The Obelisk Gate by N.K. Jemisin
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Re-Read 1/19/24:

Now, while I AM still happy about the scope and creative context of this second book in the Broken Earth, absolutely loving everything about the worldbuilding, the history, and the "magic" setup, I have to admit that the slow bits and rather unlikable changes in the characters -- Shaffa becoming understandable, even sympathetic -- is kinda unpalatable. I liked hating him.

But even so, I feel like I get a bit of rounding, a lot more of context, and the bigger feeling of every Earthly faction having a pretty good reason to do what they do.

But, then, in full context, this SF is very much a response to much of ANY of the classic SFs that jump us forward to the far future fate of Earth, itself, and the imagination necessarily must take front seat over characters.

Is it wrong for me to wish for more clear-cut heroism and moral superiority? That's the question.

Even so, I still love the book.


Original Reviews:

Edit 8/11/17

HUGO WINNER for 2017!!!!! That's the second one in a row for the SAME series! :) And since I've already read the third one and squealed all over it, I'm going on a limb and calling it three Hugos in a row.

Don't hate me if I'm right! :)


Original review:

My mind cannot stop dancing with joy after reading this. You might say that I'm dancing with Father Earth, enjoying the reveals as one would enjoy the unearthing of so many gems of storytelling awesomeness.

The world-building is still sharp as ever, and so many questions have answers in this second book. We're given an amazing shape for amazing things to come. I'm not merely or only shaken to my core by the amazing scenes of earth alteration, depth of histories, or revealed enormity of what is really going on, here; actually, I'm left in awe by the scope and the careful planning and execution of the Author's Mad Skillz.

Essun and Nassun are wonderful characters, of course, and there are times when Nassun almost steals the spotlight for me, but here's the real surprise: I can't believe how awesome Hoa's story is turning out to be, or that of all the Stone Eaters. This is what SF designed for. Awe. Shocking audacity. Scope and Vision. Rocking Ideas.

So we're descending further than geological processes, headed straight into the quantum loam. :) I'm laughing my head off with Alabaster's thrown bone when he describes the spaces between atoms, the networking forces, as "Magic". :)

Of course, any sufficiently advanced technology that allows men and women to become effectively immortal and not constrained by matter is Magic, right, Stone Eaters? lol

Essun continues to transform even more than her previous love, Alabaster, and it's a deep process that's nearly continental in it's impact, but that's where most of my love is going. Nassun's transformation into one hell of an anti-hero nearly matches how much appreciation I have for Schaffa's changes. I sympathize for everyone, and no one is disappointing. :)

The final action in this book is dark, that's for certain, but even now I can't stop grinning and being so damn awed by what happened.

This is why I read. This is why I'm a fanboy. This BLOWS ME AWAY. :)

Hell, this stuff is the stuff of LIFE. :) Totally Awesome!

Book 2? It may not be as mind-altering as the first, but together, they're something much greater than their parts. :) Now how in hell will I be able to wait for book 3 to find out what happens to the moon? This is breathtaking in conception. :)

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