So I read this after watching the series and I'm glad I saw the series first or else I would be completely lost. Its the source material, so of courseSo I read this after watching the series and I'm glad I saw the series first or else I would be completely lost. Its the source material, so of course it gets an good rating from me, its a unique idea of Stacks containing the consciousness/data uploaded into sleeves, the physical bodies, but I can't help but think it could have written in a less confusing manner. Its difficulty reminds me of Neuromancer, though not as hard, still probably requires multiple readings. Again I enjoyed the novel, but it was probably greatly helped by viewing the series first.
SPOILER BELOW
Also my favorite idea from the series ie the warm jovial Grandmother being uploaded into this large tattooed gang member and her perspective of the wasn't in the book if I can recall. ...more
Xenogears was one of my favorite science fiction stories growing up and now I’m thinking it might have been my favorite. It was the one SPOILER FILLED
Xenogears was one of my favorite science fiction stories growing up and now I’m thinking it might have been my favorite. It was the one experience that I thought the most about still after it ended. I had no idea at the time that creator Tetsuya Takahashi was inspired by the novel Arthur C. Clarks Childhood’s End which was written decades before in the 50’s. But it wasn’t the reason oddly enough I picked it up. Someone in a meetup group I attended mentioned it as one of his favorite novels of all time and said he believed strongly in its message. So, I was curious and picked it up.
Wow, I don’t know what to say. It ranks up there with the greatest sci fi stories probably ever written or it should. Of course, I loved it, if I loved the 90s rpg game than there would be no chance that I wouldn’t love this unless it was dully written which it isn’t. Xenogears is basically Childhood’s End as far as I’m concerned.
Similarities of Xenogears and Childhood’s End: Mass Spoilers
Karellen the Supervisor/Krelian the scientist and researcher of nanotechnology Both seek to know ‘God� the ‘Overminds� will or become one with the Source. Both ‘love� and ‘envy� humanity despite their awful actions. Both control things behind the scenes.
Overmind/Deus/Wave existence Both interplanetary/dimensional entities that when humanity reaches a certain stage of evolution and can evolve no more integrates them into itself.
Overlords/ Gazel Ministry Elders Similarity in watching over and making sure that humanity progresses on the right track. Has mysterious and unknown motivations. True forms concealed in darkness or behind screens, one is literally a set of spinning screens with faces on them.
Overlords / Solaris Both are more ‘evolved� societies that are surveillance for the planet and humanity to make sure they’re kept at a certain level, are destined to stay on Earth not to reach the stars. In Xenogears the less evolved ground dwellers are the [Sheep] or the [Lambs] if I remember correctly.
Evolved Humans/ Wells Humans get transformed into something partly regressive possibly due to the will of the ‘Entity� into pieces for it to absorb.
Karellen’s Tower/ Zohar Possible similarity of both being this glowing golden tower structure of knowledge Overlords Spacecrafts/ Solaris ships Similar design of the flat disc domes that visit to oversee Earth matters
Overlords Operations Base/Inside of the Merkava Ark I don’t know why but this reminds me of a Xenogears environment. This gigantic cold metal interior with advanced technology/ something like the Razhel Library with massive databases and computer screens, a large staircase that leads up to like this main control room.
Jan/Citan This is probably a stretch. They’re both scientists and the only ground dwellers who have been to the home world of the more advanced societies, Citan with Solaris, Jan with the Overmind planet. Maybe Citan is closer to Stormgren from the first story as he is in direct contact with Karellan and relaying his will to the people.
Childhoods End is split into three parts. The appearance of the Overlords and mankind’s reaction to it. The Overlord’s influence has been there for decades. The Overlords leave after ‘the transformation� has occurred.
The first part is a character named Stormgren who gets kidnapped by a small resistant force who use him to spy on the visiting Overlord, namely their leader Karellen. As the Overlord’s implement their plans for humanity, Karellen uses Stormgren to relay his orders/messages to the people. One of the most important tasks the resistant force has for him is to see what the Overlord’s physically look like. This leads to a funny scene where they give him a flashlight and expect Stormgren to shine it upon the screens blocking him from the leader.
Now that I think of it there is a scene of brilliant foreshadowing. Karellen calls upon two children to be the first to encounter him. When he finally reveals himself, he is in the form of a demon or an ancient depiction of Satan massive body with large wings, horns holding each of the children up on his shoulders. This is a clue that in the final act, that all of Earth’s children will be taken by the Overlords away from their parents.
Second act. George an artist and his wife Jean got to a house party. The guests find one of the Overlords Rashavek curiously reading in the library study. They inquire about Rashavek who answers their questions. They later play with a Ouija Board perhaps because it’s a non-logical, non-scientific and it’s something the Overlords can’t control, can’t account for. When they ask it a question, one of the women faints after it gives a number as an answer to a question. Rupert takes it to the lab and later finds out it is the coordinates of the Overlords home world.
Jan, one of earth’s scientists, eventually makes the decision to take a ship to the Overlords home planet.
A large part theme of the novel is what the person in the reading group loved so much about it. If humanity is in this utopia where all needs are met, mostly unlimited resources, leisure instead of work, no conflicts, then it becomes sort of an apathetic environment where there’s nothing more to do or achieve. And space travel is forbidden because man is not meant for the stars to paraphrase Karellan.
Humanity becomes stuck in a sort of prison, a zoo, an animal fed and taken care of with no real freedom to experience discovery or failure.
George realizes this fact and remedies it by joining a society called New Athens on an island near or part of Greece? As an artist he realizes he is stifled, or human society has become dullen by endless radio, television, and entertainment the Overlords have provided. New Athens provides its residents live a simpler live where they are responsible for their own food, shelter, work, protection, learning. Art is pursued instead of science. Art is the thing that gives meaning and can progress/evolve or be pursued that the Overlord’s can’t touch and even unconcerned with. The society goes unbothered until one day George’s son Jeff bikes through the cliff path and is almost killed by a tsunami because of a boulder blocking his escape route and is mysteriously saved. It is suspected and later revealed that the Overlord saved his son.
George and Jean’s son develops a sort of telepathy. In his dreams, he can see far across the galaxies to other worlds. Their daughter develops a telekinesis as they find her rattle moved with her still in her crib, along with food from the fridge.
In the last act it is revealed by Karellen that human’s evolution, both physical, societal, technological has come to an end and that Homo Sapiens will become extinct. The children are the next stage of evolution and thus must be taken with the Overlords and studied. The powers they have are beyond scientific reasoning and exploration he basically explains. They are supernatural in nature to even Karellen’s own people. This is due to a will greater than even the Overlords, who despite being more advanced civilization by leaps, have a limit to which they can progress. The being they answer to the Overmind, a being that awaits until a species evolves to the point in which it can be absorbed into it, and I think it was mentioned it had been done it to five previous species and worlds.
Jan returns to Earth, giving his account of the Overmind world and his stay there. Earth’s major cities are abandoned. Humanity is all but reduced to small pockets of what’s left, warring against each other in tribes. The evolved children are reduced to ancient ape like ancestors in all but their ‘powers� and await ascension. Jan’s last act before Earth is destroyed and the new evolved become singular with the Overmind is to report the events via communications to Karellen who watches on. I think some things are dated for when it was written, the Overlord technology on their planet, but other things are very cool, the tall towers, red cloud sea, the giant eyeball that’s in the museum pit. I’m not sure what the symbolism of having the Overlords look like ‘Satans� is, there might be a biblical meaning to it.
This story ranks up with some of my favorite science fiction that I’ve read. I know it’s one that affected me the most and that I plan on reading again and again, despite how bleak and ultimately how jarring the ending is.
It was memorable but for the wrong reasons, just for how silly the imagery of a guy bouncing around like a balloon. The ending was so predictable. I dIt was memorable but for the wrong reasons, just for how silly the imagery of a guy bouncing around like a balloon. The ending was so predictable. I don't understand the point of the story. An old man helps bring tolerance to a town. Is it to show that older people can still do good deeds before they pass?
The story is super obvious and stereotypical. Small towns contain deeply intolerant people. Well what about those who aren't...? Broad strokes. I mean they were so loud backwards and ignorant it seemed like parody of actual people. TO quote the comedian Bill Burr "Real racism isn't like that. Its subtle. People look around first..." I felt the same way with the antagonists in this book.
Then it leads up to the big event. You know what's going to happen. No suspense. Basically the book is, old guy does some good and then the obvious fate happens to him. No character arc. He doesn't learn anything because he's tolerant to begin with. Does he even meditate on his life? What it all means? If I remember correctly, not really. I dunno what this story was supposed to accomplish other than being really predictable....more
So this is the first novel of Guy Gavriel Kay I've read and I have to say I enjoy his version of fantasy. People have said he writes more in the styleSo this is the first novel of Guy Gavriel Kay I've read and I have to say I enjoy his version of fantasy. People have said he writes more in the style of Historical Fiction and I can see why. This very much felt like I was reading a story about imaginary tribes of Vikings mixed in with maybe Celtic fae mythology. I generally know the characters, the story, the events, but they're kind of a cloud in my head otherwise I'd give it a higher rating, but I did enjoy it. And I now know the term 'blood eagle', which I kind of wish I didn't as its the stuff of nightmares. I do want to check out his other novels, particularly Tigana which fans say is one of his best ones. ...more
Not my favorite G.R.R Martin stand alone non ASOIAF novel, Fever Dream being my favorite. I don't know, it reminded me of Event Horizon in ways, a spEh
Not my favorite G.R.R Martin stand alone non ASOIAF novel, Fever Dream being my favorite. I don't know, it reminded me of Event Horizon in ways, a space station causing brutality to its crew, possibly inspired that movie, who knows? But I didn't care about its characters. They seemed like 'hot intelligent perfect people who have a lot of sex'. Which would be fine except the sex is talked about (offscreen), so what's the point? If that's my only descriptor of them other than there job title and you don't even get to see them do it, why do I care? They may as well be characters in a Friday the 13th flick, minus the onscreen action.
It was just eh. The captain or whoever one of the main characters finds the alien he's looking for, characters die off one by one. Why was this was made into a tv show and not Fever Dream? ...more
A good distraction, but is it anything you'll really remember? No.
This is fantasy lite. Really lite. I mean as far as I remember it basically is all fA good distraction, but is it anything you'll really remember? No.
This is fantasy lite. Really lite. I mean as far as I remember it basically is all familiar conventions. The large tree creature erupting from the ground in the midst of the town play, festival? at the beginning if I remember was kind of interesting. Then there are trials the main character has to go through, characters she befriends. I read some reviews that say its YA, and yeah I agree it seems to read like it was written more for teens.
Again I finished it, but don't recall much about it, simply that it was a quick short read. A feel good distraction. ...more
NOTE: I rarely, rarely DNF books because I like to see them through to the end to see the entire picture, but I w Throw down your magic system penis!
NOTE: I rarely, rarely DNF books because I like to see them through to the end to see the entire picture, but I wished I DNF this one.
This books opening was so promising, a brilliant, thriling way to start a novel with a heist with the character using the 'magic/tech'. I was invested the main character Sancia, and when she got introduced to Cleft, I was still on board. This is gonna be great I though as I kept reading.
Then the other characters had to show up. The the plot had to happen. Then we needed to be reminded of the magic system. About scrivings and how they work. Again, and again, and again, and AGAIN.
The Magic System. Oh God. Can we say OBTRUSIVE? We get it explained to use page, after page...after page. I don't need to know every application of it ever within the first two hundred pages.
It does this, but if you adjust this thing, it does that, but it can't work under these conditions, and so on...
The author seemingly in mentioning it again and again makes it tedious and wears you down. All the tension is gone when it zooms in on what object will they pull out of their pocket next. Time literally seems to stop for the character to accomplish this action, like slowing time down in a video game.
That's what this felt like at times. Video gamey in the worst way. Its like
problem, magic system, explaination of magic system, problem, magic system, explaination of magic system, sneak around, action scene, magic system, problem, magic system, retreat to base, dialogue about the magic system
NOTE to aspiring fantasy authors. The magic system should be a FEATURE and NOT the main engine of your story.
To compare it to another series. The Wheel of Time has the One Power. Awesome system, one of the best in all fantasy. You don't see the author explaining every single abillity up front in the first book ie You can shoot fireballs if you do this! And earth shaker, and complulsion, and rain lightning! ec... Its introduced slowly through out the books and there's always the undefinable mysterious nature of it.
And in this book doles it out like a dumptruck instead of spoon
This isn't an engineering manual I'm trying to read its a piece of FICTION.
The worst use of it. Two characters are pinned under an overturned carriage with nine assassins shooting magic powered bolts at them and they're having a conversation about explaining the magic system to each other!
WTF? They should be killed in the time it takes for this like page of dialogue to happen.
Characters
Many if not all the male characters in this are weak, stupid, supremely arrogant, raging for no reason.
Gregor
Made to look like an idiot bumbler in the presence of all the other female characters. Also I'm supposed to believe that this cop essentially, captain, ex-soldier, can take down an entire crime syndicate with his baton, yet can't stand up to mommy dearest? It makes no sense that he's this emascualted and incompetent, compared to a seemingly indestructable Sancia. Yes the relationship with his mother is revealed why near the end, but its ridiculous. You already have one character had that happen to, why another one so late in the story? It makes no sense and it undermines the relationship he has with Sancia because now it just because of THAT rather than relatable experiences.
Orso
Supremely arrogant almost unredeemable. I know he's thought of as crazy but is this guy always pissed for no reason? Anger management dude. This guy is supposed to be a genius and he acts like a complete dolt.
The male villians and seem uninteresting/idiotic as well. The male guards are idiotic and brutal for no reason other than...male.
The 'true villains' are obvious reveals I saw for the most part one from a mile away, the other wasn't really much of a revelation.
Now to the central characters/party. Always sarcastic or cracking a joke. It annoyed me how jokey it was. Characters crack a joke like every other line of dialogue. It seems like something that happens in YA novels or Joss Weadon. But then you have people exploding in combat. Massive shift in tone. Is this a dark comedy? Are we supposed to be invested in this seriously?
This novel seems to eptomize the worst of fantasy as it exists today, with OVERBEARING MAGIC SYSTEM instead of you know like maybe interesting. deep characters. An ironic/jokiness on the whole thing. Constantly explaining the plot, the heirophants were this, but no wait they could THIS! But no, no...actually they did THAT.
Foundryside was cold, mechanical, soulless, ironically when I guess it features objects that are supposed to be the complete opposite of that. There are good ideas in this, but had there been an actual developed story that centered around characters other than forcing the plot and the magic system it might have worked....more
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