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Here's a great meme from ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
redredshoes the non-memer:
Tell me three things I ought to do before I die.
ETA: Thanks toangeya I've just finished Aristoi by Walter Jon Williams--nice to find a fairly hard-science fiction book with such complex characters. I also liked the good balance between the arguments of the villains and those of the heroes--in fact, kept wondering if perhaps the wrong side won.
In many ways, if you look at it, this book is a reversal of Brave New World, with the social programmers as the heroes and the let-life-be-free guys as the villains. There's kind of a nod to that, toward the end, as Gabriel justifies himself as the kind of person Captain Yuan wanted to create, although he came from the programmed world. And another thing that makes it less ambiguous is that Capt. Yuan's worlds were not natural developments but a programmed universe of their own, with all the badness of torture, germs, and homophobia built back into the system.
But also intriguing is the concept and portrayal of the daimons. I don't recall seeing anything like that, the use of the multiple personalities. And the mysterious Voice that manifests when Gabriel needs it most makes real the possibility of our inner untapped resources--a happy thought, even if it's a kind of creepy thing. Another reversal--that Mr. Hyde could be there to help you.
A few flaws, however. I though Gabriel's breakdown after Yuan's lengthy torture was believable as a concept, but the portrayal seemed abrupt. He was rebellious one minute and completely pliable the next. His recovery was handled a bit better.
I haven't read the book that came before this, Hardwired, but probably will.
Angeya's original post is at http://www.livejournal.com/users/angeyja/107195.html#cutid1
where she raises some of these questions and some others. Also, a good review at http://members.aol.com/dmchess/www/aristoi.html
redredshoes the non-memer:Tell me three things I ought to do before I die.
ETA: Thanks to
angeya I've just finished Aristoi by Walter Jon Williams--nice to find a fairly hard-science fiction book with such complex characters. I also liked the good balance between the arguments of the villains and those of the heroes--in fact, kept wondering if perhaps the wrong side won.In many ways, if you look at it, this book is a reversal of Brave New World, with the social programmers as the heroes and the let-life-be-free guys as the villains. There's kind of a nod to that, toward the end, as Gabriel justifies himself as the kind of person Captain Yuan wanted to create, although he came from the programmed world. And another thing that makes it less ambiguous is that Capt. Yuan's worlds were not natural developments but a programmed universe of their own, with all the badness of torture, germs, and homophobia built back into the system.
But also intriguing is the concept and portrayal of the daimons. I don't recall seeing anything like that, the use of the multiple personalities. And the mysterious Voice that manifests when Gabriel needs it most makes real the possibility of our inner untapped resources--a happy thought, even if it's a kind of creepy thing. Another reversal--that Mr. Hyde could be there to help you.
A few flaws, however. I though Gabriel's breakdown after Yuan's lengthy torture was believable as a concept, but the portrayal seemed abrupt. He was rebellious one minute and completely pliable the next. His recovery was handled a bit better.
I haven't read the book that came before this, Hardwired, but probably will.
Angeya's original post is at http://www.livejournal.com/users/angeyja/107195.html#cutid1
where she raises some of these questions and some others. Also, a good review at http://members.aol.com/dmchess/www/aristoi.html
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I am not gendered much as a reader. (What did I write before? Ohwell I contain multitudes..)
So while my backbrain did little groany things at certain points, my forebrain was solidly hooked into the main character. Thank you also for the email. More in both spots hopefully later I am living dangerously at work here.. so I will cut this short.*
(Lucky!)
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