I enjoyed that novelette quite a bit! The premise is original and well executed. The main character is relatable and the relationships are well done too. Good job!

A very poignant and relevant story. It's executed with gusto, featuring strong pacing and effective metaphors. It confronts our hypocrisy and tears through it.

Poetic and philosophical, with a remarkable emotional depth given its very short nature. I don't think two people will read the same story here, it's very personal and orignal.

Not quite sure what to make of this one. It does touch themes I find deeply important, such as the meaning of written history, but it’s also pretty convoluted. It’s be design mind you, but I can’t say I found the structure enjoyable, despite the interesting topics touched by Martine.

Funny idea, well executed. Not much meat, but I guess it wasn’t the point.

Quite enjoyed that one. It’s very short, but original and doesn’t hold its punches. There is a great twist too. Well done!

An okay little story with an original idea for the “villain.” The pacing is solid, and the dialogue is well executed. However, it feels like a jumble of clichés and familiar tropes, all leading to an obvious conclusion. That’s my main issue with the Kowal stories I’ve read: they typically feature one original element surrounded by a host of overused ones. The prose isn’t distinctive enough to elevate the material. Hence, 3 out of 5 stars.

The previous entry in the series, Komarr, was not my favourite. When starting A Civil Campaign, I was afraid I was about to get more of the same. And indeed, for most of the first half of the story, I wasn’t that thrilled.

However, the story evolved before the halfway mark into something deeper, more interesting and actually quite riveting. In hindsight, I have to say that Bujold’s setting up was very well executed. This book is in good part a comedy of manners, but it evolves into something greater than that.

Ekaterin finally gets an interesting arch, and Miles faces his worst enemy: himself. It’s funny, touching, deep and even thrilling at times. Plus, Bujold explores gender identity and misogyny in ways she hadn’t done before, in a better way I believe. She cleverly knocks down conservative thoughts on such matters, while acknowledging where these thoughts come from. A difficult balance to strike, and I believe she nails it.

Certainly a different book than others in the series. Less action, more reflection. I did enjoy it a lot and am looking forward to the next entries in the series.

J’ai plutôt bien aimé ce livre. C’est une aventure de science-fiction agréable, avec un univers intéressant à explorer. Les personnages, en revanche, ne sont pas très convaincants — assez caricaturaux, même. Ils évoluent peu, voire pas du tout, malgré deux petits rebondissements vers la fin du roman.

L’histoire en elle-même fonctionne bien, bien que l’intrigue ne brille pas par son originalité. M. Genefort connaît manifestement ses classiques de science-fiction. Par moments, j’avais l’impression de lire un condensé de Hyperion, avec quelques relents d’Alien. Rien de très neuf, donc, mais ça se lit sans peine. Le rythme est bon, et le roman est court, ce qui convient à son ambition : raconter une aventure sans multiplier les niveaux de lecture.

Ce n’est pas un défaut en soi. La science-fiction est certes un genre propice à l’exploration de concepts complexes, à la réflexion sur notre société ou notre humanité, mais elle peut aussi simplement servir de cadre à des récits dépaysants. Et c’est exactement ce que l’auteur propose ici.

Ce n’est pas un grand livre, mais c’est un roman honnête, sans prétention, et plaisant à lire. Je le recommande.

--English--
I quite enjoyed this book. It’s a pleasant science fiction adventure, with an interesting world to explore. The characters, however, aren’t particularly strong — rather stereotypical, in fact. They show little to no development, despite two small twists towards the end of the novel.

The story itself works well, although the plot isn’t especially original. Mr. Genefort clearly knows his science fiction classics. At times, I felt like I was reading a condensed version of Hyperion, with hints of Alien. Nothing very groundbreaking, but it reads easily. The pacing is good, and the book is short, which suits its goal: to tell an adventure story without a ton of subtext.

That’s not a bad thing in itself. Science fiction is certainly a literary genre that allows for the exploration of complex ideas or reflection on society and humanity, but sometimes it can simply be a vehicle for telling stories that stray from the ordinary. And that’s exactly what the author has done here.

It’s not a great book, but it’s an honest, unpretentious, and enjoyable read. I recommend it.