gazeboreader's review
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
3.5
I really enjoyed this one. A great quick story of personality and choices in unexpected circumstances. Very fun!
quietjenn's review against another edition
2.0
Why was this published as a book and not as just a story in a collection? I just don't know. It's fine. There are some interesting things and I wouldn't have minded some more, but ultimately it's pretty fleeting. Which is cool, if that's what you're down for.
jmartindf's review against another edition
4.0
What happens if your high school classmates are obsessed about winning entrance to the Space Academy? And you're not? And you're forced into the program anyway. What would you do? And why? And why were you forcibly entered?
This fun little novella (it sits right at the intersection of being a long novelette or a short novella) answers all of those questions in an entertaining way. And when a story is this short, why not read it?
This fun little novella (it sits right at the intersection of being a long novelette or a short novella) answers all of those questions in an entertaining way. And when a story is this short, why not read it?
innae's review against another edition
3.0
A quick little story set some time in the future. Has a portion take place in Colorado (as Ms. Willis is local, it was nice) -- D.A. = Devil's Advocate -- A nice twist on "getting in"
smohundro's review against another edition
2.0
Connie Willis is one of my very favorite authors, so it was disheartening that this was so disappointing. It had a clever germ of a story and a likable protagonist, but not much happens. Her short stories have a lot more going on in less space. If it's meant to be Book One of a series for Young Adults, I could see it has potential.
The small/vanity publisher's choice of photo illustrations were pretty chintzy and detracted further. I just hope this is Willis' way of getting a story out of her system so her next novel (coming soon? Please?) will be good.
The small/vanity publisher's choice of photo illustrations were pretty chintzy and detracted further. I just hope this is Willis' way of getting a story out of her system so her next novel (coming soon? Please?) will be good.
cindywho's review against another edition
3.0
Super fluffy homage to Heinlein. It was over in less than 2 subway rides...
juliemawesome's review against another edition
4.0
Really good blend of modern science fiction (Japanese-inspired elements, messaging, hacking) with classic (space cadet academy.. in space!). The female main characters are just a bonus.
The largest (and perhaps only) problem with this book is that it's not a novel. It's not a novella either, and I wonder if it's even a novelette. It's darned short. And while it does have a conclusion, it's much more of a 'first section of a larger novel' sort of conclusion.
It's somewhat like someone told Connie Willis to write a tween book and she didn't know how to handle the length of it.
I wish there was more. Is there more? I want to read it if there's more.
The largest (and perhaps only) problem with this book is that it's not a novel. It's not a novella either, and I wonder if it's even a novelette. It's darned short. And while it does have a conclusion, it's much more of a 'first section of a larger novel' sort of conclusion.
It's somewhat like someone told Connie Willis to write a tween book and she didn't know how to handle the length of it.
I wish there was more. Is there more? I want to read it if there's more.