Flights of Fantasy discussion

You know how you do.


< spoiler > Please mark all spoilers with the tags! < /spoiler >

No spoilers yet, but I just finished this one...not bad. I am undecided as whether to call it 3 or 4 stars yet.

Started tonight, and read two chapters. Pretty interesting so far.

I had trouble sleeping last night, partly because I found this book so engaging. I'm about 2/3 done already, and I'm pretty sure I'll want to recommend this to others and to read more by the author.

I particularly liked that he didn't start out the way so many of these stories that have a large cast of characters do, by introducing us to each backstory before getting to the meat of the adventure. We got to know more and more people as we went along.

I also am enjoying the 'predictions.' This was written almost two decades ago, primarily taking place 6 1/2 yrs ago, and referring to a future that's not really all that far away. So, red denim, because blue denim jeans are old-fashioned, in 2009. Roads need less maintenance, because cars glide a few feet off the ground (but what about semis, that are actually much harder on pavement?) in 2009. A totally recognizable world in 2030 (really?!)....

I laughed when they were checking VHS tapes for security footage of the flashforward time. Heh..

There were a few things that dated the book. I noticed that to.

Done.
Aspects of the ending got a little odd, as sometimes happens in ambitious hard SF, but I'm giving it four stars and recommending it.

(view spoiler)[ I haven't reviewed it yet but I was disappointed in the ending...a lot. It felt a bit like a cop-out, but then the book was full of "arguments' between characters where the writer got to "expound" on what he thought about each idea, so the ending is more of the same I suppose. (hide spoiler)]

Well, yeah. The very ending. But what about (view spoiler)[the part where Lloyd saw the far future? Seemed kinda retro to me. Not only Wells, but Sheffield and others did that kind of thing in the past and I don't like it. (hide spoiler)]

Again, agreed. (view spoiler)[ It was a little cliched at that. (hide spoiler)]

I started this yesterday, and I am intrigued so far. I'm a few pages into chapter 6.

I'm guessing there will be a lot of stories to follow, but right now, I specifically want to know what Theo is going to do.

I'm still reading. It's taking me forever. Then again, so is everything else.

I wound up liking it so much that I've since read Mindscan and I have Rollback checked out. I can see how some readers wouldn't find his style amazing, but it is perfectly suited to what I like best in SF.

I have finally completed the book!

Quite an anticlimactic ending, but that matches the rest of the book.

Not sure if this would be considered a spoiler, but just in case ... (view spoiler)[ Although Lloyd was meant to be the main character, Theo seemed to quietly steal the show. I certainly ended up liking him and his storyline more by the end. (hide spoiler)]

Okay, I meant to read some more of this at lunch today. Just couldn't give a damn enough to open it. Ahh well

Chris wrote: "Okay, I meant to read some more of this at lunch today. Just couldn't give a damn enough to open it. Ahh well"

Does this mean its a DNF or a DNF for now?

Honestly I'm too apathetic to even abandon it. lol

I'll finish. I'm just having a huge issue reading anything lately.

Chris wrote: "Honestly I'm too apathetic to even abandon it. lol

I'll finish. I'm just having a huge issue reading anything lately."

There's a lot of that going around! (((Hugs))) I hope your reading mojo returns to you soon.

Thanks...Yeah, I'm sure it will pass.

Finished it...eh...

Chris, what were your expectations going in? Did it sound like the kind of book you'd like?

In my case, I wasn't expecting to like it much. It sounded too dark and dramatic, too much emphasis on thrilling adventure. I loved that it was more about ideas, more of a classic What If? style of story.

It just sounded cool. I was pleased that it was written in everyday language. I would have probably rated higher but for the ending..

Fair enough.

I noted that. The end was at best "lukewarm", it felt a little like a cop-out to me. That's just my opinion of course.

Agreed, Mike..

Mike (the Paladin) wrote: "I noted that. The end was at best "lukewarm", it felt a little like a cop-out to me. That's just my opinion of course."

I agree as well.