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nwhyte's review against another edition
3.0
https://nwhyte.livejournal.com/3762027.html
Cryptozoic! aka An Age shows more of Aldiss's greatness as a writer than The Primal Urge, but doesn't quite come together as a novel. A couple of hundred years from now (in a setting which nonetheless feels like England in 1967), people have developed the technology of mental time-travel by use of a drug (called CSD, totally different from LSD of course). Our protagonist returns from an extended mental time trip to find that a fascist government has taken over, and he is sent on a meandering quest to eliminate a fellow time-traveller who is a threat to the government. It's the sort of story that Moorcock and Ballard were doing just that bit better at the time, but there are some Aldissian twists to it all the same (notably the protagonist's relationship with his father and his lover).
Cryptozoic! aka An Age shows more of Aldiss's greatness as a writer than The Primal Urge, but doesn't quite come together as a novel. A couple of hundred years from now (in a setting which nonetheless feels like England in 1967), people have developed the technology of mental time-travel by use of a drug (called CSD, totally different from LSD of course). Our protagonist returns from an extended mental time trip to find that a fascist government has taken over, and he is sent on a meandering quest to eliminate a fellow time-traveller who is a threat to the government. It's the sort of story that Moorcock and Ballard were doing just that bit better at the time, but there are some Aldissian twists to it all the same (notably the protagonist's relationship with his father and his lover).
jersy's review
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Fascinating ideas, great discriptions of both past and future, but insufferable characters.
Despite some frustration, I couldnt put it down. There is a lot in this tiny book, still I'm not sure I could endure Ed and Ann's encounters again.
Despite some frustration, I couldnt put it down. There is a lot in this tiny book, still I'm not sure I could endure Ed and Ann's encounters again.
micrummey's review against another edition
1.0
Very disappointing. It starts with an interesting idea that with the aid of drugs an individual is able to mind travel through time. Inconsistent with so many plot holes. For example if you want to assassinate some one who has mind travelled why do you have to mind travel back in time to do it? Find them in your present, in this case 2093 and do it whilst they are in their drugged state.
I didn't care about any of the characters and I was sick of them for ever banging on about how time can flow in more than one direction. How you die and move back into the womb etc. The book does touch on the big crunch theory, however this isn't enough to save a boring book.
I didn't care about any of the characters and I was sick of them for ever banging on about how time can flow in more than one direction. How you die and move back into the womb etc. The book does touch on the big crunch theory, however this isn't enough to save a boring book.
kalanadi's review against another edition
challenging
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
2.0
randerson's review
medium-paced
1.0
The premise of this book is interesting, and plays with time in a slightly unusual way but the SEXISM. IS. AWFUL. Bush, the main character is severely lacking and some of the themes explored are very questionable.
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