Robb--
Over at the used bookstore just now, I picked up Effinger's "When Gravity Fails". It'll be the first real SF I've read in a decade or so (unless you count Stephenson or Lethem in that category), SO I HOPE I'M PLEASED.
(uh, WGF is the one you really like, right? I hope?)
Greg
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I forgot to revisit this.
I read the book-- I gave it a special dispensation and moved it right up to the top of the massive D'Avis book stack. For you, Robb. Only for you.
It was a lot of fun. What I appreciated the most about it was Effinger's easy manner in creating his world; he didn't just lay things out and say "look! different!"-- and at the same time he didn't render it hopelessly obscure. He conveyed the nuances of the Budayeen through context, and did so quite well.
The plot was a little weak, and most of the surprises weren't that thrilling (though part of that may be sour grapes, since I thought I'd figured out a key surprise and then wasn't even in the ballpark. I wasn't even in a ballpark in the same LEAGUE.) But it was an entertaining, energetic read.
And yeah, Robb, I could see the influences on your writing; both stylistically and a few phrases that popped up ("Yeah, you right"). But don't worry. I still love you.
Also nice to sit down and read a book so quickly; just in two or three sittings. I don't have time to do that often, and WGF was fast enough to hold me in.
It wasn't enough to convert me and get me to read more SF-- that'll continue to be the "banned" section of the bookstore, conveniently located next to romance-- but down the line, I'll probably check out the rest of the Budayeen books.
Rating: 7 out of 10
Greg
I read the book-- I gave it a special dispensation and moved it right up to the top of the massive D'Avis book stack. For you, Robb. Only for you.
It was a lot of fun. What I appreciated the most about it was Effinger's easy manner in creating his world; he didn't just lay things out and say "look! different!"-- and at the same time he didn't render it hopelessly obscure. He conveyed the nuances of the Budayeen through context, and did so quite well.
The plot was a little weak, and most of the surprises weren't that thrilling (though part of that may be sour grapes, since I thought I'd figured out a key surprise and then wasn't even in the ballpark. I wasn't even in a ballpark in the same LEAGUE.) But it was an entertaining, energetic read.
And yeah, Robb, I could see the influences on your writing; both stylistically and a few phrases that popped up ("Yeah, you right"). But don't worry. I still love you.
Also nice to sit down and read a book so quickly; just in two or three sittings. I don't have time to do that often, and WGF was fast enough to hold me in.
It wasn't enough to convert me and get me to read more SF-- that'll continue to be the "banned" section of the bookstore, conveniently located next to romance-- but down the line, I'll probably check out the rest of the Budayeen books.
Rating: 7 out of 10
Greg