The Light Brigade

i was on my second read-through of this book wondering why it just wasn't connecting with me, and i think i've finally figured it out: it's TOO aware of its audience.

this book is aware that you, the reader, are most likely someone who lives in the 21st century, and has certain knowledge about the world at the time that it was written. it's possible this wouldn't bother me so much if it were in third person, but since the main character is also the first-person narrator, she feels like a mouthpiece speaking directly to us and explaining how the world has changed since our time. as a result, she doesn't sound like an actual person living in the future this book envisions.

i do firmly believe that "show don't tell" is overdone as writing advice and telling can be used to great effect, but this book just does too much of it in my opinion. dietz says she cares about these other characters who are living and dying in front of her, but i don't. none of them feel like real people to me, either. an entire relationship happens basically offscreen. i don't have any emotional investment in any of them.

the irony here is that i actually did like the short story this book is based on well enough, as well as the rest of Hurley's collection "meet me in the future". but this is my fourth and probably final attempt at reading one of her full novels. the ideas are interesting, and the points they try to make about the world are good, but i think her style just doesn't work for me in long form tbh.