2312

2312 - Kim Stanley Robinson

Adored this. I loved Swan, she was petulant and selfish and not in the slightest perfect. I can see why a lot of people don't.

 

I wish we'd got to know Alex more, perhaps there's another book out there for that. Alex and Mquaret's story, and the genesis of Terminator, would be a fun read.

 

On the other hand, I like being dropped into a fully developed universe that feels like it really exists, fully formed.

 

I enjoyed the asides, the lists etc, but again, I can see why a lot of people don't. I prefer it to the conceit of "Blah character sits in a coffee shop and thinks about random things like the political makeup of the entire solar system, until his thoughts are suddenly jerked back to the present by someone shooting at him". It's exposition, it has to be done, may as well put a flag on it (and then do it with some style).

 

And I think I mostly love the idea of the reanimation as a totally subversive and illegal act. Brilliant, and beautiful.

 

Now I think I need to go back and re-read the Mars trilogy, and then go hunt down everything else KSR has written, I forgot how much I flat out enjoy his writing.