Project V is a really good addition to the recent wave of East Asian science fiction in translation, and also books about AI. It’s not long, It packs a real punch, and the plot mirrors a lot of real conflict in Korean society (idol shows, military conscription). I do question some of the localization, and the “where are they now”-ness of the closing chapter. However, I think this is a well done little book, and a lot of people will enjoy it.

Thank you HarperVia & NetGalley for the ARC!

That was a very fun book! I loved Wooram’s drive to be the best and not let the stupid “men only” requirement stop her from trying and applying to pilot V. She was the best and the whole competition was just silly. However, I think that her journey through the competition was so good and kind of needed for her to grow.

Hands down, my favourite part was between Wooram, Dr. Choi, and Seojin standing up for each other and not ratting out Wooram!

The books take on AI and humanity was interesting for sure. An egotistical AI is scary though. Wonder if we’re approaching that? 🤷🏽‍♂️

Overall, I really enjoyed this and def something I’d want to read again.

Thank you for this book!! The book Project V by Park Seolyeon primarily uses gender-swapping (cross-dressing) and reality television as its central narrative devices, along with several other modern and classic tropes.

Project V was truly a neat story from start to finish and was a good introduction into the world of mechs that I'd only become familiar with due to growing up with Gundam. I was initially a bit confused as I started the book, as I wasn't sure about all of the technical details, but once Wooram began her stint on the Project V show, it read more like a K-pop survival show, which I was a lot more familiar with, and understood how those kinds of shows look. The book also focuses a lot on gender disparities and equality within STEM, which I think this book could be a great launch point into further discussions alongside other novels touching base on the same topics. Overall, I enjoyed it and thought the pacing was appropriate for the story, but for those who may not like the fast pacing or aren't as familiar with some Korean nuances, it may be confusing at first. I think it's still worth a try and could end up being a positive addition to anyone's TBR.