Scott Graham
This short novel lives up to its reputation as a mind f*** read. It almost induces a sense of vertigo in the reader in its refusal to describe what is actually happening while decribing what appears to be happening. As all of the previous expeditions into an area cut off from the real world end spectacularly badly, the expedition in the book starts off poorly. Deceit and paranoia set in amongst the four members of the team, each known only by the name of their profession (the biologist, the anthropologist, the surveyor, and the psychologist). The otherworldliness of the environs and wildlife, presented very much like The World Without Us, Lost, District 9, and Cloverfield rolled into one, closes in on the main character and narrator. The organization, Southern Reach, that sponsors these expeditions is only mentioned in the abstract, except perhaps in the person of the psychologist who is the tacit leader of the group, exerts some level of control over the other members, and acts as the putative villain. It is obvious that Southern Reach and she know more than the other members of the team, ostensibly to keep from affecting the results of the exploration, but ulterior, perhaps nefarious, motives begin to suggest themselves. In the open ended conclusion, the reader is left off balance with what will happen, but the obvious suggestion is “nothing good”.
This short novel lives up to its reputation as a mind f*** read. It almost induces a sense of vertigo in the reader in its refusal to describe what is actually happening while decribing what appears to be happening. As all of the previous expeditions into an area cut off from the real world end spectacularly badly, the expedition in the book starts off poorly. Deceit and paranoia set in amongst the four members of the team, each known only by the name of their profession (the biologist, the anthropologist, the surveyor, and the psychologist). The otherworldliness of the environs and wildlife, presented very much like The World Without Us, Lost, District 9, and Cloverfield rolled into one, closes in on the main character and narrator. The organization, Southern Reach, that sponsors these expeditions is only mentioned in the abstract, except perhaps in the person of the psychologist who is the tacit leader of the group, exerts some level of control over the other members, and acts as the putative villain. It is obvious that Southern Reach and she know more than the other members of the team, ostensibly to keep from affecting the results of the exploration, but ulterior, perhaps nefarious, motives begin to suggest themselves. In the open ended conclusion, the reader is left off balance with what will happen, but the obvious suggestion is “nothing good”.
Anxiety ridden hockey enforcer, Ryan Price, is in love with Fabian Saleh, a femme violinist he’s known known since his high school days. The characters are sympathetic and likeable, but they lack the depth of Ilya Rosenov and Shane Hollander from Heated Rivalry, or the sturm und drang of Scott Hunter and Kip Grady from Game Changer for that matter. Each character has some deep seated insecurities, but their mutual affection is finally revealed well into the narrative. The obstacle for Ryan and Fabian is so manufactured and transparent as to be almost inconsequential, but the positive potrayal of LGBTQ+ characters in Rachel Reid’s series is difficult to fault. Ilya Rosenov and Ryan Price even get to meet at the funeral of a fellow player, which brings Ilya’s and Shanes charity and relationship back into the ongoing story. Lighter than the other stories, certainly, but overall just as enjoyable.
Anxiety ridden hockey enforcer, Ryan Price, is in love with Fabian Saleh, a femme violinist he’s known known since his high school days. The characters are sympathetic and likeable, but they lack the depth of Ilya Rosenov and Shane Hollander from Heated Rivalry, or the sturm und drang of Scott Hunter and Kip Grady from Game Changer for that matter. Each character has some deep seated insecurities, but their mutual affection is finally revealed well into the narrative. The obstacle for Ryan and Fabian is so manufactured and transparent as to be almost inconsequential, but the positive potrayal of LGBTQ+ characters in Rachel Reid’s series is difficult to fault. Ilya Rosenov and Ryan Price even get to meet at the funeral of a fellow player, which brings Ilya’s and Shanes charity and relationship back into the ongoing story. Lighter than the other stories, certainly, but overall just as enjoyable.
Added to listOwnedwith 146 books.
A total mess of the death bed visions of a dying oil magnate play out like an Our Gang comedy and a Douglas Sirk 50s melodrama. Thank goodness it was a long novella and not a 700 page chunker because the idea had nowhere else to go except to its quick nonsensical end. The stream of consciousness writing made it difficult to attribute thought to characters at times and the actions of the “angels” and “demons” were performative without being motivated. This one is going into the donation box for the local library.
A total mess of the death bed visions of a dying oil magnate play out like an Our Gang comedy and a Douglas Sirk 50s melodrama. Thank goodness it was a long novella and not a 700 page chunker because the idea had nowhere else to go except to its quick nonsensical end. The stream of consciousness writing made it difficult to attribute thought to characters at times and the actions of the “angels” and “demons” were performative without being motivated. This one is going into the donation box for the local library.
