Brian

Kinda a Shaggy Dog story, but highly recommended.

Revisado: 06-16-24

The plot takes F O R E V E R to progress. Maybe in three more books we'll find out who won the election in Liscor? Having said that, great characters spring like mushrooms, and 90% of the vignettes are so enjoyable, one wishes for a LOT more.

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Solid work but...

Revisado: 06-12-24

... maybe a few too many flashbacks. I found them a bit jarring. Just sayin'.

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An EXCELLENT survey of an unexpected rise to power

Revisado: 05-06-24

I lived in Russia from 1997 to 1999, investing in small businesses for international assistance organizations. I was aware of (witnessed?) some of the events of Putin's rise. I was not aware that Putin helped Sobchak flee the country to escape prosecution; but I can easily see how that act of loyalty was instrumental in Yeltsin's selection of Putin as his eventual successor. Mystery solved, IMHO.

This book (?) is short, moves quickly, and covers a lot of ground tersely. It almost feels like the script for a very, very good gangster movie. The material is mostly presented factually, with listeners left to draw their own conclusions. Unfortunately, the implicit conclusions are depressing.

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A Tapestry of Galactic Adventure

Revisado: 12-05-23

Will Wight is a consistent writer of very enjoyable sci-fantasy. The plot is a well-structured and briskly-paced, the characters are simple but interesting, and the universe (and magic system) is creatively crafted. There are lots of details to please the fan-boys and fan-girls, and plenty of teasers for the next books. There's even a very minor (?!) easter-egg reference to the Cradle series!

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A Long List of Things To Fret About

Revisado: 12-22-22

Though he missed solar flares and unconstrained population growth. No help addressing or even prioritizing problems. I note a few of his concerns are arguably mutually exclusive. The amygdala on steroids?
I still give Mr. Roubini a lot of credit for his earlier works on emerging market crises and the US real estate bubble. This book is not his best.

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Main characters now too powerful

Revisado: 11-05-21

A small band of underdogs now wield unfathomable power, and are caught between unknowable gods clashing on a galactic scale. The plot moves along but it’s harder to care about the main characters when they are surrounded by omnipotent non-entities.
I’ll certainly read the next books, but I don’t feel the need to pull out my hair waiting for the next one to come out. The characters’ powers outgrew the possibility for human interest.

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Surprisingly good.

Revisado: 05-05-21

The sadomasochism actually kinda works – sets a disturbing tone, makes the bad guys seem more evil, etc. A bit like the baddies in Silence of the Lambs. I rate this book "very good" – and much better than many of the freebies.

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Surprisingly bad.

Revisado: 04-18-21

Based on the glowing reviews around here, you'd think this book was great. It isn't. It's annoying. The characters are annoying. The pace is so slow, it takes about four hours of listening to get through about two hours of "action". The characters repeatedly and incessantly do stupid things, just to prolong the "excitement", when they could easily do X, Y, or Z and be in a much better situation. Frankly, I kept hoping a few of the characters would get run over by a truck or something.

The book is just good enough that you keep listening, hoping the book will turn the corner, and get exciting. But even after the author blows up half of the North End in Boston, this book is just plain boring and annoying.

Couldn't finish. Oh well. But no point wasting more time on this thing.

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A Solid B+ (or A-?)

Revisado: 10-18-20

The overall premise was intriguing, the main character was likable enough, the plot moved along at a good pace and concluded nicely, and there were several funny moments. Overall, a fun listen.

On the other hand, most of the characters were a bit flat, the action sequences could be a little hard to follow, and the main character and/or narrator were a bit tiresome at times. Don't get me wrong – the book is good – but there are better ones out there.

This was my first Murderbot novel. Maybe I would have a different opinion if I had read the four preceding stories first.

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Terrific At Any Age

Revisado: 10-15-20

Very moving. I felt like I was bawling for the last hour of the book. A very impressive work of family (and U.S.) history. Recommended to just about anyone.

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