Dragons & Jetpacks discussion

I couldn’t see a thread for this, so hope no-one minds me starting one.

Anyway, really enjoyed this. Nice easy read with good characters, setting and interesting story, although less sci-fictiony that I was expecting, with more of the prejudice and social expectation of the 50s explored instead.

Especially found all the Yiddish and American slang very enlightening as had to google a few of them; ‘mishegas’, ‘schlepping’ and 'tchotchkes' etc. Great sounding words though. 

Will pick up the next one sometime as it sounds like more of the sci-fi I was expecting.

I'm not done with it yet but I really much like it so far.

Same as you, I thought it was going to be a little bit more on the sci-fi side than that but I am not complaining.

I actually liked this book, I rated it fairly low but only because it wasn't really the book it sells itself to be.

I thought some of the characters were a bit bland and only really there to push the plot points the author wanted. I am not too keen on alternate history works in general, and even more so when real people from those eras are used. It means the author has to make up how that person would operator under vastly different conditions.

Overall it was a good read, not particularly my flavour, however.

I found this book kind of bland.

The racism and sexism I think were written well (if thats the right way to phrase that), but I found that they were the over riding themes of the book and the space situation was used to highlight them. I think I was hoping for more of a sci-fi element and this book fell short for me.
It doesnt make me want to read more of the series, I'm kinda of happy where it ended, rather than on a massive cliff hanger.

I think my biggest negative was the cringy banter as Elsa and Nathaniel were being intimate. That was painful to read.

I really enjoyed this book. I think many of the disappointment for some people is they were expecting science fiction, but it's alternate history. I've never considered AH science fiction at all.

Lel wrote: "I think my biggest negative was the cringy banter as Elsa and Nathaniel were being intimate. That was painful to read..."

I understand your pain Lel, and have to admit I ended up skim reading most of these. Didn't add anything to the story, so I do wonder why she bothered writing them in, it's clearly not her forte.

Finished it, loved it, gave it a very rare 5 stars. I did a Tweet about it, and Mary Robinette Kowal retweeted me.