polarcubby's Reviews (161)

:)

yep, started out interesting. but it devolved by the end. I did expect it to be bad but it wasn't bad just baffling in its mediocrity. as endings go this was quite a return to status quo or something. disappointing.

An interesting collection. I enjoyed the introductions and little glimpses at Effinger's life and thinking. The stories were so-so. One very long story, almost a third of the book was the intro from the second Marid novel. Two last stories I could not get through. I might come back to the last story at some point but I just could not bring myself to read. I think Weinraub story dulled me so much that I had to be done with the book.
I do wish we got book 4 of the Marid series. The chapter included in this book looked really promising. Sigh... sad to know the author passed so early in life, he should've had many more years of writing ahead of him.

Confusing then interesting then confusing then more confusing but still interesting them even more confusing then somewhat interesting. Not a good review but that's all I got. I'm not sure how I feel about this book. The story is interesting but the complicated details of how the world works began to get in the way of my enjoyment about halfway through. If you read enough fantasy with unique magic systems you can adjust to reading part of the book just taking in the details and terms as they come at you. It worked with this book at first but when I got to the point where I finally though I understood enough of the world to be comfortable with all the terms and nuances, the author threw so much more stuff into the plot that I got hopelessly lost again; and, this time, not in a good way. Oh well, I'll try the next book because the story is indeed interesting and the characters are refreshing if not quite compelling.

Both Transformation trilogy and this one are really really really good. And fun as hell! Makes me think of rereading all of Polity again, LOL.

not a recommend! there's a story somewhere in this book but it's all covered up by shit writing, shit endless similes, shit half-baked non-ending, shit people, shit relationships, shit world, shit everyone. I'll take my badge of honour now for actually finishing this book.

My favourite so far!

This book made me feel dirty, soiled after reading it. Like I was looking down from up above inspecting the dregs of society and finding them just as repulsive as I expected.
Thought provoking? Not sure. I don't believe I'll be thinking about after I finish writing this.
But it did have some interesting ideas about Japanese society.

Interesting story. Not all that deep, a lot of conveniences and plot contrivances. A little too short on real villains (the "truly" evil ones twirl their moustaches way too much). But overall, it was an interesting read. A new type of fantasy novel. I never read bl before so the graphic descriptions in some scenes surprised me but the love story blended in so well with the main plot that I ended up really rooting for the boys.
EDIT: a month later and I’m still thinking about this book. Had to bump up the score. The fantasy elements were too good. And the story did engage me more than I realized.