[***] ISBN: 0312856849
I'm torn about this book.
On the one hand, the ideas presented about the cyberfuture and medical utopia are compelling, truly futuristic, solidly grounded in the present and completely developed. Mr. Vinge has extrapolated a networked near future full of technological miracles and complications. Anyone working or playing in the field of computers, gaming and networks, as I do, can easily start to believe in the inevitability of the vision. The reader loses track of the here and now, living entirely in that other world. Several main characters are full of life and motivation, I found myself yearning to learn what they would do next and why. They often surprised me.
On the other hand, getting there was somewhat laborious. The novelty and virtuality of the invented future, the mystery surrounding several characters and their motivations, and the obscure nature of many fantasies within the fantasy made some scenes difficult to wade through. Even at the end of the book, not everything or everyone is explained. On the one hand, I believe this is intentional. Hats off to Mr. Vinge for not spoon feeding the reader and allowing us to fill in the blanks with our own imaginations. On the other hand, I know there are potential readers that will be left completely at sea.
This is thought-provoking, challenging science fiction at its finest. If you want to know where our technology and entertainment choices are taking us, this might be it.
Friday, January 26, 2007
Monday, January 22, 2007
Callahan's Con (Spider Robinson)
[**] ISBN: 0786183470
I had some fun listening to this book. But I have to hold back on giving it a very high rating. Even knowing that one has to suspend disbelief for this sort of book and that this book is meant to be over the top, I thought the characters, situation and plot were a bit too contrived. The denizens of "The Place" are too varied, too goofy and too understanding to be remotely believable. It's hard enough to get four or five people to agree on anything, much less a hundred or more. The whole mob plot was much too stereotyped. And Mr. Robinson violated some of his own rules of time traveling when it came right down to carrying out the con.
To top it off, I found the prose to be somewhat forced. And the humor was off the mark. I will probably try another Callahan book. Perhaps the earlier volumes that actually include Mike Callahan, where the story is just getting started are better.
I had some fun listening to this book. But I have to hold back on giving it a very high rating. Even knowing that one has to suspend disbelief for this sort of book and that this book is meant to be over the top, I thought the characters, situation and plot were a bit too contrived. The denizens of "The Place" are too varied, too goofy and too understanding to be remotely believable. It's hard enough to get four or five people to agree on anything, much less a hundred or more. The whole mob plot was much too stereotyped. And Mr. Robinson violated some of his own rules of time traveling when it came right down to carrying out the con.
To top it off, I found the prose to be somewhat forced. And the humor was off the mark. I will probably try another Callahan book. Perhaps the earlier volumes that actually include Mike Callahan, where the story is just getting started are better.
Wednesday, January 03, 2007
Writing Mysteries: A Handbook by the Mystery Writers of America
[****] ISBN: 1582971021
Back in October, I read and reviewed Writing the Mystery. It was not all it advertised itself to be. In contrast, Writing Mysteries is everything it claims to be (a handbook) and more, including everything that the previous book touted. I think one reason this volume is so much more successful is that it is written by a collection of successful, published mystery writers. They bring a variety of viewpoints and tips such that the total exceeds the sum of the parts. Each essay also stands on its own, available as a reference on a particular topic. Any author, beginning or experienced, writing a mystery or other genre, can find help or encouragement in this book.
Back in October, I read and reviewed Writing the Mystery. It was not all it advertised itself to be. In contrast, Writing Mysteries is everything it claims to be (a handbook) and more, including everything that the previous book touted. I think one reason this volume is so much more successful is that it is written by a collection of successful, published mystery writers. They bring a variety of viewpoints and tips such that the total exceeds the sum of the parts. Each essay also stands on its own, available as a reference on a particular topic. Any author, beginning or experienced, writing a mystery or other genre, can find help or encouragement in this book.
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