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Damn the housework
Aug. 17th, 2008 08:54 pmI was talking with one of the sales staff at Dymocks Queensgate today about a book and the ultimate accolade she could give it was that she couldn't put it down. Skip forward to me looking at the little pile of books I have read recently but not written about here. Which one to write about? It seems obvious - the one I have just read in one sitting - no interruptions allowed. It has got to be the best. Right?
The only problem is that in many ways Rolling Thunder by John Varley looks like complete rubbish. Its an unstructured meandering Heinlein pastiche and not a very subtle one at that - the main character is called Podkayne. The book, the third in a series, is full of Heinlein references and more than a few references to earlier works by the author too. The story manages to be both trite and silly. And yet..."looks like"?
It sparkles. It is an enthralling, over the top fun ride. Just like almost every other Varley story really. It is the literary equivalent of a mind altering substance. Varley is never going to recapture the time of wonders in the '80s but he still has the mojo. Just don't expect, y'know, great literature.
The only problem is that in many ways Rolling Thunder by John Varley looks like complete rubbish. Its an unstructured meandering Heinlein pastiche and not a very subtle one at that - the main character is called Podkayne. The book, the third in a series, is full of Heinlein references and more than a few references to earlier works by the author too. The story manages to be both trite and silly. And yet..."looks like"?
It sparkles. It is an enthralling, over the top fun ride. Just like almost every other Varley story really. It is the literary equivalent of a mind altering substance. Varley is never going to recapture the time of wonders in the '80s but he still has the mojo. Just don't expect, y'know, great literature.