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Part 1 -announced

Revisado: 11-13-24

Not only is the story boring, the technology presented not believable at all and full of flaws, when I finally got to the end I realized this is installment 1 of a series and it was not mentioned when I bought the book. A disappointment throughout and waste of time.

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A major struggle

Revisado: 11-16-23

This audiobook first left me bored (for the complete first half), then scandalized (due to an audacious - to say the least - development in one of the characters) and ultimately with a stale aftertaste.
First of all the reading. In a less than flattering accent (why would you do this ? to make a point for the North vs London ? really ?), a continuous flow with little to no help for the listener to distinguish characters. A major issue for me also that it was very hard to understand vs the background noises of the car, made me continuously rewind not to miss anything.
The story, or rather, the lack of it. For the most part the writer dwells in trifles in the lives of the main characters. Imagine this somewhere between "Friends" and "Sex and the City" (the latter actually a wanted or unwanted parallel given the number of adult main characters). The first half of the book is certainly amidst the most boring I have read for a long time. Then, it gains some pace, however, never managed to really captivate me due to its lack of originality. I will say that the last pages let me revise my 1-star story rating to 2 because finally there is actually a twist worth reading. But who wants to wait for 98% of a book before getting that ?
The world. I actually love a good fantasy setting, especially the ones that are intricately woven between a magic and our modern world. This, however, is far from being amongst the genre's best or even average. There is hardly anything in this book that is original. The magic concept, based on Gaia (greek goddess, strong female alpha) remains extremely vague and lifeless (loveless from the point of view of the author). Male magic practitioners are much less powerful than female (really ?) and the source of all past evil. The non-magic population is positioned as weak, corrupt and dispensable.
The characters. I am not going to go into details on the 4 female main characters which are to my mind rather caricatures. ***SPOILER ALARM ON*** Worth noting though is the mid-book gender transformation of the teenage hero which basically shifts him/her from the bad to the good side of the world (really, really, really ?). Strangely enough, this is the only interesting feature of this character who remains otherwise remarkably grey and ultimately unimportant, a fact which - I will never know for sure - will likely be exploited in the sequels to this edition. ***SPOILER ALARM OFF*** Lastly, all male characters in the book are either evil (some magic ones), idiots (some magic and non-magic ones) or bastards (the husband that has weekly anal intercourse with the receptionist... yes, with the receptionist).
It's funny, I actually got this one because I saw the hard copy advertised in a book shop. Personal learning: better research before spending a credit.

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Visionary

Revisado: 11-16-23

This book is a lesson on how we should approach new technologies: with an open mind, optimism and careful consideration of the benefits and consequences.
The author emphasizes the most important point: the discussion cannot continue between a minority of experts but everyone needs to be educated and involved. This is our future, there is no way around it, so let’s shape it rather than being rolled over.

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Fiction top, science flop

Revisado: 04-24-22

Entertaining story, quite interesting play on social interaction of young adults on interstellar journey. Well done that the older generation rarely gets to speak, they really play a very minor role leaving space for character development for the young ones.
Typically, sci-fi set far in the future is safe from critique, as most of the technology (like faster-than-light travel) even though unrealistic is so much off the reader’s understanding that it doesn’t spoil the story. The big flaw in this book are the rings. Although the kids are eager to get them rotate (why?) the real question is where they will be in the future. Certainly not like obviously intended by the author in relative motionlessness to Earth. It is actually Newtonian dynamics (inertia) that will keep them in fast motion towards the destination, otherwise they would need their own drive to decelerate. Unnecessary really, definitely leaving a bad aftertaste and a star less for the story.

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A sci-fi classic at publication

Revisado: 02-18-22

This is a story about purpose, friendship, courage and our ability to deal with our own imperfection as much as it is a sci-fi novel in a very unique setting. Enjoyed it very much.

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Best audio course on the topic

Revisado: 08-22-21

Really great and just the right level fir a non-physicist to get a basic overview of the standard model. Only downside, it needs an update about the last 15 years of science but that is not a major issue.

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Too scary for our 4-year old and too irritating for me

Revisado: 11-25-17

Sexist stereotypes of the characters. Was relieved when our daughter wanted to turn it off.

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esto le resultó útil a 2 personas

Not for adults

Revisado: 02-13-17

I wasn't impressed after the first hour but still hoped that the story would evolve into something unique. The setting is not credible, the characters without exception hollow cliches. I lost all hope when the protagonist tried to save a baby from its mother's hands. And it did indeed not get better. Dragging empty conversations between yawning action scenes. Very young adults might be impressed. As of the age of 16 I would not recommend this book.

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esto le resultó útil a 1 persona

Don't

Revisado: 08-31-16

Frankly, the worst listen of the year. What starts as a mediocre thriller evolves in the last 3rd to a completely unrealistic fantasy. There is not even a surprise moment really when it becomes clear who the really bad guy is. The reader's interpretation of male characters is just wrong.

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Simplistic, politically incorrect, boring.

Revisado: 06-16-16

Nothing new or unique in this story. The villains are simple stereotypes, seen many a time but really... really outdated in the 21st century. The reading is slow and a little whiny.

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