Have you ever wondered if storytelling could save the world?
Before you roll your eyes at me for the absurd thing I say, I must tell you they can. But you’re right, stories might not change everything on their own; they’re just a good start. Where do you think money came from? Trees? Last I checked, a sheet of paper is worth less than a dollar.
That’s right, money started off as a story, not an objective reality.
Welcome to my odd review series, where I categorize how much novels question our beliefs about life, and how much they merely take them for granted.
This review might contain spoilers about themes (if you can call it that) and random world-building details.
Nothing too fancy, but you’re warned.
W H A T I S R E D A W N ?
Last time I took a look at the first novella I’ve ever read, which happened to be Sanderson’s Sunreach. This will continue with the next one right after, so if you don’t know what I mean, I suggest you go read my other thoughts on Skyward, Starsight, and Sunreach before coming back. Smiley face.
Now, onwards!
Alanik is the one key for Detritus to stand a chance against the Superiority. Thing is, she left after being badmouthed by the humans she so desperately needed for her cause. Now, staring up at her people falling into the same trap she had warned the humans against, she has to make a choice. Either she goes to the humans for help, or… well, let’s say it was not a choice she had to make at all.
F U N
Having read the previous novella, I had to lower my expectations to not get hurt this time around.
I was not about to relive my trauma for a second time.
…Or was I?
Joke, I joke.
In truth, I did have to remember it was not going to be Sanderson’s writing and perhaps it was going to be different from the experience I had with the main story so far, but I’m being dramatic. Turns out, I did not need to prepare myself as much as I had assumed.
I found Alanik’s perspective to be the perfect one for Patterson. Or maybe it was simply because FM was so close to my heart I just wanted her character to be like I pictured. This time though, I had no idea who Alanik was, which made everything all the more appealing.
Nonetheless, I still stand by what I said before, Patterson’s style leans more towards a plot-driven narrative, and it holds fine like that.
Even so, I do admit it is still missing something.
…I may have an idea of what it is, though, but I’ll say it when we come to it.
Verdict? W O R K S F O R M E
W E L L W R I T T E N
Even when I didn’t want to I once again found flaws in Patterson’s writing.
Maybe it’s just the novella format that doesn’t do it for me, but I still think the pacing lacks a bit; there was just so much that had to happen in this novella that made the plot need to go a thousand miles per hour.
Or maybe it was simply the structure and its efficiency that was not as well thought out or she could’ve possibly thought some things needed to be repeated much more than they should’ve or perhaps it was the lack of subtlety in certain places—
It could be an isolated thing, I can’t tell.
…Despite me giving it leeway for that, I felt some other details were faulty, and they were not necessarily related to the structure. I thought Taynix did not eat algae, they only went for mushrooms and caviar, but hey, I don’t know if it was just something I missed, or… I don’t know.
Besides, I found some slight inconsistencies and differences in character from those we knew previously, and to top it all off, Alanik felt so… human. True, her species did cooperate with humans at some point, but I find it a little jarring to not feel the alien in her for the most part. As much as I want to give it the benefit of the doubt, I find everything mentioned compounds.
Can’t say it’s the worst writing ever, but it does lack essential things to be well-written in my mind.
I do think Patterson has the potential to make a great novella, though.
I will stand by that.
Verdict? N O T F O R M E
T H O U G T - P R O V O K I N G T H E M E S
Having a different character be the protagonist, I found I continued to miss the themes of the story.
Somehow, I find Alanik as the main character did not do much growth other than in the first pages of the book when she was forced out of her comfort zone. Not that she needed to change, but, hey, that’s what I associate with theme. What she learns is what the novella wants to ultimately express or convey.
What I got from it though, was that she needed help… and she got it.
She did not have to change to get it, so I just saw it as a series of events that happened to her as the obstacle preventing her from getting it right away. This makes it plot-centered and doesn’t have a point to it more than being something entertaining to read. Not that this makes it bad, it just makes it theme-less. Or maybe not to that extent, but the final narrative doesn’t say anything.
I do think the theme might’ve been something related to trust, but I can’t say exactly because there was no change within her about the topic, so it might’ve just been there for a secondary plot point to develop with another character and their connection.
Verdict? N O T F O R M E
C R I T I C A L C O M M E N T A R Y
This novel has it.
Color me impressed, but having games be the distraction for political measures to be taken while people are focused on players’ moves and the score, makes a great social critique.
Sure, in Alanik's case, it did go further than making choices behind the public’s back, and more into getting the outcome of a game to determine their politics, so I guess this novella kicks it up a notch.
Imagine rivalry between teams in sports and political parties combined.
That would be hell.
I do think there is a link between sports and politics in our world, but it is never been shown to the public like it is with the UrDail, so I guess we are not as bold as Alanik’s people.
…Or, more than that, not everyone is aware of the existence of said boldness.
Because our politicians are.
Without. Question.
Verdict? W O R K S F O R M E
P R O P O S E S A L T E R N A T I V E S
It’s a small thing.
…But no matter how small, it could still be powerful in the long run.
It’s the tiny detail that separates Alanik from humans if the only one.
Alanik mentioned children were raised by their grandparents in ReDawn. Imagine how our world would look like if that were a possibility. Maybe it won’t be the solution to all our problems, but it could sure be a step in the right direction.
I guess what I’m saying is that the way we organize ourselves might not be the best for all of us to live the best life possible, and a push into another direction might be what we need.
But who knows?
Maybe I’m just a little weird in the head.
Or a bit alien. Wink.
Verdict? W O R K S F O R M E
To make a long story short, this book got:
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