Sleeping Giants

DNF at 65%.
Yes, I actually rate things I did not finish. Deal with it, I don't care if it's fair, this is just how I feel about it. Part of it is probably the fact that I want to read the last Magicians book by Lev Grossman. Oh, well.

So I am the type that picks up books based on the covers sometimes, which is not so unusual for someone who is generally interested in visual art. Sometimes it turns out awesomely (like when I picked up the Johannes Cabal books by Jonathan L. Howard, man, those are such fun ones, definitely recommending them). Some other times... we get this. Seriously, I love the simple cover with the limited colour palette, right up my alley. It is an art to get the feel of the book and condense it into a cover that still doesn't look nonsensical and messy for people who know nothing about the story. In this case, while I loved the art, I found the literature inside really disappointing.

The situation is that by accident a little girl falls into a hole in the ground and finds a gigantic robot hand of unknown origin. Years pass. People find more pieces and start actually working on assembling this gigantic ass mecha woman, because that is what people do. It needs people to control it as well, which is kind of difficult when you realize it was optimized for a body shape that is humanoid, but not quite exact. Of course political machinations happen, I mean we're talking about this virtually indestructible war machine.

Most of the story is told through interviews with people taking part in the events. This is something that will inevitably be controversial with the readers and part of me wants to congratulate Mr. Neuvel for taking such a risk. At the same time... it slows down the storytelling in my opinion. I have no patience for time being blown on the characters (like Kara, one of the military pilots working on the control of the robot) being defiant with the interviewer. Again and again, they sass. Sure, I would probably talk back as well, but it doesn't make a good novel in my opinion. You know you will get to know things sooner or later, but you have to spend time with people bitching, basically.

Another thing is, based on the little blurb and probably my short description as well, you expect a ton of high tech robot badassery. I have bad news for you. The robot is basically a background prop. It feels like I was lied to, if I am honest. I'm not a particularly big sci-fi fan, more into fantasy, but when I want sci-fi, I want it. Not just people talking about it a bit, then doing other shit.

Reading the thing is fast, though. When we're reading the interviews, there is a pretty big gap on the left, so pages just fly by. I started reading it on my little vacation in a hotel bathtub and for that it was fine. When your head is full of other things, but you are a reader and just need to fit in a few pages to wind down. For full attention? Eh. Not for me for sure.

I can't really say much about the author, as I've never heard his name before. I don't think I'm going to actively look for more of his works for now, though. No hard feelings, I'm just not inclined. I wouldn't want to say anything bad about him or his talents, it wasn't so horrid, I just... felt do damn bored by the whole thing that I decided to quit.

Have a nice day and domo arigato, Miss Roboto.