Cage of Souls in Beyond Reality

Jun 07, 2021 DivaDiane SM rated it liked it

Shelves: audio, diane-s-meager-effort, science-fiction, sffbc-book-shelf, fantasy

More like 3.5 stars but not my favorite Tchaikovsky novel. More detailed review to come.

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Sep 27, 2022 Kathi rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: science-fiction

7.5/10
This is the first book I’ve read by this author. Well-written, with an interesting world and society, but so many tantalizing unresolved plot points—a Soviet time-traveler, an unimaginable weapon that is “fired” for some unknown reason (and did anyone suspect what its effect would be?), the “made” people like Thelwel and Faith, the origins of the web-children, the Macathars, the Vermin, the Mazen, etc.

And wow, it was bleak, bleak, bleak! Maybe a sliver of hopefulness at the end, but there ...more

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May 24, 2025 Natalie rated it it was amazing

Shelves: science-fiction

This story has a sci fi setting on a dying planet with fantastical creatures inhabiting some areas. But the story reads more like a work a fiction. The strength of this story is the narrator, Stefan Advani, who I really liked, and the variety of experiences he goes through.
Stefan is born poor in the grand city of Shadrapar. We learn of his life in several segments, which are told out of order. He has ambitions to get a good education so signs up to go with a group of scavengers to the desert to This story has a sci fi setting on a dying planet with fantastical creatures inhabiting some areas. But the story reads more like a work a fiction. The strength of this story is the narrator, Stefan Advani, who I really liked, and the variety of experiences he goes through.
Stefan is born poor in the grand city of Shadrapar. We learn of his life in several segments, which are told out of order. He has ambitions to get a good education so signs up to go with a group of scavengers to the desert to hopefully find riches. The group is attacked by giant creatures and only Stefan and his friend Jon make it out. They find a hidden treasure and use it for their education. He then joins a group, including the ambitious Holman, who write a book about the future and intellectualism.
Stefan makes his way to the Underworld, where he is employed by a strange scientist. Eventually he is arrested and sent to the Island: a brutal prison run by the Marshall and a group of wardens. They are surrounded by a swamp full of strange and dangerous creatures. Stefan finds himself with common criminals, as well as a few unusual characters. Most notably, these include Gaki, a strange, powerful prisoner who rules more than he is ruled, Hermoine the gentle giant, Lucian, a rarely lucid, talkative fellow prisoner, and Peter, an intelligent semi-warden who asks Stefan to play him at chess. Because Stefan is well educated, he is asked by the head of the island, the Governor, to translate a dense scientific treatise. This protects him from harm for much of his time at the Island.
The prison boat, which comes regularly each month is suddenly found full of dead bodies. There is an uprising and the Marshall is badly hurt, allowing Stefan to escape with Peter and a small group of other friends. They make their way to Shadrapar to find that the city has been decimated by the grand weapon that lies at the center of the city. Gaki, who escaped as well, intends to kill all of Stefan's group and a battle ensues. (view spoiler).
The best part of the story is Stefan's intelligent observations and introspection. We learn about his views on human nature, power, and survival. The writing is clear and as is usual with Tchaikovsky, we don't have to guess what happens. We get a clear, well paced story. ...more

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Nov 07, 2022 Christine rated it liked it

I was initially interested n this book, but felt like there really wasn't a storyline; at times I just wanted the story to be done, but I did finish it. Perhaps some skillful editing to half its length might have helped? ...more

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