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I don't think I've ever read a book this quickly. I couldn't stop.

Forced myself to finish this because it’s a ‘classic’, but I think being able to enjoy it today depends on feeling nostalgia for that era and style. I didn’t feel that nostalgia so I found the constant exposition very, very tiring. Also it was weirdly horny, a symptom of the pervasive sexism of the time, which was off-putting. I’m glad it’s over.

This was entertaining, and grabbed me more than I expected it to. I liked the story, the noir style and tone, and the tech landscape it’s set in. Sure, it’s obvious that the protagonist is a bit of an author surrogate/fantasy and that made some moments kinda … cringe… but I was hooked firmly enough that they were only minor road-bumps.

Slightly better than the first (but still not earning a permanent place in my collection) as it has a bit more focus. However, still not for me. I guess I'm realising that I've gone off Marvel comics 🫤.

Read this in one sitting not because it's good, but because I decided I definitely want to give it to a charity shop as quickly as possible. Someone else might like it but to me this is gobbledygook, filled with characterless, self-referential exposition.

You can feel Le Guin’s distress as she wrote this. The world and culture of the Athsheans is beautiful, and this is a tragic tale.

I read this in one sitting, in bed with coffee. Excellent chill-out read.

@swinstead I wouldn’t consider that a material spoiler, it tells you nothing of the plot or what’s happening by the end… more of a warning before you commit to reading it.

Just realised you might've meant a different part, so I've added a tag either way.