Wikipedia:Peer review/Berge Meere und Giganten/archive1

Berge Meere und Giganten

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I've listed this article for peer review because… ...it's just made good article status and I'd like to make it a featured article in the near future, if possible. The article is about the 1924 science fiction novel by Alfred Döblin, better known as the author of Berlin Alexanderplatz. Thanks, Sindinero (talk) 07:07, 25 February 2012 (UTC)[reply]

Comments from Laser brain

General

You alternately use the terms "polities", "cityscapes", and "city-states" seemingly interchangably; this can get confusing as the reader might think they are different things. Perhaps they are—in which case it hasn't been adequately explained.

Lead

"Among critics, Berge Meere und Giganten has the reputation of being a difficult and polarizing novel, and has not received nearly as much attention as Döblin's following novel..." This reads as if the critics have said both that it's difficult and that it hasn't received as much attention. Is this accurate, or should the second clause be on its own?
The lead seems a bit light. I recommend comparing it to the leads from other featured literature articles to see what you might add. You have a bit of plot synopsis, one line of critical reception, and a bit of history. Perhaps summarize a bit more of the plot, mention the nine books, and mention some of the themes?

Plot

"the masses of the cities raise no objection" This is a bit awkward. It reads as if it is the cities that raise no objection.
"At the same time that it sees radical technological innovations" In constructions like this, the "that" isn't necessary.
"In an effort to maintain their rule, the ruling Senates of Europe agree" The word "ruling" is probably inferred since you've just said it.
Check the proper expression of the term "the west"; I think you might need to be more specific.
In "soft and restless", I don't understand how "soft" is being applied. Soft normally means weak-willed; if that's so, how did a spirit of resistance arise?
Explain "the machines" when you mention them in Second Book.
If you include a quotation from the book, make sure to modify it to match the tense used in the article text. See WP:MOSQUOTE.
"austerity and mistrust of the machines", I think.
Need to provide some context and background when you introduce characters like Marke, similar to what you did with Meki.
"Marine life and sea birds of all kinds are attracted towards them" Towards the ships, or towards the veils in particular?
"marked by a reconciled relationship with nature"
Recommend "To the north the giants, Delvil now among them..."

More soon. --Laser brain (talk) 17:51, 15 March 2012 (UTC)[reply]

Thematic and stylistic aspects

Do you mean "psychologically damaged veterans"?
I'm concerned that we don't seem to be representing a decent selection of literary analysis and criticism from academic journals. Have you conducted a search in library databases such as MLA International Bibliography to find such articles? I think the article will need to be expanded from such resources before it can become featured.

Critical reception

Likewise, this will need to be expanded from additional academic sources.
"The last few decades have however seen a resurgence of critical interest in the novel." This statement is not evidenced by the size of this section...

Good work so far. I am interested in reading the novel now. Please feel free to ping me after you've made the article more comprehensive; I would be happy to look at it again before you bring it to FAC. --Laser brain (talk) 18:35, 15 March 2012 (UTC)[reply]

Thanks for taking this on, this is helpful. I'll drop you a line once I've made some changes to the article or if questions pop up along the way. -Sindinero (talk) 06:59, 16 March 2012 (UTC)[reply]