Silently and Very Fast

Simply beautiful writing... I never thought someone could write such soulful and colourful prose on the topic of AIs. The book was too short – I would love to get lost in this world a little longer. The only nitpick I have is that the ending feels a bit rushed.

Full review at SFF Book Review.Catherynne Valente doesn't take single wrong step. On the one hand, I am shocked it took me until the first Fairyland book to discover her, on the other hand, I am happy about the amount of unread Valente books I have sitting on my shelves.This novella (which you can read for free on the Clarkesworld Magazine page - or even listen to on audio) creates a sort of mix between a science fiction story about an AI and mythology. There has to be mythology! It's beautifully written and even though it took me a while to get into, it paid off in the end. If you've never read Catherynne Valente, I'd suggest you start with [b:The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making 9591398 The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making (Fairyland, #1) Catherynne M. Valente http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1317793528s/9591398.jpg 6749837]. But if you want a little bite-sized book that will leave you melancholy and thinking for yourself, you may as well choose this one.

I honestly don't know how to rate this book because I do not know what to make of the feelings it has left me with. As other reviewers put it, it is more of an experience, rather than a straight-forward story about things and/or people. I definitely liked the writing and the language the author used. It is like a science fiction fairy tale, taking place is a -sort of- virtual reality, that reads like a movie (while being on mild hallucinogens?). Strong pictures and metaphors but, I don't know, I feel like there is something missing that should have been said. The end kind of left me high and dry, I guess.