Atlas
Edit to say: Do you have doubts to start this book? If you don't care about spoilers, you can read my short review first:
The story is well written, but as a person with limited friend circle (read 2) and poor communication skills I am offended that this book considers my life worthless and tries to say whoever being well-known and liked by the majority has a worthier life! And the author tries to cover this scam by a romance story!
Isn't this familiar to you?!
1) Black Mirror, Season 3, Episode 1: If you are liked by more people, you'll be able to communicate with high class ones, you'll be richer and can buy a house or a car and etc. so you are worthy.
2) Every natural beautiful Gen Z has a TikTok account and is loved by the majority for something (their face) they didn't even create THEMSELVES while LIP-SYNCING a song they haven't even written nor composed. They would still get richer than they are now if they sell their lifetime!!
Even if I had read this book before not-counted-as-talent Gen Z things becomes popular, I still wouldn't have liked this book. Nobody is allowed to judge how worthy my life is. I am the only person in charge who can achieve my goals and be happy.
So, NO.
Edit to say: Do you have doubts to start this book? If you don't care about spoilers, you can read my short review first:
The story is well written, but as a person with limited friend circle (read 2) and poor communication skills I am offended that this book considers my life worthless and tries to say whoever being well-known and liked by the majority has a worthier life! And the author tries to cover this scam by a romance story!
Isn't this familiar to you?!
1) Black Mirror, Season 3, Episode 1: If you are liked by more people, you'll be able to communicate with high class ones, you'll be richer and can buy a house or a car and etc. so you are worthy.
2) Every natural beautiful Gen Z has a TikTok account and is loved by the majority for something (their face) they didn't even create THEMSELVES while LIP-SYNCING a song they haven't even written nor composed. They would still get richer than they are now if they sell their lifetime!!
Even if I had read this book before not-counted-as-talent Gen Z things becomes popular, I still wouldn't have liked this book. Nobody is allowed to judge how worthy my life is. I am the only person in charge who can achieve my goals and be happy.
So, NO.
How often have I thought of this story so far, I cannot tell.I'm adding it to my goodreads account because I don't see it as merely a manga, and I believe nor should you, if you are planning to enter this mesmerizing philosophical journey.P.S.: [b:NOiSE 624693 NOiSE Tsutomu Nihei https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1299971166l/624693.SX50.jpg 611052] is a short prequel to this story.
How often have I thought of this story so far, I cannot tell.I'm adding it to my goodreads account because I don't see it as merely a manga, and I believe nor should you, if you are planning to enter this mesmerizing philosophical journey.P.S.: [b:NOiSE 624693 NOiSE Tsutomu Nihei https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1299971166l/624693.SX50.jpg 611052] is a short prequel to this story.
I'm so glad I can finally rate 0.5 star now!
Reading this book took me 3 months, which shows just how boring it was! Now that I've finished it, I'm not sure how much the teen-me would have hated this book but I? I hated it, but I? I hated it a lot. I can't believe I'm saying this, especially since Asimov was my #1 fave writer when I was a teen. Since 2024, I’ve been catching up on the greater Foundation series I’ve wanted to read since I was younger. I loved the Robot series, but now I’m worried I’ll hate Foundation!
The technology sometimes felt too advanced, with Asimov not bothering to explain it, and other times it was too primitive, which drove me crazy.
The plot was stupid.
The main character was a 23-year-old arrogant boy who wouldn’t shut up. Considering his semi-aristocratic background, I could’ve let him slide, but the narrative fell flat when it came to him. It focused only on his arrogance, not what was going on in his mind. There was no way to guess that he was such a smartass. It just didn't stick.
Artemisia barely did anything in the whole story. Whenever she was mentioned, it was only to focus on her body, which happened way too often. Even though the book was from the 50s, I couldn't stop thinking about how many times her smooth skin or breasts were described. It was annoying. I guess I should thank Asimov for doing the bare minimum when it comes to women!! I know, I know, I’m looking at this from a 2025 pov, but still...
Gilbert... what an idiot. He had invented something "amusing" for my time, but it certainly wasn't amusing when I thought about the future! And, to top of it, it wasn’t even used in the rest of the story! So, what was the point of introducing it in the first place?!! Rhodia felt like a world before the 17th century. At least tell me why technology is banned on this world besides Spaceships!! Did Frank Herbert get the idea for Dune from this book?!
Even on spaceships they still use paper??????!!!!!!
The twist about the rebellion people at the end got me though ngl.
About the last paragraph at the end of the book: I googled it, and it seems it was the editor's idea of Galaxy Magazine, where the book was first serialized. It was a ridiculous idea! Awfully retarded! Like, come on, is dictatorship the only form of government known to humans in the future?!
And how are so many planets ruled under dictatorship in a way that’s so stereotypical, even for our time?! Are you kidding me Asimov? You did better back in the 40s!
*P.S.: In Caves of Steel, Asimov provides a convincing explanation for the word "paper". One paper that includes lots of information digitally. I liked that one. BUT that happened 200 years BEFORE this!
I'm so glad I can finally rate 0.5 star now!
Reading this book took me 3 months, which shows just how boring it was! Now that I've finished it, I'm not sure how much the teen-me would have hated this book but I? I hated it, but I? I hated it a lot. I can't believe I'm saying this, especially since Asimov was my #1 fave writer when I was a teen. Since 2024, I’ve been catching up on the greater Foundation series I’ve wanted to read since I was younger. I loved the Robot series, but now I’m worried I’ll hate Foundation!
The technology sometimes felt too advanced, with Asimov not bothering to explain it, and other times it was too primitive, which drove me crazy.
The plot was stupid.
The main character was a 23-year-old arrogant boy who wouldn’t shut up. Considering his semi-aristocratic background, I could’ve let him slide, but the narrative fell flat when it came to him. It focused only on his arrogance, not what was going on in his mind. There was no way to guess that he was such a smartass. It just didn't stick.
Artemisia barely did anything in the whole story. Whenever she was mentioned, it was only to focus on her body, which happened way too often. Even though the book was from the 50s, I couldn't stop thinking about how many times her smooth skin or breasts were described. It was annoying. I guess I should thank Asimov for doing the bare minimum when it comes to women!! I know, I know, I’m looking at this from a 2025 pov, but still...
Gilbert... what an idiot. He had invented something "amusing" for my time, but it certainly wasn't amusing when I thought about the future! And, to top of it, it wasn’t even used in the rest of the story! So, what was the point of introducing it in the first place?!! Rhodia felt like a world before the 17th century. At least tell me why technology is banned on this world besides Spaceships!! Did Frank Herbert get the idea for Dune from this book?!
Even on spaceships they still use paper??????!!!!!!
The twist about the rebellion people at the end got me though ngl.
About the last paragraph at the end of the book: I googled it, and it seems it was the editor's idea of Galaxy Magazine, where the book was first serialized. It was a ridiculous idea! Awfully retarded! Like, come on, is dictatorship the only form of government known to humans in the future?!
And how are so many planets ruled under dictatorship in a way that’s so stereotypical, even for our time?! Are you kidding me Asimov? You did better back in the 40s!
*P.S.: In Caves of Steel, Asimov provides a convincing explanation for the word "paper". One paper that includes lots of information digitally. I liked that one. BUT that happened 200 years BEFORE this!
