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sebastianrutter's review
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
bookeared's review
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
finny's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Un libro bello e particolare. Una sorta di "The Office" ambientato nel dipartimento della agenzia spaziale coreana.
Il libro inizia con un secondo sole (a forma di pac man) che appare in cielo e prosegue con i personaggi si attivano per trovare una spiegazione. Ma c'è molto di più, c'è la parte umana, le relazioni tra i personaggi e vari intrecci.
Il libro inizia con un secondo sole (a forma di pac man) che appare in cielo e prosegue con i personaggi si attivano per trovare una spiegazione. Ma c'è molto di più, c'è la parte umana, le relazioni tra i personaggi e vari intrecci.
shainalite's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
dreareads_'s review
3.0
I have many thoughts but I’m doing a buddy read so I’ll hold off on reviewing and rating
naddie_reads's review against another edition
Stopped just before chapter 3. TBH I wasn't invested in the plot or the plethora of characters; didn't want to stick around to see how their stories were interconnected. "Tower" was vastly better at catching & holding my interest.
sadhbhprice's review
funny
informative
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
nolitethoughts's review
5.0
Launch Something! by Bae Myung-Hoon Review
“Reading Launch Something! was like watching an entertaining and well-researched sci-fi movie. Just funnier.”
About The Author: Launch Something! was written by Bae Myung-Hoon
Bae Myung-Hoon (배명훈) is a South-Korean writer who is working in the genre of science fiction. According to The Science Times, he is one of the 10 best science-fiction writers in South Korea. He is most known for his composite novel: Tower which includes interconnected stories of the people who live in Beanstalk, a 674-story tall skyscraper.
He has many other significant works which are not yet been translated into English, but hopefully, Honford Star will keep bringing us closer to his witty and clever stories.
About The Translator: Launch Something! was translated by Stella Kim
Stella Kim is part of the complaint of well-known and well-respected literary translators (Anton Hur, Sophie Bowman, Soje, Sung Ryu just to name a few) who work translating Korean to English. They are known as The Smoking Tigers. I mean this is the coolest thing I’ve ever seen. Who wants to be a part of a K-pop group when you can be a member of one of the coolest intellectual literary goat gangs? Nerd paradise. Without a doubt.
She has won multiple high prestige awards for translation: the 2014 LTI Korea Award for Aspiring Translators, the 2016 Korea Times Modern Korean Literature Translation Award, and many more. Launch Something! is her first full-length novel translation.
Launch Something! Will be published on October 17th by the one and only indie publishing house @honfordstar
I already have a book review on their previous International Booker Prize longlisted and shortlisted candidate Cursed Bunny. You are able to read the review here.
Synopsis: The novel’s location is the base of the Korean Space Force in South Korea.
Very important: Has absolutely nothing to do with the real, non-fictional American Space Force.
The story is set somewhere not too far or too near in the future. Far enough for Mars to be colonised by humans though.
Earth is in the middle of a serious heat wave not caused by rapid climate change as we know it but by a second ‘sun’ shamelessly shining and reflecting the real Sun’s light towards our planet.
Our main characters are all people working for the Korean Space Force. Although it might seem like a strict military base, in reality, they are just as cool and chilled as the guys in the Air Force. Which I didn’t know until I read the novel. We can always learn something from books.
As the title suggests the story revolves around the need of Launching Something! in order to exterminate the Pacman-looking artificial object of the sky.
And something even more sinister…
Structure: The book has 368 pages and 9 chapters.
We get to know a handful of main characters very well.
These characters are all well thought out and they all possess strong personality traits. Therefore there are no page-filling side characters thanks to the universe.
On a side note: Thank you to whoever came up with the idea of a character list. Because I would have been lost like Alice In Wonderland without it. Absolutely clueless.
The novel is very dynamic, full of clever and sarcastic dialogues which made me laugh out loud many times.
Roughly up until the third of the book I was flipping back to the character list like a maniac but with time I got to know them and was able to comfortably navigate the author’s world.
The narration happens in third place and it jumps from character to character showcasing not just their momentary feelings but their background and personality.
I don’t want to give away too much about the characters as I think they are hats down the best part of this novel but the female power in it is just on another level.
On the Translation: Smooth like butter.
I’m not a professional but I do speak a few languages and Stella Kim’s translation was for me the smoothest I have ever come across.
Like a silk scarf dancing in the wind.
Everything came through as it should and I didn’t have eyebrow frowning moments when I wasn’t sure what I was actually reading. I became a devoted fan and I hope there will be many more works from her that I could spread on my toast.
My take on it:
What I especially loved about this book was how the characters worked together and it was shown in the way the book was very cleverly narrated as well.
Teamwork is definitely the word I would use if I could describe this book with just one single word.
Loved the power of the female characters and the gentle intelligence powering through chapter by chapter.
I’m writing this review after watching Top Gun Maverick and: I get it. I absolutely get it. The teamwork, the laid-back but serious workplace, the prodigy badass pilot, and the reliable hard-working leader the way this book reads is like watching that movie. Even at the end. If you have a chance grab Launch Something! This is your sign. This is your call sign.
Bae Myung-Hoon became one of my favourite science fiction writers of all time after reading Launch Something! because I need books in my life that radiate self-love, intelligence, humor, and most importantly: hope.
It is a positive book with sarcastic and dry witty humour painting a serious yet inspiring picture of us: humans. And who said that only the negative deeply unsettling fiction books are the only ones that are tackling life as it is? I disagree. It’s your perception only. And my perception was, will, and always will be this: hope.
“Reading Launch Something! was like watching an entertaining and well-researched sci-fi movie. Just funnier.”
About The Author: Launch Something! was written by Bae Myung-Hoon
Bae Myung-Hoon (배명훈) is a South-Korean writer who is working in the genre of science fiction. According to The Science Times, he is one of the 10 best science-fiction writers in South Korea. He is most known for his composite novel: Tower which includes interconnected stories of the people who live in Beanstalk, a 674-story tall skyscraper.
He has many other significant works which are not yet been translated into English, but hopefully, Honford Star will keep bringing us closer to his witty and clever stories.
About The Translator: Launch Something! was translated by Stella Kim
Stella Kim is part of the complaint of well-known and well-respected literary translators (Anton Hur, Sophie Bowman, Soje, Sung Ryu just to name a few) who work translating Korean to English. They are known as The Smoking Tigers. I mean this is the coolest thing I’ve ever seen. Who wants to be a part of a K-pop group when you can be a member of one of the coolest intellectual literary goat gangs? Nerd paradise. Without a doubt.
She has won multiple high prestige awards for translation: the 2014 LTI Korea Award for Aspiring Translators, the 2016 Korea Times Modern Korean Literature Translation Award, and many more. Launch Something! is her first full-length novel translation.
Launch Something! Will be published on October 17th by the one and only indie publishing house @honfordstar
I already have a book review on their previous International Booker Prize longlisted and shortlisted candidate Cursed Bunny. You are able to read the review here.
Synopsis: The novel’s location is the base of the Korean Space Force in South Korea.
Very important: Has absolutely nothing to do with the real, non-fictional American Space Force.
The story is set somewhere not too far or too near in the future. Far enough for Mars to be colonised by humans though.
Earth is in the middle of a serious heat wave not caused by rapid climate change as we know it but by a second ‘sun’ shamelessly shining and reflecting the real Sun’s light towards our planet.
Our main characters are all people working for the Korean Space Force. Although it might seem like a strict military base, in reality, they are just as cool and chilled as the guys in the Air Force. Which I didn’t know until I read the novel. We can always learn something from books.
As the title suggests the story revolves around the need of Launching Something! in order to exterminate the Pacman-looking artificial object of the sky.
And something even more sinister…
Structure: The book has 368 pages and 9 chapters.
We get to know a handful of main characters very well.
These characters are all well thought out and they all possess strong personality traits. Therefore there are no page-filling side characters thanks to the universe.
On a side note: Thank you to whoever came up with the idea of a character list. Because I would have been lost like Alice In Wonderland without it. Absolutely clueless.
The novel is very dynamic, full of clever and sarcastic dialogues which made me laugh out loud many times.
Roughly up until the third of the book I was flipping back to the character list like a maniac but with time I got to know them and was able to comfortably navigate the author’s world.
The narration happens in third place and it jumps from character to character showcasing not just their momentary feelings but their background and personality.
I don’t want to give away too much about the characters as I think they are hats down the best part of this novel but the female power in it is just on another level.
On the Translation: Smooth like butter.
I’m not a professional but I do speak a few languages and Stella Kim’s translation was for me the smoothest I have ever come across.
Like a silk scarf dancing in the wind.
Everything came through as it should and I didn’t have eyebrow frowning moments when I wasn’t sure what I was actually reading. I became a devoted fan and I hope there will be many more works from her that I could spread on my toast.
My take on it:
What I especially loved about this book was how the characters worked together and it was shown in the way the book was very cleverly narrated as well.
Teamwork is definitely the word I would use if I could describe this book with just one single word.
Loved the power of the female characters and the gentle intelligence powering through chapter by chapter.
I’m writing this review after watching Top Gun Maverick and: I get it. I absolutely get it. The teamwork, the laid-back but serious workplace, the prodigy badass pilot, and the reliable hard-working leader the way this book reads is like watching that movie. Even at the end. If you have a chance grab Launch Something! This is your sign. This is your call sign.
Bae Myung-Hoon became one of my favourite science fiction writers of all time after reading Launch Something! because I need books in my life that radiate self-love, intelligence, humor, and most importantly: hope.
It is a positive book with sarcastic and dry witty humour painting a serious yet inspiring picture of us: humans. And who said that only the negative deeply unsettling fiction books are the only ones that are tackling life as it is? I disagree. It’s your perception only. And my perception was, will, and always will be this: hope.