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Topic: review 'All Tomorrow's Parties'

nonsuch
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 1402

posted 13 December 2001 12:36 AM

I love William Gibson. I loved 'Idoru'.
I waited for this book with bated (meaning, held in abayence - not baited, which always makes me think of having recently ingested mackerel-flavoured cat food) breath. I finally got it, in hard-cover.
I did not like this book.
I read it in not very many nights; hoping that something would happen. Something was supposed to happen - plenty of lead-up. But it didn't. Or, it did, and he's not telling us what it was.
In any case, a disappointment.

From: coming and going | Registered: Sep 2001 | IP: Logged

DrConway
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 490

posted 13 December 2001 01:17 AM

I did not like this book! I did not like it at all, Sam-I-Am!

From: You shall not side with the great against the powerless. | Registered: May 2001 | IP: Logged

nonsuch
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 1402

posted 13 December 2001 02:22 AM

That doesn't rhyme, as you probably noticed.
The Doctor made everything rhyme. Just one of the minor reasons i revere him. In fact, i've just this minute decided that Dr. Seuss is my patron saint. I'm pretty sure Arthur Koestler - my first choice - wouldn't want the job.

[ December 13, 2001: Message edited by: nonesuch ]

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DrConway
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 490

posted 13 December 2001 02:36 AM

Oh, honestly, take a joke.

From: You shall not side with the great against the powerless. | Registered: May 2001 | IP: Logged

Victor Von Mediaboy
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 554

posted 13 December 2001 10:16 AM

I really enjoyed All Tomorrow's Parties. I thought the "big event" at the end was very interesting. He does leave the aftermath of the "big event" to the imagination of the reader, which is the kind of ending I really like. I don't want everything wrapped up in a neat little package.

But I did enjoy Idoru more. The way Idoru revolves around the 13 year old girl who is HIGHLY computer literate was really fascinating.

Most folk prefer his first cyberpunk trilogy. I loved Neuromancer, but Count Zero and Mona Lisa Overdrive left me cold. I really liked all three books in the Virtual Light trilogy.

Who's read The Difference Engine. A really neat-o example of Steampunk. Still, H.G. Wells is the master of Steampunk.

[ December 13, 2001: Message edited by: Kneel before MediaBoy ]

From: A thread has merit only if I post to it. So sayeth VVMB! | Registered: May 2001 | IP: Logged

sherpafish
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 1568

posted 13 December 2001 02:29 PM

The Difference Engine, fantastic book. I realy liked the Burning Chrome comp as well. Set in Vancouver Baybee!
Haven't read the new stuff, maybe I'll borrow first.

From: intra-crainial razor dust | Registered: Oct 2001 | IP: Logged

Victor Von Mediaboy
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 554

posted 13 December 2001 03:00 PM

Burning Chrome was, indeed, fantastic. I don't recall that all the stories in it were set in Vancouver though.

I find that I enjoy short stories more than novels, especially when it comes to wacky science/speculative fiction that can sometimes be difficult to wrap your head around. I have a book of short stories by Harland Ellison. I couldn't imagine trying to plow through an Ellison novel. I have to read his stories a few times for them to really sink in.

From: A thread has merit only if I post to it. So sayeth VVMB! | Registered: May 2001 | IP: Logged

sherpafish
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 1568

posted 13 December 2001 03:26 PM

quote:
I don't recall that all the stories in it were set in Vancouver though.

Yes, you are correct. I'm trying to find my copy so that I can get the name of the story I'm thinking about. Starts off something like, 'I woke up on cold concrete, staring at the snow hitting black False Creek water.'
Also references to Granville Isle and Richmond (of all places!).

edited to add
Ok, so the story is The Winter Market and it doesn't start off anything like that. Just when I was all impressed with my own memory!

[ December 20, 2001: Message edited by: sherpafish ]

From: intra-crainial razor dust | Registered: Oct 2001 | IP: Logged

sherpafish
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 1568

posted 20 December 2001 03:35 AM

Forgot to ask: What is the Velvet Underground/Andy Warhol conection with the book? the title is a VU song name.

From: intra-crainial razor dust | Registered: Oct 2001 | IP: Logged

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