/lit/ - Literature

Bad review times?

Anyways. I'm a grumpy man, so even going to the end of the book and reviewing it means it's worth reading. Plot is simple copy paste from 2001. Scientists discover alien artefact, and it leads them to rainbow coloured meta experiences in space. Novel parts are that it's set far in the future with different factions striving for and against the pursuit of knowledge. First black spot is that it's titled hard scify when it isn't. It has some technical jargon, but it has no effect on the story, so it's essentially skipable page filler. It's also filled with 'actionscenes straight for movie adaptation!' Then there are totally bland, and one dimensional characters. Two thirds of them are coupled to one another for some slight plot developments. Most of them die for the same effect. While only defining characteristics among them are various trans human appendages. Humanity is apparently lost in time. So there is no pathos, no attachment of reader to anyone of them. Admittedly a theme of 'everything for the goal', plays a part in the novel, but it doesn't excuse blandness that is always present. There's also always present lack of editing, but it's so overpesent nowdays, that nobody cares anymore. Just skipread the filler and you get through the book in no time. The good parts aren't many, but I did enjoy archaeology and worldbuilding. Findings are exciting, history of the world is gradually revealed and shows promise. We are shown glimpses of cities that were built, that rose to gold, and then fell again. We learn of Lighthuggers. Behemoth spaceships so old, that first crewmen spoke different dialects. But that's it. As soon as you think you're starting to enjoy yourself, the good parts end. History and archaeology quickly move over and give place for some cheap action, and predictable, though well written, closure. At least it's sound and final, no cliffhangers or anything.

Two and a quarter stars from ten, with five topmost for the genre and ten to eight unachievable.