My main gripe with this novel is how unbelievable it is. Science Fiction might be fiction, but all the best books are rooted firmly in science fact.
ThMy main gripe with this novel is how unbelievable it is. Science Fiction might be fiction, but all the best books are rooted firmly in science fact.
The world was very much unexplained from the start. There is a very important scientific advancement whereby humans don't need to eat any longer, they just live on electricity. This is a rather ridiculous proposition that I cannot even for a second fathom.
There is no attempt to explain how and, whilst Mary Shelley never did expressly tell us how Frankenstein gave life to his monster, science has advanced to such a point that even a vague attempt could be done. Also, why not remove the need for oxygen as well? And water, and the sugars, salts and vitamins the body needs to function successfully. I find it impossible to believe that electricity can replace all of that, even in a future with advanced science.
Beyond that, everything seems to fall to little pieces. The world and the predicament of the protagonists are unbelievable as well. Nothing is explained particularly well or formulated to create an environment that one can get in to and feel anything but skepticism.
And the zombies? Even when they did appear it took me a long time to realise that's what they were, and by then it was too late to hold any of my attention....more
I haven't read anything for a whole year. The virus, y'know? It used to be my whole life and then it became absolutely nothing. It was saddening.
The fI haven't read anything for a whole year. The virus, y'know? It used to be my whole life and then it became absolutely nothing. It was saddening.
The first time I read a few days ago something I actually cried. It wasn't what I was reading, it was just the act of reading. I missed it.
This was one of the books I had in my kindle that I am trying to get through. I didn't think I'd like it, but I've been pleasantly surprised by them before and I hate to think that I'd miss out on something just because of statistics.
This book is not terribly written in the basic sense, but it is too full of flowery prose for my liking. The protagonist is terribly unlikeable (as are most YA protagonists and any teenager ever) and her actions are almost impossible to really understand. The story is fairly formulaic and it didn't inspire any kind of feeling within....more
This is Arthurian legend mixed with Middle Earth, executed rather poorly. It is a slog to get through: it wants to be epic like Lord of the Rings, butThis is Arthurian legend mixed with Middle Earth, executed rather poorly. It is a slog to get through: it wants to be epic like Lord of the Rings, but be quick and punchy like Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. It is instead full of hyperbole and odd turn of phrase, with lashings of stunted conversation.
The main problem is that the protagonist is an overpowered seemingly unkillable man with a big sword and pretend humble nature. He is the best, he wants to be the best, he knows really he is the best. There is no mystery here. He shall prevail and get the girl. What else?...more
It always feels a bit silly to say of a fictional book featuring paranormal or other not-of-this-world abilities that I am not convinced by them, but It always feels a bit silly to say of a fictional book featuring paranormal or other not-of-this-world abilities that I am not convinced by them, but I suppose that's one of the things that gives good fictional books their edge. I wasn't convinced by this world or the powers within, nor indeed by any of the real-world elements either. It felt very much like a nanowrimo novel with little editing....more
This is an incredibly confusing and badly written book. It is a first draft rather than anything finished, or so it seems as you read it. Every sentenThis is an incredibly confusing and badly written book. It is a first draft rather than anything finished, or so it seems as you read it. Every sentence needs to be read at least three times to be understood and the main character is not particularly likeable. It is written in diary form, but I'm not really sure who writes in their diary like this. Not to mention the terrible dialogue, confusing metaphors and very under edited plot that confuses and loses itself....more
This is an awfully weird jumble of words that actually has a decent premise but is such a slog to get through the premise fades away very quickly. TheThis is an awfully weird jumble of words that actually has a decent premise but is such a slog to get through the premise fades away very quickly. There is a lot of new lore to work out but it isn't told very well and instead of an intriguing story of a pair of siblings who can open locks with runes, we get a terrible mess that takes a lot of re-reading to get your head around....more
This is a long and convoluted book that would benefit from a nice little team of editors. The sci-fi is too much fiction not enough science and the chThis is a long and convoluted book that would benefit from a nice little team of editors. The sci-fi is too much fiction not enough science and the characters are all a bit 2D. I expected some decent description of space and planets but I can't recall a single sentence that wasn't a few words long to that effect. It reads more like a second draft than a finished piece....more
They say, you should write about what you know, which is a good place to start. They also say, you should split up your sentences with commas, even ifThey say, you should write about what you know, which is a good place to start. They also say, you should split up your sentences with commas, even if they're put in the wrong place, or shoved gratuitously any which way. They also say, anyone can be a writer, just shove it on kindle. None of these things actually contribute to a good book, however.
I mostly found the writing to be below par. At any time in one paragraph a character is referred to as Vic, Victor and Lieutenant Croft, though as I write this I can't for certain say that Croft is Vic and Victor, because the inconsistency was palatable and forceful. And, the amount of commas, was tremendous. And the plot, whilst an interesting premise, was slow and, coupled with the bad writing, was very difficult to follow....more
I feel like there may be a half-decent story hidden underneath layers of typos and badly edited ~Twilight~ fanfiction, but it has been swept away by MI feel like there may be a half-decent story hidden underneath layers of typos and badly edited ~Twilight~ fanfiction, but it has been swept away by Mary-sue, overly emotional American teenagers with raging hormones and author-projected characteristics....more
This is the kind of book I dream about, salivate over and hunger for. I love etymology and have a desire to know it all.
But I can't get on board with This is the kind of book I dream about, salivate over and hunger for. I love etymology and have a desire to know it all.
But I can't get on board with this. Forsyth's humour is not located in the same hemisphere as mine and even after the first few entries I was tired of it. It was try hard, too much, lacking and it bored me.
I do feel bad for only giving it one star, because, although it features one of my favourite things, I couldn't learn simply because the teacher was no good....more
I feel like an English teacher, writing in green ink so as to not upset anyone; "a nice try, smiley face". Being an author is not for you.I feel like an English teacher, writing in green ink so as to not upset anyone; "a nice try, smiley face". Being an author is not for you....more
"To Ganymede and Titan Yes, sir, I've been around But there ain't no place In the whole of Space Like that good ol' toddlin' town Oh! Lunar City Seven You'r"To Ganymede and Titan Yes, sir, I've been around But there ain't no place In the whole of Space Like that good ol' toddlin' town Oh! Lunar City Seven You're my idea of heaven Out of ten, you score eleven You good ol' Titan' town Oh! Lunar City Seven Lunar Cities One through Six They always get me down But Lunar City Seven You're my home town."
For the majority of this book I sang that song in my head. Mostly because I'm a huge fan of Red Dwarf, but also because it was slow and boring as smeg.
The first six chapters could easily have been condensed in to one gnarly blast, but sadly it was not. The rest followed the plotlines of enticing yet disappointing stories that permeates the stratosphere and plugs the hole in the ozone layer tightly shut. Thanks for that, but I wish I hadn't read you....more
Probably not the best thing to read given there is an actual life-threatening virus on the loose in the world, though the fiction and bad writing hereProbably not the best thing to read given there is an actual life-threatening virus on the loose in the world, though the fiction and bad writing here makes it dull and not apocryphal.
An incredibly messy read, with mis-matching sentences and a very slow plot. Having to re-read entire sentences and still not entirely sure what was occurring. I suspect the author kept a thesaurus to hand whilst writing it. FRTF....more
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