Rereading this book 15 years later reminds me why I still bother reading Egan's books, despite very lukewarm experiences like his more recent Zendegi.Rereading this book 15 years later reminds me why I still bother reading Egan's books, despite very lukewarm experiences like his more recent Zendegi. Why hasn't this been reprinted? (update: super cheap Kindle edition available, you lucky reader you!)
This book crackles and hums with ideas that are not just brilliant within their own context, but ask deep questions about our existence. The extrapolation of these ideas is solid and well meshed with the unique and intriguing plot.
Egan is at the top of his form here, banging out compelling world building characterizations in a couple of pages as he introduces side characters to build the number of perspectives for the unfolding of his vision.
My one caveat is that it might take a certain level of a certain kind of intelligence to understand the central conceit of the novel. By the same token, if you can grok it, I predict you will just love it to pieces, because hard pressed to find anything this profound, engaging and well written with that lovely sci-fi adventure flavor anywhere.
For me the conflict driving the last quarter of the novel and the justifications for some of the actions of the characters are a bit less solid than the majority of the book, but it too picks up steam after a shaky start. The last section feels slightly tacked on after a solid but perhaps not entirely salutary ending of the main portion of the narrative.
Highly recommended if you have encountered any of his other work and liked it at all-- IMNSHO this is his best.
By the way, this is an entirely stand-alone book which has nothing in common with the other books in the "subjective cosmology cycle" except a portion of an author's career....more
Compulsively readable page turner. Perhaps the most "realistic" aliens invasion of earth novel I have ever read. My second time around reading this, 1Compulsively readable page turner. Perhaps the most "realistic" aliens invasion of earth novel I have ever read. My second time around reading this, 15 years later, left me with nearly the same high level of delight as last time.
And the importance of science fiction writers to the war effort? Maybe less realistic, but still a lot of fun.
Of course, aliens invading earth is really the perfect setup for what is a pro-military somewhat "conservative" world view. Endless accumulation of nuclear weapons? Wish we had more. Military capable space technology? More. High environmental impact of human activity? When the aliens come, they will be much harder on our biosphere.
So while I reread this us vs. them classic with great pleasure, there was also a bit of a bad taste in my mouth from the political slant of the writing. Still worth 5 stars of fun, though, and hardly dated at all despite being written before the breakup of the Soviet Union and the Challenger disaster....more
A surprising contrast to the last Greg Egan book I read, in which far future aliens in a strange environment discover physics.
Some blend between that A surprising contrast to the last Greg Egan book I read, in which far future aliens in a strange environment discover physics.
Some blend between that somewhat inaccessible book and this one would be nice, as here we have the science fiction aspect shoved way to the side and not addressed until more than halfway through the book, in favor of character development of a contemporary earthbound nature.
Character development apparently for the purpose of contrasting the real humans with partial software personalities and the ethical dilemmas of such, though the pages devoted to real people are vastly more numerous and honestly not that exciting.
This book is at least slightly below the "something to read if you have nothing better to do with your time" level of 3 stars in the bruce rating system, hence 2 stars, trending towards the "read the whole thing but would have been happier if I had given up part way through" level....more
3.5 stars actually, meaning better than "good for killing time with nothing better to do" and "recommended." If you are a young adult, then I'd push i3.5 stars actually, meaning better than "good for killing time with nothing better to do" and "recommended." If you are a young adult, then I'd push it to 4 or 5 stars.
Because that's what this is, a YA book not to be confused with Mieville's much more adult fare.
It's a slow starter until a pretty darn good clever twist makes things interesting. It has a decent level of creativity and inventive world building, but nothing like his other work and nothing like, oh, say, Michael Swanwick's Vacuum Flowers, which I happened to read just before this....more
Swanwick has been an amazing writer for a very long time. I've just reread this after 15 years or so and it's just as fresh as the day it was written.Swanwick has been an amazing writer for a very long time. I've just reread this after 15 years or so and it's just as fresh as the day it was written. It seems wrong to describe it as cyberpunk as it's got so much more creativity insight and breadth than pretty much anything else in that genre. It reminds me of Samuel R Delaney's work more than William Gibson's.
On the other hand it does all kind of hang on the classic SF trope of the person who has had their memory blasted and so gets a guided tour of all the strange stuff with the reader following along. It takes a long time to figure out where it's headed and while this is true of the POV of the protagonist, lacking that sense of direction makes it less compelling somehow.
I'd rate this above his more recent (and more depressing and or surreal) fantasy novels, above his first novel In the Drift, and behind his most amazing Stations of the Tide.
It's interesting looking back at his career as he's 62 when I write this and was 37 when he wrote this. Right from the start he could out-write almost anyone, but that might be a sad and lonely and certainly not very well paying place in our world where Sturgeon's Law (90% of everything is crap) (and the corolary that most people are happy with crap) operates. He's a very smart man, and his justifiedly though not necessarily enjoyable jaundiced view dominates much of his work. He hasn't been fully ground down yet while writing this one, at least....more
Completing my re-read of one of my favorite trilogies 15 years later. The first time I read these I thought Blue Mars was good but a very different boCompleting my re-read of one of my favorite trilogies 15 years later. The first time I read these I thought Blue Mars was good but a very different book about very different things from Red and Green Mars. This time around it feels more integrated and a fitting capstone to the trilogy.
It felt Utopian to me throughout despite the conflicts driving the plot. And not just utopian but more satisfyingly realistically utopian than Pacific Edge. Robinson has done an amazing job at starting with our screwed up situation and mapping out a future society worth living in with a hard science foundation.
One really amazing and beautiful theme of this book which emerges out of the setting of Green Mars (spoiler if you haven't gotten that far yet) is that humanity must hang on until the first generation of the life extended dies off. But it's this same mechanism that allows the multiple hundred year span of this trilogy to follow mostly the same viewpoint characters whom one comes to know and mostly to love. So the vital part that these characters continue to play in both the happenings of the book and the narrative itself become the problem that needs to be solved. It's an amazing tension.
Robinson continues to weave a lot of "enlightenment" material through different viewpoints, but in this one it feels more like wisdom gleaned from reading about enlightenment rather than true realization itself. Though of course one can't really say......more
While I really enjoyed this book and consider it among Robinson's best work, it doesn't have that laser boring into the brain wow this is really doingWhile I really enjoyed this book and consider it among Robinson's best work, it doesn't have that laser boring into the brain wow this is really doing something really well that no one else has done before quality that Red Mars has.
If you've made it this far you obviously don't mind the hard science aspect of this trilogy. The main characters are mostly scientists (less so in this book than Red Mars) and there is lots of science here. Geology and Botany mostly.
Also the shifting character viewpoints; some of the characters not so likeable. For me Ann Clayborne is the worst-- I skimmed her section though there are still some really memorable moments in there.
I read this when it first came out um, 18 years ago and it still holds up as one of the very best.
Again, I think a lot of the criticism you will read here is due to the success of this trilogy. A much more widespread readership means that there will be more people complaining about the aspects of this book that make it unusual or special. It's not like the majority of stuff that's published, and majority tastes will find it a little complex for their palates.
Oh, and it really becomes clear with Green Mars that Kim Stanley Robinson meditates, maybe is enlightened, but definitely has experience in that area. He is not overt about it, but there are all sorts of little code words throughout, just like George Bush Jr did for the Fundamentalist Christians listening to his speeches. The repeated realization by different characters that it is all about "the present moment." The Dalai Lama meets the little red men. The Tibetan shamanic practices of one of Hiroko's inner circle. Nirgal's Lun Gom. Michel's radical personality shift, from Maya-like to stable. Hiroko's long periods of quiet. At one point he actually mentions one of the characters "appears to be meditating." Now that I list these it appears that they center around Hiroko's group. Off meditating under the southern polar ice cap during their long self-imposed exile....more
Probably the peak of Kim Stanley Robinson's career. A serious staggering feat of extrapolation, with loads of attention given to machines, humans, andProbably the peak of Kim Stanley Robinson's career. A serious staggering feat of extrapolation, with loads of attention given to machines, humans, and planets. Some of those topics are boring to different readers, so it isn't going to please everyone.
Many people I've talked to are bored by the geological descriptions. Other reviews here dislike the characters. Others say the machines are like magic. So a surprisingly large number of people dislike this book as much for its achievements as anything else.
But the science is solid. The human story epic and yet personal. The descriptions of the red planet astounding.
When my friends and I first read this in the early 90's we couldn't believe it. We worshipped this book. I just reread it 20 years later and it is still a gem.
Consider Phlebas isn't a typical hollywood narrative, and for this reason as much as any other one might dislike it. But compare CP, Banks's first sciConsider Phlebas isn't a typical hollywood narrative, and for this reason as much as any other one might dislike it. But compare CP, Banks's first science fiction novel, to the Wasp Factory his first, a regular fiction novel.
Wasp factory is full of unlikeable characters, unexpected endings, and plain old gross outs. The crazy imagination behind it is restrained too much by reality as we currently accept it.
Consider Phlebas takes this demented imagination and desire to upset the reader and liberates it into a genre where imagination knows no limits. It is a stunning tour de force.
Later Banks (not all) are friendlier to the reader, but again, compare the lean focused narrative of Consider Phlebas to the horrid bloat of even the best of later Banks work. Too, the feeling of discomfort in this book comes from strong reader involvement in the book. I find other Banks conflicts can lack interest.
So yes, not always a pleasant experience, but full of vivid untempered Banksness....more
For me this series gets a bit dark and some of the story threads are not so enjoyable as in the first 2 books. Characters with annoying speech patternFor me this series gets a bit dark and some of the story threads are not so enjoyable as in the first 2 books. Characters with annoying speech patterns, endless roaming about in tunnels, just not as fun. I still love it though, and am happy to be rereading it....more
2nd in the Long Sun series. My favorite of the 4, as the scope of action expands but doesn't get as dark as the last 2 volumes, nor does it have as mu2nd in the Long Sun series. My favorite of the 4, as the scope of action expands but doesn't get as dark as the last 2 volumes, nor does it have as much of characters with annoying speech patterns as Calde and Exodus....more
Writing this review after having reread it recently. Wolfe is a VERY rereadable author. There are so many clues to what is going on that one cannot poWriting this review after having reread it recently. Wolfe is a VERY rereadable author. There are so many clues to what is going on that one cannot possibly decipher on the first reading, and knowing what is going to happen ahead of time creates vast amounts of pleasurable dramatic irony as you catch the clever hints. Definitely deserving of 5 stars for all the reasons you will read in other reviews, BUT this isn't nearly the top of my list of Wolfe's work.
Most accessible and also probably the best: The Knight/The Wizard Also the best, much less accessible: Book of the New Sun (shadow of the torturer, etc.) I'm very very fond of Soldier of the Mist/Soldier of Arete but dislike Soldier of Sidon I'd put the Long Sun books next in the list. If you haven't read any Wolfe I wouldn't start with this one. ...more
There are some excellent reviews of this book here already, and I will try not to duplicate them too much.
I think of this as a "bleeding heart liberalThere are some excellent reviews of this book here already, and I will try not to duplicate them too much.
I think of this as a "bleeding heart liberal" sci-fi book. For the depiction of good and evil, the care and concern given the protagonists who are poor, the emphasis on the value of classical education, and for the general out of datedness of the phrase bleeding heart liberal itself. Don't even bother picking this up if you're not inclined in that direction, this will just annoy you.
Much of this book is spent on being nice to children, and talking about classical piano playing and despite the fast moving tightly edited 1950's writing style, it dragged for me a bit.
Pangborn does very adroitly move into a big finish though...
Some of the predictions are off, but a couple are really spot on, including the concern about what happens when all the oil runs out, and the increasing world temperature and retreat of the ice caps....more
I am a long time fan of Le Guin's work, and even in this one star example the deft and musical arrangement of her w1 star for a book I did not finish.
I am a long time fan of Le Guin's work, and even in this one star example the deft and musical arrangement of her words is a delight, but for me this work fails on every other level.
Each vignette showcases an alternative society in the most superficial and uninteresting manner possible. Characters never become interesting, plots never develop, and the cautionary fables, even when I agree with them, attack with bludgeoning force and no persuasive power, and even then send mixed messages: i.e. the likable character in the anti genetic engineering tale who is 4% corn.
The framing mechanism for these tales sounds like it is written by an overprivileged cranky old woman. Woe, life is hard, having to endure airports. oh, the drudgery of intercontinental travel!
Give me a break. Listen, Ms Le Guin, if your life is luxurious enough that you can complain about airports, then someone should be writing a cautionary tale about =you=....more
Fans of the first book in this series will not be disappointed as Mayer delivers more surprises with the fates of established characters, introductionFans of the first book in this series will not be disappointed as Mayer delivers more surprises with the fates of established characters, introduction of new characters, and big steampunk settings.
Perhaps my favorite part of these books is the characterization of the main villian-- he's coming from an interesting place that is a commentary on our current times. I hope that Mr. Mayer will continue to develop these ideas and provide a conclusion to the trilogy that is both transformative for the main characters as well as the world they live in, and for our world too :-)
possible but not really spoilers:
My two favorite parts are where Eschaton explains his choice to be ruthless, and the writing on the inside of Tom's heart <3
2 stars in my rating system means I finished it and wished I hadn't.
While the subject matter is interesting, this guy is no Tim Powers. Check out Powe2 stars in my rating system means I finished it and wished I hadn't.
While the subject matter is interesting, this guy is no Tim Powers. Check out Powers: Anubis Gates if you want good modern historical fantasy.
My primary issues with this book are: sketchy dialogue between characters that conveys no information about the plot or their relationships; no likable characters; no characters that undergo any kind of personal transformation; vague treatment of alternate history/conspiracy theory material that avoids constructing a detailed narrative; misanthropic point of view (in a novel about the grail no less); author has a buddhist character who throws around quotes but the author understands nothing about meditation, goals of enlightenment, buddhist view of mind (Mr Irvine should give it a try, it might improve his apparently jaundiced view of reality); ending that is not an ending-- no plot closure.
Two and a half stars. 2 = I read it and wished I hadn't, 3=fine if you've got nothing better to do. So yeah, I feel mildly like I wasted my time.
SawyeTwo and a half stars. 2 = I read it and wished I hadn't, 3=fine if you've got nothing better to do. So yeah, I feel mildly like I wasted my time.
Sawyer as an author takes the big idea and then sets up his characters to be affected by it. In this case the idea is really big: god.
Frankly, I find the whole god/not god argument rather tedious. It's mostly about just pushing people's buttons on one side or the other, and shooting stereotyped fish in a barrel with the obligatory stupid southern fundamentalist bad guys.
To his credit, Sawyer does try to reconcile the god/not god argument by suggesting a middle path between hardcore reductionist materialism and hardcore religion, suggesting that scientists have had to take too extreme an atheistic approach, more than the evidence really warrants, in order to defend reason against the ignorant religious hordes.
But this one small point of light requires reading through 2/3 of the book, after which it's on to a deus es machina ending. But what else did you expect when god gets involved?...more
As many here say, a good cross between the SF (which I usually like) and nonSF writing (which I usually don't like) of Banks. In contrast to his recenAs many here say, a good cross between the SF (which I usually like) and nonSF writing (which I usually don't like) of Banks. In contrast to his recent culture/space-opera books I found this one fresh throughout and mostly unbloated. Lower on the scale of spectacular invention but much higher on discussion of our present actual reality of torture, greed, and power. If you want to go for deeper analysis this is an excellent discussion: http://mssv.net/2009/09/26/notes-on-i...
Possibly an interesting meta-commentary on his own work via the increasingly mad and comedic adventures of Oh?
Can be taken as a fun adventure novel but definitely has thoughtful depth if you want to go there....more
What an odd, sad, clever and funny book this is. It begins with the boring shooting fish in a barrel activity of satirizing organized religion combineWhat an odd, sad, clever and funny book this is. It begins with the boring shooting fish in a barrel activity of satirizing organized religion combined with equally trivial autobiographical details.
Finally a ray of light gleams and a short story appears in the text. Then back to more triviality that grows more sadly interesting as the maudlin discussions of death of a man who would not so long after this book was written kill himself.
Occasional short stories continue to gleam forth like lights in the fog until all of the sudden they all link up into a cohesive whole that is both wickedly funny as the best of Thomas Disch is as well as interestingly insider gossipy as they concern a fellow SF writer. They are also examples of pathetic jealousy Disch has towards this more successful author and such brilliant pieces of character assassination that they shine light on Disch's own self loathing.
Along the way we discover both fascinating facts in a brilliant and hilarious riff on another author's work mixed with fascinating and yet pathetic self aggrandizement by Disch reminiscent at times of Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.
There to see as well are Disch's own misanthropist and illogical beliefs about a variety of topics that defeat some of the invincibility of the satirist's usual position.
A fascinating and complex work with moments of awesomeness amidst much dreck. At least it's easier to read than the European intellectuals Disch so admires....more
4 stars= recommended! The biggest delight of this book for me was the surprising twists in characterization. This book was not a simplistic combinatio4 stars= recommended! The biggest delight of this book for me was the surprising twists in characterization. This book was not a simplistic combination of steampunk scenery and super hero tropes-- instead we have an examination of flawed humans behind the superhero masks embedded in a conflict that shows us the roots of our current historical era with both its good and bad sides.
At the same time it's a good old fashioned adventure story :-)
I don't know what's going to happen next, and that's what makes it worth seeking out the remaining books in the series.
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