Reviews and Comments

 Oof. Finally done with this disappointing Southern Reach series. What started out so strong and mysterious ultimately ended up being a waste of time. The first book was great. Loved it. Then, the second felt like it was written by someone who’d never met another human being in his life. The third couldn’t make it back from that abyss, though it tried and was marginally better than the second. Finally, the fourth book took a few tentative steps right direction, though not nearly enough. 

I really disliked the first story, Dead Town. The second, The False Daughter was the strongest, with something even resembling a plot and characters approaching some kind of realism. The third story, The First and the Last, which ended up being interesting-ish, was written in such a grating and irritating voice that I almost bailed after a few pages. It’s really, really …

This one was a bit tough for me to get through.  

 Another very frustrating experience. It’s a bit better than the second one, but still an irritating drop from the first book. I think I’ve identified one of the problems I have: all the characters are antagonistic toward each other. Every action or word is layered in concealment and antipathy. It really makes it hard to read. Plus, in general, Vandermeer seems either reluctant or unable to offer anything approaching clarity or answers for anything, and after three books, this feels like a problem. 

Nothing really happens, it’s mostly just people wandering around bewildered- though the lighthouse keeper story offers promise- and that doesn’t give me much to cling to as a reader. Now, it’s very possible that I’m just a dumb person, but it’s hard to feel like reading the last two books has been anything other than a waste of time, given Vandermeer’s obliqueness and his characters …

 “Sometimes a hug was telepathy.” – The Institute, Stephen King. Page 556 

I thought it was wonderful. Coming off Duma Key, which I was fairly cool on and took quite a long time to read, I smashed through this one in just three or four days. It feels like Uncle Steve’s take on the YA super-special-kids-in-an-artificial-environment with the DNA of Stranger Things, Carrie, Firestarter, and The Shining thrown in. 

 Much like Erin Hannon, I really liked the beginning with Tim arriving in and experiencing DuPray. There’s just something so pleasant and lived-in about the small towns of Uncle Steve’s work. While reading, I texted my wife: I want Uncle Steve to just write a boring nothing happens slice of life. Maybe even a hallmark-ass small town romance. Just hang out and spend time with his characters. Maybe he has, don’t know. 

…

It's not my favorite. Nothing terribly wrong here, just didn't grab me in any meaningful way. Unsurprisingly, though, the characters are great.

 I don’t know, man. I think it kinda sucked, especially considering how good the first book was. Felt like a book full of assholes, and it got tiresome with everyone being adversarial all the time. It was a struggle to finish, and only through force of will was I able to power through. A lot of meandering, muddy prose that goes on forever, and nothing happens until the final quarter of the book. If I wasn’t assured that the follow-up is much better, I’d be done with the series here. 

Very nice. Rather sweet and charming, to be honest. Not hilarious, though there were a few moments that really got me. And easy read and just plain ol’ nice. 

Beautiful.

Less comical and sweeter than I thought it would be.

Honestly, I didn’t like it as much as the first few volumes, but I figured on that going on. I’m just not really a poetry guy, and alliterative verse is very difficult for me. It’s just hard for me to find that rhythm, especially since it’s on paper and not performed or spoken. But, thankfully, this time, instead of putting notes throughout the entire story/poem, Christopher saves all the commentary for the end of each poem, which makes it a lot easier to read. Plus, CS Lewis’ critique is really neat, with the way he turns it into a made-up historical document. 

I think it's probable that I'm just not a fan of Vonnegut. The only other thing I read from him is Slaughterhouse, which I read way back in high school, and I didn't care for that one, either. I respect his work and the people who love it, and I agree with most of what he says in this one, but it just left me unmoved. Most likely a me problem.

 It’s pretty cool. It’s got that vintage feel in that the central conflict is mostly psychological rather than technological. Felt very Asimov that way. It’s even got that late sixties/seventies libertine easy sexuality in it. Some neat world building and commentary on where our culture is heading(pretty much already there.) It feels like it would be a good companion piece to The Forever War. 

I thought it was really strong in the first half, and then the plotting became kinda rote in the second half. Great characterization, though, as per usual. And, Uncle Steve, while I respect and understand your adoration for Holly, she doesn't really do much for me. Nothing wrong with her, but I think I just don't feel the same ardor for her as he does.  

Still there's nothing wrong with this one, even if it does feel like it treads familiar territory. That can almost be a comfort, at times. Just doesn't crack my top five of my favorite Uncle Steve books.

It's not bad. I wasn't wild about the framing story, and it takes a while to get into it, but I think it ends strongly. Worth reading, for sure.