Yeah, it is part Quest fantasy. But it's still worth reading. I loved the first part, and I can see where he was going with the second, but it still tYeah, it is part Quest fantasy. But it's still worth reading. I loved the first part, and I can see where he was going with the second, but it still took up too much continuous space....more
Four and a half stars, really. We're plunged into the future world at breakneck pace, and it may not be for everyone, but if you enjoy SF that showersFour and a half stars, really. We're plunged into the future world at breakneck pace, and it may not be for everyone, but if you enjoy SF that showers you with ideas that all make perfect sense, it's wonderful. At the same time, the characters are vivid -- maybe a little too vivid, occasionally sketched in broader lines that I would like, but that's because this is a novella, not a novel -- and the plot itself takes up some very old lines (time travel, sufficiently advanced tech as indistinguishable from magic) and gives them a very nice new twist. My favourite part is the heaviness, the importance it gives to killing and death: unlike your usual adventure story, here, killing other humans, even if they're just from the 'guards, guards!' is a serious thing, and this is something that isn't often seen. The ending, although I love it as a concept, may be a little too abrupt, more suited to a six-page story than to a novella. But all of this just means that, really, I wanted Gods, Monsters and the Lucky Peach to be a full-size novel. And a four-season series. And a follow-up movie....more
I loved, loved, loved this book. This is what ya should look like, and what contemporary spec-fic should look like. The whole Wayward Children series I loved, loved, loved this book. This is what ya should look like, and what contemporary spec-fic should look like. The whole Wayward Children series has been sitting on my TBR pile for a long time, and now I've finally started it (at the wrong book, apparently, but never mind, it stands on its own) I foresee a McGuire-glom in my immediate future. I won't talk about the book itself. Just go read it. Now....more
All right. This had dragons and a lady explorer, which should have made it great... only it didn't. First of all, the structure is askew -- there's veAll right. This had dragons and a lady explorer, which should have made it great... only it didn't. First of all, the structure is askew -- there's very little going on in the first two thirds of the book, and then a gazillion new developments that all get resolved in the last 50 pages or so.
Second, I was irritated by the world building. The book starts giving us the impression that everything is the same as in our world, only dragons are real. But then we get the different geographical names, and different names for religions, and there is absolutely no reason for this. I mean, Britain is very obviously Britain, with lords and ladies and the familiar social structure (up to and including the objections towards ladies participating in science in any way and the habit of tea-drinking) and imperialism and all that, and yet it's got a different name. Why? So that the setting would seem more exotic? It doesn't. It just seems... odd, and senseless, particularly in the context of the faux-memoir form.
So, all in all, it was actually a disappointing read. Still, three stars for the dragons themselves, who seem far more interesting than any of the human characters, and of which, despite the title, we see far too little....more
Chinese mythology used to construct a fantasy story, and done well. I could live without the love triangle that seems to be de rigueur these days, butChinese mythology used to construct a fantasy story, and done well. I could live without the love triangle that seems to be de rigueur these days, but I loved the unhurried nature of the storytelling and the world building. Not a spectacular book, but thoroughly enjoyable....more
I really wanted to like this book, for a multitude of reasons, but just couldn't. I might try it again when I've got more time to devote to it, but asI really wanted to like this book, for a multitude of reasons, but just couldn't. I might try it again when I've got more time to devote to it, but as it was, it had better ideas than execution. ...more
I really liked this book, not the least because of the extraordinary friendship at its centre. It has some problematic elements, and some portions areI really liked this book, not the least because of the extraordinary friendship at its centre. It has some problematic elements, and some portions are rather horrific, but it's a book that will stay with you, and will make you think, and that's worth four stars. However, it's not for the faint of heart....more
Time travel done well, and the obligatory YA love-triangle that actually makes sense. Doesn't feel like YA, really -- and for me, that's a good thing.Time travel done well, and the obligatory YA love-triangle that actually makes sense. Doesn't feel like YA, really -- and for me, that's a good thing....more
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