I’m a fan of Alastair Reynolds’ space operas so as soon as Blue Remembered Earth arrived, I immediately dropped everything to read it. At 505 pages, it qualifies as a Summer Reading Book. And, as Reynolds has announced, Blue Remembered Earth is the first book in a “loose” trilogy. All three books will stand on their own (and characters of one book won’t be included in other books) but will share a similar universe. Basically, Blue Remembered Earth is a puzzle novel. A powerful and famous woman dies and leaves her family clues to a mystery. Two of the family members follow the clues to the Moon and Mars (and, eventually, farther). There’s plenty of politics and double-dealing. No, Blue Remembered Earth isn’t one of Alastair Reynolds’ best books. The novel takes about 100 pages to get started. The “mystery” is obvious (at least it was to me). But Reynolds is a master of creating innovative groups like the Aquatics (who are colonizing the oceans of Earth) and the intelligence machines on Mars. If you’re looking for a diverting beach book, I’d recommend Blue Remembered Earth. GRADE: B
Funny how certain writers feel they need 700 pages to tell a story. I guess fantasy is most common for long books.
I’m sure a good editor could have jettisoned most of the first 100 pages and launched BLUE REMEMBERED EARTH’s action a lot sooner, Patti. But there doesn’t seem to be any good editors around anymore.
I guess Mr. Reynolds is a Housman fan.
Alastair Reynolds’ titles seem to have literary sources, Drongo.
Sounds a little DRAGON TATTOO-ish plotwise, or at least that’s the vibe your description gives me. I’m about to try my first Reynolds.
My advice to Alastair Reynolds newbies is to start with THE PREFECT. It’s one of his best books and shorter than his usual 600 page average. If you don’t like THE PREFECT, you won’t like the rest of Reynolds’ work.
I hadn’t read anything about how he was doing this trilogy but I like the “loose” idea. I like having novels stand on their own and yet still be part of something bigger. I’ve been interested in this one since I first read about it months ago. Not sure how soon I’ll get to it as I have a few shorter books (although this isn’t long) that I want to get to first. We’ll see though, it is sitting within easy reach of my bedside table and it is awfully tempting.
I wouldn’t necessarily agree that there are no good editors, I just think storytelling style has changed somewhat. That isn’t to say that several books couldn’t be better with a bigger editorial eraser, but I also see more of a trend where authors take the time to build things slowly. When it is done well I actually enjoy it very much. When it is done poorly I end up not reading past the slow build up. Probably more often than not it rests right in the middle which gives more credence to the idea that editors should be a little more strict with their duties.
BLUE REMEMBERED EARTH takes about 100 pages to really get started, Carl. But, once it does, Reynolds ratchets up the action and suspense. I enjoyed the book and can’t wait to read the other two books in the trilogy when they’re published.
There’s so much bloat these days, especially in the mystery genre. (I don’t read much fantasy, so I’m not sure if that’s the case there too.) Compare a Ruth Rendell or P.D. James from the 1970s with something recent–sometimes triple the page length, requiring lots of unnecessary back stories and completely irrelevant detail to pad things. The worst offender, imho, is Elizabeth George. Her books could easily be 150 pages shorter and suffer no significant damage. Is it because there are no good editors or is it because, when a writer gets to a certain level of fame or sales, editors don’t have a strong enough position to be able to say, “hey, this needs to be cut.”
The bloat epidemic probably has both causes, Deb. The established authors think every one of their words is precious and cannot be changed (or deleted) and today’s editors seem comfortable in letting it slide. I grew up reading Gold Medal paperbacks that were suspenseful…and only 150 pages long!
I think the later is more true, Deb, especially when said author is making money for the publishing company. There is way to much of a ‘bigger is better’ mentality nowadays, sadly.
Deb, you are so, so right. I’ve noticed that for years, books getting longer and longer and rarely to good purpose. Many times recently when I have half a dozen books from the library and am trying to decide what to read and what to return I will take back the 500+ pagers unread. Life is too short for an ordinary mystery bloated that much.
Elizabeth George is indeed a major offender but to me the one who needs to be taken to the woodshed is Stephen King. When a “short story” is 150 pages it’s time to say ‘enough already’ and get a real editor. Sadly, it seems that once you become a “star” seller your words are untouchable by mortal man or editor.
I generally take the view that if a book is less than 400 pages then I am more likely to read it, once it gets over 400 my reluctance grows and I have to see some reviews, already like the author, or the idea must be reach-out-and-grab-me good. Even then I’ll sometimes say ‘no thanks’.
Takes a special writer to make a 400 page (or more) novel suspenseful. Not impossible, but very difficult.