City at the End of Time

[YankeyMCC]

this is the latest novel from Greg Bear.

I've always enjoyed Bear but sort of in the way that you appreciate a good utility player on a ball team, a good fall back but not one of the greats not someone that is going to knock me out.

But I have to say this novel is going on my 'to buy' list. Let me explain a bit after accumulating a library of well over 1200 books I 'simplified' this year and now only buy books that have some special significance or touch me in some way after I read them (from the library).

It can be a little difficult to keep all the key roles (not characters, I mean roles in terms of what role certain 'types' of characters play for example 'sum runners', I'm trying to give any spoilers) and how they fit together at times but if you stick with it the story comes together nicely. But the characters and settings are developed so well, definitely his best work and he manages to provide a large scale, block buster, far future story with a human connection that keeps you engaged throughout.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

1. The amazon synopsis...

references William Hope Hodgson's "Night Land."

Now I'm interested.

[YankeyMCC]

2. Ok wow

I was not familiar with "Night Land" and I looked it up on Wiki and yes indeed there is much similarity in the plot according to the plot summary on Wiki.

Even and perhaps in particular this bit: "...far-distant future where their souls will be re-united, and sees the world of that time through the eyes of a future incarnation"

But also the stuff about a Last Redoubt and other points.

[phantom power]

3. I'm looking forward to reading that.

It sounds like a departure from his recent stuff. The last books I really enjoyed from him were Darwin's Radio and Darwin's Children.

Well, Vitals was pretty cool, but dour.

[Fumesucker]

4. Sounds a bit like Diaspar..

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_City_and_the_Stars

[YankeyMCC]

5. Definately some similar themes

but Diaspar seems a little more 'optimistic' and actually a much closer future ... ha imagine that 1 billion years being relatively closer in time as a setting lol