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swegory_grindle's reviews
159 reviews
Schismatrix Plus by Bruce Sterling
challenging
dark
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
Martian Time-Slip by Philip K. Dick
challenging
dark
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
4.0
I really love how Philip K. Dick used repetitive imagery, narrative fragmentation, and perspective shifts to effectively depict time as a living, evolving force subject to both internal psychological processes and external societal decay.
Dick used repetition as a central device to evoke the fluid, non-linear nature of time. Recurring phrases, motifs, and images—such as time slips and decaying landscapes—mirror the cyclical and mutating quality of temporal experience. This repetition not only reinforces the thematic undercurrent of time’s instability but also unsettles the reader, inviting multiple interpretations of events.
Dick used repetition as a central device to evoke the fluid, non-linear nature of time. Recurring phrases, motifs, and images—such as time slips and decaying landscapes—mirror the cyclical and mutating quality of temporal experience. This repetition not only reinforces the thematic undercurrent of time’s instability but also unsettles the reader, inviting multiple interpretations of events.
Additionally, Dick employed a fragmented narrative structure and shifting perspectives. The disjointed chronology, interweaving flash-forwards, flashbacks, and subjective time perceptions (notably through Manfred Steiner’s unique view), creates layers of temporal reality. This multiplicity of viewpoints and the deliberate narrative disjunction serve to embody the notion that time is mutable and multifaceted—a dynamic entity that resists a singular, linear interpretation.
Octavia E. Butler: The Last Interview: and Other Conversations by Melville House
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir
adventurous
funny
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Uncultured by Daniella Mestyanek Young
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Incest, Rape, and Suicide
Fledgling by Octavia E. Butler
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Aside from Peter Watts’s depiction of “vampires,” Octavia Butler’s portrayal of the Ina as mutual symbionts with humans not only allows readers to suspend their disbelief, but also question what it means to be free.
Remain in Love: Talking Heads, Tom Tom Club, Tina by Chris Frantz
informative
lighthearted
reflective
3.25
The book reads like a breezy conversation with your “cool” uncle recalling his rock-and-roll stories. Like other reviewers, I would have liked more nerdy explanations of sound and technique.
Philosophy of Mind: A Very Short Introduction by Barbara Gail Montero
informative
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
Introducing Linguistics: A Graphic Guide by Bill Mayblin, R.L. Trask
funny
informative
reflective
fast-paced
3.75