Reviews

Star Maker by Olaf Stapledon

mark_cc's review against another edition

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challenging mysterious reflective slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

This book is beautifully written (if in an obviously old style) and it was probably mind-blowing to read about such wild cosmic-scale imaginings in 1937, but to my modern sensibilities it reads like "a guy gets high in his yard and imagines meeting God. Also what if superintelligent spiders and fish had telepathic sex?" 

karluk's review against another edition

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adventurous inspiring medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? N/A
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

thurs's review against another edition

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adventurous mysterious reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? N/A
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

4.25

sportula's review against another edition

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adventurous reflective relaxing slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? N/A
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

athos's review against another edition

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Lots of interesting sci fi ideas, but 
I literally can't read a plotless book describing alien worlds and then another and another and another. First chapter was amazing

although's review against another edition

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reflective slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? N/A
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? N/A
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

3.0

What a tough book to review.  It was heinously boring and slow.  Who in the world wants to read a scifi travelogue with no plot or characters?.  At the same time, it's hard to divorce the review from this book's historical significance.  Clearly, the concepts and "world-building" in this book were way ahead of their time and influential on the future of scifi.  2 stars for enjoyment, 4 stars for historical significance = 3/5 total. 

maiiau's review against another edition

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challenging reflective slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? N/A
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

sunshine42's review against another edition

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5.0

Hmmm.... This book made me feel...a lot, but not really a lot. Just.. Much? I don't know. It slightly broke my heart a bit and burrowed itself in the crevices it dug. And it made me feel a lot and also nothing. And feel a gladness, but still feel nothing. Not an emptiness sort of nothing. Not a numb sort of nothing. Just...a "clear" sort of nothing.
Unflinching.
This is not just a sci-fi book. It is an exploration of the ultimate "meaning" of life, of your and my existence, of our place in the universe, the meaning and "purpose" of the cosmos itself.
It is like a pair of glasses you put on and then see everything in different shades. But you won't really be able to take them off afterwards. And you're neither glad nor despairing because of that. You just feel nothing.
Contemplating.

jrt_lit's review against another edition

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

3.5

chaosetc's review against another edition

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2.0

This book is about a search for "the creator", which he calls the Star Maker. It's basically an origin story for panpsychism. In tone it reminded me of The Silmarillion but at an even higher level, crossed with social and political philosophy, or in some cases just pure fantasy. There were some interesting ideas that I think could be used as the basis for compelling sci-fi stories, but you won't find those stories here.