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3.21 AVERAGE
3.21 AVERAGE
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This one didn't work for me. The book consists of 5+ separate kind of stories all revolving loosely around a set of punch cards for one of the big computers (the British one or the French one). Also some characters are present in multiple stories. Because of this there wasn't really an overall story.
The book is one of the first books set in a steam punk setting. An alternate victorian setting where Babbage managed to finish his difference engine sparking a revolution where steam powered computers become very common. In Britain they are building one big computer where everything about everyone is stored and they are planning to run simulations simulation the complete society. But these steam powered computers are also everywhere in everybody's lives. Also there has been e revolution where the power of the aristocracy has been replaced by a meritocracy. I can imagine that describing this setting was once very novel.
There was one part (where the professor with his friends tries to break into the headquarters of the organisers of the riots to stop them ) that was really unbelievable and was unsure whether this was meant as a funny part (which it wasn't really). Perhaps this reflects the same feeling I have with steam punk in general: it often feels a bit wacky.
In the book we have 21st century computing power combined with the 19th century culture. They are building, or perhaps have built, a computer that can simulate the entire civilisation -And it is slightly suggested that perhaps the stories are actually computer simulations. - which feels ominous ('the all-seeing eye'). Currently people are working on similar projects.
The book is one of the first books set in a steam punk setting. An alternate victorian setting where Babbage managed to finish his difference engine sparking a revolution where steam powered computers become very common. In Britain they are building one big computer where everything about everyone is stored and they are planning to run simulations simulation the complete society. But these steam powered computers are also everywhere in everybody's lives. Also there has been e revolution where the power of the aristocracy has been replaced by a meritocracy. I can imagine that describing this setting was once very novel.
There was one part (
In the book we have 21st century computing power combined with the 19th century culture. They are building, or perhaps have built, a computer that can simulate the entire civilisation -
I found this book frustrating. I wanted to like it more, nay, I wanted to love it, alas, I'm left feeling that somehow I didn't even like it very much.
The world it sets up to create is fascinating. The characters (or, rather, the way the characters and historical figures are reworked) are interesting, entertaining, and at times baffling. However, the plot is… boring. I was interested in the alternate history, but couldn't get into the story the book was trying to tell me.
I also didn't quite get the point of it all. What were the authors trying to tell me, aside showing off their knowledge of historical/literary trivia? Why was everyone after the cards? What did it all mean? Why was I supposed to care? Perhaps I am superficial in my wish for a denouement, but in a book of this sorts one needs it. This isn't Joyce or Woolf, I'm not reading it for the characterisation nor am I reading it for the prose, so I want a conclusion to my story that doesn't leave me unsatisfied.
Ultimately, my problem with this book is similar to the problem I have with most of its kind: the world is interesting, but I don't care for the writing style nor the plot. Oh well...
The world it sets up to create is fascinating. The characters (or, rather, the way the characters and historical figures are reworked) are interesting, entertaining, and at times baffling. However, the plot is… boring. I was interested in the alternate history, but couldn't get into the story the book was trying to tell me.
I also didn't quite get the point of it all. What were the authors trying to tell me, aside showing off their knowledge of historical/literary trivia? Why was everyone after the cards? What did it all mean? Why was I supposed to care? Perhaps I am superficial in my wish for a denouement, but in a book of this sorts one needs it. This isn't Joyce or Woolf, I'm not reading it for the characterisation nor am I reading it for the prose, so I want a conclusion to my story that doesn't leave me unsatisfied.
Ultimately, my problem with this book is similar to the problem I have with most of its kind: the world is interesting, but I don't care for the writing style nor the plot. Oh well...
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
i am about halfway, may never finish. we'll see. Update: i have decided to never finish, i just can't get into it.
Narrative was a bit disjointed for me. Very interesting read though.
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
N/A
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
I usually save the one-star rating for books I did not or could not finish. With this one, I kept reading on--despite my better judgment--hoping that at some point the plot would begin to make sense (or, that is to say, to appear in the first place). Alas, never happened. I would not recommend this book to anyone.
EDIT (1/6/12): Later I did some wiki jumping to learn more about the various historical references and plot points I mostly or completely missed due to my ignorance of 19th-century British history. Now, I revise my above statement. If you already like this sort of setting enjoy books that prioritize atmosphere over plot, by all means give The Difference Engine a shot.
EDIT (1/6/12): Later I did some wiki jumping to learn more about the various historical references and plot points I mostly or completely missed due to my ignorance of 19th-century British history. Now, I revise my above statement. If you already like this sort of setting enjoy books that prioritize atmosphere over plot, by all means give The Difference Engine a shot.
adventurous
challenging
slow-paced
The Difference Engine (Spectra Special Editions) by William Gibson (1992)