Mar 15 2008
Stand on Zanzibar update
I’m about 30 pages into Stand on Zanzibar and so far…
I love it.
It’s strange, it’s completely non-linear and all over the place. And at the same time it’s incredibly easy to read, apart from Brunner’s lingo (but that’s pretty easy to decipher). Brunner spews information out left and right, and while there is a sequence of events, it always seems small, like there’s a bigger picture to be considered. The only problem is that there isn’t always a lot of setting being described, so characters sort of just float in front of vague backdrops in my head sometimes. And did I mention it’s about 500 pages long? Thank goodness it’s mostly dialogue (which is another change for me).
The book feels, so far anyways, like a puzzle. It’s not straightforward or pretentious in it’s speech… I like the feeling that I’m being led through this mess of parts, and in the end I’ll come out with something whole and interesting. Like a noiseless vacuum cleaner. Man, what I’d give to have one of those.
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Your book sounds interesting.
It’s always fun to read a book that is completely non-linear for a change, then you can piece things together and make your own story.
I was picturing the idea of vague characters drifting around as I was reading your post and it made me think of ghosts.
Are any of the characters ghosts? It’d be rather fitting.
My rabbit is scared of vacuum cleaners and everytime someone vacuums he starts destroying his cage and ripping things off of it. It’s annoying and I’m sure he’d appreciate a noiseless vacuum as well.
:]
Stand on Zanzibar sounds like it is, or will be, quite interesting.
Like Steph said, books that only show bits and parts here and there that later on converge into something big, are always quite enjoyable, and fun to read.
I find that sometimes, books that are mostly dialogue, seem to go faster, which would be a good thing for you considering it is quite long. I only say long because it is for school!
I hope you enjoy your reading and that your book will enventually get to something whole and interesting! :)