Average confusion
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This is a strange read from beginning to end. The plot was either frustratingly obvious, with the characters piecing it together like a drunk attempting a jigsaw puzzle, or just confusing, with random leaps of logic. There were some great ideas in there, original and solid, but the delivery was a little off. It's also worth saying that I'd read the next in the trilogy, if only to find out what happens next as the ending a very abrupt (and a little daft). Not a bad holiday read.
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Tripe
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Painfully badly written and the plot has more holes that the proverbial.
I struggled through it as I was told "it starts out badly but gets better stick with it", well it started out badly alright and just got worse. There was the odd glimmer of hope with some interesting ideas early on but it was all just too hokey for words. The `plot twists` are so heavy handed it's embarrassing and the characters are unforgivably juvenile.
I can't believe people are comparing it to Reynolds or Hamiltons work! Not even close.
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Awful
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Very disappointed with this book... In fact I threw it away four fifths of the way through after finally giving up. Angel Stations is one of my favorite SciFi books of all time, its original, well written and the characters engaging and well developed. By contrast Stealing Light is poorly written derivative trash. The plot is a rehash of ideas that have been written many times before (David Brin anyone?) and the characters are very superficial, unbelievable and I found myself feeling no empathy whatsoever.
Go buy the new Ian M Banks book instead...
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No Space Opera!
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This is not a 'Space Opera' - I found it quite lightweight. It should not be compaired to Peter Hamilton.
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Great ideas, good twists
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There are good reviews here already so I wont say too much. Space opera with a touch of mysterious alien technology sets it off to a good start, and there are many great ideas here that are well executed and well followed through. In many cases the characterisation of both people and cultures is subtle and detailed, though in other areas it does veer a little towards pastiche and leaves a few characters very charicatured and two dimensional. Overall a very enjoyable read and I'll be keeping an eye on Gary Gibson in future.
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