A modern Sci-fi thriller spanning several genres. None of which can be explained easily without spoilers. This book explores modern physics, string theory, quantum physics while still being primarily a story about one mans fight to get his family back.
If you enjoyed the documentary “What the #$*! Do We (K)now!? (2004)” or “Sliding Doors” or even Multiverse related ideas then you should also enjoy this. It's very modern and thoughtful while being very familiar and emotional.
Simply stunning, very emotional and at times draining. Sharp and witty, eloquent and Elogant.
This book and its ideas of love, friendship and reconciling the past is a staggering achievement. You will laugh, definitely cry and without doubt you'll care. I think that's where this book shines the most, you are invested, you care what decisions the characters make. You will at times even find yourself deep in thought pondering the emotional state and the choices of the characters. I feel like I have lived with these characters, they aren't just words on a pages, these people are in my heart and are known to me like the closest of friends.
I know this book will be with me, close to my heart for many years to come.
This is Becky Chamber's third book in her exploration of the Universe she has created.
Of the three books I found this the hardest to get into. It was very character driven like her previous books, but it just seemed to be very scattered in its approach.
‘The long way to a small angry planet' (her first book) was focused on the crew of a spaceship. It was a team exploring the Universe together, interacting together and sharing their experiences.
‘A closed and common orbit' (her second book) was two storylines of two characters that live together so there was a mixing of experiences and communication between those characters.
This book has a range of the characters that it explores. Some are linked to each other, others have absolutely no relation to others at all. Well apart from living within this spaceship fleet orbiting a sun.
Having finished the book now I can understand what it was communicating, why it was created, and what it was saying about it's characters, but it just was nowhere near as compelling as the first two books. She still has written a fascinating exploration of society and people within it, but it lacked the hook that gripped me in the first 2 books.
I'll endeavour to include no spoilers, just an overview.
The simplest explanation of this book would be to say it's a gay version of “Eat Pray Love” . So it feels familiar as a device, and a bit tired.
The characters unfold eventually but for me the book really doesn't come alive until its final third. Some early relationships lack any emotional depth, you wonder why the german boy is there at all? Others make such a brief appearance you think should they have been included at all?
The narrator changing voice to various characters doesn't work for me. I found myself confused about who i was hearing from. There seemed to be no signposting to say new persons thoughts or experiences. I thought it was a misprint the first time it happened.
As a 48 yo artistic gay man i understand the story, appreciate the charm of our protagonist and the loving way he is explored by the author. I suspect that compassion is what will stay with me from this book.
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