A review by thecolourblue
Cosmogramma by Courttia Newland
adventurous
challenging
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.25
Kind of a mixed bag. There were a couple of stories here I really enjoyed, and I like the sci-fi concepts Newland is exploring - identity, exploitation, technology and humanity in struggle or harmony with nature - but honestly most of the stories haven't really stayed with me since I read the book.
I enjoyed the opening story, Percipi (I just love some robot morality) and the mermaid love/breeding story Nommo was actually quietly compelling in its characters. Seed, drawing from a rich history of horror stories about replacement doppelgangers and invading plantlife, was one of the more developed longer stories.
Several of the stories - Control, The Difference Between You and Me - are direct explorations of modern-world racism and xenophobia transplanted into near-future dystopias. Another strong entry, The Sankofa Principle, raises the moral dilemma of a group of space travellers cast back in time who have the power to stop some of humanities past racial violence.
My personal favourite, for purely self-centred reasons (as someone who practices circus arts) is Cirrostratus. All the augmented sci-fi circus circus performers please.
I enjoyed the opening story, Percipi (I just love some robot morality) and the mermaid love/breeding story Nommo was actually quietly compelling in its characters. Seed, drawing from a rich history of horror stories about replacement doppelgangers and invading plantlife, was one of the more developed longer stories.
Several of the stories - Control, The Difference Between You and Me - are direct explorations of modern-world racism and xenophobia transplanted into near-future dystopias. Another strong entry, The Sankofa Principle, raises the moral dilemma of a group of space travellers cast back in time who have the power to stop some of humanities past racial violence.
My personal favourite, for purely self-centred reasons (as someone who practices circus arts) is Cirrostratus. All the augmented sci-fi circus circus performers please.