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A review by nal9000
Desolation Road by Ian McDonald
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Took me a couple tries to get into Desolation Road but once I got rolling I loved every bonkers chapter.
I’m surprised I haven’t seen the term Magical Realism thrown around because that’s what this book reminded me of. Maybe “magical futurism” is a better description. The main character of the story is the Town of Desolation Road itself; an old American west town on the dunes of a colonized mars thats actively being terraformed. The story plays out over dozens of years following the founding members of the town and their children. The tech used is a wild combination of steam punk and ultra, almost magic like tech that’s never really explained outside the fairy tale like style the author chose. I think it would make a wonderful mini series animated show. The chapters already feel like episodes.
I’m surprised I haven’t seen the term Magical Realism thrown around because that’s what this book reminded me of. Maybe “magical futurism” is a better description. The main character of the story is the Town of Desolation Road itself; an old American west town on the dunes of a colonized mars thats actively being terraformed. The story plays out over dozens of years following the founding members of the town and their children. The tech used is a wild combination of steam punk and ultra, almost magic like tech that’s never really explained outside the fairy tale like style the author chose. I think it would make a wonderful mini series animated show. The chapters already feel like episodes.