Oh goodness, one of my favorite genres! I love "The Years of Rice and Salt" by Kim Stanley Robinson. The story looks at a world where Europe is destroyed by the Black Death. What makes it so fascinating is that Robinson shows how world history would have unfolded in roughly the same fashion with some new locations or focuses. For example, a Renaissance takes place in Samarkand and many cities in our North America are in the same place.
A series that I've been working my way though is the "Ring of Fire" series created by Eric Flint. In this series, a small town in West Virginia circa 2000 gets transported to Germany during the 30 Years' War. I've been liking the series for a few reasons: 1) the series takes the challenges of adapting, evolving, or devolving technology seriously, 2) the series centers on blue collar / working class characters
The series is collaborative. Flint wrote the first novel but he collaborated with authors to expand the world. More interestingly is that short stories written many authors (including fans) are considered canon and can have impacts on the main novels. There is a whole community exploring the ins-and-outs of the world. The series really captures the messiness of history and the ripple effects of small changes. There are many narrative niches to get lost within.
A warning: the novels are pretty pulpy. Adventures with cliches and such. I find the short stories are better than the sprawling novels. But I really enjoyed the series - they've become my go-to comfort reads this year.
"The Years of Rice and Salt" is definitely not perfect. I did not like the ending. And I don't think all the chapters are equal. But I really liked its premise, and Robinson's view of alternate history is intriguing. I loved a lot of small details. For example, electricity being called qi or climate change being called "balance with nature" reflecting a world more rooted in Buddhist concepts. I'm currently reading "Ministry of the Future" and am liking it. 1/2
I'd like to read his Mars and California trilogies. But now that I've read two of his, I feel like he great on concepts, ideas, and details, but perhaps not so great on plot. Do you have any other books of his that you like or would recommend? 2/2
@seanbala@bookstadon I absolutely loved the Mars ones. The CA series was more spotty - it felt like great ideas, but, esp. the eco one, almost like a present day city council tale. Not spec ficy enough for me?
Add comment