Francesco

fear-mongering propaganda ?

Revisado: 03-09-24

I’m struggling with this book to be honest.

The overwhelming “China is evil” vibe in this otherwise passable novel has made me want to stop. When a call of duty game is more nuanced you know there is something wrong.

China and its leadership are portrayed as moustache twirling sociopaths to the point that it feels like a novelised propaganda poster from the Second World War. This book is either capitalising on current western fears or is actively designed to foster them, or both. And I’m not a China apologist, not at all. But I would recommend staying away from it. It will make you more paranoid and more miserable. I’m not sure its entertainment value is worth it.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

No character, poor writing

Revisado: 10-26-23

I found this book really very strange. The detective is literally merely a name. He has literally no personality. I don’t mean this as not much personality I mean zero. You never find out anything about him he has no impact on the story. The only thing you know about him is that he has “ piercing blue eyes”. This is one of many horrible terms of phrase scattered throughout this pedestrian book. There is even an “overstuffed sofa” believe it or not. The characters are empty, fairly stupid, and not very likeable.

I am very surprised by a rating of over four for this where there are so many functional normal that there.

Despite all of this, I did find a page turner, but I’m not sure why. I definitely think you should not read it. It is a deeply unsatisfying experience.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

Sooooo slow.

Revisado: 06-18-23

I listened to this book at 2.6x speed and even then it was slow. So little happens. And to make matters worse all the characters, every single one, are nasty and horrible. Maybe that is a commentary on the period?

Still I finished it which I guess means something? Maybe. Meh.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

Unlikely, Unlikable. Unpleasant.

Revisado: 04-01-23

Aside from borrowing, heavily and seemingly shamelessly from multiple other sources (alien, venom, the host, the expanse) this novel is entirely populated by characters that are very aggressive towards each other all the time, and for no good reason in a unpleasant and stupid way. Decisions are made haphazardly.

Was unable to continue after about a third. Life is way too short to spend it with this.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

esto le resultó útil a 1 persona

This was badly written, but used “but” a lot.

Revisado: 05-14-22

The narrator does a pretty good job and the accent and cadence is pleasant. Unfortunately the protagonist he is difficult to engage with, a particular problem since it is told in the first person.

Most importantly the writing is often awful. There are cliches for example “over stuffed arm chair” and a particular grammatical tick which once heard cannot be ignored.

Approximately a third of all sentences have the following structure:

I/he/she/her/he something something something, but something something.

There was a wound on her back but it was not anatomical. I was hungry but I did not want a sandwich. I said something pointless but the reader didn’t like it.

Gave up 1/3 of the way through.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

esto le resultó útil a 1 persona

Too smug

Revisado: 02-06-22

The main character remains annoyingly smug and smartarse even in light of the most extreme personal trauma. Hard to empathise and therefore couldn’t care less.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

Not even laughably bad

Revisado: 06-04-21

It’s not often i’m comes across a work so devoid of any merit as this. It’s hard to believe that an actual audience exists for this. Clearly it’s intended for adults as there is ample if boringly generic swearing. And yet, the prose and premise is so infantile that it reads like a book intended for children.

The narration makes the main character odious and the accents of Italian characters for example is frankly bordering on racist.

Life is way way way to short to waste time on this literary equivalent of curdled whey.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

Errrgh. Really?

Revisado: 06-24-20

This is formulaic, shallow, and a bit silly. I managed to finish it, but honestly I’m not sure why I bothered. It is an example of cookie-cutter writing designed to spawn a series filled with equally uninspiring characters. Oh, and clearly they watched predator way too many times.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

So much fun

Revisado: 04-28-20

It’s pulpy. It’s corny. It’s over the top. “Die hard” meets Miles Vorkosigan and starship troopers.

Dialogue is fun and story snappy and even though the main character is to ridiculously good at her job is still ok and fun.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

Entertaining but no where near scalzi at his best

Revisado: 04-21-19

Admission: I could listen to Scalzi/Wheaton retell a telephone directory. It is a great combination.

Compared to much of Scalzi’s other work, however, this and the previous novel in the series are fairly weak tab A into slot B whodunnits. It lacks much of the sci-fi literate cleverness of other novels.

Still enjoyed it in the way you enjoy comfort food.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña