I see why Doctorow let it go out of print. The premise is absorbing--I wanted to know all there was to know about these two giant humans in New York hI see why Doctorow let it go out of print. The premise is absorbing--I wanted to know all there was to know about these two giant humans in New York harbor living in a different timescale--but the cjaracters we follow lack any motivation (and thus any interest). What do they want? Why are we following *them*? No good answers.
The fanstasical content is also undercooked. We never get real answers--which is fine, that can be a stylistic and thematic choice--but you always know when things are kept vague simply because the author never came up with anything clear to themselves. You can smell it....more
Bizarre abstractions of the space between the self and itself and others, these glossed fictions come at you in sentences rich and almost too thick. IBizarre abstractions of the space between the self and itself and others, these glossed fictions come at you in sentences rich and almost too thick. I've read half and have to stop. The stories run unfortunately into one another, for now....more
Solid compelling ideas and inspiration for play, but the organization and direction toward play is terrible. Still, I'd use it for a Vampire game befoSolid compelling ideas and inspiration for play, but the organization and direction toward play is terrible. Still, I'd use it for a Vampire game before anything else....more
I recall nothing from my first read of this 12 years ago, so it really was like reading it for the first time. In some ways it's the weakest (the thirI recall nothing from my first read of this 12 years ago, so it really was like reading it for the first time. In some ways it's the weakest (the third quarter of the book was certainly the weakest part of the series), but it contains so much that is important and so much more emotion than the other books that it basically makes up for it.
What an astounding work on so many levels. I would like to recommend it to everyone. The caveat is that you mist enjoy the act of reading, which fewer and fewer people do.
Also, I'm not a Christian, but if you are a Christian into SF/F *at all* and you haven't read this, it's like not having read Lord of the Rings....more
There's so much to say that I can't even start. Fewer finer pleasures in literature.There's so much to say that I can't even start. Fewer finer pleasures in literature....more
One of those mid-2000s RPGs that online discourse has completely forgotten, to its detriment. Play a character with a consequential, once-in-a-lifetimOne of those mid-2000s RPGs that online discourse has completely forgotten, to its detriment. Play a character with a consequential, once-in-a-lifetime choice to make--then play their successor (spiritual or otherwise) next session.
We've done characyer creation and had one session so far. Hot shit....more
This, my second read, has felt like my first. It has slow and delicious.Sometimes I have to set the book down just so I can prolong the enjoyment. TheThis, my second read, has felt like my first. It has slow and delicious.Sometimes I have to set the book down just so I can prolong the enjoyment. There are so many resources out there--books, articles, podcasts--discussing it, and I am tempted to immerse myself in them. But I've decided, for now, that I'm not going to. I treasure so much being able to sit down with no one but me, Gene, and his words. What a gift this is. And there's so much more to go....more
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