitsib, siis tärkab kuskil okasväät, mis vaikselt kõike enda alla võtab. Suured maalapid on juba hävinud, linnad alla neelatud, kuid taimega võitlemise vastu pole leitud muud abinõud, kui võlukunsti ära keelamine.
Mis on aga inimloomuses? Keelust üle astumine.
Üks väike loits siin või seal ei tee ju paha. Samamoodi nagu vabandatakse end välja väikestest valedest, tegutsetakse ka oma võlujõuga, mida varasemalt on ju aastaid kasutatud. Ei saa ju nii, et üks hetk lihtsalt lõpetan. Näiteks, kui on vaja tütar surmavast haigusest päästa, mis see väike maagia ja üks okasväät juures siis ikka on.
Valitsus on samuti väädikasvu vastu võimetu. Kui üks alkeemik järsku lahenduse nende jalge ette toob, siis selgub, kas nad üldse tahavad surmavast taimest lahti saada.
Mis on aga inimloomuses? Keelust üle astumine.
Üks väike loits siin või seal ei tee ju paha. Samamoodi nagu vabandatakse end välja väikestest valedest, tegutsetakse ka oma võlujõuga, mida varasemalt on ju aastaid kasutatud. Ei saa ju nii, et üks hetk lihtsalt lõpetan. Näiteks, kui on vaja tütar surmavast haigusest päästa, mis see väike maagia ja üks okasväät juures siis ikka on.
Valitsus on samuti väädikasvu vastu võimetu. Kui üks alkeemik järsku lahenduse nende jalge ette toob, siis selgub, kas nad üldse tahavad surmavast taimest lahti saada.
vaderbird's review against another edition
3.0
5 star - Perfect
4 star - i would recommend
3 star - good
2 star - struggled to complete
1 star - could not finish
4 star - i would recommend
3 star - good
2 star - struggled to complete
1 star - could not finish