It's easy to think of legendary Science Fiction authors in the past tense. If you're like me, you may have encountered classics like "Forever War" decades after they were written. If you're a fan of used book stores and are reading an older edition of "Forever War", the "other works by" page at the front or back of the book might give you the idea that Haldeman hasn't done anything in a while.
Nothing could be further from the truth. Joe Haldeman has been hard at work for decades turning out a great body of novels and short stories, including quite a few Nebula and Hugo award winners. Along the way, he's revisited the world of "Forever War" a few times (in "Forever Free" and "A Separate War"), and written two novels ("Planet of Judgment" and "World Without End") set in the Star Trek universe (original series), which I can't wait to track down. He wrote the screenplay for "Robot Jox" as well (here's hoping the film version of "Forever War" will fare better).
"Marsbound", published last year in paperback, is a story about a girl who comes of age just as humanity is establishing its first colony on Mars. In Philip K. Dick's novels (such as "The Divine Invasion" or "The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch"), the lives of human colonists are both harsh and tedious, but mostly the latter. Theirs is a life of awful isolation and drudgery from which they try to escape, and rarely succeed.
The colony in "Marsbound" is a more hopeful affair, an energetic team of pioneers and their children. There is hard work, and drudgery, and the conditions are dangerous, but there is also comradery, humor and even romance. Carmen is coming of age at the perfect time to find her place in the world, and to witness and participate in amazing events. The main character of "Accidental Time Machine" finds his way out of the doldrums of his wasted youth and eventually hits his stride (a brisk jog settling into a comfortable walk). Carmen finds her pace (and place) early, and sprints through the amazing times in which she lives.
This is a hopeful and human novel, and well worth reading.
Sunday, 17 January 2010
Friday, 8 January 2010
"The Accidental Time Machine" by Joe Haldeman
Joe Haldeman has an intelligent and natural style that's hard to resist. Although his grasp of future science is good (sometimes even eerie), he never forgets about the characters who are our means of experiencing his ideas. Their lives alternate between drudgery and terror, between absurdity and triumph. They are distinctly human characters, and the main character of "The Accidental Time Machine" is no exception.
Matt Fuller is a doctoral student whose life has stalled out and now sits on the edge of complete failure. He discovers that a small component built for one of his advisor's experiments has the ability to travel forward in time. He siezes the opportunity to find greatness in the most harebrained way, and his stuck life lurches into high gear. His is a fool's journey straight from the Tarot, and is well underway when we meet him. His failed dissertation is the cross on which he is the hanged man, and his discovery of the time machine just as life as he knows it ends is a great example of Death as transformation.
Time travel is well-trod terrain for Science Fiction authors of all stripes, and Haldeman is more than equal to the challenge. Like the main characters in Robert Heinlein's "Door into Summer" and "Farnham's Freehold", Matt Fuller enters into a relationship that sits outside the boundaries of normal time, but never comes across as quite as creepy as the protagonist of either of those books. Like the main character in Nicholson Baker's "Fermata", Matt's honesty defuses and redeems the awkward and embarrasing situations he encounters with his companion Martha. They develop a partnership, a "conspiracy of two", a marriage, and this is only one of the pleasures of the book.
This is a quick read, exciting, funny, and full of character. Very highly recommended.
Matt Fuller is a doctoral student whose life has stalled out and now sits on the edge of complete failure. He discovers that a small component built for one of his advisor's experiments has the ability to travel forward in time. He siezes the opportunity to find greatness in the most harebrained way, and his stuck life lurches into high gear. His is a fool's journey straight from the Tarot, and is well underway when we meet him. His failed dissertation is the cross on which he is the hanged man, and his discovery of the time machine just as life as he knows it ends is a great example of Death as transformation.
Time travel is well-trod terrain for Science Fiction authors of all stripes, and Haldeman is more than equal to the challenge. Like the main characters in Robert Heinlein's "Door into Summer" and "Farnham's Freehold", Matt Fuller enters into a relationship that sits outside the boundaries of normal time, but never comes across as quite as creepy as the protagonist of either of those books. Like the main character in Nicholson Baker's "Fermata", Matt's honesty defuses and redeems the awkward and embarrasing situations he encounters with his companion Martha. They develop a partnership, a "conspiracy of two", a marriage, and this is only one of the pleasures of the book.
This is a quick read, exciting, funny, and full of character. Very highly recommended.
Friday, 1 January 2010
"Mission of Gravity" by Hal Clement
I finished "Mission of Gravity" a while ago, and have had some time to think about it since.
This book has a great central conceit. On Earth, gravity varies a small amount, but is roughly constant. On Mesklin, the planet featured in "Mission of Gravity", gravity varies from around 3 times Earth gravity at its equator to hundreds of times Earth gravity at the poles.
We experience the world primarily through the eyes of the crab-like Mesklinites enlisted by their Earth allies to complete the titular mission. Through their experiences, Clement does a great job of fleshing out this world and the limits imposed. Plants, animals, and societies are adapted to the local conditions, and as the conditions vary, so do each of these.
Although the Mesklinites are not as alien in temperament as we might expect, they are not portrayed as savages or cannon fodder (as, for example, the aliens in "Jem"). They are canny partners who are less technically advanced than Earth men, but who understand that their ability to operate unaided on the planet gives them leverage.
The characters and narrative of "Mission of Gravity" are solid, but the greatness of this book rests on the strength of its central conceit and the detail with which it's brought to life. Highly recommended.
This book has a great central conceit. On Earth, gravity varies a small amount, but is roughly constant. On Mesklin, the planet featured in "Mission of Gravity", gravity varies from around 3 times Earth gravity at its equator to hundreds of times Earth gravity at the poles.
We experience the world primarily through the eyes of the crab-like Mesklinites enlisted by their Earth allies to complete the titular mission. Through their experiences, Clement does a great job of fleshing out this world and the limits imposed. Plants, animals, and societies are adapted to the local conditions, and as the conditions vary, so do each of these.
Although the Mesklinites are not as alien in temperament as we might expect, they are not portrayed as savages or cannon fodder (as, for example, the aliens in "Jem"). They are canny partners who are less technically advanced than Earth men, but who understand that their ability to operate unaided on the planet gives them leverage.
The characters and narrative of "Mission of Gravity" are solid, but the greatness of this book rests on the strength of its central conceit and the detail with which it's brought to life. Highly recommended.
Friday, 25 December 2009
"Man Plus" by Frederik Pohl
I've been travelling for the holidays, which means I've finally been cooped up for long enough to read a few new books. Since I have a bit of time off, I also have a bit of time to write up some of the books I've finished but haven't written up yet. Look for a few new posts in the next few weeks.
I wouldn't go so far as to call Frederick Pohl one of my favorite authors, but I've enjoyed his work before. "Heechee Rendezvous" in particular is a classic, just the right mix of fantastic ideas and everyday human experience.
The world of "Man Plus" is one in which the Earth's resources are scarce, and war looms. Humanity's hopes for long-term survival turn to Mars (apparently they haven't read that Ray Bradbury story where we get to Mars only to find out that we already used up all its resources before moving to Earth). The story centers around transforming an astronaut into a cyborg whose altered body is capable of withstanding the rigors of life on Mars. It's terraforming at the human level, androforming if you will.
The life of the titular cyborg is a believable mix of tedium and existential terror, duty and depression. Like the protagonist in "Now Wait for Last Year" (one of my all-time favorites), this "Man Plus" is more motivated by the desire for love, companionship, and understanding, even though he is also bound by his ambition and sense of duty to country. He is a "man" (husband, soldier) first, and a "plus" (cyborg) second. The "plus" is what makes this a good work of science fiction, the "man" is what makes it great.
Although I haven't loved every book in the "SF Masterworks" series, this book is another gem that I'd never have encountered otherwise. Highly recommended.
I wouldn't go so far as to call Frederick Pohl one of my favorite authors, but I've enjoyed his work before. "Heechee Rendezvous" in particular is a classic, just the right mix of fantastic ideas and everyday human experience.
The world of "Man Plus" is one in which the Earth's resources are scarce, and war looms. Humanity's hopes for long-term survival turn to Mars (apparently they haven't read that Ray Bradbury story where we get to Mars only to find out that we already used up all its resources before moving to Earth). The story centers around transforming an astronaut into a cyborg whose altered body is capable of withstanding the rigors of life on Mars. It's terraforming at the human level, androforming if you will.
The life of the titular cyborg is a believable mix of tedium and existential terror, duty and depression. Like the protagonist in "Now Wait for Last Year" (one of my all-time favorites), this "Man Plus" is more motivated by the desire for love, companionship, and understanding, even though he is also bound by his ambition and sense of duty to country. He is a "man" (husband, soldier) first, and a "plus" (cyborg) second. The "plus" is what makes this a good work of science fiction, the "man" is what makes it great.
Although I haven't loved every book in the "SF Masterworks" series, this book is another gem that I'd never have encountered otherwise. Highly recommended.
Friday, 18 December 2009
"Eon" by Greg Bear
By all rights, I should love Greg Bear's "Eon". I loved his "Tangents", and enjoyed "Blood Music" as well. The subject matter seems almost perfect for me as well. If you told me a book by Greg Bear was about humanity unlocking the secrets of space travel in the aftermath of nuclear holocaust, I'd certainly be interested. If you added hints of time travel and parallel worlds, I'd be hooked.
For whatever reason though, the book left me a bit cold. In trying to understand why, I've been imagining a good science fiction story as a stool with three legs:
* Mind: The ideas or conceits that make the world different from our own
* Heart: The characters that help us feel the weight of this imagined world
* Body: The situations which allow the characters to explore themselves and the world they inhabit
A book like "Footfall" by Niven and Pournelle doesn't necessarily have the deepest characters, and its ideas are not all that challenging. What makes it enjoyable is the pacing, the characters are always doing something that advances the story. This a book that runs.
A book like "Dr. Mirabilis" has very few new ideas, and sparse action. It lives or dies based on how fully the reader sympathises with the main character. This is a book that must be felt to be enjoyed.
"Eon" had stronger ideas than characters or situations. It lives based on the strength of its ideas. This is a book which must be considered to be enjoyed.
On balance, the characters and situations could have been stronger, but if you want a bushel of hard sci fi to mull over on a winter's night, you could do a lot worse.
For whatever reason though, the book left me a bit cold. In trying to understand why, I've been imagining a good science fiction story as a stool with three legs:
* Mind: The ideas or conceits that make the world different from our own
* Heart: The characters that help us feel the weight of this imagined world
* Body: The situations which allow the characters to explore themselves and the world they inhabit
A book like "Footfall" by Niven and Pournelle doesn't necessarily have the deepest characters, and its ideas are not all that challenging. What makes it enjoyable is the pacing, the characters are always doing something that advances the story. This a book that runs.
A book like "Dr. Mirabilis" has very few new ideas, and sparse action. It lives or dies based on how fully the reader sympathises with the main character. This is a book that must be felt to be enjoyed.
"Eon" had stronger ideas than characters or situations. It lives based on the strength of its ideas. This is a book which must be considered to be enjoyed.
On balance, the characters and situations could have been stronger, but if you want a bushel of hard sci fi to mull over on a winter's night, you could do a lot worse.
Friday, 11 December 2009
"Matter" by Iain M. Banks
"Matter" is another epic space opera in the "Culture" series. I've enjoyed (and reviewed) "Consider Phlebas", "Look to Windward", "Use of Weapons", "Player of Games", "Against a Dark Background", "Inversions" and "Excession", and "Matter" is a fine way to end the run.
Banks is a master of bringing a fresh perspective to what could easily be repetitive and derivative material. Often he uses contrasts to keep the perspective fresh. In "Inversions" and "Consider Phlebas", we see The Culture contrasted with its enemies. In most Culture novels, we see The Culture contrasted with the more primitive societies it tries to nudge towards its higher ideals. In "Excession", we see The Culture contrasted with both an artifact from advanced society and its enemies.
In "Matter", we get the best of these contrasts and new perspectives to boot. We follow one of The Culture's newest recruits as she returns to her homeworld during a time of crisis. We also follow her brother as he works to escape the political turmoil of his homeworld and encounters his "Cultured" sister. As if that weren't enough, we also see how citizens (human and machine) of The Culture deal with technologies beyond their own when cut off from the full resources of their own society.
Banks continues to amaze with the imagination he brings to each book. The Culture series is astonishing in its scope, and in between all the fantastic ideas and characters are enough amusing and well-crafted phrases to make it nearly exhausting. I'll have to get plenty of rest before the new Culture novel is released next year. If you haven't already done so, take advantage of the deals and reprints leading up to the new release and enjoy the whole series.
Banks is a master of bringing a fresh perspective to what could easily be repetitive and derivative material. Often he uses contrasts to keep the perspective fresh. In "Inversions" and "Consider Phlebas", we see The Culture contrasted with its enemies. In most Culture novels, we see The Culture contrasted with the more primitive societies it tries to nudge towards its higher ideals. In "Excession", we see The Culture contrasted with both an artifact from advanced society and its enemies.
In "Matter", we get the best of these contrasts and new perspectives to boot. We follow one of The Culture's newest recruits as she returns to her homeworld during a time of crisis. We also follow her brother as he works to escape the political turmoil of his homeworld and encounters his "Cultured" sister. As if that weren't enough, we also see how citizens (human and machine) of The Culture deal with technologies beyond their own when cut off from the full resources of their own society.
Banks continues to amaze with the imagination he brings to each book. The Culture series is astonishing in its scope, and in between all the fantastic ideas and characters are enough amusing and well-crafted phrases to make it nearly exhausting. I'll have to get plenty of rest before the new Culture novel is released next year. If you haven't already done so, take advantage of the deals and reprints leading up to the new release and enjoy the whole series.
Friday, 4 December 2009
"The Algebraist" by Iain M. Banks
The phrase "gas giant" was coined by the author James Blish in one of his stories, and is now widely applied to planets such as Jupiter. "The Algebraist" is a novel of gas giants (and the cultures they sustain).
This isn't a Culture novel, but it's the same style of epic space opera that fans of that series have come to enjoy. As with so many of Banks' books, there's easily enough material for three novels. The Archimandrite in particular is villain enough for a book of his own.
Entertaining as the Archimandrite is, this is not a novel about a brutally imaginative sadist. It's a novel in which the power of the seemingly powerless is revealed. It's a satisfying read and highly recommended.
This isn't a Culture novel, but it's the same style of epic space opera that fans of that series have come to enjoy. As with so many of Banks' books, there's easily enough material for three novels. The Archimandrite in particular is villain enough for a book of his own.
Entertaining as the Archimandrite is, this is not a novel about a brutally imaginative sadist. It's a novel in which the power of the seemingly powerless is revealed. It's a satisfying read and highly recommended.
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