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Vurt
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I got about half-way through before stopping. That doesn't mean I hated it, it's just unless I'm really getting something from a book I'd rather swap to something else - too many books, too little time. I liked some of it - original tone, and there was none of the relentless explanation of technology and futuristic concepts that characterises so much sci-fi. I'm glad the author didn't waste time on how Vurt-feathers actually work, for example.
In fact, I could have done with a bit of a wider focus - for instance, we learn almost nothing about if and how society outside inner-city Manchester has been trasnformed by Vurt and the other 'advances' that are vaguely alluded to. That fits with the characters, who are so drug-obsessed that their world is confined to who can hook them up with for their next trip, but it means the narrative is pretty much a description of a trip, followed by an expedition to get some Vurt or get home, followed by another trip, and repeat.
Nor did I find any of the characters besides Scribble all that interesting. They were all credible enough but shallow with it, and their fate wasn't of much interest to me by the time I gave up.
Does it get better in the end? I'm interested to hear what happens, but not nearly interested enough to finish the book!
Mod
Has anyone had a chance to finish this? I know SOMEone's read it since it was suggested in the poll. :) Would love to hear your thoughts!
I haven't gotten a chance to pick it up wither., Sorry guys!
From Goodreads:
"If you like challenging science fiction, then Jeff Noon is the author for you. Vurt, winner of the 1994 Arthur C. Clarke award, is a cyberpunk novel with a difference, a rollicking, dark, yet humorous examination of a future in which the boundaries between reality and virtual reality are as tenuous as the brush of a feather.
But no review can do Noon's writing justice: it's a phantasmagoric combination of the more imaginative science fiction masters, such as Phillip K. Dick, genres such as cyberpunk and pulp fiction, and drug culture."