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I wasn’t expecting much, and my expectations were met. The story is ok, the setting is ok, the characters are ok, the writing is ok. But none are more than ok. I found the intergalactic politics confusing and rather boring, but I know there are those who like that sort of thing. I was confused by the setting: notionally a decade into the future, but somehow the character of Joyce is from a decade (or more) in the past. The paucity of mentions of social media is baffling, especially at the denouement. The knitting motif is a bit hit and miss: sometimes it is the core of Joyce’s being, but then we’ll go for chapters with no mention. It could have been used more. It’s probably only 2 and a half stars really.

I wasn’t expecting much from this, having been badly burned by reading one of the other “great ideas” authors in the form of Isaac Asimov (he may have had some great ideas, but his writing is third-rate and his characters are poorly drawn…) So I was pleasantly surprised by how easy Clarke is to read (as long as you can get over the inbuilt sexism and colonialism, and the curious devotion to Great Men of Science and Business). But not much happened, really. Short version: there is other life in the solar system, and the Monoliths are full of woo. Most of the book seemed to be setting up for a climax that never really arrived. Probably of interest to Odyssey completists, but there are better books out there.

I wasn’t expecting much from this, having been badly burned by reading one of the other “great ideas” authors in the form of Isaac Asimov (he may have had some great ideas, but his writing is third-rate and his characters are poorly drawn…) So I was pleasantly surprised by how easy Clarke is to read (as long as you can get over the inbuilt sexism and colonialism, and the curious devotion to Great Men of Science and Business). But not much happened, really. Short version: there is other life in the solar system, and the Monoliths are full of woo. Most of the book seemed to be setting up for a climax that never really arrived. Probably of interest to Odyssey completists, but there are better books out there.

One of those books that makes you realise that great authors are considered great for a reason. A fairly simple comedy - perhaps it was more unusual when first published - but still full of good ideas, characters and action. I only felt it had lost its way once or twice, which is so much better than many books.

A very strange trip through the 20th Century and its intellectuals. I admit to not knowing details of most of the players, but those whose stories and contributions I did know are captured perfectly. Possibly a bit too much tennis for me…

Some ideas here, but in dire need of better editing. Too many meanderings, too much poor phrasing, too many stereotypes. The last chapter does nothing but set up for a sequel. Sigh. I finished it only because I fell for the Sunk Cost Fallacy (and I hoped it would get better).

An action-and-idea-packed book, which certainly kept me reading. Probably a few too many ideas, to be honest: some of them could have done with a little more development. I would have given it 4 stars (which to me means "would recommend"), but had to deduct a bit. A very solid 3. Not as strong as Suddain's later book.

Short stories full of the non sequiturs one gets in dreams, set against a backdrop of terrible war. Normally I don’t like “dream sequence that reveals a deeper meaning”, but here it works. A genuinely different voice and setting. We’ll worth a read

There was much promise in this: a slice of life from the past, a slice of life from England, some cold war high jinks. But somehow it failed to deliver on that promise. Easy to read, though. Just probably not one I'd actively recommend to anyone unfamiliar (hence the 3 stars: ok, not great)