Rafael L > Recent Status Updates

Not big fan of the force inclusion used to describe the characters.

From a random start to a logic introduction, Baxter doesn’t disappoint.

If I wanted to feel sorry for immigration “victims” I would just read the Washington Post. Poorly written chapter that heavily relies on the readers prior knowledge to elicit a “emotional’ response. (-3)

Emotionally charged events of current politics will do if you lack imagination.

It was a nice read until Blighted Profile, it deteriorates thereafter, until it hits rock bottom in Mutant Millenia. The last two chapters are a failed attempt to bring back the story, but the story was already dead.

It has become a tiresome reading, Aldiss seems to lack basic knowledge in linguistics, geology. Confuses terms, physiology vs anatomy. Uses pseudoscientific babble such as the current use of 'quantum' in from of everything. examples: paraevolution, just say evolution for Christ's sake. His knowledge in biology or lack of it is clear, but this might be explained by the status of biology at the time of publication.

The timeline of events doesn't appear logical given the timespan of 40 million years, i.e. people speaking Portuguese creole in the Cape Verde islands 40 million of years after a nuclear catastrophe. The book is plagued with dozens of similar plot holes.
The book at this point is a caricature of the UK and its former colonies during the 1950's, and the ever-present 'nuclear' threat. It gets old.

Though written in 1959, it doesn't feel outdated. Some concepts might raise an eyebrow, such as robots talking among themselves, instead of using a more efficient method of communication, but this cannot be judge as wrong given that there is not enough background information.
Aldiss introduces an interesting point about logic and intelligence in Who can Replace Man?

Unexpected turn of events.
Hajime might be a man that suffers Narcissistic depression and Schizophrenia, such association is well documented.
Is he just being paranoiac about Izumi?

So far, 70% Telling, mostly in the form of never-ending monologues, 20% narcissistic thoughts, 5% Pornhub-like sex scenes, 5% dialogue and showing. It's obvious that Hajime suffers of Narcissistic personality disorder. He 'tells' us this, through his insufferable soliloquies. Shimamoto seems to be another narcissist but at least she is interesting given that we are not 'told'.

Hajime feels monodimensional.

The book reads as if N. K. Jemisin had gone erotica, at least the first person narration with Haruki doesn't feel affected and artificial. And just like Jemisins Haruki's prose quality fits more within YA literature.

This book resonates of "Children of Men" by P. D. James.
Personal Note, check publication dates for Greybeard and Children of Men.
Philosophical perspectives about the twilight of humankind are introduced tidily, without feeling heavy or down-your-throat.
Aldiss feels contemporary in regards to his portray that people of color can do no wrong. He does it tactfully and doesn't dwell much on the subject though.

Aldiss loves to describe people not so much as to places.

Winter at this point seems maguffian, at least for most the characters. South of the Trident winter is mild. South of the Mander people wonder what is winter? Volantis is still sultry, implying that it is located in or near the tropics, or the equator. If Volantis is in the tropics then summers must be hell, if in the equ. then is sultry whole year round. Both options seem poor options for a city of that importance.

Lady Dustin and Theon portray two sides of the same fate.
Tyrion sees himself in Penny, and loathes himself for not behaving the way he expects others to do when confronted with his reality, that is being a dwarf.
Asha in one hand reacts negatively to those who don't fall for her 'charms' insinuating misogynia. On the other craves for sadistic partners, the pirate life and the Old Way.

Good intentions don't make good deeds. RIP Astapor.
Too much synchronicity and happenstance. Ok so Jorah found Tyrion, in the massive, wide and large east. But Penny from King's Landing? seriously. Martin could've just used a random dwarf, whos life has been destroyed because of some words from the queen from across the narrow sea. Could've worked as nice as the pious dwarf. But no, he had to use Penny!

Good intentions don't make good deeds. RIP Astapor.
Too much synchronicity and happenstance. Ok so Jorah found Tyrion, in the massive, wide and large east. But Penny from king's landing? seriously. Martin could've just used a random dwarf, whos life has been destroyed because of some words from the queen from across the narrow sea. Could've worked as nice as the pious dwarf. But no, he had to use Penny!