Post by sturgeon on Mar 6, 2021 16:12:09 GMT
Recently, I've been watching a lot of Rick and Morty, which is mostly amazing. Never have I seen science fiction so creative, existential, colourful, nihilistic, funny and dark. It's like Lem's Cyberiad as written by William Gibson.
I've also been watching some Death in Paradise. What is it about watching autistic narcissists solve overcomplicated murders that's so comforting?
So the idea of smooshing those two genres together should be right up my back alley. Lo and behold, this cap is a medical murder mystery set in a space station.
It was written, I suspect, by a Jane with far more experience of crafting science fiction than murder mysteries. The science fiction elements are fun, if unchallenging, with characterful alien doctors, space pirates, and purple-skinned nymphomaniacs - it had a kind of Iain M Banks feel.
But it was clear that the wife dunnit by page 12, barely halfway through. Meanwhile, random characters appeared to be interviewed, in some cases existing in the story world only for that purpose and disappearing again afterwards. The detective (who had precious little character development) had access to a literal truth serum, which seems like cheating - although it ends up being a bit of a MacGuffin. And I wasn't convinced by the main character's stakes - he stood to lose his wife whom he hates anyway, and maybe get a dint in his reputation for smuggling the truth serum, but it kinda seemed like no-one was too shocked about that.
So, props for the sci-fi, but I'm giving this one a pass.
I've also been watching some Death in Paradise. What is it about watching autistic narcissists solve overcomplicated murders that's so comforting?
So the idea of smooshing those two genres together should be right up my back alley. Lo and behold, this cap is a medical murder mystery set in a space station.
It was written, I suspect, by a Jane with far more experience of crafting science fiction than murder mysteries. The science fiction elements are fun, if unchallenging, with characterful alien doctors, space pirates, and purple-skinned nymphomaniacs - it had a kind of Iain M Banks feel.
But it was clear that the wife dunnit by page 12, barely halfway through. Meanwhile, random characters appeared to be interviewed, in some cases existing in the story world only for that purpose and disappearing again afterwards. The detective (who had precious little character development) had access to a literal truth serum, which seems like cheating - although it ends up being a bit of a MacGuffin. And I wasn't convinced by the main character's stakes - he stood to lose his wife whom he hates anyway, and maybe get a dint in his reputation for smuggling the truth serum, but it kinda seemed like no-one was too shocked about that.
So, props for the sci-fi, but I'm giving this one a pass.
