From the Bookshelf of The Sword and Laser…

Planetfall (Planetfall, #1)

Emma Newman

Start date: July 1, 2023

Finish date: July 31, 2023

Discussion: Planetfall

Find A Copy At

Group Discussions About This Book

Showing 2 of 6 topics — 108 comments total

Planetfall

PF: Anxious folks unite?
By Seth · 30 posts · 81 views

last updated Aug 02, 2023 01:43PM

PF: This is Sci Fi?
By Gregory · 24 posts · 119 views

last updated Jul 26, 2023 06:43AM

showing 10 of 23 topics view all »

What Members Thought

Jan 25, 2020 Jenny (Reading Envy) rated it really liked it

Shelves: read2020, 2020-laser, sci-fi-fantasy, audiobook

When a podcast guest recommended another book in this series, she said I didn't have to start at the beginning but I did anyway. It's about a colony on an alien planet, a engineer/builder named Ren who specializes in 3D printing and has fashioned most of the colony herself, and secrets that she's kept for years. It all unravels in interesting ways leading to a conclusion I couldn't have seen coming and makes me very curious about the next book. There is a unique look at mental illness here that ...more

22 likes · Like · see review

Nov 14, 2015 Kdawg91 rated it really liked it

very interesting, I am still torn because I am not quite sure what to make of the ending of this, interesting world, good characters, and in my opinion what appears to be setup for more stories in a "standalone" book.

check it out for yourself, tell me how wrong I probably am :) ...more

4 likes · Like · see review

Sep 25, 2023 Beth rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: sf, sword-and-laser

Sword and Laser Pick for, uh, July maybe? Sometime last summer

I thought this book did what it meant to do pretty well, but I wasn't sure I wanted to be there for all of it. I can see how mental illness crept up, especially with all the pressures on Ren, and it's definitely a very visceral experience of a hoarding disorder. But that wasn't really what I was looking for when I picked up a book about a space colony...

It also ended in a very depressing manner. Rocks fall, everyone dies kind of sums ...more

2 likes · Like · see review

Jun 28, 2023 Laurie rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: 2023

Such a creative book and well written book. What happens when humans colonize a new planet? What lies are acceptable? How is mental illness dealt with in space?

2 likes · Like · see review

Jul 25, 2023 Jen Rothmeyer rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: genre-science-fiction-fantasy

Softer science fiction than Neal Stephenson, but certainly harder than the average reader may enjoy. Although 3D printing is common place now (or maybe just at my house and among my friends?) so may be more accessible to the mainstream. Compelling main character. Somewhat irrelevant and flat side characters overshadowed by the experience of the main character. Intriguing plot. Slow burn reveal paired with in-between action. Setting is bizarre and therefore interesting. Tons of mystery. Not 100% ...more

1 like · Like · see review

Feb 29, 2016 Deirdre rated it really liked it · review of another edition

*looks at the cover again, sees what the artist did there, applauds*

The story could have a sequel, though it is pretty complete as it stands.

Twenty-two years ago, based on a vision from a friend, Renata Shali went on a expedition to another planet. Now Ren works as the colony's printer engineer, keeping the resources of the colony going, she holds a pivotal role, after all almost everything they use is from the printers. She has issues and problems but nothing that she can't deal with, honest.

Th ...more

Like · see review