Nov 2024 READER Aurora by Robinson

[Teresa, Plan B is in Effect]

The Nov 2024 Reader Pick is Aurora by Kim Stanley Robinson. Please use this thread to post questions, comments, and reviews, at any time.

Official description:
A major new novel from one of science fiction's most powerful voices, AURORA tells the incredible story of our first voyage beyond the solar system.
Brilliantly imagined and beautifully told, it is the work of a writer at the height of his powers.

Our voyage from Earth began generations ago.
Now, we approach our new home.
AURORA.

[Robert]

Oooh I loved this one, you all are in for a treat.

Here's my cheeky review, it is a bit of a spoiler though.

[John]

Robert wrote: "Oooh I loved this one, you all are in for a treat.

Here's my cheeky review, it is a bit of a spoiler though."

I won't read your review until I've finished the book, Robert - but delighted to hear that you loved it and rated it as 5 stars.

[MadProfessah]

4.5 stars from me but I agree that it’s excellent.

[John]

Thanks MadProfessah - another strong recommendation; I'm looking forward to reading it and hoping others will join in.

[Audrey]

I am nearly a third of the way through. The narrator is extraordinarily detail oriented, but that makes sense considering who the narrator appears to be.

[John]

Wow - that's great progress Audrey.

I think I'll pause my reading of The Hydrogen Sonata so that I can read Aurora.

[John]

I'm only about 10% of the way through at the moment, but its already intriguing and well-written.

[John]

Is anyone else in the group joining Audrey and I in reading Aurora this month? I've heard that Robinson is quite a "polarising" author, but that even people who don't normally like his books have enjoyed Aurora.

[Audrey]

The book is well written but a slow read as a result of the level of contemplative detail provided (one non-spoiler example, "Given Gödel’s incompleteness theorems are decisively proved true, can any system really be said to know itself? Can there, in fact, be any such thing as self-consciousness? And if not, if there is never really self-consciousness, does anything really have consciousness?"). For anyone thinking about reading the book, don't misunderstand - there is plot, too, not just narrative.

However, I came across what I believe was meant as an *actual joke* by our oh-so-serious narrator: "once a day or so, a flash of Cherenkov radiation sparks in the water tanks, marking a neutrino hitting a muon. Once in a blue muon."

[Audrey]

Finished!

In summary, this is a larger than life book of love and loss, great plans, terrible plans, adventure, science and science fiction, human nature exposed and human nature conquering adversity despite dire circumstances. And can't forget the quantum computer learning about all of the above. It was a long book but definitely worth the read.

[Robert]

Audrey wrote: "Finished!

In summary, this is a larger than life book of love and loss, great plans, terrible plans, adventure, science and science fiction, human nature exposed and human nature conquering adver..."

Glad you enjoyed it!

[Robert]

MadProfessah wrote: "4.5 stars from me but I agree that it’s excellent."

That 0.5 star difference means we are now feuding for life, Good Sir! ;)

[John]

Audrey wrote: "Finished!

In summary, this is a larger than life book of love and loss, great plans, terrible plans, adventure, science and science fiction, human nature exposed and human nature conquering adver..."

Great summary, Audrey - I'm about 25% of the way through and greatly enjoying it. I'll definitely be reading more from this author.

[John]

Finished Aurora - and loved it. Took me longer than I'd anticipated - it was a complex story, but a beautifully written one. I want to read more from this author - I imagine I'll be nominating him for some future reads.

My favourite character in the book? The Ship. The way that character develops is stunning.

I'm carefully avoiding spoilers - go and read it for yourselves and enjoy a talented craftsman at work.