When Gravity Fails (no spoilers, please!)

[Kateblue, 2nd star to the right and straight on til morning]

No spoilers about When Gravity Fails in this thread please.

[Antti]

This was perhaps my favorite book when I was a teenager. I used to re-read it every time I got sick: it was comfort reading. It's been about 25 years since I last read it, though, but I think I still remember the general plot well enough to participate in the discussion.

[Gabi]

I read this after I was quite disappointed with Michael Chabon's "The Yiddish Policemen's Union". It has the same 'Crime Noir' feeling, but I liked it better. Unfortunately, now that I try to tease my brain, I can not for the love of it remember any details. So in the end I guess I wasn't impressed. ^^'

[Oleksandr, a.k.a. Acorn]

I checked that I've never read a story by the author even I know about the Planet of Apes (but as a movie series)

[Oleksandr, a.k.a. Acorn]

I've started it and so far I like the mix of (bio-)cyberpunk, detective noir and Middle East as a background.

inshallah!

[Joe]

I'm pretty sure I read a book about Audran WAY back (not this one) and liking it, so I'm excited!

Hopefully Thift Books in Detroit will get it to me in a timely fashion. (huzzah for Alibris!)

[Kirsten]

I read this series a while back and loved it. It's a shame I'd never heard of this author before. I'm not a big fan of cyberpunk. But I loved the intrigue and Middle Eastern flavor.

[Ed]

While the book is set in North Africa, it feels like it is set in New Orleans. This was not an accident. Effinger has said that locations were based on the French Quarter, where he lived.

That was one of the things that really drew me into the story when I read it years ago. I've spent lots of time in New Orleans drinking too much in places like the bars in this book.

He's done this before. He has a novella "And Us, Too, I Guess" that claims to be set in Cleveland, but all of the street names and locations in it are actually New Orleans locations. He even refers to the bayous outside of Cleveland! (There are none there, but they are common in Louisiana.) (This story is in Chains of the Sea.)

He loved to joke around. See Maureen Birnbaum, Barbarian Swordsperson . (Naturally, I've read that. How could I resist?)

He's also written a series of linked short SF stories in the styles of famous authors such as Hemingway, Steinbeck, Thurber, .... You can find those in Live! from Planet Earth.

But also note that he wrote some stories and books purely for money. There is no shame in that. He had large medical bills to pay. But his more personally-motivated writings are the ones worth remembering.

In this series, I've also read A Fire in the Sun and Budayeen Nights, and I've had The Exile Kiss sitting beside my reading chair for far too long. Maybe I should pick it up now.

[Oleksandr, a.k.a. Acorn]

@Ed, thanks for all the info! This, as I said is my first book by the author and I will gladly read more - I cannot say that he floored me like some other books do, but it is definitely an entertaining read

[Art, Stay home, stay safe.]

Wow, there's nothing to discuss about this book in the spoiler thread?
I'll be starting it in a week or so. Lost two weeks this month, gotta work hard to get back on my reading schedule.

[Oleksandr, a.k.a. Acorn]

The book is nice, I plan to read more of the series, but it is not the case of a novel filled with ideas

[Gabi]

Art wrote: "Wow, there's nothing to discuss about this book in the spoiler thread?
I'll be starting it in a week or so. Lost two weeks this month, gotta work hard to get back on my reading schedule."

^^' I have read it, but I still can't remember the plot. I hope it comes back when folks talk about it in the spoiler thread.

[Oleksandr, a.k.a. Acorn]

Gabi wrote: "^^' I have read it, but I still can't remember the plot. I hope it comes back when folks talk about it in the spoiler thread.
"

a (bio-)cyberpunk detective noir novel set in the Middle East. The protagonist is Marid Audrian, who works as a part-time sleuth in Budayeen, red lights district, eats drugs by handful

[Joe]

I think Budayeen Nights is the one I read before.... I got my package and should definitely have time to read this before the end of the month. Yay!

[Oleksandr, a.k.a. Acorn]

Joe wrote: "I think Budayeen Nights is the one I read before.... I got my package and should definitely have time to read this before the end of the month. Yay!"

Great! I hope you'll like it

[TomK2]

I just bought a kindle version for $2.99 on Amazon. A bit late for this discussion, but maybe not, there is still a week left?

[Oleksandr, a.k.a. Acorn]

TomK2 wrote: "I just bought a kindle version for $2.99 on Amazon. A bit late for this discussion, but maybe not, there is still a week left?"

Yes, there is a week left. Plus we encourage discussions even after the month is over, so no worry

[Ed]

I'm seeing some similarity with last month's book: "The Moon is a Harsh Mistress", at least in book 3. I'm not going to spoil anything.

In book 3 they spend a lot of time with some nomads in the desert, specifically the "Empty Quarter" of Saudi Arabia. A very harsh environment, not much more forgiving than the moon. The develop a system of justice that is just as quick and harsh as what Heinlein came up with. The little group has to determine the guilty party and punish them themselves because there is no other authority out there.

[Kateblue, 2nd star to the right and straight on til morning]

TomK2 wrote: "I just bought a kindle version for $2.99 on Amazon. A bit late for this discussion, but maybe not, there is still a week left?"

Yes, Tom, there have been long discussions sparked about novels months late, so don't worry about that.

[Bonnie]

Enjoying so far. The first couple pages I groaned at first person bc it seems like extra cognitive work... I am used to it now though, Maridd's voice is in my head.

I am intrigued by the situation he's gotten himself into, and I have chuckled several times at amusing observations.

[Allan]

Funny this book should come up. I was just thinking about re-reading it so that I can continue to the second book.