bookshelves: currently-reading, to-read-again
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Its interesting to compare the actual ending to the type of story that "the artilleryman" imagined. If Wells had gone with the artilleryman's idea, he could have spun it out into a trilogy at least!
As Wells was a pacifist, the ending makes a lot of sense. The ending, like Wells, was more about science than war. I can't help but feel it was a little anti-climactic, but it makes more sense in the context of the themes of the book. ]]>
It was a pleasure to be reading such a well-written book. I loved the clear careful descriptive style - a welcome relief from the choppy imagistic modern SF novel.
I kept having to remind myself about the world of 1898. Isn't it interesting that civilians showed up at the gravel pit long before any official government or military presence? No cars, no radios. It took days for them to bring in artillery. Despite all this, Wells' Martians seemed technologically menacing to me - that black gas was eerie. Not to mention the premeditated and military way in which they established their bridgehead. They didn't just land and start blowing things up. I still got a thrill thinking of the towering tripods with their threatening vantage point and their invincible heat rays. My impression? They don't make them like they used to! ]]>
I hadn't really thought about this before, but now that I do, it seems very plausible.
I wonder if Wells' book was playing on a subconscious guilt? The British had destroyed many people and societies with superior fire-power and technology. Maybe Wells and many readers at the time felt some retribution was in order?
It makes a person wonder about the use of technology and power ....
Reminds me os Starship Troopers and The Word for World is Forest. ]]>
by Iain M. Banks
Disappointing book for Banks. I found the characters uncompelling and kind of stereotypical. The scene at the beginning when they have their "formative" experience never really seems to matter. Other than Fassin, the other characters seem trivial - even distracting. Despite this, I enjoyed how Banks showed the scope of the galaxy and the Dwellers are great. The amount of F bombs is almost embarassing - like watching the movie Aliens without the gritty backdrop. ]]>
by Mary Stewart
I can relate to L.J. Moore's comment. I also read this book when I was pretty young and thought it was excellent. I loved the way Mary Stewart tried to make it all seem so possible. In Mary Stewart's defense, although I cannot remember much about the women in the book - except for Nimue, those attitudes might have been reflected by the times. Of course, my not remembering the female characters sort of adds weight to your observation! ]]>
Kev
read and liked
L.J.'s
review of The Crystal Cave (Merlin, #1) (Arthurian Saga, #1):
"I actually read this book first when I was 11 or 12 and would have rated it a 5 with that self. When I was a girl I was lucky enough to be a tomboy and have male figures in my life who taught me the things I would later realize were traditionally "...more "
"I actually read this book first when I was 11 or 12 and would have rated it a 5 with that self. When I was a girl I was lucky enough to be a tomboy and have male figures in my life who taught me the things I would later realize were traditionally "...more "
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