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The Squire Quartet #3
Remembrance Day
Inventive, worldly, moving and important - such words have characterized the work of Brian Aldiss consistently during the past three decades. With this new novel, Aldiss continues to explore new territories and further his reputation for trenchant and powerful works of realistic fiction.
Remembrance Day revolves around a terrorist bombing in a small hotel in a British coastal town. The people involved are not larger-than-life figures whose feats of derring-do will change the fate of humanity forever; rather, they are Ray, Dominic, Ruby, and Petrik, honest people grappling with the day-to-day issues of modern life.
Yet Remembrance Day plays out events of global importance poignantly, and its relentless humanity and sharp insights make it a moving and timely novel that is destined to endure.
Remembrance Day revolves around a terrorist bombing in a small hotel in a British coastal town. The people involved are not larger-than-life figures whose feats of derring-do will change the fate of humanity forever; rather, they are Ray, Dominic, Ruby, and Petrik, honest people grappling with the day-to-day issues of modern life.
Yet Remembrance Day plays out events of global importance poignantly, and its relentless humanity and sharp insights make it a moving and timely novel that is destined to endure.
320 pages, Hardcover
First published July 7, 1993
4 people are currently reading
62 people want to read
About the author
Brian W. Aldiss
836 books676 followersPseudonyms: Jael Cracken, Peter Pica, John Runciman, C.C. Shackleton, Arch Mendicant, & "Doc" Peristyle.
Brian Wilson Aldiss was one of the most important voices in science fiction writing today. He wrote his first novel while working as a bookseller in Oxford. Shortly afterwards he wrote his first work of science fiction and soon gained international recognition. Adored for his innovative literary techniques, evocative plots and irresistible characters, he became a Grand Master of Science Fiction in 1999.
Brian Aldiss died on August 19, 2017, just after celebrating his 92nd birthday with his family and closest friends.
Brian W. Aldiss Group on Good Reads
Brian Wilson Aldiss was one of the most important voices in science fiction writing today. He wrote his first novel while working as a bookseller in Oxford. Shortly afterwards he wrote his first work of science fiction and soon gained international recognition. Adored for his innovative literary techniques, evocative plots and irresistible characters, he became a Grand Master of Science Fiction in 1999.
Brian Aldiss died on August 19, 2017, just after celebrating his 92nd birthday with his family and closest friends.
Brian W. Aldiss Group on Good Reads
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
July 3, 2017
Author Brian Aldiss begins this book with an introduction stating that this novel is the least liked of the Squire Quartet. He suggests the plot was to complex, offers that perhaps there were too many characters. I'd suggest another reason. The book just isn't very good. Nominally the novel is an exploration of a group of characters who end up at the site of a terrorist bombing… The novel is bookended with the thoughts of a researcher exploring the notion that some individuals attract misery. One couple in the novel is eternally cash poor and yet the husband hates to ask someone to repay a debt. Another character is trying to fix a marriage that Aldriss seems to suggest is unfixable. The theme then becomes do people make conscious choices that lead to unhappiness.
This is my fourth Aldiss novel and I think I’ve finally come to grips with his writing style. Aldiss is more of an ideas writer. His novels don’t necessarily have a plot, but generally if you stay with them there are moments of such power you feel compelled to read on. I never had that sort of moment with Remembrance Day. In hindsight- perhaps the problem the novel has is embedded in the theme. Are miserable people really the sort of people you want to spend hundreds of pages reading? Perhaps. But not in a novel so meandering and unfocused.
This is my fourth Aldiss novel and I think I’ve finally come to grips with his writing style. Aldiss is more of an ideas writer. His novels don’t necessarily have a plot, but generally if you stay with them there are moments of such power you feel compelled to read on. I never had that sort of moment with Remembrance Day. In hindsight- perhaps the problem the novel has is embedded in the theme. Are miserable people really the sort of people you want to spend hundreds of pages reading? Perhaps. But not in a novel so meandering and unfocused.
November 14, 2015
Book 3 of the Squire Quartet. This one has characters from the first 2 books as minor characters in it. Still not SF and a bit contrived.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews