I re-read this (along with the others in the series) over the past couple weeks. I liked them a lot the first time, and had the same up-past-bedtime eI re-read this (along with the others in the series) over the past couple weeks. I liked them a lot the first time, and had the same up-past-bedtime experience again this time.
A few notes from the second reading:
1. Lee and Miller clearly love developing their protagonists. The antagonists, on the other hand, tend to be a bit flatter. But the antagonists also play a somewhat more minor role than one would suspect, since the main characters are forever tangling themselves up in misunderstandings, mishaps, and affairs of honor in which the antagonists play at best a secondary role.
2. This is "science fiction" only to the extent that having many different worlds serves as a convenient way to introduce many different cultures. In some ways, much of the plot could be easily translated to 19th century sailing trade routes.
3. Along the same lines of "translated into the 19th century", I found myself once or twice thinking that the romantic plot lines sound a little bit like something from Georgette Heyer. This is more true of some of the other books (e.g. Balance of Trade) than it is of Agent of Change....more
Guy Gavriel Kay writes epic fantasy in a style reminiscent of Tolkien. He writes beautifully, and his characters and plots are interesting. Tigana, thGuy Gavriel Kay writes epic fantasy in a style reminiscent of Tolkien. He writes beautifully, and his characters and plots are interesting. Tigana, the conquered land whose name is magically wiped from the memories of all but its former inhabitants, is a good backdrop for Kay's writing style.
The main down side of Kay's writing is that it is so overflowing with unremitting (and somewhat flowery) tragedy....more
This is my favorite Stephenson book so far. Bouncing back and forth between the misadventures of WWII mathematician Lawrence Waterhouse and marine BobThis is my favorite Stephenson book so far. Bouncing back and forth between the misadventures of WWII mathematician Lawrence Waterhouse and marine Bobby Shaftoe and their near-future descendents Randy Waterhouse and America Shaftoe, Stephenson finds plenty of room for his usual zaniness. Also as usual, the real driving force for the book is the jokes, technical details, and antics of various characters and organizations -- which, as usual, means that Stephenson wasn't quite sure how to conclude his plot, leading to a lame ending. Fortunately, the lame ending comes pretty late in the story, and I can forgive thirty pages of thrashing at the end of a 1000+ page book....more
Terry Pratchett has written some excellent comic fantasy in his Diskworld series. He was always fun, but post-Rincewind he's produced some real treasuTerry Pratchett has written some excellent comic fantasy in his Diskworld series. He was always fun, but post-Rincewind he's produced some real treasures, books that stay funny with multiple readings. This book is the first to feature Moist von Lipwig, the improbably-named conman-turned-postmaster (turned central banker in the more recent Making Money), and he's fully as entertaining a character as Vimes and the Night Watch, or as Death and his sidekick (the Death of Rats). I'm looking forward to seeing more of him in the future....more
There are certain features that characterize Kim Stanley Robinson's writing: there's a lot of conflict, but villains are rare; the characters spend a There are certain features that characterize Kim Stanley Robinson's writing: there's a lot of conflict, but villains are rare; the characters spend a lot of time pondering; big corporations do bad things; environmental damage is a problem; and the landscapes are portrayed in a sort of rhapsodizing stream-of-consciousness style. These characteristics fit together particularly well in Antarctica, which is one of my favorite of Robinson's books....more
To Say Nothing of the Dog is a quirky, charming sort of novel, somewhere between science fiction and a Victorian mystery. Like the other Connie WillisTo Say Nothing of the Dog is a quirky, charming sort of novel, somewhere between science fiction and a Victorian mystery. Like the other Connie Willis book I've read (The Doomsday Book) it's extremely well written; unlike The Doomsday Book, To Say Nothing of the Dog is ultimately a cheerful story....more
It's the not-too-distant future, and historians use time travel to go back and observe past events -- though "slip" means that sometimes they don't enIt's the not-too-distant future, and historians use time travel to go back and observe past events -- though "slip" means that sometimes they don't end up quite where they planned. In this case, a new traveler ends up in Britain during a plague time; simultaneously, a severe disease strikes the modern-era Britain from where the traveler came.
Both Anansi Boys and American Gods are fun books, but Anansi Boys maintains an edge of silliness throughout, where American Gods always has a darker eBoth Anansi Boys and American Gods are fun books, but Anansi Boys maintains an edge of silliness throughout, where American Gods always has a darker edge. I think I like American Gods better....more
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