Heavy Weather

Rating:
Summary: A keeper that stays with you.
Review: This book slipped up on me. In 1997/98 El Nino was leading to many of the meterological concepts that are in the book becoming common knowledge through news analyses. At first I had thought Sterling was making some of them up. His book took on new meaning, thanks to this fortuitous timeliness. Or was it fortuitous? But the book stayed with me, occupied my thoughts and my imagination off and on, long after I had finished it, longer than El Nino lasted, and it was not because I had learned what an F-6 tornado might be. It is easy to overlook or underestimate the fact of Alex's age while reading this book. If you keep his age in mind, you may agree that this character study is superior to Catcher In the Rye in many ways (well, of course, it has better science than Catcher!). All the characters are carefully drawn. There is a sense of wonder in this book; and it has good science, good SF ideas, and an appropriately developed corresponding social milieu. I think, perhaps, the word brilliant is deserved; certainly, the book is one helluva read. Sterling has a distinctive voice, and it is a good one. There is a place or two where the action is not quite on the mark or an immaturity is evidenced that is not Alex's, and that-- along with the book's genre status-- might be enough to keep it off an English professor's shelf of "literature". But my copy will be on my shelf of literary works.

Rating:
Summary: Cyberpunk in Texas!
Review: This is quite readable--a cyberpunk book that doesn't take place in a huge urban sprawl, and the data being stolen is from Mother Nature, who never gives up secrets easily. From a Mexican black market clinic to a tornado that could cover an entire time zone, several intrepid scientists and one dying part-time drug runner attempt to figure out why tornadoes form, and whether or not one can be stopped before it's too late. Of course, by the end of the book, it's almost too late. It's always nice to see actual science and actual characterization in a book, and kudos for including a "lung enema" at the beginning of the book. I'd say it's about a three and a half star book, but Amazon doesn't let you do that. So enjoy a free half-star, Mr. Sterling.

Rating:
Summary: Mega-Neat: Think "Twister" meets _Logan's Run_
Review: William Gipson's terrible book _The Neromancer_ turned me off to cyberpunk for a very long time. _Heavy Weather_ has brought me back. The interplay between the characters is excellent--and I liked how the story concentrated on that aspect rather than, say, sex, the psychoses of the leader, or on very dull technical aspects of their computerized world (Often, cyberpunk novels tend to concentrate more on these--and not to their benefit, I might add). Speaking of sex, there IS some in there, but it enhances the story rather than sticking out like a sore thumb. The whole concept of tornado-hacking I found extremely interesting. I think this book is sort of a cross between the movie "Twister" and the book _Logan's Run_. Highly enjoyable all around.