Challenge #22 ~ “A book with a number in the title or on the cover.”
★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆
My opinion in three sentences:
This was a case of solid case I-like-what-you’re-doing-but-not-how-you’re-doing-it, with a plotline that was so enticing (and actually well developed through the book) but also an incredibly slow and confusing start that had me ready to abandon the book several times. Kristoff raised many an important sci-fi issue around what it means to be human (and man, what a twist), but for me I found it rather hard to keep of the different elements and who was supposed to be what (or should that be, who?) Still, it was all topped off with some really clever elements and repeated themes/motifs that were very much penny-drop moments that betrayed Kristoff’s real talent.
(Without spoiling anything) the best bit:
About two thirds to three quarters of the way through. Suddenly, everything seems to fall into place. You’ve got some humour, great characterisation, a budding relationship between Ezekiel and Ana, a bit of mystery remaining, a sense of what’s going on and how the world operates, and a perfect pace. If all the book were like this, it would be, to steal the language, fizzy.
A warning for the book:
Prepare to be bombarded and left afloat. With no glossary or other handy reference material, I found it very difficult to keep on track of all of the characters and quite what (or who) they were – android, robot, cyborg, lifelike, human, abnorm, the list goes on… – and, in fact, the differences between each of these classes. Something so simple would have been extremely useful in helping guide and support the reader whilst further emphasising the moral debate on e-kind that Kristoff is really driving at.
Recommended for fans of:
- Railhead by Philip Reeve
- World After by Susan Ee
- Trash by Andy Mulligan
Dreaming With Your Eyes Wide Open 