Rating: 
Summary: One of those stories that stays with you.
Review:
"Slow River" is one of those books that I read again and again, wearing my copy to a dog-eared mess, giving other copies to friends, keeping in an easily accessible place so I can re-read a favorite passage or look up a memorable phrase.This book captivated me on so many levels that I'm hard put to say what I like best about it. Griffith's prose, like the "slow river" she describes in the opening chapter, is smooth and languid on the surface, but has hidden depths that slowly rise as the story continues. The structure of the story is excellent; the use of different tenses and points of view (Lore is always the viewpoint character, but sometimes first-person, sometimes third-person) is smooth and never confusing. Griffith's plot construction is first rate, allowing the characters to breathe and grow. The story itself is equally tantilizing. The glimpses we get of Lore's family are few, but telling; one senses that she is used to living a life of precision masked by glamour. When she loses these things, she loses her identity. Griffith's use of symbolism is frequent but never heavy-handed or overstated; it would be easy for the PIDA (a type of personal ID), for example, to become just another tired cliche. The symbols merely serve to underline important things about the characters, who come to the forefront, each an individual. In fact, it's hard for me to cite anything bad about this book. I suppose I could think of something if I tried, but Griffith has that rare knack of enveloping the reader in her story so completely that every time I read it, I forget about analyzing it and just sit back and enjoy the book.
Rating:
Summary: One of those stories that stays with you.
Review:
"Slow River" is one of those books that I read again and again, wearing my copy to a dog-eared mess, giving other copies to friends, keeping in an easily accessible place so I can re-read a favorite passage or look up a memorable phrase. This book captivated me on so many levels that I'm hard put to say what I like best about it. Griffith's prose, like the "slow river" she describes in the opening chapter, is smooth and languid on the surface, but has hidden depths that slowly rise as the story continues. The structure of the story is excellent; the use of different tenses and points of view (Lore is always the viewpoint character, but sometimes first-person, sometimes third-person) is smooth and never confusing. Griffith's plot construction is first rate, allowing the characters to breathe and grow. The story itself is equally tantilizing. The glimpses we get of Lore's family are few, but telling; one senses that she is used to living a life of precision masked by glamour. When she loses these things, she loses her identity. Griffith's use of symbolism is frequent but never heavy-handed or overstated; it would be easy for the PIDA (a type of personal ID), for example, to become just another tired cliche. The symbols merely serve to underline important things about the characters, who come to the forefront, each an individual. In fact, it's hard for me to cite anything bad about this book. I suppose I could think of something if I tried, but Griffith has that rare knack of enveloping the reader in her story so completely that every time I read it, I forget about analyzing it and just sit back and enjoy the book.
Rating: 
Summary: a blend of cyberpunk, alternative sexuality and codependence
Review: My sister got me this book for my birthday, and I really had no idea what to expect. It's definitely a book with a clear message, "pollution: bad, greed: bad". about the only positive I could find was that despite it all, the main character and a few minor characters struggle against "the system" to make things better in whatever ways they could. Still, I couldn't really identify with any of the characters. Overall I found the book's balance of straight, gay, and bi sex to be unconvincing. I got the distinct feeling that Nicola Griffith would have us believe that in the future, nobody will be straight. That's fine, but I found it distracting from the book as a whole.
Rating: 
Summary: Not very good
Review: A fan of good writing should avoid this like the plague. The analogies used are some of the worst I have ever read, and the descriptions are often bizarre, misplaced and poorly planned, with the images invoked bearing little power or relevance. Examples include a river so black it is purple and images that open her mind "like a can opener," calling up a truly mundane kitchen utensil. Comparing the character's mind to that of a crocadile leaves me nothing but confused. A good example of bad writing.
Rating: 
Summary: Nicola Griffith's Best
Review: After reading The Blue Place (TBP), I conclude that Slow River (SR) is head and shoulders above the latest novel. For several reasons: Although both novels showcase the author's fabulous viceral WRITING style, SR is a better STORY. Firstly, it is obvious, a lot more work went into sculpting SR: a tight plot with no superfluous information (ie. info that added to the story, unlike TBP which covers EVERYTHING the author has any interest in *personally*.) Also, the a-b-a-c structure pattern (yes, I took the trouble of checking through the whole book) that artfully introduces info from the past, present and distant past is very carefully crafted, and maintains a great pace. The ending, often critisised for being too abrupt is IMHO brilliant and brave. The story is OVER. Nicola Griffith does not waste time telling more, when there is nothing left to be said. Also, perhaps quite importantly - and this is where TBP fails - it is a good example of its genre. While not quite the typical Nebula winner (which are supposed to be un-typical, anyway!) it blends the science in quite well. Parting shot: A very atmospheric read, one of what I call "beautiful" novels (TBP is "beautiful" in the same way, but the story detracts from it and makes it beautiful but empty.) SR has more substance.
Rating:
Summary: Half fantasy, half nightmare
Review: Finally, a novel that manages to entertain a cyberpunk audience while dealing with intense interpersonal relationships. It's a fast read despite being remarkably heavy at times... not a book for children or prudes. In some ways, the book is a cyberpunk fantasy. Living on the edge, working as an underground technologist, has a certain appeal. In other ways, the book is a nightmare of imprisonment, both physical and mental. Well worth reading.
Rating:
Summary: Keep you on your toes futuristic sci-fi page turner
Review: I am a new Nicola Griffith convert. After reading a Blue Place and Stay, I searched for more of Griffith's works. I am not usually interested in sci-fi or futuristic novels. However, Griffith makes her characters interesting and her story-line not only complex and multi-dimensional but she also has a way of feeding you information in bits and pieces. This effect could be frustrating but her transition between first and third person works similar to meeting someone new for the first time and then learning more and more about them over time. Lore (the main character) begins as a privileged prodigy victim of a kidnaping to a twisted victim who in the end discovers her true better self. While the beginning was hard to get interested in (probably due to my aversion to science fiction)... once I got going I was hooked! Enjoy!
Rating:
Summary: Keep you on your toes futuristic sci-fi page turner
Review: I am a new Nicola Griffith convert. After reading a Blue Place and Stay, I searched for more of Griffith's works. I am not usually interested in sci-fi or futuristic novels. However, Griffith makes her characters interesting and her story-line not only complex and multi-dimensional but she also has a way of feeding you information in bits and pieces. This effect could be frustrating but her transition between first and third person works similar to meeting someone new for the first time and then learning more and more about them over time. Lore (the main character) begins as a privileged prodigy victim of a kidnaping to a twisted victim who in the end discovers her true better self. While the beginning was hard to get interested in (probably due to my aversion to science fiction)... once I got going I was hooked! Enjoy!
Rating:
Summary: A fast, enjoyable read
Review: I enjoyed reading this book very much. The key to me was that the characters were well rounded and never overshadowed by the science of the story. The pace was very quick, and the characters stayed on my mind after I finished the book. I look forward to reading more or her books.
Rating:
Summary: Left me feeling good for reasons unbeknownst to me...
Review: I had read and loved Ammonite, which led me to Slow River. I wasn't really sure what I was getting into...but it was this very pleasant and facinating experience. It's not really a fast paced, climatic story...but very rich and well written. With every page I wanted to know more. It's almost too difficult to explain what was so wonderful about this book. The future was very real...not like most science fictions that leap too far in too short a time span. There also seemed to be a perspective not found in any science fiction movel I have read yet. I wouldn't call this a lesbian sci-fi, but more of an open-minded world where sexuality doesn't matter. There is no prejudice and whether a person is attracted to a man or a woman or both makes no difference. The open-mindedness was just delicious. What a great piece of work. Now I'm on to the next one.
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