Ellie > Recent Status Updates

So I was wondering why the author was building up a whole new world and making a “regular”murder mystery so convoluted.

I almost gave up but the story starts to pick up at the 15% mark, and the reason for having these two cities exist is starting to make sense.

It’s definitely easier to go through than his Perdido book so far.

I had hoped that this book would be happier but it’s filled with so much death and grim things :(

I almost want to stop because I fear a bad ending after so much unhappiness, but I do want to see what happens at the end.

Just finished chapter 17. The book really gets better after the first 30%. Barely even realised I zipped through so much.

At this point, I really can’t tell how this book will end. I’ve not watched Blade Runner so this story is entirely new to me.

Can’t wait to finish it!

Just completed chapter 12 and when I saw that Chapter 13 starts with Isidore, I sighed and really felt like putting the book away again.

I find it interesting that there’s a visible and an almost seamless collaboration with other nations in this book, especially after the current radioactive situation was triggered by a world war. I wonder if this was how PKD imagined “world peace” would look like in the future when he wrote it.

Maybe in the fight against rogue androids, all humanity is one and nationality matters less?

Just done with Chapter 5. Chapters 3-5 were easier to get into than 2. The Rosen Association sure is sneaky, but Rick seems like an equal match for their wiles.

Completed Chapter 3. I think Chapter 2 took me out for a bit because it was hard to get into the story, so I procrastinated with continuing.

I’m keeping on though, because this is for a book club.

Continuing my thoughts on older science fiction writing, I wondered if creative writing has been cheapened post-ChatGPT/AI. Words and stories aren’t as valuable these days since they’re so easily created.

Just completed chapter 2 and it was quite perplexing because I didn’t really understand what was going on with John Isidore’s “fusions”.

It’s also interesting how the author imagined the world would react after a devastating war. Given that this book was published in 1968, it seems like the author expected there would be some level of care by the government. Not sure if I can say the same these days.

Just completed Chapter 1 and it’s interesting so far. I admire pre-80s/90s authors who are able to visualise a technologically advanced setting because it must be so alien. How do you describe a technology/item that has yet to exist for people to understand? Some of the terms used are also new to me and I can’t quite tell what it’s supposed to be but I roughly get the context of its use.

So I’m near the end and I have to say this book has been more interesting and less complicated than I expected. I think the writing style used by Asimov helped a lot, and I do enjoy books that are less ponderous and weighty.

Although the story is interesting, it’s not very deep (in a way). Hober Mallow also seems like a spiritual reincarnation of Salvor Hardin.

The time skips are interesting, but it’s also sad to say goodbye to old favourites.

Man, Salvor Hardin is so badass! Despite his seeming incompetence in the surmounting violence, he has managed to turn things around again! I love it.

So I’m at season 2 episode 2 of the tv series, and just finished chapter 1 of part 3 in the book.

I think the main story similarities ended with Part 1. There are still some character names that were retained but their actual roles have changed in the tv series.

The book is still really interesting though. There are some political shifts going on, and Asimov doesn’t over explain things (which I like).

I get that Dorwin doesn’t pronounce his r’s, but I’m hearing Donald Duck in my mind when I read his speech. I wonder how would he sound in an audiobook.

So I got curious about the book while watching the Apple TV adaptation. I’m not usually a science fiction reader, but having watched the show helped with visualising stuff.

There are rather significant differences, although the initial premise seems to follow true to the book.

Enjoying both book and tv versions so far!

So I just finished the first couple of chapters and I am FASCINATED by how sensual the sex scene was between Lin and Isaac. Like who would have thought that copulating with a bug-human could be so sexy?!

So I’m a bit past the part where Gigi revealed she was born and raised in Singapore, which is why she has a British accent. As a Singaporean, I am super distracted by this. We do not speak with a British accent. Gigi also speaks in such cliched, old-fashioned ways. I hate it.

This is my first non-fiction book in a while, and I’m a little vexed by the content. I understand the author might be very personally and emotionally attached to the project, but it’s starting to sound very self-righteous. Everyone who disagrees with him or his beloved Robin, is wrong.

Instead of focusing on Keiko, this book seems to focus on the author’s struggles instead.

I am enjoying this, but I can see the tragedies coming and I need to gird my loins.

The main story moves at a brisk pace but there are some side stories that I find boring so I skip them. There is a lot of buildup, so there’s definitely meandering.

This reminds me of the Genghis Khan historical fiction. I’m also realising that Asian names in English books are confusing to me cos they can have similar spellings.

There’s a lot of repetition in this book. Maybe that’s why it took 4 books to complete. Why the need to explain what White Sickness is again? Wasn’t it covered in Book 1 already?

Again, not really keeping themselves secret. I’m not surprised they are being ambushed everywhere because they make such little effort to conceal their presence!

The writing is starting to get a bit flat for me. There seems to be a lot of talk of what to do next, pretty descriptions of things, a lot of travelling, not much plot progress.

I have no words. The author is either deliberately setting up opportunities for C&M to be captured or is just not thinking things through. C&M are now fugitives in all the land. Yet they allow M to send a letter to H&S using her full name and indicating that she’s at Busk?? N the page after the council meeting where C&M’s presence is to be kept secret, they bring M to town for drinks?? What logic is this??

(Continued)

Finally, the two were given gifts and allowed to keep them.

If the realm was to be a secret, why even capture and bring them over in the first place? Wouldn’t it have been better to monitor and see where they were going, then let them pass without knowledge of Ardina’s realm? I know the plot was to have Ardina meet them, but this part kinda defied logic.

I am nitpicking, but I find Ardina’s rule that those who venture into her realm cannot leave to be contradictory. Firstly, the hunters were the ones who found C&M. If they hadn’t appeared before them, these two wouldn’t have known the hunters were there. Then, they were brought to the realm, which C&M didn’t even know existed!

I must admit that I enjoyed reading a female protagonist who actually had to deal with periods while on a quest. It’s so relatable! Cadvan’s encounter with Maerad when she had her first period was hilarious too. I’ve never actually come across a female protagonist who had to deal with such practical issues.

So I do kinda enjoy this book but there are some odd inconsistencies with the Weywood part I just read.

At first they don’t want to anger the forest, so they don’t make a fire but eventually they do? Then they speak quietly to not attract attention, but they still break out their lyre and sing?? Why??

I also find ALL the characters mercurial. Their moods seem to change with every sentence.

It took me a while to warm up to Part 1, and just when I finally got into the story, Part 2 began with a new group of characters. Honestly, I hate that. I don’t mind when there are new POVs in a story but it gets annoying when it happens after I grow to love a character. Am not loving Book 2 as much so far because I wanted to remain in Sabriel’s journey!

In the middle of Chapter 16. The story is still interesting and fairly easy to read. I love cats, so I’m immediately biased towards Mogget. There’s still a lot of mystery going on and not much has been revealed.

Just finished Chapter 1 and I’m enjoying it so far! The writing is not convoluted and it’s easy to follow the plot. I’m having difficulty focusing on the book because I’m still dwelling on the Twelve Kingdoms conclusion which I just completed, but that’s a me problem.

Just finished the part where Monza and Cosca faced off General Ganmark. Wow, I hadn’t expected to feel so sad from the results of that battle. Really like Friendly too. What happened to Shivers was shocking as well.

This has been enjoyable so far but I usually just skip the descriptive parts about the fighting.