Eli Komai

Book Review #2

Vernor Vinge, Rainbows End.
Rainbows End is some hardcore science fiction literature covertly aimed at anyone who likes futuristic things or a reality that is more technologically advanced than the present. This is the kind of book that Peter Jana would eat right up, and for good reason. Though it might not be ‘revolutionary’, be a standout, or have wound up on any bestsellers lists, Vernor Vinges most recent novel has been regarded as a gem among science fiction enthusiasts. Having been described by many as ‘hard science fiction’, the book paints a garish and well detailed narrative in an even more detailed and garish futuristic reality.
What I really like about the novel is how finely textured Vinge’s future is. At first, many of the ideas and concepts that he brings up might seem very far fetched and not very likely to come to be by the year 2025. However, Vinge hints at past events and technological breakthroughs throughout the story and soon you come to grips that this story just might actually come to be. Or at least some of those cool hologram stuffs. The scope of Vinge’s projections is staggering and feels unfamiliar at first, but soon I found myself comfortable in this futuristic universe. Me being a non-science fiction kinda reader, I found it tough to adapt to this strange new world as I -the reader- tried to settle in. I soon struck a connection with the books protagonist, Robert Gu. Compared to most of the characters in the story, Gu is very old-fashioned and is having trouble coping with all the new breakthroughs in technology. Its almost as if Vinge is purposely trying to make the readers sympathize with Gu, because we’re both from the same time period, so to speak. Wether Vinge’s goal was to make the reader connect with Gu or not, being dropped into this well crafted future is a blast.