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Making History
'Making History', is chronologically the first of a brief series of stories ('Sea Change, With Monsters', 'Second Skin', and 'The Gardens of Saturn' have already appeared elsewhere) dealing with the aftermath of the Quiet War, and, more importantly, with the biotechnology bubbling underfoot which is rapidly transforming the Solar System.
Hardcover
First published March 31, 2000
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About the author
Paul McAuley
229 books424 followersSince about 2000, book jackets have given his name as just Paul McAuley.
A biologist by training, UK science fiction author McAuley writes mostly hard science fiction, dealing with themes such as biotechnology, alternate history/alternate reality, and space travel.
McAuley has also used biotechnology and nanotechnology themes in near-future settings.
Since 2001, he has produced several SF-based techno-thrillers such as The Secret of Life, Whole Wide World, and White Devils.
Four Hundred Billion Stars, his first novel, won the Philip K. Dick Award in 1988. Fairyland won the 1996 Arthur C. Clarke Award and the 1997 John W. Campbell Memorial Award for Best SF Novel.
A biologist by training, UK science fiction author McAuley writes mostly hard science fiction, dealing with themes such as biotechnology, alternate history/alternate reality, and space travel.
McAuley has also used biotechnology and nanotechnology themes in near-future settings.
Since 2001, he has produced several SF-based techno-thrillers such as The Secret of Life, Whole Wide World, and White Devils.
Four Hundred Billion Stars, his first novel, won the Philip K. Dick Award in 1988. Fairyland won the 1996 Arthur C. Clarke Award and the 1997 John W. Campbell Memorial Award for Best SF Novel.
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December 3, 2020
You need to have read 'The Quiet War' before you read this, although you don't need to have an in depth knowledge, as this book refers to events that happened in The Quiet War but doesn't particularly feature the main protagonists.
The copy I have is a very nice signed (by the author and the 'introduction author', Michael Swanwick) limited hardback edition (82 out of 200) that I managed to find in a second hand bookshop a few years ago, which is why I've neglected to read it until now (I do most of my reading in the bath and didn't want to damage the book!).
It's a fairly quick read (there are only 74 pages in A5 format, and it starts on page 5!) and there isn't a lot of action, but it dovetails well with the Quiet War and is very well written, as is everything I've read by Paul McAuley.
The book features an old historian from the 'winning side' of the Quiet War, visiting the vanquished enemy with an aim of writing a profile of the 'rebel leader' Marisa Bassi, who is thought to have died in the final battle. In the Quiet War, Maris Bassi only played a small part (although, as a politician, his policies played a major part) and his character wasn't really developed, so this book expands his story.
'Making History' is really about how the victors write the history, and how that history is naturally one-sided, and cannot contain all the facts, even when the historian is 'trying' (in a conceited, arrogant victor's way) to tell the story of the losing side. Marisa Bassi is regarded by the historian as the rebel leader purely because he was the political leader in charge when the city fell. However, the main characters are often people who history forgets.
To fully appreciate this, I recommend that you read the Quiet War and then this shortly after. There are sequels to the Quiet War (Gardens of the Sun being the next), but this novella is set immediately after the Quiet War and before the sequels.
Provided you can get this book at a reasonable price and you enjoyed the Quiet War, then it is a worthy addition to anyone's library.
The copy I have is a very nice signed (by the author and the 'introduction author', Michael Swanwick) limited hardback edition (82 out of 200) that I managed to find in a second hand bookshop a few years ago, which is why I've neglected to read it until now (I do most of my reading in the bath and didn't want to damage the book!).
It's a fairly quick read (there are only 74 pages in A5 format, and it starts on page 5!) and there isn't a lot of action, but it dovetails well with the Quiet War and is very well written, as is everything I've read by Paul McAuley.
The book features an old historian from the 'winning side' of the Quiet War, visiting the vanquished enemy with an aim of writing a profile of the 'rebel leader' Marisa Bassi, who is thought to have died in the final battle. In the Quiet War, Maris Bassi only played a small part (although, as a politician, his policies played a major part) and his character wasn't really developed, so this book expands his story.
'Making History' is really about how the victors write the history, and how that history is naturally one-sided, and cannot contain all the facts, even when the historian is 'trying' (in a conceited, arrogant victor's way) to tell the story of the losing side. Marisa Bassi is regarded by the historian as the rebel leader purely because he was the political leader in charge when the city fell. However, the main characters are often people who history forgets.
To fully appreciate this, I recommend that you read the Quiet War and then this shortly after. There are sequels to the Quiet War (Gardens of the Sun being the next), but this novella is set immediately after the Quiet War and before the sequels.
Provided you can get this book at a reasonable price and you enjoyed the Quiet War, then it is a worthy addition to anyone's library.
Displaying 1 of 1 review