Beyond Reality discussion

Please let us know if you're reading, planning to read, or have read The Quantum Thief by Hannu Rajaniemi.

No spoilers in this topic please!

I just started this. So far, I'm really enjoying the sf-meets surreal flavor of it.

Read and really enjoyed it

I just read it for the second time (it's the first time I re-read a book), and enjoyed it even more than the first time. It's amazing how much of the book I missed or simply didn't get on the first read :)

I'm about a chapter in and will be picking it up again as soon as I finish Three Men in a Boat.

I started this book a year ago and couldn't get into the story. Based on recent discussions here on GR, am about ready to get into Hannu's tale once again. Maybe this could be a book of the month discussion?

Just downloaded it onto my Kindle. So, give me a few days and I'm in.

Ric wrote: "I started this book a year ago and couldn't get into the story. Based on recent discussions here on GR, am about ready to get into Hannu's tale once again. Maybe this could be a book of the month discussion? ..."

Ric - This is exactly what this thread is. The Quantum Thief is the book of the month for February, and this is the intro discussion thread for that book of the month. :) (Another thread for discussion that allows spoilers is in the same folder.) I'm a bit goofy with some sort of bug, so please forgive me if I'm not understanding you correctly!

I astarted this a while ago, and find it easy to get into but hard to understand! I anm going to keep plugging away as I am interested how it will work out. Definitely the kind of book you need to read twice!

Candiss wrote: "Ric - This is exactly what this thread is. "

I got you now, maybe. May not have a lot of time to read this month, but will add in my 2 cents where I can.

Any updates? Anyone?

I finished! Once I hit the last bit it really picked up and went a lot quicker.

The plot was huge in scope. I think this is the kind of book that REQUIRES a reread to fully understand what happened...

Maggie wrote: "I finished! Once I hit the last bit it really picked up and went a lot quicker.

The plot was huge in scope. I think this is the kind of book that REQUIRES a reread to fully understand what happene..."

I think you may be right.

Maggie wrote: "I think this is the kind of book that REQUIRES a reread to fully understand what happene..."
You're telling me. Am re-reading it now, at least trying to. Hopefully, it gets better this time around!

Heavy stuff. I have to cheat from the glossary from wikipedia.

I'm a bit over 3/4 finished. I totally agree that I'll be needing a re-read to fully process this one. Perhaps I'll do so in a few months and then read the sequel.

There are so many passages and sections in this that I really love, but the overall story is hazy. It's slowly forming itself into a more cohesive something, but I don't expect to have a full picture until I've finished (and/or had that reread.)

I'm getting flavors of poetic/jazzy virtuosos like Delany and Zelazny mixed up with weird and cerebral strands of guys like China Miéville and Ted Chiang. There's so much here!

I agree Candiss...both wierd and cerebral and huge all at once. A definite mind bender!

Oni wrote: "Heavy stuff. I have to cheat from the glossary from wikipedia."

I forgot about that! Thanks, Oni. Let's put up a link in case it might be helpful for others:

Wikipedia: Glossary of terms in the Jean le Flambeur series

This one will help too, I guess.
Wikipedia: List of Characters in Jean le Flambeur series
Just be careful, lots of spoiler.

I've finished. I need to collect my thoughts (as far as I can with this book) and head over to the "finished reading" thread in the morning.

Candiss wrote: "Let's put up a link in case it might be helpful for others: Wikipedia: Glossary of..."
Yes, this is very helpful. But at the rate I am going, I will not finish this month.

I'm up to page 100. I'm lost....

gogols?
Oubliette?
gevulot?
exomemory?
Watch?
Time?
Sobornost?
tzaddik?
zoku?

Context -there doesn't seem to be enough for me to understand.

I read the links.

But the 'story' is more like C++ crossed with my database concepts class and then Scientology poured on top, stirred into Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind ideas with Looper added as a pinch of salt.

Have a cup of ginkgo biloba, wait a year then start over. That's what I did.

aPriL MEOWS often with scratching wrote: "But the 'story' is more like C++ crossed with my database concepts class and then Scientology poured on top, stirred into Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind ideas with Looper added as a pinch of salt."

Great description!

Do I need to be schizophrenic to read this? Will dropping acid help?

Ric wrote: "Have a cup of ginkgo biloba, wait a year then start over. That's what I did."

Perfect.

Candiss wrote: "Oni wrote: "Heavy stuff. I have to cheat from the glossary from wikipedia."

I forgot about that! Thanks, Oni. Let's put up a link in case it might be helpful for others:

Wikipedia: Glossary of..."

Candiss, the wiki page is gone!

Thank you for spreading the word on the deletion.

Omg! I had to change my review! I had included the link because it was so helpful.....

:(