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The Physiognomy

The Physiognomy

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Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Pretentious
Review: This is the kind of book that might get discussed in a college class on literary interpretation, but which isn't worth reading as a novel. The author seems to aim for an Orwellian kind of social relevance, and ends up with less plot, less character development, and indeed less relevance than Orwell.

Science fiction or fantasy readers will be attracted to the premise of a culture driven by physiognomy, but will be disappointed : the idea is never developed at all, as the book turns into an uninterestingly-written fight against totalinarianism in which physiognomy plays no role whatsoever.

Nor are any of the other potentially good ideas developed, such as the creature from Paradise or the abilities of the Master.

Summary: If you want some mysticism to discuss in your literary club, or if you want to write a term paper for your literature class, go for it. If you want an interesting novel, keep away.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: wonderfully original!
Review: What I enjoyed most about this book is its originality. I primarily read fantasy and science fiction, and after reading so many books that follow the usual cliches of the genres, it is refreshing to read a book which contains unconventional and original characters, setting, and plot. The main character begins as a most unlikeable fellow; pompus, unfeeling, and rude. I found his enlightenment and subsequent emergence as a real human being the most interesting aspect of this book. The rest of the story, also, is refreshing, interesting, and insightful. Highly recommended.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Interesting sci-fantasy
Review: While it's being shelved under science fiction, and while it no doubt is science fiction, The Physiognomy feels more like fantasy for most of its length. Two thirds of the novel are spent outside the dystopian Well-Built City (which itself has an interesting mix of old and new technology), setting for only the last third of the book. We don't get in touch, for those two thirds, with the technological advance of the City, and that explains the fantasy feel.

The story is interesting, though The Physiognomy feels incomplete. That's because it's part of a trilogy (the next novels are Memoranda and The Beyond). Cley, the protagonist, is a physiognomist, which is a state function- the state being under the totalitarian rule of Drachton Below, a man with a severe god complex - that combines, in a fashion, the functions of investigator and judge. Remember Judge Dredd? Cley is almost like Dredd, only he doesn't execute people. People are executed by a gas that inflates their heads until they pop. Not by the physiognomists themselves. Those only point their fingers at certain people, and find out if they're guilty of a crime by the measurements of their bodies. They can also predict the future using the same science, the Physiognomy. The Physiognomy was created by Drachton Below so...you get the picture.

At the beginning of the story, Cley is a corrupt, morally disgusting individual. He is sent by Below to investigate a crime in the 'territory'. That's the starting point in a journey of, say, self and world discovery, and soon enough Cley is one terrific guy (suspension of disbelief necessary, for sure). The Physiognomy is well done and entertaining, and very worth the read. I would have appreciated more solid world building (things are sometimes just too vague), but the novel is fast paced and interesting, with very surreal imagery (if you're into that, the book's a treat). I'll read the next two.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: A well-written unpleasant novel to read
Review: While well-written, the main character is such an obnoxious person that to read the book was, to me, most unpleasant.


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