A review by readersbutterfly
The City Inside by Samit Basu

adventurous challenging funny hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

One of the best pieces of speculative fiction I have ever read. The book doesn’t fetishize a tech culture, wrapped in the western idealization of Asia, as a dystopian wonderland where a savior arises. It is gritty, earthy, real, and devours you whole. The paths of our two main characters do divest in such strong ways, but it is so powerful as a reminder of the people we can become in the face of unprecedented change, censorship, violence, war, and genocide. It pushes the future and still leaves heart behind.
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