saevers's review against another edition
4.0
This was a lovely and compelling story. Like other reviewers, I’m not normally interested in stories about anthropomorphic animals, but the characters were relatable and well developed and the story dealt with themes of loss, exploitation, and bigotry in ways that were resonant and tragic.
Barsk is a story set on another world thousands of years in the future, and follows a sentient elephant who is an academic historian with the ability to communicate with the dead. His species is loathed and discriminated against by all of the others in the galaxy, but they produce a powerful resource that enables them to balance power and ensure their own safety. This story deals with a complex political plot, and carefully examines the protagonist’s place in the world, his relationships with others, the importance of culture in our lives, and the appropriate use of power.
I enjoyed the complexity of the characters and the fact that the story depicted nuanced behavior and motivations. Characters that could have been left as one-dimensional archetypes were well developed and their motivations were scrutinized. Scenes of tragedy were deeply moving. I also enjoyed the author’s description of nature and the ways that the characters employed natural metaphors in their speech.
This is listed as Book #1 in Goodreads. I was unaware that the story continued when I purchased this book and generally avoid series, but I enjoyed Barsk well enough that I may continue with this one.
Barsk is a story set on another world thousands of years in the future, and follows a sentient elephant who is an academic historian with the ability to communicate with the dead. His species is loathed and discriminated against by all of the others in the galaxy, but they produce a powerful resource that enables them to balance power and ensure their own safety. This story deals with a complex political plot, and carefully examines the protagonist’s place in the world, his relationships with others, the importance of culture in our lives, and the appropriate use of power.
I enjoyed the complexity of the characters and the fact that the story depicted nuanced behavior and motivations. Characters that could have been left as one-dimensional archetypes were well developed and their motivations were scrutinized. Scenes of tragedy were deeply moving. I also enjoyed the author’s description of nature and the ways that the characters employed natural metaphors in their speech.
This is listed as Book #1 in Goodreads. I was unaware that the story continued when I purchased this book and generally avoid series, but I enjoyed Barsk well enough that I may continue with this one.
mjfmjfmjf's review against another edition
4.0
Well. That was weird and kind of brilliant. A nebula nominee and basically what I expect from a nebula winner. Definitely not an easy book to read. The setup was slow and frankly kind of dumb. And then everything falls into place. As much as anything can when you are talking anthropomorphic animals on a galaxy wide civilization in which some elephants can talk to the dead. 4.5 of 5.
sunflowerjoy's review against another edition
2.0
Overall, I guess I enjoyed this book since I finished it. It was weird though. I didn’t enjoy the fake science...it went to far into an explanation for me to suspend my disbelief.
It was an easy read, but the actually writing lacked beauty. It was more of an essay-story than a novel, more of a history filled with very vivid and specific characters who I did enjoy learning about. I liked Pizlo a lot, but even so I feel apathetic about the book as a whole. I won’t read any more in the series. It’s an interesting idea, just not the book for me
It was an easy read, but the actually writing lacked beauty. It was more of an essay-story than a novel, more of a history filled with very vivid and specific characters who I did enjoy learning about. I liked Pizlo a lot, but even so I feel apathetic about the book as a whole. I won’t read any more in the series. It’s an interesting idea, just not the book for me
altruest's review
5.0
I really liked this! It's been on my to-read list for a while. I loved the world it created, and little Pizlo (the little seer) is a wonderful character. The uplifted animal concept is fascinating as well.
4.5/5 stars, rounded up. Definitely recommended.
(Side note, I read this book mostly while waiting in lines for concerts, which was a trippy experience. Nothing like reading about psychic, intelligent elephants and then looking up to synthpop)
4.5/5 stars, rounded up. Definitely recommended.
(Side note, I read this book mostly while waiting in lines for concerts, which was a trippy experience. Nothing like reading about psychic, intelligent elephants and then looking up to synthpop)
lizbusby's review against another edition
3.0
Some solidly interesting ideas. I enjoyed the culture the author created for the elephants. But I thought the plot lacked real climax; when it was over, I thought, that was it? I was expecting it to go further. Still a fun read.
stiricide's review against another edition
p. 70 and I'm about to DNF. We're still meeting characters, which means that we're not even to the meat of the novel yet, and we're nearly 1/4 through it. Something about the whole thing seems off - a little racist, even though it's about humanoid animals? Every time the otters (or literally anyone else) describes the Fants as "disgusting" (and they do, often), it seems metatextual, but not intentionally. We're also 70 pages in and having taxonomy problems - the Fants have been broken down, several times, in to Lox, Elephs, and Fants, but we've yet to get an explanation of why, or what demarcates these different families/groups.
I need to quit before I end up hate-reading it to the end.
I need to quit before I end up hate-reading it to the end.
tallestbruce's review against another edition
5.0
I enjoyed the book. The foreshadowing wasn't obvious, which is good. I needed to work to put the story together before it was revealed to me. The characters were interesting as was the world which was built. I listened to it, and I needed a few chapters before I could hear the narrator independently of his role as a Klingon.
zoeymik's review against another edition
4.0
While I found the uplifted mammals to be strange at the beginning, I thought that the book was very well-written and a worthwhile read. I loved the plot, and even though all of the characters are animals they were easy to connect to and I quickly became invested in their stories.
savorflavor's review
5.0
Barsk is very strange and very different, but it is also one of the most engrossing and enjoyable science fiction books I have read in a long time. And, it's so profoundly unique and charming, while also dealing with rather dark and serious subject matters at times, not shying away from death or violence, but also not relying heavily on death or violence to move the narrative forward and keep the pace steady. Instead it relies on thoughtful, intelligent, 'psychic' characters, who are Elephants that have hands and walk upright and act like human beings. They have formed their own society and culture on their world of Barsk isolated from the rest of the galaxy, the rest of the galaxy consisting of other anthropomorphic mammals who are essentially all terribly racist toward the Elephants. It's just a very pleasant and thought provoking read, and so unique and different and fun. I very much enjoyed getting lost in the world and culture of Barsk. Would certainly read again at a later date.