Lize Smith

Unexpected delight

I didn't have any real expectations when I picked this up. The story is built on great character development and takes some unexpected turns. I was swept along and left amazed at the outcome. This is not just about nuns in space but about standing by one's values despite the rules. If you are a closet subversive like me, you will love this book.

I loved the writing. The story was quirky. Unfortunately the ending was trite and twee. This could have been so much better.

I understood maybe 50% of that. I am not sure if a re-read would help. It's an interesting story but the writing style is dense and the author doesn't do a lot of explaining.  

Great fun

I wasn't sure what to expect when I picked this one up. Timmy the necromancer and his apprentice were very entertaining.

This was a reread and let me tell you, I was horrified that they let 12-year old me out of the library with this book! The amount of sex! I remember none of it, so perhaps I was too naive to notice.

What I can't figure out is whether attitudes were that permissive towards sex and homosexuality in the 70s (I am surprisingly too young to remember) or whether Pohl was trying to shock. Either way, I actively hated the protagonist. What an asshat. And the psychobabble at his shrink is complete hogwash. 

I always wondered what happened next (South African libraries never seemed to have a full series of anything) so I was planning on reading the series. BUT. I am not sure if I want to sit through more of the protagonist's BS.

Overall rating: 3.25  But only because it's supposed to be a classic.