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A review by eiion
The City and the Stars by Arthur C. Clarke
adventurous
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Diaspar is an eternal city. Stuck within the narrow confines of infinity, doomed to repetition, Alvin is one of the first truly unique things that a computer program has produced. And just like with anything new, Alvin wants to break the mold a bit, and will change his entire people and their worldview to do it.
A story of adventure, and mystery, The City and the Stars is a roundabout coming-of-age novel about exploration and about breaking the bounds of what we think is impossible.
I had a good time reading this book. Arthur C Clarke draws me in with his storytelling, and I love how he manages to pack in so much story and emotion without needing a brick of a book. I don't have to read chapters upon chapters of Jeserac's thoughts and character to still cry when he truly saw the stars, and I think that that is one of the most beautiful parts of Clarke's storytelling: he doesn't give us what we don't need.
Of all the books I've read of his, I enjoyed this one the least (though the 4.25 stars still indicates a pretty good book). When I read sci-fi, especially Clarke's sci-fi, I really come along for the science, for the characters, and for the story. This book has characters and story, but very little science. What we have instead is futuristic technology that isn't fully explained (because it doesn't need to be), and some telepathy powers that don't seem to have a core rooted in reality. I want to be very clear: none of this was bad. It was just a shift from what I have come to expect and love of Clarke's books, and it never once got in the way of a compelling and wonderful story. It just wasn't what I had prepared myself for.
Alvin, Jeserac, Khedron, Hilvar, they're all such fantastic characters with layers and genuine sustenance to them. They all had their own lives and stories, and just because Alvin was the main character, he was only the main character of this story. In another world, we read the story of Jeserac and all the lives he has lived before, encountering his first Unique, and learning how that changed him. It was lovely to get to learn everyone, to see them so willing to change and to embrace change, and to move forwards, not to stagnate.
The discovery of Lys and all that lie within was a beautiful and terrifying development. It opened up Alivin's horizons, literally, but trapped him in this in-between of unable to return intact, but needing to tell someone about what had happened. It was scary, but also super fun, and it was smart, reading about the ways he overcame every challenge. It was like reading a small series of quests, each more epic than the last. Never once could Alvin have acted alone, and never once did he try to. It was a perfect testament to teamwork and friendship.
This is definitely worth a read, especially if you're a sci-fi fan who's not so keen on the maths and science side of things.
A story of adventure, and mystery, The City and the Stars is a roundabout coming-of-age novel about exploration and about breaking the bounds of what we think is impossible.
I had a good time reading this book. Arthur C Clarke draws me in with his storytelling, and I love how he manages to pack in so much story and emotion without needing a brick of a book. I don't have to read chapters upon chapters of Jeserac's thoughts and character to still cry when he truly saw the stars, and I think that that is one of the most beautiful parts of Clarke's storytelling: he doesn't give us what we don't need.
Of all the books I've read of his, I enjoyed this one the least (though the 4.25 stars still indicates a pretty good book). When I read sci-fi, especially Clarke's sci-fi, I really come along for the science, for the characters, and for the story. This book has characters and story, but very little science. What we have instead is futuristic technology that isn't fully explained (because it doesn't need to be), and some telepathy powers that don't seem to have a core rooted in reality. I want to be very clear: none of this was bad. It was just a shift from what I have come to expect and love of Clarke's books, and it never once got in the way of a compelling and wonderful story. It just wasn't what I had prepared myself for.
Alvin, Jeserac, Khedron, Hilvar, they're all such fantastic characters with layers and genuine sustenance to them. They all had their own lives and stories, and just because Alvin was the main character, he was only the main character of this story. In another world, we read the story of Jeserac and all the lives he has lived before, encountering his first Unique, and learning how that changed him. It was lovely to get to learn everyone, to see them so willing to change and to embrace change, and to move forwards, not to stagnate.
The discovery of Lys and all that lie within was a beautiful and terrifying development. It opened up Alivin's horizons, literally, but trapped him in this in-between of unable to return intact, but needing to tell someone about what had happened. It was scary, but also super fun, and it was smart, reading about the ways he overcame every challenge. It was like reading a small series of quests, each more epic than the last. Never once could Alvin have acted alone, and never once did he try to. It was a perfect testament to teamwork and friendship.
This is definitely worth a read, especially if you're a sci-fi fan who's not so keen on the maths and science side of things.