Gretchen

Better in print

Revisado: 06-15-24

This book describes poisonous and noxious plants. It’s more a list than a narrative: fascinating, but definitely better in print.

The narrator is very staccato and doesn’t emphasize words that might make the format more engaging. I slowed the narration to 0.9 to keep up with the barrage of truly interesting information.

It’s a fun and informative book that doesn’t translate well to audio.

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Fascinating and hilarious; highly recommended!

Revisado: 06-13-24

This book wasn’t particularly gory, though other readers found it difficult. I have a reasonably clinical mindset, which helped. It was on par with “Sweat,” “Nine Pints,” and Mary Roach’s or Sam Keans’ books.


My only quibble: I could wish for a bit more follow-through in places.

Still, it’s fascinating, funny, punny, and totally worth the cost or credit.

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Engaging Natural History

Revisado: 04-05-24

Well written and well paced. Highly engaging and wide-ranging history of South American nature. I could wish for more about marsupials, even though they’re off-topic for this work.

I’m glad this is an audiobook; sometimes natural history is too slow to keep my attention. I did need to speed it up to 1.1x due to the narrator’s habit of pausing between clauses. I got used to it quickly (as one does).

Overall I recommend this book for anyone interested in nature, birds, and natural history.

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Very YA

Revisado: 03-26-24

Some of the world building made no sense. Why would humans create a cleaning bot with a mobile face? The assembly bot, too, physically smiles. Why not just a speaker like C3-PO’s? The economics don’t make sense.

The editor missed a lot of redundancy as well. If we don’t know who a bot/person is by the last chapters, the reader probably isn’t still reading.

I finished the book so I won’t return it, but I was overall disappointed with this book.

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Slow, annoying, repetitive, and slow

Revisado: 12-21-23

Others love this book!

I hate leaving negative reviews. I love books, and I appreciate authors’ hard work! I just wish this book was better.

I didn’t finish. I found it boring, repetitive, and s-l-o-w. I sped narration to 1.2 and still couldn’t get past the flaws.

I may not be the right audience; I enjoy some YA, but not this one. I could see the ending from about chapter eight and still had about 10 hours to go. Nope.

Finally, either the author or the narrator confuses near-homonyms. A baby toddles; a weakened adult TOTTERS. Similar repeated errors was the last straw.

Don’t bother.

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Good book

Revisado: 07-30-23

It’s a lot like Steven Brust’s Khaavren Romances or Vlad Taltos adventures. This one’s more violent but still enjoyable.

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A favorite book since 2011

Revisado: 07-18-23

I bought this book new in 2011. I enjoy the quiet way Stephen Gould’s main characters solve their problems. The heroes are smart and resourceful; too many current mc’s are just idiots, making stupid decisions as a plot point. Gould’s characters own their mistakes like intelligent people.

Outstanding, 5/5, highly recommend.

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Disappointingly YA

Revisado: 07-17-23

Lots of editing issues in an okay YA book.

Main character isn’t a xenoarcheologist by vocation or training, though she has good experience from a previous job. She’s a tinkerer and mid-level engineer by schooling, vocation and preference. That’s pretty cool by itself. Why add the xenoarcheology?

The author reiterates information frequently and never refers to ships by their nicknames. People never say, “I’ll meet you back at the CC Genghis Khan.” They’ll “Meet at the Khan in an hour.”

I enjoyed the adventures and characters; their personalities and motivations are consistent throughout. My impulse is to immediately get the sequel — it’s a great cliffhanger — but I won’t care tomorrow. It’s not enough to outweigh the flaws.

I suspect I’m mostly dissatisfied because this is yet another YA story without a YA tag. C’mon, Audible. I don’t want to spend money and credits on YA when I’m looking for something more.

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esto le resultó útil a 5 personas

Where are the female characters?

Revisado: 06-26-23

Like much of “hard” sf, female characters don’t exist. The few present represent daughter, wife, and “hag” (antagonist) roles.

C’mon, people! Write some peers who happen to be female! I’m not asking for anything difficult. All I want is a permanent character or two to represent 50% of the human population.

Grow beyond Asimov, Heinlein, Bradbury, et al. Heck, grow beyond Homer and Tolkien.

Write women with with intelligence _and_ a heart like Bob’s.

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Good story, terrible narration

Revisado: 02-27-23

I enjoy Tanya Huff’s work; I’ve been reading her books since the late 80’s.

I liked the print version. I even hoped for a sequel, but not any more. The narrator is just too awful.

The reader was among the worst I’ve ever heard: robotic, grating, and s-l-o-w even at 1.2x. I gritted my teeth and finished because it’s by a favorite author. Even so, I’m tempted to return it because I can’t listen to it ever again.

I’ll avoid this narrator in the future; they ruined a good book.

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