In some ways the hybridization that is at this book's core works really well. The risk of pulp sci-fi is that you might get big ideas without getting any heart or anything with much emotional heft; the risk with a romantic epic is that you're going to get stuck in something stuffy or overdramatic without any actual excitement. There are times in this book when the romantic entanglements provide a compelling emotional throughline that carries the goofier robot stuff farther than it would go on it's own, and there are times when the ponderousness of these people's self involvement are pleasantly cut short by the appearance of more active (ie sci-fi) participants.But at the same time a lot of the juxtapositions don't make any sense. And I'm not even talking about the basic premise - that the moral codes of Tolstoy's Russia would somehow still exist in the exact same way in a world with instant video communication or magnetic bullet trains or whatever, although the idea that the fundamentals of their society would be so different and yet they'd behave the exact same way is a bit of a stretch. No, I'm talking about the fact that people are still spending all their time worrying about what social status to give Anna Karenina even though the entire society is crumbling under terrorist attacks, horrible monsters are eating people, and there is a governmental coup taking place in the background. The subtleties in the original story just don't jibe with the over-the-topness of the additions... The timing and pacing of Tolstoy's story - which unfolds over years, long enough to include multiple pregnancies - just don't make sense in the sort of environment present in the book, where the techonology is so far ahead even of what we have now, and already things move so much faster than they did then... Who would have time to worry about who curtsied at what party when people are being eaten in the streets by unearthly beasts? Aren't the unearthly beasts more worthy of everyone's attention?Overall I think that this book is a little frustrating, because the project is ultimately sort of a lark, yet it lacks enough humor to carry you through what is a pretty long book. I get that the author is trying to respect the integrity of Tolstoy's book while at the same time trying to build up a well imagined world around the original plot of romantic entanglements - but I just don't think it's possible to achieve those goals simultaneously. By the time you're three hundred pages in the appeal of the separate parts have started to cancel each other out - the serious tone robs the absurd bits of their humor but doesn't save the serious bits from looking goofy in such an absurd context.It just wasn't ridiculous enough to be funny, or fantastic enough to be good sci-fi, or deep enough to match the original Anna Karenina - especially given it's excessive length for such a light-premise. It was an interesting read in many ways, but not necessarily a satisfying one. Not as great as Sense and Sensibility and Seamonsters in my opinion but still a pleasant read. Have to laugh at the people who gave it a one because "it's ridiculous" and that the appearance of aliens at poignant moments ruined the book for them, it's like complaining about a Carry On film for not highlighting the serious issues of history. This book is not for the serious minded. Stick to the classic by all means if you consider it a 'great work of art'. All this book does is to highlight what a bunch of self-absorbed twats the main characters of Anna Karenina are in the first place, 'oh there's an alien invasion (revolution) but I'm more worried my boyfriend doesn't pay attention to me any more' and pokes hell of a lot of fun at them- much needed!
What do You think about Androide Karenina (2011)?
Having never read the original, I can't say how it holds up. It was a long read, but a good one.
—Lilly
Not as good as "Pride and Prejudice and Zombies" but good. Love the books in this genre.
—Amythereader
So good and so enjoyable, that it almost makes me want to read the original.
—makayla
