Probably Not the Best Introduction to Tchaikovsky

There are some interesting premises and decent writing here, but the narrative arc is rather anemic and spending the bulk of the book with the sci-fi sigma incel community (regardless of them being the 'baddies') was just unpleasant, as is the fridge-tastic trope of the threat of abuse being aimed at a femme the protagonist has an emotional connection with being the catalyst for change.

I think this is ultimately a case of not the best book and not necessarily being my cup of tea, despite being so on paper, so your mileage may vary. There are definitely seeds of something intriguing here in the relationship and understanding of technology and software that reminds me a little of Horizon Zero Dawn. As an opener to a series though, this hasn't been enough for me to continue. I am still interested in checking out more of Tchaikovsky's work.

The curse of checking out respected authors through the Audible Included library strikes again!

Narration is decent.

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Good story, painfully stilted narration

The story itself is interesting and has once again Adrian’s trademark insect themes and big questions about what humanity’s future in space could look like and how unintended consequences can shape an entire world. So that’s that bit. The NARRATION, it’s so stilted and torturous to listen to that his style of reading could be used as a form of torture. Yet, bafflingly, the dialogue was ok! All in all, I couldn’t wait to finish this and wish I’d got it as an ebook instead.

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2 people found this helpful

5 minutes in and struggling with poor narration.

I love Adrian's books but the intonation of the reader's voice is really grating on me so far. trying to persist and hoping I get used to it.

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Simply incredible. Tchaikovsky is almost unmatched in world building.

Adore the rich yet ambiguous world building. Just like Cage of Souls, he has eluded to a much bigger universe behind the scenes but creates a gorgeous rich story inside the ambiguity. His character building is amazing. I think I will go through every single one of his books because…. WOW!

Recommended thoroughly if you love uncovering mysteries, sci-fi and unusual dystopian worlds.

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interesting story and idea

The story was original and had very reasonable pace. Events and conversations were all necessary for the story and kept me engaged.
I'm afraid I didn't like the narration.

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A great story

Not too long and doesn't outstay it's welcome. It is a tale which has a lot in common with other stories by the author. Incorporating many base ideas for some of AT's longer novels and series. well worth a look.

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Pretty good story ruined by terrible narration

Interesting story when you can figure out what the author has written. Saying three or four words slowly and then pausing before saying another three or four is not narration, it’s just reading slowly with random pauses. Having listened to the author reading another of his works, I don’t understand why he didn’t read this one as well, as his narration is engaging and interesting.

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Oh well

I’ve read so many of this author’s books, maybe 15, all of them being spectacular. I wrote in a previous review of one of his other books that it was amazing that he could have written all these books without one dud. Unfortunately, I think I found the dud. This story didn’t do anything for m. Perhaps it is me, perhaps other people might love it, but I really just could not get into this story or this character at all.

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Now Typical Tchaikovsky

A now typical insightful, intelligent and engaging Tchaikovsky, once again his talent is in thinking through the process like few other writers can and then building a narrative and characters around the world he envisioned.

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Fascinating Story, appalling narration.

First you think it’s a clever mix of fantasy and magic with a touch of steampunk, but it’s pure sci-fi and it’s very good.

However, audiobooks need to have awards for best performances and punishments for worst renditions: this clever tale was all but buried under a robotic delivery which had me yelling sentences and phrases back with revised human intonations all the way through.

It’s a tribute to Adrian Tchaikovsky’s world-building imagination and prose that I was able to persevere to the end (and it’s worth doing) whilst wading through the hostile environment created by the narrator.

Presumably the narrator hates reading aloud and/or he was bullied by nerds and/or bibliophiles to wreak his revenge so profoundly. Or perhaps he only recorded three or four words in every session and had a break of several days between each one. What else can explain the repetitive tone in which this is relentlessly droned?

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