Review: The Just City, by Jo Walton

[klwilliams]

You should be prepared for philosophical discussions if you plan to read this book. Many, many philosophical discussions, but unlike the kind you read for Philosophy 101 these discussions are from the point of view of interesting characters in an interesting experiment: the goddess Athene has brought together people from different times and places to try to create Plato's idea of a Just City.

Did I like this book? I put off reading it until I got a free copy from Tor.com's book club giveaway, and I started reading it because hey, Jo Walton. I was sucked in quickly, and the characters pulled me along. I enjoyed the journey, but the novel suffered from so many of the passages that I read in Philosophy 101: nothing ever got resolved. Until possibly the next book. Which yes, I intend to read. Soon.

Comments

[galeni.livejournal.com]

I tried but couldn't force my way through it.

[klwilliams.livejournal.com]

In the last third of the book the philosophical discussions were starting to bore me, but there were enough interesting character interactions to keep me going. But I hated the ending.

[shewhomust.livejournal.com]

The book club doesn't extend to the UK, alas. So I'm doubly interested in your reaction. Did you read / like My Real Children?

[klwilliams.livejournal.com]

I really enjoyed My Real Children, though I did think that seeing more of the background would have been fun. I also enjoyed Among Others and loved the Small Change trilogy (which I couldn't put down).

[shewhomust.livejournal.com]

Ah, now I loved Among Others, have mixed feelings about Small Change (especially the ending) and really did not get on with My Real Children - which is why I am dithering about this latest triligy.