Back to the past, sometimes it is nice to read again “oldies but goldies”. I read back Gibson’s Neuromancer (En français, Neuromancien). This book is considered as the genesis of the cyberpunk culture. There are all the components cyber space, drugs, and hackers.
The book was written in 1984. When reading the book, you have to remember how the computer world was in 1984. At that time, I was toying with Sinclair’s ZX81 and HP100. Only two years later did I get my first Apple II. Microsoft had not yet generated Windows 3, the first PC was yet available… Gibson already puts in place all the components of the future cyberspace. At that time, Artificial Intelligence (AI) was a promising field.

I first read it around 1988 in French. I was not yet aware that I will later work in computer security. But I already loved the book. When I have read back the book, I discovered that Gibson called microsoft the electronics implants that contains information. Microsoft company was not yet here! Thus, this name was not a tribute to Gates. I don’t remember what is the French term. Can a French reader tell me the answer?

I think that Neuromancer, together with Stephenson’s Snow Crash, are the roots of the matrix trilogy and of our cyber culture.

A must read for all SF fans.

Timeline is a book from Michael Crichton. Michael Crichton is the author of the best seller “Jurassic Park”. In Jurassic Park, time and science were already key elements of the novel. Scientists brought dinosaurs back from the past.

In “Timeline”, science and time are once more key elements. Scientists have found the way to travel to the past. Scholars will be sent in a thrilling adventure in the French Middle Age. The book gives a realistic vision of this period.

As “Jurassic Park”, it is written like a movie with the same kind of rhythm and cuts. A good book which I read in one strike.

I am not sure that there is an available French translation.

This book from Wil MacCarthy is in the category of Hard Science Fiction. Hard Science Fiction means that science is at the heart of the story. Without surprise, Wil McCarthy is a high level scientist. It is the CTO of Galileo (the project that should provide a satellite system competing GPS)

The main idea is that in the future it is possible to create cristals of black holes!! One genius will have to fight against a mad genius who misuse this technology.

McCarthy is a good scientist but a poor writer. The story is weak, repetitive. The characters are caricatural…

Don’t read it!  :I-m-Bored:

I’m currently reading again some of my oldies but goldies. “Reservation of Goblins” from Cliford D.SIMAK (in French “La réserve des lutins”) This is a short novel which is fun to read. Published in 1968, it uses some of the faery folks that Tolkien will make famous. You’ll find goblins, trolls or banshees. It is placed in the future where you will encounter a caveman and Shakespeare! This remembers the future “Riverworld saga”. José Framer will publish the first book of the saga in 1971.

The “Reservation of Goblins” is book very funny and easy to read.

In my last post about SF, I discussed about the first saga of Zelazny’s Princes of Amber. At that time, I had an open point about the sequel of the saga.

During my last trip to US, I purchased the Great Book of Amber which collects the ten books. The five first books recounted the story of Corwin of Amber. The five last books recount the story of Merlin, son of Corwin and Dara of Chaos! Merlin inherits of the power of the “¨Pattern” (La Marelle for the French readers) and of the “Logrus”. The “Logrus”,one of the many new elements in the story, is the alter ego of the “Pattern” for Amber.

I am a real fan of Zelazny, but I must admit that the sequel is not as thrilling than the first saga. This second saga adds new actors, new artifacts… THe saga has not high consistency. For instance, the Ghost Wheel is a computer that handles the shadows. Its role is unclear and clearly fuzzy at the end (Probably a wink to an earlier book “Jack of the Shadows” that opposed magic and science). The ghosts may have been some inspirations to the authors of the matrix. The end of the saga is, honestly, extremely deceiving.

Last point for the French readers: I had a lot of pleasure to read the first saga in its original version. Just do it.

Conclusion: Corwin Yes, Merlin No

Last week, I run out of new books to read. Thus, I went down in my cellar and explored the box containing many books I purchased while student. Among the first ones I found, was Zelazny’s “The nine princes of Amber”.

Why not reading it again? Good surprise, I had as much pleasure to read the book than 20 years ago! I finished it quickly, and no other choices that dive in the box to find the four other volumes of the saga.

Zelazny is one of my favorite authors. He mastered many mythologies. If you have never read Zelazny’s saga of Amber, run quickly to your library and start. If you read it long time ago, I recommend you to re-read them.

In the past, I started with the two first volumes of the sequel of the saga relating the history of Merlin who is the son of Corwin (the heroe of the first saga). I did not read the complete saga. Did somebody read it? Did you appreciate it?

I am always surprised that nobody in Hollywood tried to adapt this saga to the screen. I am sure that it could be a blockbuster.