steveatwaywords's review
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
This is a fine book, as far as science fiction stories. Broad reach, high science speculation, and a fully-developed alien world.
But, at least in this volume, Aldiss seems unable to develop character or storyline sufficiently to create a set of actions which seem relatively arbitrary and meaningless. Part of the issue is scale, part the lens of the impartiality of history: Aldiss seems little concerned with the purposes or fates of his creation and readers therefore share that apathy.
There is a satisfactory penultimate chapter which offers a broader insight into both hard SF and sociology of humanity which I appreciated, but it was a hard choice to keep reading into the trilogy. Perhaps he will hit his stride with this fascinating world . . .
But, at least in this volume, Aldiss seems unable to develop character or storyline sufficiently to create a set of actions which seem relatively arbitrary and meaningless. Part of the issue is scale, part the lens of the impartiality of history: Aldiss seems little concerned with the purposes or fates of his creation and readers therefore share that apathy.
There is a satisfactory penultimate chapter which offers a broader insight into both hard SF and sociology of humanity which I appreciated, but it was a hard choice to keep reading into the trilogy. Perhaps he will hit his stride with this fascinating world . . .
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence and Death
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