For starters, if you'd like to read a thoughtful review the issues of property rights and law enforcement in Pirate Cinema from the perspective of a l...moreFor starters, if you'd like to read a thoughtful review the issues of property rights and law enforcement in Pirate Cinema from the perspective of a lawyer specializing in intellectual property issues, I recommend this article.
Pirate Cinema allows Cory Doctorow to do what he does best: educate a (young) adult audience on the current issues of copyright and government surveillance, advocate for a change in policies and attitudes toward transformative works, and explain ways in which the next generation can work around current obstacles and agitate for change. Yes, his work is didactic, optimistic, and unapologetically political at times, but he has a gift for crafting a narrative around his ideas, and it's truly refreshing to see young characters given the opportunity to make a difference and actually fight back against entrenched interests and outdated forms of control. I've read lectures strung together with feeble attempts at story - The Price of Everything: A Parable of Possibility and Prosperity by Russell Roberts comes to mind - and this novel is not guilty of the same lack of artistry. Doctorow doesn't present an equal case for the opposing side of the argument, but then again he expects you've been handed the opposing case day-in and day-out for many years from the government, members of the film and music industry, and other entrenched interests.
I especially appreciated Doctorow's handling of the unintended consequences of legislation. UKTube's parting letter after shutting down in the wake of the Theft of Intellectual Property Bill in Chapter 3 is by itself worth the "price of admission." (less)
I treated myself by rereading this Hugo and Nebula winner as I prepared to lecture on it for my science fiction class, and, as always, I found new asp...moreI treated myself by rereading this Hugo and Nebula winner as I prepared to lecture on it for my science fiction class, and, as always, I found new aspects of the work to appreciate. It marks one of the highest points in Bujold's marvelous Vorkosigan series, offering a compelling "whodunit" as the already sorely tested Miles must face his greatest test to date, going into his own backcountry to act as his father's Voice and find justice for a murdered infant girl. The parallel between Miles' own experience with his grandfather General Count Piotr and this slain baby's death at the hands of those who should have protected her puts an intimate human face on abstract issues in a most poignant way.
At the heart of this novella are grave questions about when is it legitimate to “force” progress, who decides what progress is, and when those in power/with authority must at last become intolerant of intolerance.
Beautifully done.
"Well, these practices — mutie-killing — shame the Emperor, when he stands for Barrayar before the galaxy. I've been out there. I know. They call us all savages, for the crimes of a few. It shames the Count my father before his peers, and Silvy Vale before the District. A soldier gets honor by killing an armed enemy, not a baby. This matter touches my honor as a Vorkosigan, Zed. Besides," Miles's lips drew back on a mirthless grin, and he leaned forward intently in his chair — Zed recoiled as much as he dared — "you will all be astonished at what only a mutie can do. That I have sworn on my grandfather's grave."(less)
Seven Against Mars had me hooked from the first page, and it never let me go. Berman-Gorvine's clever send-up...moreWhat a breath of fresh air this novel is!
Seven Against Mars had me hooked from the first page, and it never let me go. Berman-Gorvine's clever send-up of and heartfelt love letter to the science fiction pulp era delivers both laugh-out-loud wit and a poignant look into timeless issues of prejudice, oppression, and the persistence of evil.
Most of all, this novel is a celebration of the power of the imagination and the triumph of the human spirit. It serves as a powerful reminder of why we fall in love with science fiction in the first place and how much the genre can tell us about our pasts (cue Rachel, a gifted Polish Jewish dreamer during World War II, who escapes the horror of her reality by creating stories of wonder), our futures (cue Katie, a feisty young Texian from a post-U.S. North America, who escapes the threat of the invading "Dixies" by reading "classic" genre fiction, including Rachel's), and our hopes for heroes (cue a determined Martian princess and a daring adventurer with a zap-gun, who seem to be the products of Rachel's and Katie's combined imaginations). True to pulp-era science fiction, this witty, intelligent, and extremely humane novel resolves its major plot points and yet ends on a fresh cliffhanger.
Adults should share this with the young readers they know but be certain to keep a copy for themselves.(less)
This is a solid thriller, sort of a next-generation Tom Clancy work, well grounded in some excellent and compelling science - not just about unmanned,...moreThis is a solid thriller, sort of a next-generation Tom Clancy work, well grounded in some excellent and compelling science - not just about unmanned, weaponized drones and what they might mean for future warfare, but also about key characteristics of ant behavior (and how they might be modeled/mimicked for battle) and the intelligence of/symbiosis with ravens. I particularly appreciated the political science involved, from the acknowledgment that contemporary governmental power ultimately rests on coercive force to the discussion of how modern technology undermines/skews the democratic dialogue and process. I also applaud Suarez's ability to craft a truly multi-ethnic and global tale. This had more action sequences and less character development than I prefer, and a truly wince-worthy attempt at a sex scene, but Suarez's ultimate interest in questions of human liberty and its enemies made this an interesting, if not ultimately memorable, tale. (less)
There are many things to admire about this fast-paced science fiction thriller set on Jupiter's ice moon of Europa.
First, Jeff Carlson's vision of hu...moreThere are many things to admire about this fast-paced science fiction thriller set on Jupiter's ice moon of Europa.
First, Jeff Carlson's vision of humanity's future as it leaves our planet for the stars is refreshingly global in its politics and participation; the exploration and potential mining of Europa involves individuals from four different Earth continents. Second, Carlson and his heroine, the gutsy Alexis Vonderach, wrestle with genuine moral dilemmas, including the nature of her responsibility for her late would-be love interest, whose personality she imperfectly restored via an artificial intelligence program. Third, the intense personality clashes and sexual positioning of an elite group of professionals working in close quarters for a long period of time serves as a compelling backdrop to the main action.
Most impressively, Carlson explores the vast and murky ethical problems involved with first contact. In this case, the alien life forms may or may not be sentient (and, if they are, perhaps only marginally so), but it would be far more convenient - and profitable - for all human parties involved to view the creatures as unthinking animals. Vonderach doesn't shy away from pointing out some uncomfortable historical parallels should her colleagues pursue the wrong course of action, from the tragedies of the Columbian Encounter to the tendency of historical slaveholders to justify their actions by deeming those they oppressed less than human.
In short, this able tale delivers nail-biting action and big ideas in equal measure. What's not to love?(less)
I have mixed thoughts on this one. I would give it 2.5 stars if I could.
I greatly appreciated how this wove the disparate strands of The Giver, Gathe...moreI have mixed thoughts on this one. I would give it 2.5 stars if I could.
I greatly appreciated how this wove the disparate strands of The Giver, Gathering Blue, and The Messenger together in a coherent way. (I particularly love The Giver.) Even so, Son stands on its own and is fully accessible to someone who hasn't read Lowry's previous works.
The first and second parts, "Before" and "Between," are hauntingly good (and very reminiscent of The Giver), painting first a dystopian society without emotion or individualism, and then contrasting that with a small but thriving community of outcasts who have created family by choice.
Unfortunately, the third section, "Beyond," takes the tale out of the realm of science fiction or even parable and transforms it into a cartoonish allegory that steals much of the meaning and thoughtfulness from the rest of the work. Suddenly the worlds and woes we've encountered aren't because of good intentions gone bad and ignorance of what could be, or even the almost-mindless tyranny of the few over the many (with, more or less, the complicity of that many), but pure "evil." The final confrontation between Gabe (Gabriel? an angel?) and the Trademaster (the fallen, exiled angel?), with its suggestion that we're willing to give away those parts of ourselves we should treasure most, has all the subtlety of a heavy brick to the head.
I was pleased that the love of a mother for her son, and of that son for his mother - loves that would have been deemed "selfish" and wrong in the world of "Before" - end up saving not only these two individuals, but also their entire community. I only wish this could've been conveyed without trading Lowry's deft touch for a sledgehammer.
Lowry's gift is raising and wrestling with difficult questions, and the first two sections of Son continue in this tradition beautifully. It's unfortunate that she ends this series with somewhat last-minute and trite answers. (less)
This is one of the pioneering works of steampunk, and I'm glad I read it. It has many of the staples of the subgenre, from the Victorian setting to cl...moreThis is one of the pioneering works of steampunk, and I'm glad I read it. It has many of the staples of the subgenre, from the Victorian setting to clockwork men, from time travel to not-so-mythical creatures (in this case, selkies). There are several well-crafted moments of ironic social commentary. It's easy to see how this wry and imaginative tale helped to set precedents for what followed.
That said, I didn't really enjoy this as a reading experience, despite Jeter's always-elegant prose. The narrator, who inherited his father's watchmaker's store but not the man's talent for imaginative clockwork inventions, remains passive and rather baffled throughout the action. The parade of characters he encounters are colorful, but none are exactly sympathetic enough to evoke an attachment. The tone was a bit too flippant for my taste, as well; it's hard to take the danger seriously when the story doesn't take itself seriously.
For most of the novel, the episodic adventures/perils are unexplained and meant to be mysterious, but they didn't engage me quite enough to leave me wondering how they fit together. Ironically, in the eleventh hour, when the "infodump" portion of the novel connected all the dots, I discovered the underlying story was far more interesting than I'd realized. By that time, of course, the novel was drawing to a close.
I love Jeter's Morlock Night, and I'm sure I'll reread it in the future. I appreciate Infernal Devices for its impact and legacy, but I doubt I'll revisit it for anything more than the insights it provides into the history of steampunk. (less)
It's a testament to the strength of Kate Wilhelm's grasp of "hard" science and the subtlety of her grasp of human nature that this 1977 science fictio...moreIt's a testament to the strength of Kate Wilhelm's grasp of "hard" science and the subtlety of her grasp of human nature that this 1977 science fiction novel (winner of the Hugo Award) is as relevant today as when she wrote it. It easily could have been published yesterday.
The novel follows an extended family as they retreat from society to survive a global meltdown (economic, environmental, topped off by a nuclear holocaust). Led by far-sighted leaders and gifted scientists, they seek to preserve their line through an extended experiment in cloning. The result is more Village of the Damned than Paradise, as a new "breed" of people -- intelligent but unimaginative, forming brother and sister groups that share a common mind and experience -- inherit (or take over?) the community. The story follows several generations, ending with the struggle of the lone individual against the dystopian community, with the stakes being both the survival and the very nature of the human species.
The premise of this novel and its execution are fascinating, and I was most interested to see how the generational struggles would resolve themselves. For some reason I can't quite pin down, I never felt fully emotionally engaged with most of the characters, and the one who evoked my empathy most had a truncated role in the novel. In other words, this novel always had my mind, but it never quite captured my heart completely, as well. Despite being held somewhat at arm's length from the characters (which may indeed be intentional, given the nature of the characters themselves), I highly recommend it, and I'm glad I read it. It's considered a classic for good reason, and I'm richer for having encountered it. (less)
While this would be ideal reading for October, I'm glad I didn't wait until then to read it. This book has been recommended to me several times, and I...moreWhile this would be ideal reading for October, I'm glad I didn't wait until then to read it. This book has been recommended to me several times, and I now understand why. It's a perfect storm of Lovecraftian Victoriana: figures such as Jack the Ripper, Count Dracula, the Wolfman, Victor Frankenstein, Sherlock Holmes and John Watson, and other identifiable "types" (a mad monk, a witch, a druid, occultists, etc.), most with animal familiars, draw together to either open or close the door that will allow Lovecraft's Great Old Ones to enter and reclaim the world on the night of Halloween.
It's told over the thirty-one days of the month, and it balances a light tone with grim subject matter. The entire tale is recounted by Snuff, Jack the Ripper's dog, with wit and sometimes surprising poignancy. Zelazny is having fun here, but it's a loving, informed, and thoughtful kind of fun. Knowledge of Lovecraft and Gothic Victoriana isn't required, but it most certainly helps, and it's very richly rewarded.
I'll be reading this one again.
Here's one of the many passages that I found to be touching. Snuff is describing Sherlock Holmes, disguised for his investigation as a woman, playing his violin for a Gipsy audience:
He played and he played, and it grew wilder and wilder--
Abruptly, he halted and took a step, as if suddenly moving out of a dream. He bowed then and returned the instrument to its owner, his movements in that moment entirely masculine. I thought of all the controlled thinking, the masterfully developed deductions, which had served to bring him here, and then this -- this momentary slipping into the wildness he must keep carefully restrained -- and then seeing him come out of it, smiling, becoming the woman again. I saw in this the action of an enormous will, and suddenly I knew him much better than as the pursuing figure of many faces. Suddenly I knew that he had to be learning, as we were learning other aspects, of the scope of our enterprise, that he could well be right behind us at the end, that he was almost, in some way, a player -- more a force, really -- in the Game, and I respected him as I have few beings of the many I have known.(less)
**spoiler alert** I understand why this is a "classic" of young adult dystopian literature - the alternating emptiness and claustrophobia of fifteen-y...more**spoiler alert** I understand why this is a "classic" of young adult dystopian literature - the alternating emptiness and claustrophobia of fifteen-year-old Ann Burden's life in the protected valley of her farm, seemingly the only survivor of the fallout of nuclear war, is haunting - and I'm quite glad I read it.
That said, I was surprised and troubled by several aspects of the novel.
For one, Ann's "voice" in her journal never quite felt believable to me. Honestly, part of this may be the strange formality and stiltedness that comes from the lack of any contractions whatsoever. (If this was a character quirk of Ann's meant to give the reader insight into her, that would make sense, but the reader is given no clues that this is the case.) There is also a jarring contrast between the mature practicality of her hands-on knowledge of the workings of the farm and her emotional maturity, which seemed inexplicably stunted. She seemed far, far younger than her years: naive and simple and lacking the deeper introspection characteristic of so many teens.
The cat-and-mouse mindgames that follow the appearance of Mr. Loomis are wonderfully tense and worrisome, and I quite liked the idea of Ann discovering she's not the sole person left in the world, only to realize that the only other person is mad and deeply dangerous. There are interesting generational and gender issues packed into his desire to control her. I was really stunned, though, by her reaction. The unjustness of surrendering all she and her family had worked for to him, of packing up and moving on and never once considering defending herself, her livelihood, and any future innocents who might stumble upon him, made little sense to me. I'm not sure where her instinctive "policy of appeasement" comes from, but some discussion of her principles would have been helpful. As it is, this doesn't feel like taking the "high road" (pacifism or the like): it feels simply like unconditional surrender and defeat.
(Note: When armed Mr. Loomis uses Faro the dog to track Ann, her first instinct is to shoot the family dog, her only living friend, and not the villain seeking to do her harm? What?!?!?...WHAT?!?!? I'm still reeling from that one.)
In the end, the final images of the novel haunted me, but I felt little appreciation for Ann, who seemed to run away from a problem rather than solve it. Even if she wanted to leave the valley anyway and search out other survivors, she left a potentially deadly mess for others to encounter by ceding everything to Mr. Loomis and allowing him to survive and thrive. It would've been nice for her motivations to be given more attention, because she acted in ways deeply contrary to what I would've expected; as it is, I can't help finding this a deeply problematic and disturbing story. Then again, perhaps that is itself the point. (less)
This novel is a treat for those like me who love Bujold's Vorkosigan series. It solves the "problem" of that idiot (or not-so-idiot) Ivan without turn...moreThis novel is a treat for those like me who love Bujold's Vorkosigan series. It solves the "problem" of that idiot (or not-so-idiot) Ivan without turning him into someone he isn't; at last he's thrown into a situation that makes the most of his strengths and gives him the opportunity to choose to mature. My favorite parts of the Vorkosigan 'verse are less romance and farce than politics and pathos, but despite the lighter tone of much of this novel, it delivers. There's a lurking sense of the passage of time, of the inevitable choice between becoming responsible or inconsequential. I particularly appreciated the chance to see familiar moments (such as Ivan's birth and his father's death) from a wholly different perspective, reframed and contextualized by the intervening years. The novel also offers a fitting tribute to members of the older generation through the eyes of those who are stepping into the spotlight, if not into those intimidatingly large shoes; Alys Vorpatril and Simon Illyan, two characters who are especially dear to me, have brilliant moments to shine.
Considering the fact the last Vorkosigan novel left me in tears, I didn't mind the fact this one left me laughing.
This isn't the novel from which to start a journey into the Vorkosigan 'verse. It likewise isn't the best in the series. For those who are fans, however, this feels like a loving gift (beautifully crafted, as always). It's a chance to thumb through the family album with both wry irreverence and profound appreciation -- or, more to the (plot) point, a chance to stumble through the all-but-forgotten basement and rediscover treasures. (less)
An able "bridge" novel between the first and third books in the trilogy, Catching Fire does a fine job of showing the larger picture of Panem, the gro...moreAn able "bridge" novel between the first and third books in the trilogy, Catching Fire does a fine job of showing the larger picture of Panem, the growing spirit of rebellion, and Katniss's ongoing frustration at being manipulated (by both sides of the conflict). The tension between what's authentic and what's artificial also gets terrific treatment here. Each time I reread this, I see more. (less)
Tepper offers a fascinating meditation on how a post-apocalyptic people might seek to limit the potential for future violence and thus avoid another d...moreTepper offers a fascinating meditation on how a post-apocalyptic people might seek to limit the potential for future violence and thus avoid another devastating (presumably nuclear) holocaust. The division of genders into Women's Country and the Warrior society is a deeply unsettling one. The men live a Hobbesian life that is nasty, brutish, and short, while the women preserve a disconcertingly passive-aggressive tyranny based on secrets and half-truths and closeted eugenics programs. The book suggests an easy answer to the question of where violence comes from -- men -- and then refuses to accept its own answer, because what else can the men become, if distrusted, denied education, and fed lies and propaganda? In the effort not to repeat the mistakes of the distant past, both the women and men of Women's Country have locked themselves into a cycle of more recent and still costly errors.
The novel would have been more compelling if not for its temporary detour into the caricaturish Holyland (with its cardboard stereotypes) and if only the reader came to know Servitors such as Joshua and Corrig better, these "real men" who choose to turn their back on the warriors and provide (in more ways than most realize) for the women. Tepper doesn't seem to know exactly what this alternative portrait of masculinity looks like up close, and her piece would be the stronger for some kind of three-dimensional image. Also, a few times, it seemed as though Tepper felt more sorry and apologetic for the Damned Few, the female decision-makers behind the curtain, than appropriately suspicious of the great authority they have granted themselves -- an authority capable of and sometimes amenable to wiping out entire populations.
This is a worthy classic for all of the difficult questions that it raises, even if its answers are incomplete and uncomfortable (and perhaps less unambiguous than Tepper herself wished), and I look forward to the discussions it yields in the classroom. (less)
What can I say about this novel that hasn't already been said? It's one of my favorite works from the recent explosion of young adult dystopias, and i...moreWhat can I say about this novel that hasn't already been said? It's one of my favorite works from the recent explosion of young adult dystopias, and it certainly rewards rereading. Drawing on classical mythology (especially the story of Theseus and the Minotaur, with Athens sending its children as "tributes") and playing with the "panem et circense"/"bread and circuses" concept (indicting our own society's love affair with reality television and 24/7 sensationalized "news" in the process), The Hunger Games paints a compelling and chilling portrait of a world gone wrong.
Its lasting appeal (to me, at least) also comes from unexpectedly deft and insightful moments, such as the gift of bread from the people of District 11 in recognition of Katniss's care for Rue. Such recognition of human dignity in a game designed specifically to dehumanize the contestants (and thus the citizens of the district as a whole) is an elegant example of the spirit of resistance.
I've seen firsthand how well this novel (and trilogy) works in the classroom. I look forward to teaching it again soon!(less)
This excellent novel is marketed as a young adult work and stars a teen protagonist, but it's a very worthwhile read for adults, as well, and it certa...moreThis excellent novel is marketed as a young adult work and stars a teen protagonist, but it's a very worthwhile read for adults, as well, and it certainly deserves the critical and popular attention and accolades that it has received.
Young Sophie Fairchild Martineau finds herself transported from her somewhat helpless and hopeless position as a child of a not-entirely-amicable divorce, discarded with her grandmother and aunt at the shabby remains of the family's ancestral Southern home in 1960, to an even more helpless and hopeless position: back in time one hundred years on the same estate and assumed to be a slave (the fair-skinned child of a slave mother and the younger son of the family matriarch). Her experiences on the 1860 plantation shed light on both the slave community and her white ancestors. In particular, she encounters the plight of mulatto children who were born of white owners and their slave women and subsequently treated as family property rather than family.
The characters and situations are nuanced and compelling, as is the portrayal of the various power relationships and how they affected all concerned. Sophie learns vital lessons about courage, self-determination, and freedom in 1860, and these in turn empower her to take responsibility for her own future in 1960.
This is a thought-provoking, entertaining, and haunting story. Recommended!
Some favorite quotes:
Why didn't any of the books mention that adventures were like taking a test you hadn't studied for?
She'd asked the Creature for an adventure, and adventures had to be full of misunderstandings and hardships, or what was the point?
Maybe people didn't hit their children as hard as they hit their slaves.
Mama stared at her. "How can you talk so ugly to me, after everything I've done for you? Why, I took that horrible job so you could have the life you're used to." "You like your job," Sophie pointed out. "And I think I might want a different kind of life than the one I'm used to."
Maybe she'd be happy and learn to do for herself. She'd never know unless she tried.(less)
This is a short novel, easily read in one sitting. It folds Sherlock Holmes and Dr. John Watson (the latter of whom is now, apparently, a vampire, due...moreThis is a short novel, easily read in one sitting. It folds Sherlock Holmes and Dr. John Watson (the latter of whom is now, apparently, a vampire, due to events in a predecessor novel I haven't yet read, but that matters little to the tale) into the dark science fictional world of H.P. Lovecraft's story "The Shadow Over Innsmouth." As a fan of Lovecraft's story, I was quite satisfied with the way Klaver captures the disgust and dread of the Innsmouth situation. (A particularly effective sequence describes the experience of a ship that sailed from Innsmouth to London from the perspective of a horrified sailor who wasn't aware - until too late - of the relationship between the Innsmouth people and the Deep Ones.) As a fan of Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes stories, I was satisfied by Sherlock's deductive method and dry wit, and quite pleased by the descriptions of John Watson's moral character, chivalry, and steadfastness. The relationship of the two - a "deal-breaker" for me in terms of pastiches - feels true to canon.
The story is briefer than I would've liked, although it does possess a proper and effective ending. There are some regrettable errors, as well, less of composition than of text formatting (indentations of entire paragraphs rather than opening lines alone, etc.). A final proofing by a copyeditor would've been welcome. That said, I found this to be well worth reading.
Choice quotes of Sherlock Holmes from this work:
"I doubt I shall ever eat fish again, without looking at it twice."
"Have you ever seen a ship with ports at the bottom of the hull, Watson?"
"Man carries enough darkness inside him to account for all the evils of the world. There is no need to attribute the phenomenon to the supernatural." (less)
This novel surprised me at every turn, in the best sense possible.
I saw it promoted as a "reimagining" of The Scarlet Letter - which, let's face it, i...moreThis novel surprised me at every turn, in the best sense possible.
I saw it promoted as a "reimagining" of The Scarlet Letter - which, let's face it, is quite a tall order - but it seems to me as if Hillary Jordan used The Scarlet Letter only as a fruitful springboard and inspiration. She isn't slavishly devoted to the text, although she certainly paid tribute to some of the Hawthorne's key insights into the human condition. This is all to the good.
Although the novel wasn't marketed as a "young adult dystopia," it easily fits into that category, as twenty-something Hannah Payne experiences a true coming of age as she grows into and accepts herself.
Set in a not-too-distant future United States that suffers from excessive surveillance, moral superiority, and inhumane "justice" (creating the dyed "Chromes" whose bodies telegraph their crimes), the novel manages to achieve a number of impressive objectives. Hannah is a deeply sympathetic character who gradually becomes aware of how small her world has been, and how many "boxes" she's willingly confined herself in (mentally, spiritually, and physically) over her young life. We experience the unfairness and brutality of her sentencing and ostracism, and yet the horror of what she chose to do -- abort the baby of a famous married minister -- is never underplayed. Despite the fact Hannah rejects the unquestioning fundamentalism of her upbringing, she fully embraces the central importance of religious faith in her life.
Every time I expected Jordan to descend into stereotypes -- about Southerners, Christians, straight or gay people, men or women, those who are made victims or those who refuse to become so -- she instead offered layered and complex characterizations and thought-provoking twists. The father who is loyal to his traditional church and nuclear family is painted with sensitivity, as is the lesbian revolutionary and her dedication to the underground movement that opposes the status quo. Even the weak-willed minister, the father to Hannah's unborn baby, is poignant in his shame, self-loathing, and lack of moral courage.
There are some true villains, but all of them are opportunists who exploit the system(s) for their own perverse and personal enjoyment of control over those who have no recourse or self-defense. In the end, this dystopia challenges us to examine our assumptions and to accept responsibility for our lives, souls, and decisions. I appreciate Jordan's ability to critique the deeply flawed institutions humans have created without casually dismissing the reasons they came to exist in the first place.
This novel is challenging in the questions it raises and unflinching in its warnings, as any quality dystopia should be. I'm very glad that I read it.
This is an excellent collection of well researched pastiches that echo the style and flavor of Conan Doyle's canon.
"The Things That Shall Come Upon T...moreThis is an excellent collection of well researched pastiches that echo the style and flavor of Conan Doyle's canon.
"The Things That Shall Come Upon Them" by Barbara Roden is a three-way multiverse crossover, with Holmes and Watson meeting up with literary character/paranormal investigator Flaxman Low to investigate the home of Julian Karswell from M.R. James's "Casting the Runes." It's thoroughly enjoyable to see the two detectives work together despite their very different approaches. It's a fitting tribute all around.
"Of the Origin of the Hound of the Baskervilles" is a remarkably chilling addition/corrective to Conan Doyle's The Hound of the Baskervilles, in which Watson recounts the "real" story he could not share in the original published version. This new and even darker tale fits beautifully over/in between the lines of the original novel and makes it all the more haunting. Very effective and beautifully done. As much as I enjoyed the first story, I believe this one is my favorite of the collection.
"The Adventure of the Suspect Servant" is a mundane little household mystery - I guessed the culprit immediately - but it was worth reading for the quiet empathy shown to the thief (as well as the victim) not only by Watson, but also by Holmes.
"The Thames Horror" immerses Holmes and Watson in the historical Thames Torso murders. While Holmes has the opportunity to show off his deductive skills, and Watson his human outrage at the horrors, most of the attention remains on the factual side of this real-life case, which is all too horrific and fascinating in its own right. Great atmosphere.
Highly recommended to fans of Sherlock Holmes and lovers of the Gothic, as well.(less)
The premise is this: Sherlock Holmes has discovered the secret to eternal life (bees, of course), which he shares...moreI found this to be a rewarding read.
The premise is this: Sherlock Holmes has discovered the secret to eternal life (bees, of course), which he shares with his brother Mycroft, Mrs. Hudson, and, of course, John Watson. James Moriarty, on the other hand, has discovered -- and stolen -- H.G. Wells' time machine, grown increasingly unhinged, and is traveling through time to attempt to assassinate key world leaders.
I appreciated how Holmes remained fixed on finding and thwarting Moriarty over the decades and centuries, as the professor's efforts extended past Earth into the solar system. I liked how Watson attempted to have life and love and meaningful work, despite the overarching and long-term threat. (The secondary love story with Watson had some lovely, if somewhat predictable, turns.) It was fascinating to see glimpses of Dvorkin's predicted future as humankind moved beyond Earth. Most importantly, I found it very compelling to see how Holmes and Watson, even as their lives grew apart in certain ways, collaborated so successfully to fight Moriarty and offer the universe a future. Their partnership, their trust, felt very real and true to the Holmesian tradition.
This is one of the more imaginative and exotic pastiches I've read, and I applaud the author for daring to look so far into the future and project the great Holmes-Watson friendship (and the great Holmes-Moriarty rivalry) there. I've read and enjoyed more canon-centric works (usually my preference), but this never seemed wildly out of character to me, and it captured my interest and kept it until the final page. It's well worth reading for any Holmesian fan with a taste for science fiction.
Favorite quotes:
"The world, Watson," he said firmly, "is an ass."
"With all of time left in which to explore the works of Man, the mighty wonders he will perform in the distant future, we cannot, we must not, lose hope because of the meanness we see about us now."
"My oldest and dearest friend, the pastimes for us will be endless, infinite, and eternal."(less)
How much did I enjoy this book? An awful lot. This much. (Imagine my arms open wide.)
First, a disclaimer: I felt so much joy in this novel's sheer un...moreHow much did I enjoy this book? An awful lot. This much. (Imagine my arms open wide.)
First, a disclaimer: I felt so much joy in this novel's sheer unexpected familiarity for and loving tributes to my generation, I was willing to overlook some deficiencies in the writing (sentence-level issues, mostly - as opposed to major plotting/character development issues, with which I have few quibbles).
That said, there is much (beyond the delight of its celebration of the 1980s and geek/hacker culture in general, both of which spoke to yours truly as if he'd written this novel with me in mind as its test audience) to appreciate about this remarkable dystopian science fiction novel.
It does a wonderful job of showing a virtual world that manages to evolve an order without a state. In true frontier fashion, when the baddies attempt tyranny, the "locals" join forces and cooperate to run them out of Dodge. It's particularly impressive to me that innovative entrepreneurs - in this case, the hacker/cowboys who created not only a company but an entire industry/universe out of nothing - are portrayed as heroic and pioneering figures whose efforts have inspired others to become creators themselves.
The way the "real world" is portrayed as opposed to this new virtual one is quite telling; I especially love the contrast between the stagnant "in-person" schools and the innovative, cutting-edge education possible in the virtual world (again, made possible by the entrepreneurial gamers). A recurring theme in the book is that we are limited not by how/where we are born, but rather by what/who we choose to be - and in the 21st century, identity is limited only by our imaginations.
It's an affectionately crafted book, harnessing countless popular culture texts in order to celebrate the individual over the lockstep not-a-name-but-a-number many, and it achieves this without an overtly political or preachy tone.
If you are excited and inspired by change and technology, and the celebration of the individual - or, let's face it, if you're a geeky Gen-Xer with a sympathy for the cause of personal liberty - this is a "must read." (less)
I return to Douglas Adams when I need an intellectual palate cleanser, and he never disappoints. It's wonderful to discover these books are as charmin...moreI return to Douglas Adams when I need an intellectual palate cleanser, and he never disappoints. It's wonderful to discover these books are as charming and wickedly clever as I remember. This novel is quite episodic in nature -- my favorite sequences take place in Milliways, the Restaurant at the End of the Universe of the title -- but some arc issues certainly get attention, and by the end we know the origin of human life on Earth.
I can't recommend this series enough for those who want fanciful science fiction, laugh-out-loud writing, and quite serious issues dealt with in a not-so-serious and yet profound manner.
A favorite passage:
The Total Perspective Vortex derives its picture of the whole Universe on the principle of extrapolated matter analyses.
To explain — since every piece of matter in the Universe is in some way affected by every other piece of matter in the Universe, it is in theory possible to extrapolate the whole of creation — every sun, every planet, their orbits, their composition and their economic and social history from, say, one small piece of fairy cake.
The man who invented the Total Perspective Vortex did so basically in order to annoy his wife.
Trin Tragula — for that was his name — was a dreamer, a thinker, a speculative philosopher or, as his wife would have it, an idiot.
And she would nag him incessantly about the utterly inordinate amount of time he spent staring out into space, or mulling over the mechanics of safety pins, or doing spectrographic analyses of pieces of fairy cake.
"Have some sense of proportion!" she would say, sometimes as often as thirty-eight times in a single day.
And so he built the Total Perspective Vortex — just to show her.
And into one end he plugged the whole of reality as extrapolated from a piece of fairy cake, and into the other end he plugged his wife: so that when he turned it on she saw in one instant the whole infinity of creation and herself in relation to it.
To Trin Tragula's horror, the shock completely annihilated her brain; but to his satisfaction he realized that he had proved conclusively that if life is going to exist in a Universe of this size, then the one thing it cannot afford to have is a sense of proportion.(less)
As the sequel to a young adult dystopian book I truly loved (Human.4), this novel had big shoes to fill. I had my doubts as the book opened, but I soo...moreAs the sequel to a young adult dystopian book I truly loved (Human.4), this novel had big shoes to fill. I had my doubts as the book opened, but I soon realized they were misplaced. This story delivers, absolutely.
Set a millenia after Human.4, 1.4 brilliantly folds the previous novel into its "mythos" while offering new characters and raising the stakes for their conflict. As the two young protagonists uncover the mysteries of the pending "upgrade" to humanity, and their parents' relationship to it, the reader is treated to another fast-paced and yet thoughtful meditation on what it means to be human. I especially admired how this, too, is a "revealed/preserved text." The larger framing story has yet to be explored. (Hear me? I'm ready for the third book now, thank you very much.)
I'm being deliberately vague here so as not to give spoilers, but I do heartily recommend this book. It's a worthy successor to Human.4, and a treat for science fiction fans, and that's high praise indeed.
Here are a few favorite passages:
I stood up and said, 'You're new.' 'I know,' Alpha replied impishly. 'I was just made yesterday in a secret factory. The same place they make sarcasm and the dappling of light through trees.' 'I meant to this class.' 'I know what you meant,' she said. 'And I deflected your observation with some sparkling wit. It's called a defence mechanism.'
I sat there, trying to get it all straight in my head. A story from many centuries ago, that I had been raised to regard as a fairy tale, but now looked to be the secret history of the world.
I'd spent my whole life thinking that the world was one way, and then in the space of a day or two I'd discovered that maybe I was wrong. I'd spent too much time believing the words of others, and not enough time opening my eyes and just looking at what was really around me. It made me feel... well, kind of an ass, if I'm honest.
'Things are going to change, one way or the other.' 'Things always change,' Alpha said. 'It's what you do when it does that's important.' (less)
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