Rating: Summary: Intriguing science-fantasy Review: (...)I thought it was an intriguing book, one that starts out deceptively akin to a standard fantasy, but which quickly transforms into something much more interesting.With an engaging set of characters who undergo substantial shifts in circumstance and morality throughout the book (a rare phenomenon in standard fantasy, and welcome here), a good, swift pace and a really interesting piece of world building, Ventus is a piece of science-fantasy that is a credit to both genres.
Rating: Summary: I wish I had written it... Review: A few years ago, back around 1999, I was throwing together ideas for a novel. It was going to be a fantasy that wasn't a fantasy, a hard sci-fi novel about agents of a transhuman "god" trying to bring down another such entity on a backwards planet impregnated with nanotechnology that seemed like magic to it's primitive inhabitants. Karl Schroeder beat me to it. This book is, to say the least, fantastic. Schroeder blends Vinge-esque transhuman themes and nanotechological "fantasy realism" with a coming-of-age quest reminiscient of Robert Jordan's "Eye of the World". (I have a suspicion that it's more than just coincidence that the main character's name is Jordan) Thrown into the plot are interesting characters- transhuman assassins, a cyborg demigod, noblemen and royalty who can communicate telepathically with nanotech devices, a sentient starship, a cosmopolitan anthropologist, and more, thrown together in a mission that could decide the fate of the galaxy. Schroeder's intense, fast pace writing style echoes the best cyberpunk, while never succumbing to that genre's attitude. Best of all, the last section of the book explores an interesting philosophical discussion of the relationship between man, science, and nature, one that will hopefully provoke dialogue between environmentalists and transhumanists alike. All in all, a fantastic book, and a worthwhile read for science fiction and fantasy fans alike.
Rating: Summary: I wish I had written it... Review: A few years ago, back around 1999, I was throwing together ideas for a novel. It was going to be a fantasy that wasn't a fantasy, a hard sci-fi novel about agents of a transhuman "god" trying to bring down another such entity on a backwards planet impregnated with nanotechnology that seemed like magic to it's primitive inhabitants. Karl Schroeder beat me to it. This book is, to say the least, fantastic. Schroeder blends Vinge-esque transhuman themes and nanotechological "fantasy realism" with a coming-of-age quest reminiscient of Robert Jordan's "Eye of the World". (I have a suspicion that it's more than just coincidence that the main character's name is Jordan) Thrown into the plot are interesting characters- transhuman assassins, a cyborg demigod, noblemen and royalty who can communicate telepathically with nanotech devices, a sentient starship, a cosmopolitan anthropologist, and more, thrown together in a mission that could decide the fate of the galaxy. Schroeder's intense, fast pace writing style echoes the best cyberpunk, while never succumbing to that genre's attitude. Best of all, the last section of the book explores an interesting philosophical discussion of the relationship between man, science, and nature, one that will hopefully provoke dialogue between environmentalists and transhumanists alike. All in all, a fantastic book, and a worthwhile read for science fiction and fantasy fans alike.
Rating: Summary: I wish I had written it... Review: A few years ago, back around 1999, I was throwing together ideas for a novel. It was going to be a fantasy that wasn't a fantasy, a hard sci-fi novel about agents of a transhuman "god" trying to bring down another such entity on a backwards planet impregnated with nanotechnology that seemed like magic to it's primitive inhabitants. Karl Schroeder beat me to it. This book is, to say the least, fantastic. Schroeder blends Vinge-esque transhuman themes and nanotechological "fantasy realism" with a coming-of-age quest reminiscient of Robert Jordan's "Eye of the World". (I have a suspicion that it's more than just coincidence that the main character's name is Jordan) Thrown into the plot are interesting characters- transhuman assassins, a cyborg demigod, noblemen and royalty who can communicate telepathically with nanotech devices, a sentient starship, a cosmopolitan anthropologist, and more, thrown together in a mission that could decide the fate of the galaxy. Schroeder's intense, fast pace writing style echoes the best cyberpunk, while never succumbing to that genre's attitude. Best of all, the last section of the book explores an interesting philosophical discussion of the relationship between man, science, and nature, one that will hopefully provoke dialogue between environmentalists and transhumanists alike. All in all, a fantastic book, and a worthwhile read for science fiction and fantasy fans alike.
Rating: Summary: An epic SF adventure set on a terraformed planet Review: For a thousand years the sovereign Winds have maintained the delicate ecological balance of the terraformed planet Ventus. Now an alien force threatens to wrest control of the terraforming system away from the Winds. Jordan Mason, a young tradesman, is thrust into the midst of an ancient galactic conflict when he becomes the only human on Ventus who can locate the source of the alien threat. But will he side with the Winds, who have brutally suppressed technological development among the human colonists of Ventus? Or will he throw in his lot with an entity that may be planning to remake Ventus in its own, deathly image? Ventus incorporates ideas about nanotechnology, terraforming, and information theory in an epic tale of war, tragic love, betrayal and transcendence.
Rating: Summary: Good start, bad ending Review: I almost didn't read Ventus because I was disappointed in my first Schroeder novel, Permanence. I'm glad I gave it a try. Ventus suffers from some of the same problems present in Permanence: Schroeder's writing style is undeveloped, as are his characters. Indeed, he suffers from the classic characterization flaw of telling rather than showing (we basically have to take the narrator's word for it that Calandria May is unhappy with life, for example). Nevertheless, Ventus is overall a success. Schroeder keeps the plot moving and deftly handles the large cast of characters. The real centerpiece here is the planet, Ventus, and as we slowly learn more about its history and purpose, it becomes the most interesting character in the book. Although Schroeder doesn't develop them as far as he might, his ideas concerning the uses of nanotechnology, the nature of humanity and sentience, and far-future lifestyles and ethics are original and thought-provoking. Ventus is good SF.
Rating: Summary: Well plotted and rich in ideas Review: I almost didn't read Ventus because I was disappointed in my first Schroeder novel, Permanence. I'm glad I gave it a try. Ventus suffers from some of the same problems present in Permanence: Schroeder's writing style is undeveloped, as are his characters. Indeed, he suffers from the classic characterization flaw of telling rather than showing (we basically have to take the narrator's word for it that Calandria May is unhappy with life, for example). Nevertheless, Ventus is overall a success. Schroeder keeps the plot moving and deftly handles the large cast of characters. The real centerpiece here is the planet, Ventus, and as we slowly learn more about its history and purpose, it becomes the most interesting character in the book. Although Schroeder doesn't develop them as far as he might, his ideas concerning the uses of nanotechnology, the nature of humanity and sentience, and far-future lifestyles and ethics are original and thought-provoking. Ventus is good SF.
Rating: Summary: New Skin for the Old Science Fiction Story Review: In 'Ventus' Karl Schroeder creates a science fiction premise that is well established - a fallen colony, with technology equivalent to the middle ages. A high tech McGavin from a defeated enemy, and undercover heroes going after it. Add to this a coming-of-age story and a whole group of opposing factions (in the climax, there are three AI groups and 5 human groups alternatively cooperating and struggling), and you've got all the elements for a good planet based Space Opera. But Although 'Ventus' is not a classic like Dan Simmons's Hyperion Cantos and the 'Deepness' books by Vernor Vinge (an obvious inspiration for Schroeder - and why not learn from the best?) it manages to be more than just another good SF tale. One element that works well is the focus on nano-technology. Yeah, Nano is the early 21st century equivalent to Atomic power in the 1940s - it's the technology everyone in the present (and thus also in the future) is obsessed with. And yet Schroeder manages to do some very interesting things with Nano, including the cool idea of 'Winds' working together to terraform a planet, and some interesting musings about how nano may be used to resurrect the Platonian notion of 'the essence' of things. Also good are the characters, particularly Generals Armigar and Levin. The former, a god learning to be human, is portrayed realistically, and the predictable love interest is nonetheless effective. Some spooky scenes in which he eats wood and stones are cool, too. Levin, conflicted between love and duty, is also a very sympathetic and tragic character, and his scenes are the most effective in the novel. Although the pace is a little slow, the writing is effective and sometimes inspired, and Ventus is an enjoyable novel of action and ideas.
Rating: Summary: New Skin for the Old Science Fiction Story Review: In 'Ventus' Karl Schroeder creates a science fiction premise that is well established - a fallen colony, with technology equivalent to the middle ages. A high tech McGavin from a defeated enemy, and undercover heroes going after it. Add to this a coming-of-age story and a whole group of opposing factions (in the climax, there are three AI groups and 5 human groups alternatively cooperating and struggling), and you've got all the elements for a good planet based Space Opera. But Although 'Ventus' is not a classic like Dan Simmons's Hyperion Cantos and the 'Deepness' books by Vernor Vinge (an obvious inspiration for Schroeder - and why not learn from the best?) it manages to be more than just another good SF tale. One element that works well is the focus on nano-technology. Yeah, Nano is the early 21st century equivalent to Atomic power in the 1940s - it's the technology everyone in the present (and thus also in the future) is obsessed with. And yet Schroeder manages to do some very interesting things with Nano, including the cool idea of 'Winds' working together to terraform a planet, and some interesting musings about how nano may be used to resurrect the Platonian notion of 'the essence' of things. Also good are the characters, particularly Generals Armigar and Levin. The former, a god learning to be human, is portrayed realistically, and the predictable love interest is nonetheless effective. Some spooky scenes in which he eats wood and stones are cool, too. Levin, conflicted between love and duty, is also a very sympathetic and tragic character, and his scenes are the most effective in the novel. Although the pace is a little slow, the writing is effective and sometimes inspired, and Ventus is an enjoyable novel of action and ideas.
Rating: Summary: An Unsynchronized Mixup Review: It would appear that Mr. Schroeder could not decide what sort of book to write: fantasy or science fiction. In the end, it is like most compromises, neither fish nor fowl. The first fifty pages were boring. Then again, so were the next 150 before I finally gave up. Ventus gives new meaning to the requirement to suspend disbelief. It is simply tedious. Save your money for a good book.
|