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3.81 AVERAGE
3.81 AVERAGE
A fresh look at the "utopian" socialist society, it's causes, functions, and requirements. Also a really good discussion of what it means to be human/conscious. A rather fresh plot, had no idea what was going to happen next until just before it happened.
Finally finished! I thought that this was better than the two books that preceded it, but still just not for me. Something about the way that MacLeod has written these (not sure if it's symptomatic of all his writing, or just this series), just does not allow me to connect with the characters. This makes for a very tedious read for me. I will say, it's definitely worth having read the first two books if you really want to understand this one, though. There are a lot recurring characters that it's useful to know.
When I picked this book up, I wasn't aware that there were 2 books before it. But as I wasn't sure when I could get my hands on them, I decided to continue on. When I first started reading, I wasn't sure what was going on and really didn't care much for it. But once I got a little ways in, I enjoyed it. I will admit that some of the politics went over my head, but I think had I read the back story it would have made more sense, and been that much more enjoyable.
The Cassini Division
By Ken Macleod
Publisher: Tor
Published In: New York City, NY, USA
Date: 1998
Pgs: 240
REVIEW MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS
Summary:
Humanity and Earth have seen a lot of history following the Common Era. The Green Revolution sweeps across Earth. Mankind is struck by a series of Plagues which rightly or wrongly get labelled the Green Death. Humanity evolves into Post-Humanity. The Technoviruses sweep through the populace. Post-Humanity escapes Earth. A Sino-Soviet invasion sweeps the Greens from power to try and save Mankind replacing the Green-centric governments of post-capitalist Earth with good communists, who turned out to be “we are what we eat and we eat everything” socialists. The Solar Union arises to lead Mankind. The deep spacers politically and militarily evolve into the Cassini Division, Earth’s defense against the Post-Humans. A line of forts surround Jupiter’s orbit. This is humanity’s frontline against post-humanity. The Cassini Division is the Solar Union’s main line of defense. Punching a wormhole into Jovian space, disintegrating Ganymede, and bombarding the inner solar system with data viruses, Post-Humanity made themselves into enemies of their progenitors. A plan is afoot to remove this threat, but for it to go through, the history, power, and the secrets of what it is to be human must be laid bare. Will either tree of Earth’s children survive?
Genre:
fiction, science fiction, space opera
Why this book:
The description of the book
This Story is About:
This one is odd. I’ve read the summaries and I have an idea of what it should be about; survival of the species, evolution of Humanity, that type of thing; but it feels like there is something else, something deeper that I haven’t glommed onto yet. What it is to be human. And what would humans do to survive.
Favorite Character:
Ellen is a strong character, driven.
Isambard Kingdom Malley, a drunkard, physicist whose big breakthrough may have lead directly to the Post-Humans blew a wormhole through the remnants of Ganymeade, but who has become a professor teaching the non-conformists outside the Union control how to make and use radios among other things.
Least Favorite Character:
David Reid, killer, mass murderer, runs protections on New Mars
Character I Most Identified With:
I don’t really get a personal feel for any of these characters. Not that they aren’t good characters, but I don’t see my reflection here.
The Feel:
Lots of debate on decisions. The idea comes to the center that all viewpoints are important as long as they aren’t driven by a machine intelligence or copied human brain patterns in a machine. And is a set of brain engrams copied into a self replicating, self repairing machine alive.
Favorite Scene:
The escape from Ealing College when the non-cos decide that they don’t want the spacemen to take Professor Malley away with them. The protoplasmic, shape changing space suit is freaking awesome.
The comet train to Jupiter could have used a bigger, more sci fi, description.
Settings:
Azores space tower; London wilderness; the Starship Terrible Beauty; Jupiter; Callisto; the Command Committee’s ice cavern HQ; New Mars; Ship City
Pacing:
The pacing is good.
Plot Holes/Out of Character:
N/A
Last Page Sound:
I really wanted more bombast in the climax considering what was going on. Even with big doings, it seemed to whimper instead of roar.
Author Assessment:
I would absolutely read more by this author.
Editorial Assessment:
Well done. But could have used a push on the climax of the story.
Did the Book Cover Reflect the Story:
The image is of the Terrible Beauty landing.
Hmm Moments:
Post-Soviet Earthling communism on a large scale in a SF book was a bit of a surprise to me. I’ve seen the closeted communism that eschews capitalism before, but usually not blatant like this.
Knee Jerk Reaction:
glad I read it
Disposition of Book:
Irving Public Library, Irving, TX
Why isn’t there a screenplay?
N/A
Casting call:
Angelina Jolie as Ellen May Ngewthu the leader of the crew of the Terrible Beauty.
Emma Watson as Suze the English sociologist in a world that isn’t terribly interested in the self reflection of sociology’s interest in their modern world.
Would recommend to:
genre fans
By Ken Macleod
Publisher: Tor
Published In: New York City, NY, USA
Date: 1998
Pgs: 240
REVIEW MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS
Summary:
Humanity and Earth have seen a lot of history following the Common Era. The Green Revolution sweeps across Earth. Mankind is struck by a series of Plagues which rightly or wrongly get labelled the Green Death. Humanity evolves into Post-Humanity. The Technoviruses sweep through the populace. Post-Humanity escapes Earth. A Sino-Soviet invasion sweeps the Greens from power to try and save Mankind replacing the Green-centric governments of post-capitalist Earth with good communists, who turned out to be “we are what we eat and we eat everything” socialists. The Solar Union arises to lead Mankind. The deep spacers politically and militarily evolve into the Cassini Division, Earth’s defense against the Post-Humans. A line of forts surround Jupiter’s orbit. This is humanity’s frontline against post-humanity. The Cassini Division is the Solar Union’s main line of defense. Punching a wormhole into Jovian space, disintegrating Ganymede, and bombarding the inner solar system with data viruses, Post-Humanity made themselves into enemies of their progenitors. A plan is afoot to remove this threat, but for it to go through, the history, power, and the secrets of what it is to be human must be laid bare. Will either tree of Earth’s children survive?
Genre:
fiction, science fiction, space opera
Why this book:
The description of the book
This Story is About:
This one is odd. I’ve read the summaries and I have an idea of what it should be about; survival of the species, evolution of Humanity, that type of thing; but it feels like there is something else, something deeper that I haven’t glommed onto yet. What it is to be human. And what would humans do to survive.
Favorite Character:
Ellen is a strong character, driven.
Isambard Kingdom Malley, a drunkard, physicist whose big breakthrough may have lead directly to the Post-Humans blew a wormhole through the remnants of Ganymeade, but who has become a professor teaching the non-conformists outside the Union control how to make and use radios among other things.
Least Favorite Character:
David Reid, killer, mass murderer, runs protections on New Mars
Character I Most Identified With:
I don’t really get a personal feel for any of these characters. Not that they aren’t good characters, but I don’t see my reflection here.
The Feel:
Lots of debate on decisions. The idea comes to the center that all viewpoints are important as long as they aren’t driven by a machine intelligence or copied human brain patterns in a machine. And is a set of brain engrams copied into a self replicating, self repairing machine alive.
Favorite Scene:
The escape from Ealing College when the non-cos decide that they don’t want the spacemen to take Professor Malley away with them. The protoplasmic, shape changing space suit is freaking awesome.
The comet train to Jupiter could have used a bigger, more sci fi, description.
Settings:
Azores space tower; London wilderness; the Starship Terrible Beauty; Jupiter; Callisto; the Command Committee’s ice cavern HQ; New Mars; Ship City
Pacing:
The pacing is good.
Plot Holes/Out of Character:
N/A
Last Page Sound:
I really wanted more bombast in the climax considering what was going on. Even with big doings, it seemed to whimper instead of roar.
Author Assessment:
I would absolutely read more by this author.
Editorial Assessment:
Well done. But could have used a push on the climax of the story.
Did the Book Cover Reflect the Story:
The image is of the Terrible Beauty landing.
Hmm Moments:
Post-Soviet Earthling communism on a large scale in a SF book was a bit of a surprise to me. I’ve seen the closeted communism that eschews capitalism before, but usually not blatant like this.
Knee Jerk Reaction:
glad I read it
Disposition of Book:
Irving Public Library, Irving, TX
Why isn’t there a screenplay?
N/A
Casting call:
Angelina Jolie as Ellen May Ngewthu the leader of the crew of the Terrible Beauty.
Emma Watson as Suze the English sociologist in a world that isn’t terribly interested in the self reflection of sociology’s interest in their modern world.
Would recommend to:
genre fans
adventurous
challenging
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Fall Revolution saa päätöksensä. Tällä kertaa päähenkilönä on Ellen May Ngwethu, joka kuuluu Cassinin jakoon, Aurinkokunnan unionin eliittijoukkoihin, joiden tehtävänä on varjella ihmiskuntaa posthumanistisilta tekoälyiltä. Näiden tekoälyjen tavoitteista ei tiedetä mitään, mutta niillä on aikaisemmin ollut voimaa hajoittaa Ganymede palasiksi ja rakentaa aineksista madonreikä, jota pitkin päästiin The Stone Canal -kirjasta tutulle New Mars -planeetalle.
Jupiterissa majailevat tekoälyt aiheuttavat maan asukkaille monenlaista vaivaa, estäen muun muassa täysin radioliikenteen ja monenlaisen elektroniikan käyttämisen, koska Jupiterista virtaa tasaisella tahdilla kavalia viruksia, jotka leviävät radioteitse. Niinpä suunnitelmissa onkin täräyttää tekoälyt pirstaleiksi — mutta ovatko ne sittenkään niin pahoja kuin mitä perimätieto ja erikoisjoukkojen dogmaattinen aito tieto väittää?
Ellen joutuu punnitsemaan satojen vuosien aikana lukkiutuneita näkemyksiään. Jupiterin tekoälyjen lisäksi niitä koettelevat maasta noudettu tiedemies Isambard Malley ja toisaalta New Mars -planeetan anarkokapitalistit. The Cassini Division on vauhdikas ja nopealiikkeinen scifitarina, jossa on MacLeodin tapaan vahva sosialistinen poliittinen lataus. (20.9.2010)
Jupiterissa majailevat tekoälyt aiheuttavat maan asukkaille monenlaista vaivaa, estäen muun muassa täysin radioliikenteen ja monenlaisen elektroniikan käyttämisen, koska Jupiterista virtaa tasaisella tahdilla kavalia viruksia, jotka leviävät radioteitse. Niinpä suunnitelmissa onkin täräyttää tekoälyt pirstaleiksi — mutta ovatko ne sittenkään niin pahoja kuin mitä perimätieto ja erikoisjoukkojen dogmaattinen aito tieto väittää?
Ellen joutuu punnitsemaan satojen vuosien aikana lukkiutuneita näkemyksiään. Jupiterin tekoälyjen lisäksi niitä koettelevat maasta noudettu tiedemies Isambard Malley ja toisaalta New Mars -planeetan anarkokapitalistit. The Cassini Division on vauhdikas ja nopealiikkeinen scifitarina, jossa on MacLeodin tapaan vahva sosialistinen poliittinen lataus. (20.9.2010)
If there was such a thing as sci-fi beach reading, this would be it. It's a fast-paced adventure that doesn't happen to go very deep (although I think that it might intend to). Character development besides the main character is minimal. The more scientific explanations are glossed over with technobabble. There's plenty of sex. The ending is slam-bam and neatly wrapped up. There were lots of bits that were thrown into the book and then never developed (if you can explain to me why this book was better off for the pregnancy bit, please do). Over all this is an entertaining read but it just doesn't require much brain power and therefore isn't very engaging.
Originally published on my blog here in February 2001.
The follow up to [b:The Stone Canal|185825|The Stone Canal (The Fall Revolution, #2)|Ken MacLeod|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1312038268s/185825.jpg|1104971] is very like one of [a:Iain M. Banks|5807106|Iain M. Banks|http://www.goodreads.com/assets/nophoto/nophoto-U-50x66-4df4c878d4149c45fac159e88cb784ad.jpg]' Culture novels, though it also contains many references to other science fiction writers. It has a similar wry humour, and even goes to the extent of copying the wonderful ship names Banks uses.
The basis of the plot is again the division of humanity into those stored on computer (the "Fast Folk") and those who remain flesh and blood. Most of those who have become Fast Folk have gone mad, and because of their immensely faster speed of thought, have become a grave danger to those who have continued to live in the normal way. The Fast Folk have colonised Jupiter, and the constant stream of computer viruses which they produce have led to the virtual abandonment of electronic computing, and a deadly fear that one day they will develop a new virus which will be able to take over the brain via the optic nerve. The perimeter of Jupiter is guarded by the commando force named the Cassini Division, and one of their commanders, Ellen May Ngwethu, is the novel's central character.
Ngwethu is really the major force in the novel from a literary point of view. She narrates as well as dominating the plot, and is really the only fully drawn character. I didn't find her totally believable, but I loved her smart space suit, which can transform itself into whatever clothing is useful or appropriate.
In the end, I felt that The Cassini Division was somewhat disappointing. Like The Stone Canal, its surface brilliance isn't a reflection of anything deeper to say. MacLeod seems to be a sort of lightweight Iain Banks, though several of Banks' more recent novels also seem less profound and complex than his writing in the eighties.
The follow up to [b:The Stone Canal|185825|The Stone Canal (The Fall Revolution, #2)|Ken MacLeod|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1312038268s/185825.jpg|1104971] is very like one of [a:Iain M. Banks|5807106|Iain M. Banks|http://www.goodreads.com/assets/nophoto/nophoto-U-50x66-4df4c878d4149c45fac159e88cb784ad.jpg]' Culture novels, though it also contains many references to other science fiction writers. It has a similar wry humour, and even goes to the extent of copying the wonderful ship names Banks uses.
The basis of the plot is again the division of humanity into those stored on computer (the "Fast Folk") and those who remain flesh and blood. Most of those who have become Fast Folk have gone mad, and because of their immensely faster speed of thought, have become a grave danger to those who have continued to live in the normal way. The Fast Folk have colonised Jupiter, and the constant stream of computer viruses which they produce have led to the virtual abandonment of electronic computing, and a deadly fear that one day they will develop a new virus which will be able to take over the brain via the optic nerve. The perimeter of Jupiter is guarded by the commando force named the Cassini Division, and one of their commanders, Ellen May Ngwethu, is the novel's central character.
Ngwethu is really the major force in the novel from a literary point of view. She narrates as well as dominating the plot, and is really the only fully drawn character. I didn't find her totally believable, but I loved her smart space suit, which can transform itself into whatever clothing is useful or appropriate.
In the end, I felt that The Cassini Division was somewhat disappointing. Like The Stone Canal, its surface brilliance isn't a reflection of anything deeper to say. MacLeod seems to be a sort of lightweight Iain Banks, though several of Banks' more recent novels also seem less profound and complex than his writing in the eighties.
Review by David Langford: http://www.ansible.co.uk/writing/sfxrev98.html#cassini