Green makes the smart decision of allowing Maya, Andy and Miranda to follow their own adventures and have their own respective chapters ... Green is clearly inspired by Dungeons and Dragons and internet culture—inspirations he uses to build a world so vividly grounded in reality it’s sometimes hard to forget that Green wrote this before the pandemic and not during. While there are many parallels to our current climate, A Beautifully Foolish Endeavor is a hopeful read that provides a Black Mirror-like warning of new technology without the heavy feeling of dread. Green gives nuance to the privileges of escapism with humor and grace through main characters taking a chance on hope, even if it is beautifully foolish.
Hank Green’s writing is fast-paced and exciting, filled with drama as well as an abundance of technical information about AI ... Green excels at providing backstories for his characters, which newcomers will especially appreciate. However, it would be best for those who have not read An Absolutely Remarkable Thing to do so before delving into this one. Sometimes it was a bit difficult to figure out exactly how certain events that were unfolding here related to the original story. Still, A Beautifully Foolish Endeavor is a bold and sharp novel that will keep readers on their toes and fully engaged, eager to discover how it all ends and keeping their fingers crossed for a third installment in the not-too-distant future.
... delivers everything a sequel should: the same characters, emotion, and appeal as the original, but with enough novelty to extend the world of the story into new places ... Like the first book, although aliens threaten the world, the core of the story is a human one about fame and social media and having a voice on the Internet. Ultimately, the reader is left with intriguing questions about whether humans are able to use power for good.
Throughout this adventurous, witty, and compelling novel, Green delivers sharp social commentary on the power of social media and both the benefits and horrendous consequences that follow when we give too much of ourselves to technology. An essential choice for all sf collections.
... circuitous ... still pretty entertaining, but Green practically bends over backward to reverse-engineer his oddball scenario so it finally makes sense ... Green’s debut was a better novel with a wildly intriguing setup, so it’s not surprising that getting things wrapped up is a bit of a twisty affair ... A satisfying sequel with likable characters, playful humor, and a prescient sense of the foolishness of modern life.
... slow-moving and philosophically dense ... Though the narrator shifts in each chapter, the perspectives of the vast cast are often indistinguishable from each other. Readers will have to hang in until the midpoint before the plot begins to come together, but once it does, it’s thrilling to watch the puzzle pieces fall into place. This is best suited for Green’s diehard fans.
