Lovelock

2.6 dimensional, but good

The story was engaging, the characters interesting, but there was less depth and definition than some of cards other works. Lovelock, while somewhat reminiscent of Bean, is scurrying through a world that doesn't feel nearly as comprehensive as the "enderverse.". the characters are more or less as well developed as in other card novels, but it feels as though they came from a two dimensional world. Initially I found the narrator's style to be rather irritating, but she sounds like such a nice person that I got over it.

3 people found this helpful

Angst, angst and more angst

Has Lovelock turned you off from other books in this genre?

Yes

Which scene was your favorite?

Lovelock's computer skills

What character would you cut from Lovelock?

All of them

Any additional comments?

This novel is not science fiction. It is a soap opera containing some of the worst characterization, moral pandering and emotional manipulation I have read - all set in a barebones science fiction theme.

The setting is an "ark" preparing to disembark to colonize a nearby planet. Sad to say, the ship has still not departed by the end of the book and the entire story is about interpersonal reactions between the Members of the Ark. The "crew" consists of characters that would never be allowed within one thousand miles of such an enterprise because they are the most diverse collection of neurotic, anti-social, and dysfunctional characters known to Mankind. Rather than a lone maladjusted person inside a generally "normal" society, this crew can't field a single well adjusted human being in the entire cast.

Don't believe me? We have a super intelligent "enhanced" Capuchin monkey who interacts with: an emotionally unavailable scientist protagonist with little or no maternal instincts towards her two children; her "therapist" husband who discovers he has homosexual tendencies mid way through the book; a pedophile; a sadistic and extremely manipulative mother-in-law married to a Walter Mitty look alike; marital affairs galore and a bevy of manipulative beehive hairdo gossip mongers that include the leader of the "village." Mind you, other than the scientist, not one of these individuals seems to have any valid expertise other than socially related skills such as rudimentary psychology, child care, political, funeral services, etc. - with the possible exception of two quasi computer trained sysop cops that enjoy a paragraph or two before being abandoned.

The story line is mostly a mash of anthropomorphic anti-slavery themes coupled with interpersonal backbiting and squabbling that is an unending cacophony of angst, subjective vitriol and anti-authoritarianism. Several areas of the book start themes that go nowhere-for example, the protagonist makes love with her husband in order to save her marriage by having another child and....what? Don't know because the story never says she gets pregnant or is unsuccessful. In the meantime, her marriage collapses when her husband finds love with another man and the book ends.

The only science fiction element- aside from its story housing - is the concept that you could actually pack enough intelligence and computational power in a Capuchin monkey that it could act as a highly sapient philosopher and computer scientist - particularly when you consider it has a brain pan barely large enough to hold a whiffle ball.

'Nough said.

5 people found this helpful

unexpected and unique

This story started off as an odd tale, but evolved into something more... something profound without being preachy. Bravo Orson Scott Card. The skill of Emily Rankin truly adds to the depth and involvement of the Listener.

not a happy story, but a story indeed

wow, it starts off disney fairytale, twists and grows up to pg-13, then in the last few hours takes a turn for R. I lauged, I almost cried, and I most certainly understood.

I don't know that I liked this story, but, I think the authors accomplished exactly what they set out to do.

Loved Lovelock

❤️❤️❤️Even if you don’t think you like Sci-go lit, just listen to this book & you’ll change your mind. Sad when book came to an end💔💔💔

Excellent!

I enjoy stories told from a pet or animals point of view, and this was great. OSC is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors. I do, however, require some closure to this story...I hope Card & Kidd continue Lovelock's journey on the Genisis

Wow, so much potential.

When I read the premise of this book, the story of a family on a colony ship, told from the perspective of a genetically enhanced monkey Created to be a witness of the events., I was pretty excited what an imaginative idea. And then seeing that OSC was the writer?!
I was in!

But....

The inner monologue of the monkey became extremely tedious.
Saying the same thing, over and over...

I have about 2 hours left to go in this one and I hope the ship blows up, There’s hardly any character build up, I really don’t care about any of these characters. I really expected more from this book considering who wrote it.

Soap opera .....

I love orson scott card. I felt like I was reading a Soap Opera. Still enjoyed it.

Too much like a soap opera for my tastes

The initial premise of a sentient “witness” on a space arc drew me to start the book with hopes for a unique read. There were some thought provoking areas regarding race/species/sentience that kept me going. Overall the time spent with the details of most of the characters didn’t hook me into their lives and didn’t keep the story interesting for me.

It's aight. Not Cards best.

As a veracious fan of Cards books and series', I thought this was rather weak in comparison to his others. But not every one can be as epic as the enderverse or maker world or gate series. It was decent. Makes you think about sentience a bit, but I got most of those thoughts done reading Xenocide. Cute, so a younger reader would love it probably. Not a big fan of the voice artist. Forgive me Card and friends if you ever happen to read this, i'm sure you're all friends. I practice aggressive honesty.