1/3 Discussion

[latespring]

Hello Everyone!

If you're checking in, here's the discussion post for 1/3 of Station Eternity!

A few reminders:

• This check in is for chapters 1-9, please do not spoil anything further than that!
• Similarly, please remember there may be spoilers in the discussion below
• You will have the opportunity to pose questions for our final discussion during the 2/3 check in, March 31st, so start thinking about anything you'd like the group to talk about
• Our final, and main, discussion will be April 20th!

How're you liking the book so far, if you've started it?

Comments

[littlerhymes]

I think the basic premise is pretty interesting. I really like the idea of Mallory being a murder magnet and how difficult it would be to just live a normal life with violent deaths constantly happening around you; and then turning those stories into books, because why not! It worked for Jessica Fletcher, pretty much! But Jessica Fletcher never had to deal with all the difficulties that Mallory does. No wonder she runs off to a space station.

The premise is interesting but something about the prose and the pacing overall isn't clicking for me. It's not a zippy read for me. Also this is something of a minor gripe but I did find it a bit of a missed opportunity that the alien names all get translated into really boring ones; and it made it more difficult to tell which aliens were which species!

[glitteryv]

Yup, the potential reality of being Jessica Fletcher is way unsavory than ppl think it is. And Mallory's workaround w/r/t earning a living was pretty clever too.

But Jessica Fletcher never had to deal with all the difficulties that Mallory does.

As a fan of "Murder, She Wrote" (I've watched the entire series enough times to have OPINIONS abt it), I gotta say that it's quite lulzy to see how involved Jessica Fletcher gets w/every investigation.

The premise is interesting but something about the prose and the pacing overall isn't clicking for me.

Having read the book, I wonder how your opinion might or might not change later on. The pacing is a bit wild, that's for sure. I too felt a mild uneveness; more so in the 2nd half of the book than the first.

Re the aliens' names: I have to admit that I didn't pay much attention on how boring their names sounded. In a way, I chucked it to the universal translator thingie trying to adapt to the person listening. So, maybe Stephanie's real name is something lie Weirdhgzzzz878, but Mallory would never know because the translator gives her a name she's more familiar with.

At least, that's how I rationlized the blandness of the names. IDK

[littlerhymes]

I wonder how your opinion might or might not change later on

I finished the book last week. My opinion of pacing and prose didn't improve at all in the second half lol.

Mallory would never know because the translator gives her a name she's more familiar with

Yes, that is how it works and my reading is that Lafferty is trying for comedy by having the weird alien names translate to boring earth names. For me it's a one-note joke that is funny once, and then after that it's just boring and means we miss out on the benefits of alien names - which could have been both funny and informative in terms of telling which species each alien is from. So, I think it's a missed chance.

[glitteryv]

My opinion of pacing and prose didn't improve at all in the second half lol.

Hahah, I'd figured as much but didn't want to, like, influence your experience if you were still reading the novel. I do think there were moments when the pacing could've been corrected, but the author had a specific idea and stayed the course. which eeeeeh.

RE the humor: it wasn't as hit-or-miss for me as it seems like it was for you. However, I do agree that the author should've leaned in MORE into the aliens aspects vs. accommodating things for both Mallory and the readers.

[sleepypapercrowns]

I’ve finally gotten to chapter 9 (having started late because of my move and also reading slowly) and I agree with all that you’re saying. I find the premise fascinating and am on a conceptual level interested in the plot and the book in general but for some reason I am never desperate to keep reading which is…disappointing. Now the question is if I can keep myself motivated to continue reading after hearing other people not vibe with this either… oh well.

[littlerhymes]

Fighting! I pushed through to the end because I knew if I put it down for too long I was in danger of forgetting about it lol. There are some interesting chapters ahead but a lot of the issues remain...

[glitteryv]

I...actually ended up finishing the book in 3 days almost a month ago--which is weird for me (I'm something of a slow reader). In any case, I had to go borrow the book from the library yesterday in order to refresh my memory abt where the story was at the end of Chapter 9.

Going to hold off on spoiling the book since this is the first post and all. Mallory is a really good MC from the first page I also like that she's in her 30s and bisexual. The premise is a good one. Also, the book has presented a good argument as to why she made the decision to escape Earth. I also liked Xan and v. much enjoyed reading abt his backstory.

[littlerhymes]

You zipped through so quickly!

Mallory's situation is so unique and interesting, I agree it's a good premise for a story.

[glitteryv]

I legit have ZERO idea how I finished it that fast, LOL.

Re the premise: it wasn't until after I finished the book that I remembered this author had published a book a decade ago about

a young woman who

ends up getting a job as an editor for a travel guide publisher that caters to supernatural creatures. She's the only human in the office too. IIRC, a murder occurs and it's up to her to figure out who did it or something like that.

So, it seems like the 'unique woman solves a murder/mystery' plot is something this author likes to visit time and again.

It does make me wonder abt her other book Six Wakes--which has gotten a lot of praise. That one is abt

a woman

who turns out to be a clone. There are 5 other clones. One has been murdered and no one knows why. It's been promoted as a Space version of Agatha Christie's "And There Were None"

[kpopwinemom]

I haven't started! I found the audiobook on my booksellers app, so it won't go away. I'm planning on listening in April, because I know once I start it will go fast.

[tullycat]

I've read through chapter 8, so a little behind where this post ends, but I gotta say I am not feeling this book at all 😬 it doesn't help that I have kept reading a page or two and putting it down but the pacing and a lot of the world building feels disjointed. Strongly considering a DNF.