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Jan. 22nd, 2004 10:05 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
godreamI am very proud of myself for evidently being the first to list Nick Sagan as an interest. Yesterday at the library I picked up Idlewild from the new books section and glanced at the back. One of the blurbs called the beginning of the novel a cross between Amber and the Matrix. Is that the Amber I think it is? I wondered, flipped open the book and discovered that yes, it probably was. Then I looked at the back and saw that the aforementioned review was written by Neil Gaiman, and then I knew I had to get it.
So I've been very slightly neglecting exam study in favor of it, and, well, it's interesting.
The beginning does indeed read like the aforementioned Zelazny/Wachowski brothers cross, mixed in with hints of vampire lore and a semi-locked room mystery. I think I'll reread it this weekend, as it's relatively short (under 300 pages) and will probably gain something in the second go 'round. As it is, though, the more I think back about the ending the less I like it. Don't get me wrong, I did enjoy it, do appreciate it, but some of the "wow, cool!" factor has disappeared because it seems so much of it is a set of total red herrings. The main character can't see himself in a mirror, but the reason behind it isn't as shocking and gripping as one might have hoped. ... And the more I think about it the more I realize that yeah, there were reasons behind a lot of the more random-seeming manifestations of weirdness -- I guess I just think some of them didn't click as well as the rest by the end of the book.
An interesting ending, as well. My instincts scream "sequel! sequel! sequel!" but on the other hand, interesting though the protagonist is, I don't know what more he has to say, where more to go. It seems like it would be hard to push him further without ruining the character's consistency and really who he is... and yet I can't help feeling like I want the loose ends tied up, I want to know if they accomplish their task, I want to know this and that and -- oh well, that's what fanfic's for, right?
In spite of the overall tone that I think this entry has, I did enjoy the book. Enjoyable, interesting, and I don't think I've ever read anything like it. If you're a scifi fan, you should definitely pick it up. If only so I have someone to discuss it with. :)
So I've been very slightly neglecting exam study in favor of it, and, well, it's interesting.
The beginning does indeed read like the aforementioned Zelazny/Wachowski brothers cross, mixed in with hints of vampire lore and a semi-locked room mystery. I think I'll reread it this weekend, as it's relatively short (under 300 pages) and will probably gain something in the second go 'round. As it is, though, the more I think back about the ending the less I like it. Don't get me wrong, I did enjoy it, do appreciate it, but some of the "wow, cool!" factor has disappeared because it seems so much of it is a set of total red herrings. The main character can't see himself in a mirror, but the reason behind it isn't as shocking and gripping as one might have hoped. ... And the more I think about it the more I realize that yeah, there were reasons behind a lot of the more random-seeming manifestations of weirdness -- I guess I just think some of them didn't click as well as the rest by the end of the book.
An interesting ending, as well. My instincts scream "sequel! sequel! sequel!" but on the other hand, interesting though the protagonist is, I don't know what more he has to say, where more to go. It seems like it would be hard to push him further without ruining the character's consistency and really who he is... and yet I can't help feeling like I want the loose ends tied up, I want to know if they accomplish their task, I want to know this and that and -- oh well, that's what fanfic's for, right?
In spite of the overall tone that I think this entry has, I did enjoy the book. Enjoyable, interesting, and I don't think I've ever read anything like it. If you're a scifi fan, you should definitely pick it up. If only so I have someone to discuss it with. :)
