From an outstanding first chapter (which was originally a short story), to Sartoris's logs as they learn to live with one another, to the strange fires on the beach, I could not help but classify Vanished Birds as five stars-which for me means I will think about the work long after it is finished. With Spear Cuts Through Water as well, Jiminez pulls off the rare feat of giving me the impression of a cinematic soundtrack as the narrative thumps forward. It's brilliant, like Strings playing in Malaz City during Bonehunters. Very grateful to have Jimenez writing!
I am excited to get to The Spear Cuts Through Water -- Jimenez's talent shines even in his debut. I also like Sartoris as both character and narrator. Cheers!
Thank you, Coleton! It's really a gorgeous book in places, and it takes on some very important themes that are relevant to our world and our existence. All the best!
We will have so much to talk about! I did so love the bravery Jimenez had in portraying those left behind in the ascension into the stars. I haven't seen that done in this way before. Brutally believable. The powers that be behind the momentum count on the populace at large not thinking about what they have paid to move forward from a dying world. Those Vanished Birds.
I'm so glad that you got so much out of The Vanished Birds! While, I agree, the novel is sobering, it still manages to be hopeful in its own way. Fumiko Nakajima's chapter always gives me so much anxiety whilst reading and the last chapter is heart-pounding and beautifully and evocatively written.
"Evocative" is an apt word to describe Jimenez's writing, Evie. It's hard to believe this was a debut, which makes me excited for The Spear Cuts Through Water!
Brilliant review as always, Philip! I am so looking forward to the group discussion, I feel like it's going to be a super interesting (and funny) dynamic with all the differing opinions. For me, part 1 was actually the biggest struggle, but then I loved how everything started to interweave after that. And the ending was just beautiful to me! Definitely one of those books that will leave an impression, whether you like it or not.
Thanks, Esmay! It's going to be an interesting discussion, I'm sure. I totally agree with you about the strength of the impression that this one leaves.
That was a far more somber tone than I was ready for. I found it to be simply beautiful. That 'humanity' survives with heart and soul intact, despite the colonizing corruption of corporations. There were the lovely shared moments of love, of joy, of music, that shone brighter in relation to the grim brutality of profit above all else. I found it full of hope though it could as well be called stubborn bloody mindedness, a refusal to be a commodity at the cost of the soul.
Thanks, Derri! I found moments of beauty, but the book hit me as much more grim. The idea that humanity is still replicating our exploitation and destruction in the greater arena of the stars is depressing enough, but what they do to Ahro in the name of progress was unspeakably disturbing to me. I do see something to admire, though, in the persistence and love that Nia and Ahro show.
Thanks for the review! This one has been on my TBR for awhile (not sure how it got there originally), and I look forward to the spoiler-free section of your discussion!
Awesome review, glad you liked it! It's pretty dark indeed, I was divided on the take on colonization because realistically that's as good a guess as any on how it'd play out, but hopefully we'll do better whenever we make it to that stage as a species.
What an excellent review! This makes me want to reread it. I enjoyed my time reading The Vanished Birds. While I enjoyed this book more than his fantasy standalone, I still highly recommend The Spear Cuts Through Water to you and your nemesis. I am certain you two would have so much to say about the structure and narrative choices Jimenez made in that book. I loosely compared the structure to The Neverending Story, but it has a modern style and addresses themes relevant to many current readers.
It sounds like AP would have a field day with The Spear Cuts Though Water! I’m even more excited to get to it after reading Jimenez’s debut. Cheers, Johanna!
Ive only ever read 100 or so pages of The Spear Cuts Through Water (I need to restart it) but Jimenez is an author i look forward to reading more of in future.
I like your description of this book. I have it on my shelf and am looking forward to reading it. I was a little disappointed after hearing Mike’s dislike of it but of course everyone is different.
It would be a boring world if we all thought the same way about every book. If you decide to pick up this one, I hope you'll get a lot from the experience!
As always an excellent review, Philip! So I have to admit that I don't get the Jimenez hype. But then there's a lot that I don't get. Still, nice to hear your thoughts!
What a wonderful, eloquent and pithy review as always. Thanks Philip! Seems like one has to be in a particular mood for this one, but it can be a very rewarding read.
Though I enjoyed The Vanished Birds for the most part, it didn’t „wow“ me like The Spear Cuts Through Water, which in my opinion was vastly superior in concept and execution.
From an outstanding first chapter (which was originally a short story), to Sartoris's logs as they learn to live with one another, to the strange fires on the beach, I could not help but classify Vanished Birds as five stars-which for me means I will think about the work long after it is finished.
With Spear Cuts Through Water as well, Jiminez pulls off the rare feat of giving me the impression of a cinematic soundtrack as the narrative thumps forward. It's brilliant, like Strings playing in Malaz City during Bonehunters.
Very grateful to have Jimenez writing!
I am excited to get to The Spear Cuts Through Water -- Jimenez's talent shines even in his debut. I also like Sartoris as both character and narrator. Cheers!
I loved this book so much. I didn't have any doubts that you would recognize and appreciate the beauty of the craft on display within it.
Thank you, Coleton! It's really a gorgeous book in places, and it takes on some very important themes that are relevant to our world and our existence. All the best!
We will have so much to talk about! I did so love the bravery Jimenez had in portraying those left behind in the ascension into the stars. I haven't seen that done in this way before. Brutally believable. The powers that be behind the momentum count on the populace at large not thinking about what they have paid to move forward from a dying world. Those Vanished Birds.
Beautifully said, John! I'm looking forward to our Quilluminati discussion very much!
I'm so glad that you got so much out of The Vanished Birds! While, I agree, the novel is sobering, it still manages to be hopeful in its own way. Fumiko Nakajima's chapter always gives me so much anxiety whilst reading and the last chapter is heart-pounding and beautifully and evocatively written.
"Evocative" is an apt word to describe Jimenez's writing, Evie. It's hard to believe this was a debut, which makes me excited for The Spear Cuts Through Water!
The first chapter of this book alone is incredible.
That first chapter sets an almost folkloric tone that I enjoyed very much.
I love the artistry Jimenez is using in their books. You don't see enough of that in mainstream sff. Very soulful work.
“Soulful” is an excellent word to describe it. Cheers, Matt!
This sounds like an interesting read and I always appreciate your thoughts Philip- thanks for sharing!
Thank you for watching and commenting!
Brilliant review as always, Philip! I am so looking forward to the group discussion, I feel like it's going to be a super interesting (and funny) dynamic with all the differing opinions.
For me, part 1 was actually the biggest struggle, but then I loved how everything started to interweave after that. And the ending was just beautiful to me! Definitely one of those books that will leave an impression, whether you like it or not.
Thanks, Esmay! It's going to be an interesting discussion, I'm sure. I totally agree with you about the strength of the impression that this one leaves.
thanks for reminding me of this. I've been meaning to get to it as I absolutely adored The Spear Cuts Through Water
I think you'll get a lot from the read, Bryson!
That was a far more somber tone than I was ready for.
I found it to be simply beautiful. That 'humanity' survives with heart and soul intact, despite the colonizing corruption of corporations. There were the lovely shared moments of love, of joy, of music, that shone brighter in relation to the grim brutality of profit above all else. I found it full of hope though it could as well be called stubborn bloody mindedness, a refusal to be a commodity at the cost of the soul.
Thanks, Derri! I found moments of beauty, but the book hit me as much more grim. The idea that humanity is still replicating our exploitation and destruction in the greater arena of the stars is depressing enough, but what they do to Ahro in the name of progress was unspeakably disturbing to me. I do see something to admire, though, in the persistence and love that Nia and Ahro show.
It's a beautifully written book. I loved it.
I agree about the beauty to be found in this book -- in terms of the story, the concepts explored, and the prose. Cheers!
You’ve piqued my interest in this novel when I was on the fence about it! ❤
I hope you’ll take a lot from it if you give it a try, Nicole!
A terrific introduction to the book for people wondering about it! I look forward to discussing this with you and the group!
Thanks, Brian! I'm eager to find out everyone's thoughts!
Thanks for the review! This one has been on my TBR for awhile (not sure how it got there originally), and I look forward to the spoiler-free section of your discussion!
Thank you, Josh! I will be keen to hear what you make of this one if you decide to read it!
Awesome review, glad you liked it! It's pretty dark indeed, I was divided on the take on colonization because realistically that's as good a guess as any on how it'd play out, but hopefully we'll do better whenever we make it to that stage as a species.
I may be crazy, but I still have hope that we will learn enough as a species to make it that far. Cheers!
What an excellent review! This makes me want to reread it. I enjoyed my time reading The Vanished Birds. While I enjoyed this book more than his fantasy standalone, I still highly recommend The Spear Cuts Through Water to you and your nemesis. I am certain you two would have so much to say about the structure and narrative choices Jimenez made in that book. I loosely compared the structure to The Neverending Story, but it has a modern style and addresses themes relevant to many current readers.
It sounds like AP would have a field day with The Spear Cuts Though Water! I’m even more excited to get to it after reading Jimenez’s debut. Cheers, Johanna!
Excellent review Philip, I'm very tempted to try this title now.
If you do pick it up, I hope you’ll get a lot from the story!
Ive only ever read 100 or so pages of The Spear Cuts Through Water (I need to restart it) but Jimenez is an author i look forward to reading more of in future.
Same here! I'm even more excited to pick up The Spear Cuts Through Water now.
I like your description of this book. I have it on my shelf and am looking forward to reading it. I was a little disappointed after hearing Mike’s dislike of it but of course everyone is different.
It would be a boring world if we all thought the same way about every book. If you decide to pick up this one, I hope you'll get a lot from the experience!
@@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy I own it so will definitely read it!
As always an excellent review, Philip! So I have to admit that I don't get the Jimenez hype. But then there's a lot that I don't get. Still, nice to hear your thoughts!
I appreciate you watching, Angela!
My mama taught me that if you don't have anything nice to say then don't say anything.
Ha ha! Mothers are wise, and we should listen to them. I look forward to our discussion, my friend!
What a wonderful, eloquent and pithy review as always. Thanks Philip!
Seems like one has to be in a particular mood for this one, but it can be a very rewarding read.
There's a lot that one can take from this book, and I hope you'll find it an engaging read if you decide to pick it up!
Though I enjoyed The Vanished Birds for the most part, it didn’t „wow“ me like The Spear Cuts Through Water, which in my opinion was vastly superior in concept and execution.
I'm excited to read The Spear Cuts Through Water, especially if it shows Jimenez's growth as an author -- he already impressed me as it is. Cheers!