Eduardo Santiago
UPDATE 2025-01-23, reread. Okay, it's really more four stars than five but I'm keeping my original rating because that's how it impacted me the first time. I still find it charming, warm, cozy and very much needed in today's world.
Squee! I really needed this book right now, and I didn't even know it; in fact I almost put the book aside “for later” because the first few chapters were eversomuch on the treacly side. I'm so thankful to have kept going; it was SO worth it.Fun story. Great characters, with swoonworthy relationships (professional, emotional, physical) between them. Rich undertone-filled dialog. Many chapters are set up to model Valuable Moral Lessons on diversity, relationship models, sexuality, body autonomy, conformity, courage ... but it was done so playfully, so tenderly, that I adored the ride. (Then again, it helps that my moral compass seems to align closely with Chambers'). But it's not just unicorns and rainbows: there's plenty of tension (including the kind that had me staying up way past bedtime); there's drama and pain and loss.I read this book in parallel with Disordered Cosmos and The Journey of Crazy Horse, both of which are disturbing and haunting, dealing with much of humanity at our worst. Angry Planet provided a refreshing contrast of People (human, alien, and electronic) at our imperfect but compassionate best. I needed to read those other two to understand our world in its context; I needed to read this one to know and feel how much better we can do.
UPDATE 2025-01-23, reread. Okay, it's really more four stars than five but I'm keeping my original rating because that's how it impacted me the first time. I still find it charming, warm, cozy and very much needed in today's world.
Squee! I really needed this book right now, and I didn't even know it; in fact I almost put the book aside “for later” because the first few chapters were eversomuch on the treacly side. I'm so thankful to have kept going; it was SO worth it.Fun story. Great characters, with swoonworthy relationships (professional, emotional, physical) between them. Rich undertone-filled dialog. Many chapters are set up to model Valuable Moral Lessons on diversity, relationship models, sexuality, body autonomy, conformity, courage ... but it was done so playfully, so tenderly, that I adored the ride. (Then again, it helps that my moral compass seems to align closely with Chambers'). But it's not just unicorns and rainbows: there's plenty of tension (including the kind that had me staying up way past bedtime); there's drama and pain and loss.I read this book in parallel with Disordered Cosmos and The Journey of Crazy Horse, both of which are disturbing and haunting, dealing with much of humanity at our worst. Angry Planet provided a refreshing contrast of People (human, alien, and electronic) at our imperfect but compassionate best. I needed to read those other two to understand our world in its context; I needed to read this one to know and feel how much better we can do.