Ben S. Dobson
Autor von Scriber
Über den Autor
Reihen
Werke von Ben S. Dobson
Getagged
Wissenswertes
- Geburtstag
- 1985-06-27
- Geschlecht
- male
- Nationalität
- Canada
Mitglieder
Rezensionen
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Statistikseite
- Werke
- 8
- Mitglieder
- 313
- Beliebtheit
- #75,401
- Bewertung
- 4.0
- Rezensionen
- 40
- ISBNs
- 13
The best about the book was definitely the characters. Not only are they very well-drawn and show believable and realistic development, they are also unusual in that the main character is a withdrawn and someone timid scholar, accompanied by a group of tough, well-trained, professional female soldiers. Although their world does not appreciate women fighting, Scriber (the book, not the character) treats them with respect. Not once are they diminished for the fact that they are (fighting) women. And, I'm glad to say, the same goes for the scholar. In some of the reviews he is called cowardly. I do not really agree. I would say emotionally deeply scarred and healthily cautious. However, due to the immense bravery of the women's captain, Bryndine, he manages to grow beyond that. But he does not become a soldier in any way, and he does not become someone who jumps into danger, which would be unnatural for him. His relationship with the women is amazingly natural, and so is the way it develops. At first, not all of them get along, but mutual respect and friendship grows slowly. All of this is very well done, with a surprising depth to it. The issues the characters struggle with are very real and in their dealing with it, they never grow beyond their natural potential, never become something they were not to begin with.
The story itself does not have as much depth to it, having only a single storyline which is not overly complicated. Within a quarter of the book, I had strong suspicions about the origins of the Burners, and I was right. It didn't disturb me at all, though, because the story was told well. I liked the flow of information, introducing us to the world gradually. Dennon's voice was appealing, and I liked the little bits of his journal and books that were given at the beginning of each chapter. The world itself was attractive as well, a good stage for the story that is playing out.
I think if Dobson at some point manages to put some more intricacy in his books, they will be amazing. As it is, Scriber is very good. Based on the overall experience and on the characters I would give this 4 stars. Add to that the end of the book, with the extra insights in Bryndine's character and the discussion she has with Dennon about guilt, and I have to raise that to 4.5 stars. And on strength of pure enthusiasm, I'll round that upwards to 5.… (mehr)