A charming story of romance with lots of bucholic landscapes, utopic Martians and very charming 1900's science.
Full of nice imaginery and very chivalrous and virtuous characters, it has some action and drama in which the lovers must face Fate and the treat of eternal separation. Although it is sometimes a bit slow, it will leave you in a great mood.
If you don't like early 18th-19th century love concept (innocent, pure and undefeatable) you might think this is a bit corny.
The author spends 1/3 of the story explaining how wonderful and awe-inspiring Jhordel is. It's a good thing she does, because I really though the character was ane egomaniac, selfish and quite stupid strategist. Ibrahim is a Navy Intelligence commander and still seems completely unfamiliar with protocol, spacecrafts or history or anything at all. He spends half the time feeling the "odd man out", the other half with a "knot in his stomach" because he is intimidated -and uncomfortable- by Jhordel, the circumstances, the unkown enemy, the Red Christians... and even the recycled food.
I found the whole thing irritating (from the author's preface to her last lines encouraging readers to make a donation), the story was slow and repetitive, the charactes inmatures and depth-less (despite the constant references to dark pasts that hide a lot), and I never managed to feel interested in the characters' fates (although I ended wishing Inbrahim got curt-martialed and Jhordel murdered in a mutiny just to have some excitement in the read). Disappointing.
Although relatively simple in its premises, the story allowed me to ponder over what we call "Luck" and on whether the Chingsi were able to control it - which would mean they were far darker than what they seem - or if they just got a few laughs out of soomething they attracted unintentionally. I appreciate a story that leaves me wanting to think on aspects usually taken for granted, and I also appreciate a story that is able to make me feel uneasy. This piece achieved both despite it is not very technological nor action-packed.
I have mixed feelings about this title. It does lack some coherence in certain aspects, but the story is entertaining and some of the characters and situations are very nicely portrayed.
As far as I'm concerned, the action worked very nicely until the last part of the book, and I felt a bit disappointed with the last turn of events. I got the feeling the author had finally decided to drop the whole thing off as soon as possible.
Some of the most attractive points and characters of the book are not too explored. Then again, maybe that is what makes them have that special something.
This short story is a perfect example of the Sci-Fi written in the early 30\'s (and gives a view on that time's society ideals)with a very simple and straightforward plot.
The main characters are 1-dimensional: the good guys are very good (and lucky), the bad guys are wicked but in a most naïve way.
The women are merely decorative.
Not much science or technology in this story, but if you are looking for some innocent amusement it is worth the while. This would have made a great radio serial with a few sound effects and a organ playing in the background.
If you are able to keep in mind the time frame of when it was written, you will actually enjoy the innocence, fun and action in this piece.
I loved this story, both for its philosophical content and for the way it mixes action with just the right ammount of scientific (plausible) details.
If you are looking for a clever read that will let you ponder on how different moral values may lead to evolutionary differentiation between "fellow men", this is the story for you.
It is definitively worth reading even if it is to discover the real complexity of the Nancy Bell crew.
Those looking for deeper, darker cyberpunk stuff might feel a little dsappointed though. Still, I would invite everyone to give it a try.
A good idea and some pretty interesting trails followed. The construction of the future world manages to transmit an air of isolation, occlusion and chill as it composes picture of plausible future for us.
Unfortunately, the rhythm is slow and it takes quite a while to actually lead somewhere. The ending is disappointing as it leaves the most interesting notions the author was playing with almost unexplored.
The character's profiles are not well developed and they lack depth.
It is a good read if you want to pass time, but it certainly leaves you feeling there could have been so much more to the good underlaying ideas.
Enjoyable short story despite the action comes in rushes and seems to be missing a part somewhere along the line.
Not lacking irony, it is definitively worth reading and will make you pnder on the way both our acts and othe people's have consequences we sometimes can not imagine... for better or worse.
Monaggio’s book reviews
Full of nice imaginery and very chivalrous and virtuous characters, it has some action and drama in which the lovers must face Fate and the treat of eternal separation. Although it is sometimes a bit slow, it will leave you in a great mood.
If you don't like early 18th-19th century love concept (innocent, pure and undefeatable) you might think this is a bit corny.
I found the whole thing irritating (from the author's preface to her last lines encouraging readers to make a donation), the story was slow and repetitive, the charactes inmatures and depth-less (despite the constant references to dark pasts that hide a lot), and I never managed to feel interested in the characters' fates (although I ended wishing Inbrahim got curt-martialed and Jhordel murdered in a mutiny just to have some excitement in the read). Disappointing.
As far as I'm concerned, the action worked very nicely until the last part of the book, and I felt a bit disappointed with the last turn of events. I got the feeling the author had finally decided to drop the whole thing off as soon as possible.
Some of the most attractive points and characters of the book are not too explored. Then again, maybe that is what makes them have that special something.
It doesn't flow too well at some points (including the climax), but still makes an enjoyable reading.
One wonders though, why the Lonnies of real world seem to beat the Jasons so often...
The main characters are 1-dimensional: the good guys are very good (and lucky), the bad guys are wicked but in a most naïve way.
The women are merely decorative.
Not much science or technology in this story, but if you are looking for some innocent amusement it is worth the while. This would have made a great radio serial with a few sound effects and a organ playing in the background.
If you are able to keep in mind the time frame of when it was written, you will actually enjoy the innocence, fun and action in this piece.
If you are looking for a clever read that will let you ponder on how different moral values may lead to evolutionary differentiation between "fellow men", this is the story for you.
It is definitively worth reading even if it is to discover the real complexity of the Nancy Bell crew.
Those looking for deeper, darker cyberpunk stuff might feel a little dsappointed though. Still, I would invite everyone to give it a try.
Unfortunately, the rhythm is slow and it takes quite a while to actually lead somewhere. The ending is disappointing as it leaves the most interesting notions the author was playing with almost unexplored.
The character's profiles are not well developed and they lack depth.
It is a good read if you want to pass time, but it certainly leaves you feeling there could have been so much more to the good underlaying ideas.
Not lacking irony, it is definitively worth reading and will make you pnder on the way both our acts and othe people's have consequences we sometimes can not imagine... for better or worse.