Mindstar

Good story, off-putting title

Revisado: 10-14-24

I have put off reading this book (or any from the series) for a long time because the name “murder bot” has always seemed childish and not particularly creative. I think it is a pretty silly reason to skip a book, but with so much content out there, it was enough to hold me back.

I eventually decided to get a shot, and given that it is a fairly quick book, I don’t regret it as the investment was minimal. That said, I do think this will not be for everyone, even if you have an interest in science fiction. I think my main concern relates to the title and the motivations/circumstances that led to a title like this. I was hoping for something more serious and “hard” as science fiction goes, but this was not really that.

I think I was missing a maturity that this book never promised, but I wish was there all the same.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

Interesting POV with frustrating performance

Revisado: 06-04-24

The motivations and cultures of the characters was interesting, and one I had not encountered before.

My primary issue with the book was the audio performance. The performer did not seem to modulate their tone between characters or moments, and as a result everything came across as overly dramatic and this took away some of the suspense. If the melodrama could have been toned down, I would have been much more engaged.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

esto le resultó útil a 1 persona

Excellent scholarship, but incredibly dry

Revisado: 03-23-24

I was interested in learning more of the time period and subject matter, and decided to give this book a try based on reviews and the general consensus on the topic. The scholarship is excellent, but the presentation is very dry and I think a different narrator would have been of great benefit.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

Good story with some challenging time shifts

Revisado: 02-12-23

Prior to purchase, I read a number of reviews from other buyers about the somewhat complicated story with multiple time jumps. I just assumed it was standard flashbacks, but they actually reference a story element where characters are (through a narrative device) reflecting on past events as a key element of the story. Although it generally becomes clear what is happening, you effectively have a number of characters who are jumping from present day to various points in the past. It may be that the written version of the book is easier to follow based on how it documents the perspective shifts, but I struggled to keep up with the way it is presented in the audio format. The performance is strong, otherwise, and it is worthwhile if you enjoy the setting.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

Interesting perspective marred by a bit of frustration

Revisado: 12-24-22

The story is interesting, however it started slowly and could have used a bit more of a hook at the beginning. The voice performance is strong with the exception of the voice used for one of the space marine chapters. The performer affects a sort of Russian accent, but it sounds awkward and cartoonish and it pulled me out of the immersion to the point that I did not enjoy the portions involving the marines. I also struggled a bit with the tau portions as their representation comes off as cliche Japanese stereotypes. This may be more of a comment on the Tau in general rather than this particular novel.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

Good, if you enjoy Necrons

Revisado: 09-14-22

I find the Necron content to be hard to enjoy because of how hard it leans on the tropes of arrogance as well as the magic-y nature of their tech. They are super advanced, and as a result authors don’t need to work very hard to rationalize their abilities as it ends up being hand-waived away as a part of their technology with little explanation (dimensional appendices being an example). It was also hard to empathize with the Flayer component of the story given the nature of those entities. It felt like a book written about zombies with whom I am somehow supposed to connect. The book was good for what it is, but the premise is hard for me to get behind.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

Fine story but different cast

Revisado: 05-09-22

It is obvious if you read the story info, but this is not the same narrator as the other Cain novels. The story and performance are fine, but it is not the same humor and experience as the mainline novels have.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

Largely good, with a flawed performance and issues in the details

Revisado: 04-23-19

I am a huge Peter F. Hamilton fan, but this book did not do it for me. The biggest issue is the performance. The "reader" uses some suspect accents for a lot of the characters (he is switching between Russian, Chinese, Scottish, English, New Jersey, etc.) and it often comes off as an exaggeration of what the real thing might sound like. More than that, the inflection he uses for a lot of the characters is just bizarre and off-putting. It is often incredibly over the top and melodramatic to the point of breaking immersion.

As for the story, and maybe this is just changing taste, but some of the details of the world being built were odd. For example, there are computer/AI systems called "turings" and the most advanced version is the generation 5, or "G5 Turing." Instead of doing what I would think would be the normal way to speak about these systems like saying "use the AI" or "use the Turing," every character feels the need to specify the generation in casual conversation. For example, "John, use the G5 Turing to order coffee" or "Steve activated his g5 Turing to open the door." There are a number of minor issues like this that make the overall world feel less natural and more forced. Overall the story is good, however the performance and immersion breaking details bring it down.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña