Books by author: Paolo Bacigalupi

The Windup Girl has many of the elements that would make up my ideal science fiction novel: its universe is complex and immersive, there is no explanation of any of the fantastic elements, it lets you figure out the rules of the universe as you go, and it is plausible but slightly exaggerated on nearly every dimension. What's missing, unfortunately, is a character to root for. There are several characters that could be protagonists, but they all go beyond flawed (flawed is good!) to unlikeable. The narrative is fractured, and although the pieces ultimately fit together, the structure feels forced, and the ending ends up being a bit unsatisfying. It's like China Mieville without the fantasy elements, but also without the heart.