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What Members Thought
I really enjoyed this book, and there is a lot to recommend it. It did drag on a little at the end so I knocked off 1 star - but overall a wow book.
It's the story of a starship sent to Tau Ceti - the nearest star that has Earth analog planets - to colonize it. The journey there will take generations, and the story is told of the 3rd & 4th (?) generations, which are the ones that reaches Tau Ceti. It is a story of purpose, and how having a purpose affects behavior. A story of politics, and people ...more
It's the story of a starship sent to Tau Ceti - the nearest star that has Earth analog planets - to colonize it. The journey there will take generations, and the story is told of the 3rd & 4th (?) generations, which are the ones that reaches Tau Ceti. It is a story of purpose, and how having a purpose affects behavior. A story of politics, and people ...more
A tale of a generation ship over a hundred years into its journey to a possibly habitable system. This story focuses more on the biological and sociological impacts and requirements of such a journey. Although slower and denser at times, wholeheartedly worth the read. I especially adored the style of narration and the narrator.
I really enjoyed most of this book. I love the development of Ship as a character. I love the dark take on the generation ship and the struggles they had to survive. However, the ending loses its way. It's no longer about travelling in space and finding a new home. In fact, the very end baffled me entirely. A surfing lesson? Really?
Once Ship was no longer the forefront of the story, I lost my interest. Actually, if the book had ended right there, at that moment, I think it would have been incre ...more
Once Ship was no longer the forefront of the story, I lost my interest. Actually, if the book had ended right there, at that moment, I think it would have been incre ...more
great take on the "generation ship" concept, and how human nature would affect life onboard when crises emerge. also an interesting perspective on interstellar colonization. could be a downer for those who think "our destiny is in the stars" but a healthy dose of realism is needed in that department, IMO. a bit of an abrupt end, too.
4.5 stars but dropping it overall to 4 for some minor quibbles ...more
4.5 stars but dropping it overall to 4 for some minor quibbles ...more
As always KSR is much better on the general prison house of human consciousness than the nuances and varieties of individual human existence. Plus a lot of stuff about spaceships.
Very interesting. I'm not sure about that last section.
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read 7/15/16
This is Kim Stanley Robinson at his best. An epic science fiction book that's breathtaking in scope and originality. A truly wonderful book.
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Finally finished. Very long. The ship's ever growing consciousness was enjoyable. Everything else was kind of a drag.
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Nov 11, 2014
E.C.
marked it as to-read
Jan 07, 2015
Jennifer
marked it as to-read
Nov 24, 2015
Mary Stephanos
marked it as to-read
Dec 25, 2015
Nat
marked it as to-read
Mar 01, 2016
Kiran
is currently reading it
Apr 24, 2016
Francis x
added it
Apr 24, 2016
Francis x
rated it
it was amazing
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review of another edition
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