Reviews

The Fifth Head Of Cerberus by Gene Wolfe

sarahrigg's review against another edition

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5.0

I read this long enough ago that I don't remember a lot of plot particulars but I remember it blowing my mind. It might be time to revisit Gene Wolfe soon.

everyonespal's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.25

A story is the weakest one 

toeknee013's review against another edition

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challenging mysterious reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

tontonju's review against another edition

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4.0

The kind of "old school scifi" that I love.

A book that is more about reflection than action. It's really up to the reader to connect the dots.

The prose can be a bit too complex at times, and some anthropological concepts are more from the 19th century than the 20th when this book was written.

Without those two minor grievances, it would have been a 5 stars for sure.

dwayne_shugert's review against another edition

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challenging mysterious slow-paced

mickbordet's review against another edition

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2.0

The kinds of books that really reward second or third readings usually appeal to me, where you want to go back to the start again, armed with the knowledge that came through the story in the first reading. Having read some reviews and the blurb at the start of the book (which I avoided at the start after being spoilt by previous SF Masterwork 'notes'), it is clear that there are multiple layers to this collection, but between the patchwork narrative and the actual plot and characters, I'm not sure that I'll be re-reading this for quite some time.

miriamvb's review against another edition

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4.0

3 bij elkaar horende verhalen. Leuk.

Bechdel test: faal. Geen vrouw te bekennen.

cameliarose's review against another edition

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4.0

Three interlocking strange and chilling stories.

zhandlen's review against another edition

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5.0

i think i love books that have "puzzles" in them (stories in which crucial parts of the narrative are obscured or hidden in plain sight) is because i love leaving a novel feeling like i _almost_ understood it; it makes the work seem more alive to me.

Wolfe, in general, is amazing at this, and this book (a collection of three novellas, each reflecting bakc upon the other) is a great example of him at his best.

grafious's review against another edition

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challenging dark reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

This is one of the most challenging books I have read in a while. The second part drug a bit for me and it was all very challenging to tie together but it was super inventive and left me with a ton to think about.