A very fast and engrossing read. Thought it never quite hit the pitch I was expecting it to it approached it quite well.
Based off the write up I went in to this cautiously. Within pages I let that guard down as the writing and pace were both sufficient to keep me wanting more. Add in touch of the absurd and bizarre and I couldn't put this one down.
My major complaint is the version that I read could have used a good proofreader. Although not rife with errors, the kind that spell checkers will miss, there were noticeably enough. A minor technical issue against an otherwise engaging read.
An interesting story with a bit more potential than it ultimately explores. The writing is solid but never truly moves to gripping. I enjoyed the read over all but was left a little wanting throughout.
Some potential points to explore interesting character notes, situational developments, or moments to slip in to chaos are skipped while some, admittedly necessary, sections seem overly long.
I continued through the book with genuine interest. There were a few minor spots a good proofreader would have caught before releasing the material. Otherwise very solid and worth a read.
This is, simply, the book that brought me back to reading. Introduced to it through boingboing I figured I had little to lose and downloaded a copy.
It's by no means ground breaking but it is touching and frustrating and endearing and inspiring and enraging all at the same time. It's a book I've read three times over now and I'm glad I've put the time in for each read through.
After my first read I went out and bought a print copy, not for myself, for my wife. I knew she would enjoy it. It's quick, light, and engaging prose that keeps you driving through to the end. It may target to a YA audience but that doesn't hinder it in anyway. I pressed on through the pages quickly each time through.
Since reading this for the first time I've renewed my love of books. Not only am I buying books again but I'm happy to plunge in to CC licensed books for the thrill of finding gems just like this.
It's intriguing, considering it was published in 1930, as there are early elements of cyberpunk in here. The
tale is spun around the interaction of man and machine. It's interesting and short enough to read through but does have several shortcomings.
There is very little in the way of a pressing story to tell.It's very much an anecdote of an anecdote. With very little rising action, physical or emotional, there's not much to tie the reader to the narrative.
Although sparse, there's some very awkward and overt racism. It abruptly pushed me out of the story momentarily on the few occasions it came about. I found I needed to refocus my attention to continue reading.
Those early inklings of cyberpunk, however, were enough to keep me going through the pages.